Your wedding day make up is likely to be the most important beauty look of your life, so it’s only natural that you’ll want it to be perfect.
With this in mind, it’s common for brides to book a trial run of their make up look to see if they’re happy with it, and check that it suits how they plan to wear their hair.
We spoke to Mii make up artist and beauty expert Georgina Walker for her tips on how to make the most of your wedding make up trial.
How to Make the Most of Your Wedding Make Up Trial
Your make up should be a true reflection of you, making you look the best version of yourself for your big day. It’s important that your makeup artist listens and tailors the trial to exactly what you require.
Do your research – choose a make up artist whose work you like the look of. Follow them on social media to see their work. Good make up artists get booked up fast, so book an initial trial to check you’re happy with the make up and to meet the make up artist. Give yourself time to find someone else if you need to.
Book another trial nearer to the wedding as your tastes can change if booked too early.
If you’re going for a tan, have a tan trial around the same time, or if you’re adapting your hair colour book this in before your makeup trial too.
Think about what you’d like when choosing your wedding make up and booking a trial – would you like a timeless look, or are you after a trend-led style, with makeup that is long-wearing and high performance?
Looks that won’t date, such as a red lip, smokey eyes and natural complexion are perennially in style. These looks will forever look elegant in your wedding pictures.
Trend-led looks such as over-highlighted and contoured skin, cut creases and pops of bright colour are looks that may date in the wedding pictures. Ask yourself ‘is this going to look good in a photo on my mantelpiece in 30-years-time?’
Get to Know Your Wedding Make Up Artist
Discuss with your make up artist how you’d normally wear your make up for day and evening –this is to establish the style you’re already comfortable with. You could show them pictures of yourself and bring along your makeup bag so they’re familiar with what you’d normally wear.
Show your make up artist pictures of your favourite bridal looks – this will help establish the style you’d like and to give some inspiration behind the look. Start a Pinterest board and invite your make up artist to join so you share ideas together.
Give them an idea of the style of dress and your colour scheme. This should help to establish the style of make up. Think about how you’re wearing your hair as they will help to establish what type of look you’re going for.
Think about the season you’re getting married in – if you’re in a hot climate you may prefer to choose longer wearing products.
When to have Your Wedding Make Up Trial
We advise having a trial about three months before your wedding, when you have everything (like you hair and dress), set it stone. Three months also gives you time to tweak things if you don’t like the look, and even find a new make up artist if your don’t gel with the one you have chosen.
Have a trial at the start of the day you can observe how the makeup wears during the day and in different lights, and we’d advise booking your trial for a day when you’ll be busy well into the evening so you can see if it can withstand dancing, eating and so on.
Take pictures of yourself with the makeup on, so you can see where you might have shine or where the photo may give flash back. For example, wearing makeup containing an SPF can sometimes show up as a white veil on the skin in photos.
Feedback and Reflect
It is most important with bridal makeup that you feel comfortable with your final look, like an enhanced version of yourself.
Get in touch with your make up artist after the trial to feedback what has worked well and what could be better. This will allow her time to adjust what she uses on the big day.
Buy the colours used such as a lipstick and wear regularly to ensure you love them. Ask your friends or family for their thoughts on the look too – they’ll be honest if they think you don’t look like yourself.
READ MORE: Everything You Need to Know About Eyelash Tinting Before Your Wedding
