Our team of experts weighed in on the best makeup techniques and worst mistakes brides can make. Meet Gina Frantzis, owner of Esthetically Yours, Erin Guenter, beauty specialist at youandyoursblog.com and Anna Mann of Aadi Wellness and Mobile Spa. They emphasized that, for a natural look, less is more. So put the bronzer down and let your natural beauty shine through!
The big mistake
The price tag for weddings averages $26,000. No wonder brides are cutting costs. Some are even skipping their makeup trial – a risky move, says Gina. “They want to wing it the day of the wedding but they should have a trial. That’s when different looks are tried and documented so there are no surprises on the wedding day.”
Be realistic
All three of our experts agreed that some brides have unrealistic expectations of how they want to look on their day. “What brides don’t realize is that magazines are great sources of inspiration, but the images are airbrushed and touched up to look perfect,” says Erin.
Be unique
Keep your own look. “Some brides want to venture out of their comfort zone and try something new. As long as they don’t stray too far from their usual look, they can be a little adventurous. They can pick up the one thing they do on a regular basis and add to that look,” says Anna. “The goal is to add a little accent. If a bride wanted to try blue, I would add minimal blue liner to the outer corner of the eye for just a hint of colour.”
Touch ups
The less you touch up during the day the better – no bride needs raccoon eyes and a smile that could rival The Joker. Erin says that the onus is on the artist. “If makeup is done well, the only two things that will need a touchup are lips and shine on the face.” She instructs brides not to do touchups themselves because they can be stressed. “I like to take aside one or two bridesmaids and give them a mini-lesson on the techniques I used.”
It’s all about making sure the bride looks and feels her best. When all eyes are looking her way she wants to be confident in her completed look. “The hair, dress and makeup all must work together,” says Gina. “Brides can get caught up in the show-biz of it all. Sometimes they need to come back down and find themselves.”
Originally published in Today’s Bride magazine, July 2012.
