Have you been wondering if you should invest in a professional makeup artist for your big day?

Paying someone else to make up your face may sound more like a luxury than a necessity, but many brides find that working with a professional makeup artist minimizes stress and enhances their day.

To help with your decision, we’re sharing some pros and cons of working with a makeup artist, along with some tips for success.

Benefits

Why hire a makeup artist?

To start with, a professional will have the skills, knowledge, and products necessary to produce the results you want.

“There are certain techniques, trends and skills that professional wedding makeup artists know to use for important events that you have probably never heard of,” Lauren Rodrigue wrote for WeddingWire. “For example, they’ll know how to keep your makeup locked in for 16 hours of partying (and crying).”

What’s more, makeup artists also are fast, meaning that instead of spending a big chunk of time painstakingly attempting to achieve makeup perfection yourself, you can leave that job to your artist and focus on other things, minimizing your stress.

Makeup artists also can help you look amazing in your wedding pictures. They know how much makeup is optimal for photos and how to avoid overdoing it or accentuating fine lines. If you’re planning a first look, your make-up artist can provide touch-ups before you go on to the ceremony.

Downsides

Hiring a makeup artist can be expensive. The costs depend on your location, the artists' experience, and how many people are being made up. Bridal makeup, on average, costs $85 to $125. Makeup for bridal party members is typically $50 to $150 per person. Trial sessions tend to cost $60 to $120. Makeup artists may also charge travel fees, 50 cents to $1 per mile outside of a set radius.

If you don't wear makeup often, being fully made-up may make you feel awkward and not quite yourself. If you would feel more comfortable with your own approach, there is nothing wrong with that.

Tips:

If you do decide to work with a professional makeup artist, these suggestions can help you get the results you want.

-Take the time to do a bit of research, from wedding blogs to magazine images, to get a feel for the look you want. If you see some looks you love, share the image(s) with your makeup artist before your trial. If you don’t, you can at least provide input on colors you find flattering or makeup trends you’d rather avoid.

-A makeup trial is one of the best ways you can help prevent unwanted results. If you opt to do this, you can get a preview of your wedding day face, and you and your artist can make some adjustments. The trial also gives you a feel for the artists' approach and skills so you can make sure they're the best choice for you.

“A makeup artist who has not seen the bride’s skin beforehand, for example, may not know if it’s super dry, requiring moisturizing products to avoid flakiness," makeup artist Raffaele Tatem told Brides magazine. “Working out potential makeup kinks that could trip you up on your wedding day is crucial to getting the look you want.”

-If you do opt for a trial, try to schedule it early in the day and leave the makeup on to see how it holds up as your day progresses. “I always encourage my brides to head out for the night and don’t be afraid to live a little,” makeup artist Samantha Linn wrote in a blog for her business. “Warm nights are a great test of longevity for your makeup. If you know your cheeks to get a little rosy with a drink, make sure to test your makeup coverage with a glass of wine or cocktail!”

-Don't experiment with new products on your wedding day. The last thing you need is to break out in a rash. If you don't do a makeup trial, be sure to try the products that you intend to wear on your wedding day a few weeks in advance.

-Be assertive. If you aren't a big makeup wearer, you may not want your makeup artist to get overly creative with your look. If you want something flattering, but subtle, be clear about that.

-Along the same lines, be wary of makeup trends. There is a difference between doing something special for your wedding day and getting so adventurous that your makeup doesn’t reflect the real you.

"Sometimes, [brides] make a departure from their usual look on their wedding day because they want to achieve something extra special and dramatic, but it's worth remembering that your fiancé fell in love with you for who you are, so you don't have to change a thing," makeup artist Lisa Eldridge said in an interview with Allure.

The Bell Tower on 34th is one of the leading modern wedding venues in Houston. Our elegant venue, with Old World Charm, is near Montgomery, TX.

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