I know weddings are stressful and expensive. I know many people try to cut corners where possible to help ease the financial burden. Let me tell you right now: your makeup is not one of those corners. Hire a professional makeup artist.

Lots of brides-to-be think, "Why should I hire a professional when my cousin/sister/bff will do it for free? She's really good at doing her makeup." Okay, that's great, but you need to take into consideration a few things:

1. Just because she (or he, but I'll be using the "she" pronoun for ease) is good at doing makeup on herself, that does not mean she can do makeup on other people. Have you ever tried to put eyeliner or mascara on someone else? I know from experience that it is hard at first and takes a lot of practice. Maybe she has plenty of eyelid space which makes it easy to rock any eyeshadow look or big winged liner. Meanwhile, you have hooded eyes, so the same style of winged liner may not translate well onto your shape. It not only takes an understanding of the different shapes and what flatters them, but also the experience to be able to execute it well. Even if she's done your makeup before, the actual wedding day can be stressful, and you need someone who is experienced in dealing with weddings, and the pressure and time constraints that come with them. You also want someone who is going to have all the products you could possibly need in their kit. Because...

2. A good professional kit is stocked with everything needed to tackle any skin type and skin tone, and contains high quality, professional-grade products that look good on camera and in person. There are brands that are staples amongst professionals (like Graftobian and Kryolan, for example) and most consumers might not have heard of these brands, but they are formulated specifically for long lasting and reliable wear in all circumstances of film, editorial, and bridal. Also, a professional makeup artist knows that proper preparation of the skin is what will allow the makeup to apply well, and all skin care is not created equal. Many makeup artists are also licensed estheticians (and FYI - in Tennessee, it's against the law to practice makeup artistry for pay if you are not licensed in either cosmetology or esthetics, so keep that in mind when hiring), so they have a true understanding of skin care and what to do to combat certain issues. The average consumer (or your cousin's friend's sister doing your makeup) may not have that understanding so - assuming they know to do skin prep at all - your makeup could end up with issues like looking cakey or breaking up on your skin. Apart from just knowing how to prep the skin, I have heard horror stories from other makeup artists about having to work alongside non-professionals. One story that sticks out to me was from a makeup artist hired to do makeup for a bride, but the other bridal party members didn't want to pay for their makeup to be professionally done, so they had a friend do everyone else's makeup. The friend brought only one foundation shade to use on everyone (and they were all different skin tones), the brushes were dirty and also not cleaned in between each client, and she was only using products from her own personal makeup kit... meaning germs galore. Which leads me to my next point:

3. Sanitation. If someone doesn't have a professional kit that is ONLY used for clients, then chances are high that the products being used on you have not been used sanitarily before they're applied to your face. Pink eye, herpes, MRSA, and other diseases can easily be spread through unsanitary cosmetics. Your friend using her mascara on you and your fellow bridesmaids is dangerous, and frankly, disgusting to boot. Someone using lipstick straight from the bullet can transfer herpes or even the common cold from one person to the next. There is proper sanitation protocol that isn't necessarily common knowledge (such as 70% alcohol being the best to use for killing germs, or scooping out creams with a spatula onto a palette, and never double dipping). Some people don't realize what a huge issue this is, especially if you're close friends or family. But it would be terrible for you to wake up on your honeymoon with pink eye or a cold sore. So please, hire a reputable, experienced makeup artist to avoid these kind of disasters.

4. Appearance is another reason to hire someone who does this for a living. The makeup artist looking professional is a small detail that makes a huge difference. The typical makeup artist "uniform" is an all black outfit, hair up, manicured nails, and (for me, anyway) plain yet professional looking makeup. The reason for all of these standards is so we don't ruin your getting ready pictures with loud clothing and/or nails that will take away from you being the focus. Wearing all black also makes sure that I'm not reflecting any bright colors onto your face that may throw off my makeup application. These details are important but are not something a non-professional would necessarily consider.

5. We are contractually obligated to show up. As long as there is a contract in place, you can rest assured you will have your makeup done that day. That random friend who promised to do your makeup can cancel (or just not show) for any reason, like because she forgot, has a hangover, or couldn't find a sitter. I know we always want to look for the best in others, but you're putting your trust into someone who is not legally obligated to be there on one of the biggest days of your life. Don't take the chance.

If there's two things you should not skimp on in your wedding budget, it's your beauty services and your photographer. I promise you that it is worth every penny, and especially worth your peace of mind. Your wedding photos are forever, and there's no do-over. The food gets eaten, the alcohol gets consumed, the dance floor gets groovy... and you need to know that you're looking good through it all.

Ready to book? Reserve your date today!

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Why You Need To Hire A Professional Makeup Artist

Clarksville's Makeup Artist

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