You want to look and feel truly beautiful on your wedding day. This is not the day to just hope that you have a good hair/makeup day. It is not the day to experiment with the latest colors, a new moisturizer, or a new fragrance. You have spent a great deal of time and energy making sure that every last detail is arranged: the gown, the setting, the bridal party, the photography and on and on. Don’t forget that the surroundings that you have worked so hard to create should include a relaxed and beautiful bride. Your face will be the center piece of ALL of your wedding pictures! Having a professional makeup artist come to you on your wedding day will allow you to have a morning of relaxation rather than a morning of stress.

Want to look your absolute best and prevent a frantic morning? Here are some wedding makeup ideas and tips to help make it happen:

1. Go through magazines to help you decide how you want your wedding makeup to look before you meet with your Makeup Artist. You  should know that wedding makeup is applied a little differently for photography and that it needs to last all day. Play up your best facial feature. Pick one. If you decide to focus on your lips, go a little lighter on your eyes and vice versa.

2. One to twelve months before the wedding date have a trial run with your Makeup Artist. Put a retainer down to hold your date and sign a contract. Note: Don’t confuse a person who does their own makeup well with a Professional Makeup Artist. A Professional Makeup Artist is specifically trained and should have the credentials to prove it. Wedding makeup is different and requires the knowledge of photography  and lighting. A Professional Makeup Artist will be able to apply your makeup to work best with the lighting/colors/etc. so that your makeup  looks as timeless as your wedding pictures.

3. For a flawless face have your foundation airbrushed, wear waterproof mascara, shadow base, and waterproof eyeliner. For kiss-proof lips, use a sealant over your lipstick. Don’t skip STELLA’s Invisible Powder by BEAUTY by Bethany lead artist Bethany Tiesman…it is essential  to avoid a shiny face!  Shiny face = oily to a camera lens.

4. Have faux eyelashes applied! This can open your eyes and help them appear more dramatic. When applied by your Makeup Artist they should last all day and look natural…just a bit more dramatic. Your Makeup Artist may offer strip lashes for the day of the wedding or you can have BEAUTY lashes (cluster lashes last approx. 2 weeks) the week of your wedding!

5. Give some thought to your eyebrows. Properly groomed and shaped brows help enhance and add expression to the face. They are without doubt an essential step to completing any wedding makeup application. Have the Makeup Artist wax/groom them at your trial run. Have them touched up the week of the wedding…but no later than 3 days before the wedding. Don’t wait until the wedding day to shape them the very first time.

6. A beautiful smile can be made more beautiful with brighter, whiter teeth. Splurge on professional teeth whitening or an over-the-counter teeth whitening product.

7. Start a great facial care regimen. Visit an aesthetician for a facial at least 4-6 months prior to your wedding to help get your skin on track. Drink PLENTY of water the week before your wedding. Makeup will go on better to hydrated skin. Glowing skin is a MUST on your  wedding day so prepare for it.

8. Tint your eyelashes/brows. If you have light/pale eyelashes ask your Makeup Artist to tint them at your trial. This will give you the illusion of having mascara on when you don’t (a must have for the tropical honeymoon). If your eyebrows are too dark (for your skin and hair color) have them lightened slightly so they won’t look to harsh…but if your brows are too light have them colored so that they will  frame your eyes and face better.

9. Don’t do anything drastic for the last few days before the wedding. This means no tanning (including spray on), no facials, no new cleansing or makeup products, and no eyebrow waxing (for the first time). Stick to your normal routine; what you know works. It would be rather upsetting to have an adverse reaction and have to walk down the aisle all red and rashy!

10. Do arrange to have a relaxed morning. If possible, have your hairstylist come to you. Have hair and makeup teams working on you and  your party at the same time. This way you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your friends and family!

11. The night before the wedding exfoliate your body and apply a body moisturizer. This will help your skin to feel soft and look glowing.

12. SLEEP, SLEEP, SLEEP! The night before most brides are wrapped up in the rehearsal and partying. There is only so much a  Professional Makeup Artist can do with your skin…and covering dark circles and puffy eyes aren’t as easily hidden.

13. For touch up’s on your wedding day you have two options: 1 – Hire the Makeup Artist for the day to be there for you and your  bridal party touch ups…or…2 – Use the touch up kit BEAUTY by Bethany will provide. It will include the lipcolor, lipliner, tissue, and an oil  control powder to keep in a purse for the whole day. If applied properly, this is ALL you will need to keep your makeup looking flawlessly!

14. Advise your soon-to-be-husband that if he is going to give you a gift to please have it delivered BEFORE you are to have your makeup  done. It is a sweet and thoughtful sentiment…the groom sends a wedding present to the bride before they walk down the aisle to be  married. Beautiful and sweet? Yes…but if possible try to exchange the gifts (and tears) before the fresh, makeup application.

15. Have a fabulous and BEAUTY-filled day!

-by Bethany Tiesman, BEAUTY by Bethany