DIY Wedding Make Up vs Hiring a Professional Make Up Artist
Should you do your own wedding make up or hire a professional? Many of my brides wrestle with this decision, usually between booking the venue and panicking about the seating plan.
As a wedding make up artist you’d likely expect me to say hire a professional. But it is not that simple. I'd rather give you my honest perspective. Here are the real pros and cons of both.
When doing your own wedding make up makes sense
If you're confident with make up, you know what suits your skin, and you genuinely love doing it, there's real joy in getting ready yourself. Some brides find it calming. Others opt for doing their own wedding make up because they are working to a budget, and that's completely valid.
DIY often looks cheaper on paper than it can be in practice. Once you've bought the products, the brushes, and maybe a make up lesson or two to feel confident, the gap between doing it yourself and hiring a professional is usually smaller than you'd expect.
You'll also need to carve out the time on your wedding morning and manage it yourself, which is one more thing to hold on a day that's already full.
Why I'd still choose a professional on my own wedding day
Even though I do this for a living and could do my own wedding day bridal make up, I'd still book a make up artist for my own wedding day. Here's why:
A calm, unhurried morning
Being able to sit back, relax, and know your hair and make up is handled changes how you feel walking down the aisle. A professional make up artist always sets out a timeline for the morning so you and your bridal party are ready on time, with no rushing and no stress. They know exactly how long everything takes, so you don't have to think about it.
A look you've already fallen for
With a professional, you book a preview to trial your wedding make up look, then tweak it right up until the day until it's exactly what you want. No surprises on the morning, because you've already seen it and loved it.
Experience you can lean on
Years of weddings, in the UK and abroad, mean a professional make up artist specialising in brides and wedding day makeup can tailor your make up to your skin, work with any areas you're concerned about, and suggest things you might not have thought of. The result is a look that holds up in person and in every single photo.
A kit that's already been put through its paces
A professional make up artist invests in products they trust, with shades and formulas to suit you and the look you want. Doing your own make up means researching and testing all of that yourself to get there.
An extra pair of hands, and a steady one
A professional make up artist gives you far more than make up. From helping you into your dress to slipping on your shoes, your make up artist is there as a calm presence as much as a practical one when you need it.
So, which is right for you: DIY bridal make up or hiring a professional make up artist?
If you're confident or on a budget or you love doing your own make up, DIY is for you.
If you'd rather protect your wedding day morning, feel completely looked after, and know you’re in experienced hands, a professional is worth every penny.
Only you know which one sounds more like the start you want to your wedding day, trust that.
Ready to talk about your wedding day look? Visit my bridal make up page / get in touch here.