You’ve got your venue, you’ve booked your photographer, the menu has been chosen and the flowers ordered. You and your bridal party have agreed on a perfect dress for all and the limousine just happened to be running a special for the weekend of your wedding. Things are running smoothly and just as you’ve planned. The stylist has confirmed and the save the dates are out. Now the testing begins.

Your menu was chosen after your tasting to make sure you love the options. The cake was chosen and ordered after you stopped in to try the different flavors and textures of this amazing desert that you’ll likely smear in each others faces. Your limo was picked after you visited the lot and sat in each one learning about which one had what. Your stylist is probably your own personal stylist that has cared for you and your tresses for years now and it’s just a no brainer that you’d choose her to style your hair for your big day. 

But what about your makeup artist? Generally speaking, we don’t all have an artist that we go to all the time and instead we beat our own faces at home and filter the hell out of them if necessary before we post to our social media outlets. This is one step in your wedding planning that you must not skip. You need a makeup trial. Touch base with your artist and schedule your trial at least 3 weeks prior too your wedding day. Let her know exactly what you’re looking for (if you know) or at least the feel you’re going for. Explain in detail and bring photos if you have them. The more details you can provide the better. Why do you really need to spend more money and have a makeup trial? Here’s why.

1. Because you two have likely never worked together before you’re going to want to get to know her first and foremost. It’s the most important day of your life so you want to spend that quality and memorable time getting ready with someone you get along with.
2. Don’t you want to know what she’ll be putting on your face? Is it Revlon and Maybelline or is it Kevyn Aucoin and Chanel? You’re PAYING for this after all, so you want to make sure that what is being used on you is quality, long lasting, professional makeup. Ideally it’s not something that you necessarily have in your own bag so that the whole experience feels like a luxurious experience that you can’t necessarily duplicate. Get your money’s worth!
3. Check out her tools! This will tip you off on just how clean and careful she is with her kit and gives you insight as to how careful she will be with you and your bridal party.
4. Do you have a skin condition or allergy? Having your makeup done before hand can help you determine if what is used on your face will cause an allergy or breakout. The last thing you want is for your eyes to water up and swell shut because you turned out to be allergic to the mascara (happened to me though not for my wedding, I’m not making this up, lol)
5. Finally you get to see the longevity of what you’ll be wearing. You can see the final product and wear it out. Check it out in the sun, in the house, in front of your selfie mirror. Does it fade as the day goes on? Does your skin itch? Did the lashes come off after a few hours? Did your lipstick fade? Are you sweating it off? 

All of these things are super important and should be found out BEFORE your big day. This way you can decide if this is the right artist for you.  Make sure you understand that you get what you pay for. Let me say that again, you get what you pay for!! There are soo many “artists” out there who aren’t makeup artists at all and charge super low rates because they will do makeup as an “add on”. I wouldn’t get my hopes up that they’re using anything quality on your face since they’re not giving makeup artistry the respect it deserves by choosing to call it an “add on”.

I’ve saved the day for many a bride that had their trial done too close to the wedding and hated it. They were frantic trying to find another artist and I worked my schedules around to drive to them and help them out. Don’t let that be you, get the trial!!