Should I do my own wedding makeup?

Let’s ask the question everyone planning their wedding is probably thinking at some point, “Should I cut costs and DIY my wedding day makeup?” And you know what? The answer may be yes.

I know, I’m a professional Hair and Makeup Artist, and I’m not trying to sell you on professional Hair and Makeup for your wedding day. Well, under certain conditions that is. Let’s talk about them!

First of all, I’m a big believer in making your wedding day as stress free as possible. And a lot of times, that means I will suggest hiring a professional for your beauty look! It’s a really great chance to be pampered, feel absolutely radiant, know that your skin and hair are being well taken care of, and check something off of your to do list. But if you’re trying to have a super low budget wedding, or even if makeup isn’t a priority for you, then it makes sense to cut it as a cost! Because you get what you pay for, and a professional will cost it. (And likewise, an amateur may be less expensive, but you get what you pay for there as well. And I don’t mean that in a good way)

So when would I recommend cutting out hair and makeup?

Let’s start simple. If you’re not interested in getting your hair and makeup done, don’t force it. It should be an enjoyable experience, not a chore. If you’re happy doing your own, or not doing any at all, great! Go for it.

Now what if you’re eloping, or having a micro wedding and keeping costs low? Do you have any experience with makeup, even if it’s just enjoying how you do your own? I’d say this is a grey area. If having that polished wedding look is important to you, you can always find a makeup artist who will be willing to travel with you. But if you just want help picking out the right products, or a guide on how to create the look you’d like, consider scheduling a makeup lesson or personal shop with a professional! Lessons and shops will usually be significantly less expensive than hiring someone to do a whole wedding, and you still do your own makeup, but you get to have professional guidance every step of the way, helping you create something you really love with the skills and products you need.

However, if you don’t feel very comfortable doing your own makeup, or you’re stressed out about the pressure but are thinking about doing it to cut costs, I don’t recommend it. There are always ways to cut costs with weddings, or keep things in budget. Choose the thing that matters most to you, or one to three things, and don’t sacrifice those. (Oh, and if pictures are one of those things? Then I definitely recommend a professional makeup artist. Cameras, and especially editing, can change how we look more than you think. Professionals have products that specifically play well on camera, and knowledge and tricks on how to keep things looking how you want them to look)

So tell me, are you thinking about doing your own hair or makeup for your wedding day? Let me know in the comments below! And if you are interested in booking a professional for services, or scheduling a makeup lesson, check out my About page or Services page to see if we’d be a fit, and drop me a line!