How To Prepare For Your Bridal Makeup Trial

This blog is designed for you to get some tips and tricks in the lead up to your bridal makeup trial so you can get the most out of your appointment with your makeup artist & best results!

The Consultation

 All of your makeup requirements will be discussed, you and your makeup artist will look at any inspiration you may have. This is also a good time to go through your wedding day timings and put together the running times of the morning with any requirements you may have for the morning.

The Trial

 This is the full run-through of your wedding day makeup, the artist will apply the makeup in the way they think you want to look based on your consultation information. It is important to be very clear in your consultation what you may like and not like with makeup looks. It may be perfect on the first go but with your guidance, changes can be made and eyelashes applied if required. You shouldn’t leave disheartened so please voice any concerns if you are not 100% happy. Makeup artists are perfectionists and people pleasers so we want you to love everything about your experience. We want you to tell us if something isn’t right. Your trial is not only a chance to get your makeup spot on for you but also the opportunity for you and your bridal makeup artist to bond and get to know each other to ensure you have the smoothest experience on your wedding morning.

If you can book your hair and makeup on the same day it is helpful seeing your bridal beauty look come together. I recommend booking early with your makeup artist and hairstylist and hopefully if the dates work you can be accommodated on the same trial day. Take your makeup and hair on a night out if you can plan this, this gives you a chance to put the style to the test, gaining others opinion’s (if you want them!) and also allows you to see how everything sits together giving you an opportunity for changes if they need to be made.

Find a Look that is You

Before social media was huge, brides used to ‘scrapbook’ makeup and hair looks from magazines which were so cute. Now life is so much easier with Pinterest if you haven’t discovered the rabbit hole of inspiration you should take a look! It’s easy to make mood-boards of the different aspects of your wedding so it’s always handy to bring along any inspiration you have. whether it’s a makeup board of one picture or 20 it doesn’t matter. It helps your artist visualise your bridal look a get a feel of the day. We love to see photos of your wedding dress, colour scheme, bridesmaid dresses, hairstyle at your bridal makeup trial so we can see the full picture to ensure your makeup will fit in with the style.

What should you wear to the trial?

It’s important to think about what style of top you choose to wear for your makeup trial. Imagine trying to envisage your soft and romantic bridal makeup look with a neon hoodie! Pretty distracting right? Opt for a Neutral top or white top in the same cut as your dress. It doesn’t have to be ivory but just as long as the colour is soft it won’t be too distracting and will complement the makeup. You will really get to feel it coming together especially if you are able to style your hair similar to how you plan to dress it on the wedding day.

If you are wanting to be extra prepared, bring along your bridal jewellery and accessories to your trial to see if your makeup fits with the full look!

Who should you bring to your trial?

Who are you bringing with you to the trial? It goes without saying that you want someone there that you know will be supportive, give kind and honest opinions and who will enjoy the experience. If any members of your bridal party are also having a trial the above info also applies to them as well. Obviously they are there to feel and look beautiful but most importantly to compliment you, the bride. Not overshadow you. It is ok to come alone too, you may not want to show anyone your style/ look you are going for build suspense!

What’s your ‘I can’t live without’?

Is there is a specific way you like your makeup done, for example, really sharp bold eyeliner? Or products that you couldn’t live without?  Feel free to come wearing that part of your makeup so the artist can see how you like it to be done. Bring products that you love using if you want to include it in your wedding makeup or a colour that you love or I may have something in my makeup armour that is comparable.

I know it’s exciting when you get things booked in but there is no need to rush booking your consultation in, especially if it’s a year or more until you get married.

However if having your makeup applied by a stranger makes you feel anxious you should request an early trial to put your mind at ease and then book another ‘refresher’ trial closer to the wedding date.

Found out more information on our wedding makeup and beauty services:

3 Steps to Booking a Makeup Artist for your Wedding Day

Every bride wants to look their absolute best on their wedding day. Not only will every eye in the house be on you, you will also want to look your best for your future husband as he sees you for the first time!  All of these factors, plus the fact that your wedding is the biggest excuse to truly pamper yourself means that booking a makeup artist is a bridal essential.

Bridal makeup action shot

So, where do you start when choosing your makeup artist?

The first thing to do is look through their portfolio. All makeup artists should have a website and social media pages. Showcasing previous clients that display the rich variety of looks that they have achieved.  You should also get a ‘feel’ that they can adapt each look to work with your individual style and personality.

Once you’re happy with the makeup artist’s work, it can be an idea to scroll through the testimonials. They are a great way of gauging how happy previous clients are and what to expect from the service.

Finally, you need to speak with the makeup artist. They should do all they can to answer your questions and put you at ease. I believe a makeup artist shouldn’t JUST have makeup skills. It’s equally important that they can help the bride relax as she prepares for the biggest day of her life. 

When do you book your makeup artist?

You need to book as early as possible. Like all wedding suppliers, you will find that the makeup artists also get booked up in advance. Make contact as soon as you are ready to get the ball rolling. You don’t always have to have a makeup trail to go ahead and book your makeup artist. You can book and secure your makeup artist and have your trial closer to your wedding day once you have finalised your dress, colour scheme and more. This way you can really work together to utilise these elements when creating the perfect look for you.

I suggest booking your trial around 2-3 months before the wedding. If you are planning on having a fake tan & false lashes, you need to experiment with that around this time to finalise the finished look. It’s a great idea to come to the trial with the tan you intend on getting married in (although its not a bother if you don’t). The same goes for hair colour. Although your makeup artist should be able to adapt to skin and hair colourings easily, you’ll feel much more confident if you have established the exact look with time to spare.

If you are planning on having your brows shaped professionally. It is wise to do this just before the trial because your eyebrows frame your face. It can be surprising how different your brow shape can make you look. 

Finally, its a great idea to pair your makeup trial with a special occasion that you are attending so you can wear your finished makeup look out and put it to the test & get your friends and family’s opinions if you wish!

What should you expect from your makeup consultation?

Keep a Pinterest board of anything wedding related including some beautiful makeup and hair looks that you LOVE! Instagram is also a great place to save down any makeup and hair inspiration you have seen in the lead up to your makeup trial. Your MUA can recreate them to suit your facial features and colouring. If you’re not sure where to start, your makeup artist can suggest some styles that will look incredible on you! You can then try them out until you have something that you absolutely adore.

Makeup artists love to get feedback during the trial. Try to be constructive and let us know your thoughts and we will make you look like a million dollars! The makeup artist you book should be happy to keep tweaking until you have a look that you are completely happy with. 

It’s a good idea to book your makeup trial and hair trial for the same day, to see how the styles work together. You will always feel over done at your makeup trial, remember its not every day that you get a makeup artist to pamper you with a makeup that you might not normally wear yourself on a day to day. Ideally, you’ll have your hair styled first as certain hairstyles bring out different features and I can work your makeup to tie in with this. It’s also an idea if you wear an outfit with colour in a similar shade to your wedding dress.  Different colours will have a different impact on your skin tone and give a different impression.  

Top tip - Try to save down some makeup styles that are not over edited and try to think about what about that specific makeup you save you loved the most. In today’s culture, it is very easy to look on social media and see perfection & airbrushes/ edited makeup. This is not reality and you will always see fine lines and potentially abit of texture on the skin. This is normal! Whilst your makeup artist will always do their best to ensure you are flawless and feeling the best version of yourself, we are not wizards so can’t remove any blemishes if they are raised or texture on the skin. We can only ensure we are prepping and putting the correct products on to mask & ensure it lasts you all day and night!

Skincare prep in the lead up to your wedding day…

Looking after your skin is vital in the run-up to the wedding. Not only is flawless skin an integral part of the final makeup look, but all the stress in the build-up to the wedding can lead to breakouts or dry skin.

Your skin takes around 4 weeks to renew itself so you need to get into a good skincare routine at least a month (minimum) before the big day, Ideally 3 months before if you are trying new products into your routine to prevent any reactions on the skin. You may also want to take a vitamin supplement that is made to boost your skin’s health. As well as cleansing and moisturising twice a day, it’s a good idea to invest in a good quality eye cream and moisturiser that suits your skin. Use a face/sheet mask to feel pampered and importantly implement a (BHA) exfoliant into your daily regime.

Facials are a great way to boost your skin’s radiance and get a really thorough cleanse. It’s a good idea to start getting monthly facials 6 months before the big day. This means that by the time of your trial your skin will be in great condition. If you know you don’t react to a specific facial, it can be nice to get one the week before the wedding for optimum skin on the big day. 

A simple but effective way to ensure your skin is looking flawless on your special day = Drinking plenty of water! Drinking plenty of water in the lead up to your wedding day is a great way to ensure your skin is looking supple and hydrated and will reduce the risk of breakouts. Level your water up by adding a squeeze of lemon to purify your skin production!

Photography credit - Benjamin Stuart Wheeler

“Katie made me feel the best I’ve ever felt, she is friendly, attentive and just the best makeup artist and sweetest soul ever. All my bridesmaids commented on how beautiful their makeup was and how confident they felt on the day. Katie was amazing at making me feel calm on my wedding day too! I would highly recommend Katie to anyone and will definitely be using her in the future. Thank you for making me feel my best from start to finish, you are one in a million ”

— Bride- Katie