Congratulations! We are honored you have chosen Makeup by Merideth to be a part of your special day! This post was created to help you prepare for your bridal makeup preview appointment leading up to your big day.
Here’s how you can have an incredible experience at your bridal makeup preview:
1. Gather Inspiration
There’s an overwhelming amount of inspiration to find online for your bridal look. Here’s the best place to start: gathering your favorite looks on Instagram or Pinterest (bonus points if it’s from our MBM portfolio)!
Most importantly, gather inspiration pictures with a model who has similar features to yours (skin tone, hair color, eye color, etc) for the most realistic outcome. Remember, the majority of makeup pictures you’ll find on Pinterest are, unfortunately, heavily photoshopped. But don’t worry – we will work with you to help you understand what’s realistic and what might not be.
If you can’t find the exact makeup style you’re envisioning, a collection of looks you like will give your artist a ‘feel’ of the look you’re going for. Feel free to screenshot our latest work from Instagram, or take a look at our wedding makeup inspiration boards here.
2. Communicate Your Look Like a Pro
While your artist will ask you a series of questions during your appointment to nail down your vision, we recommend asking yourself a few questions to get a true understanding of what you want:
– How much makeup do you wear on a daily basis?
You might normally wear minimal makeup, a full face of makeup, or maybe none at all. There’s no “wrong” answer, but making your artist aware of your “comfortability level” with makeup will ensure you love your look. Even if you’re willing to “take it up a notch” on your wedding day, communicating how much makeup you are comfortable wearing daily will give your artist an educated starting point.
– Do you have skin concerns?
Whether you have acne-prone skin, oily skin, dry skin, or texture concerns, let us know! We will use a combination of curated products and pro techniques to make sure your skin looks great and your makeup lasts all night.
– What style is your wedding dress?
Is it modern or romantic? Understated or structured? Is there detail around the neckline? You may want to show off your décolletage, highlight your collarbones, or have us airbrush away any body blemishes that may be exposed. Sharing these details will help us guide you toward your dream look.
– What shades and tones do you prefer on your eyes?
Warm tones, cool tones, browns, purples? If you’re unsure what suits you best, that’s ok too! We’re here to recommend a color palette that compliments your eye color and skin tone.
3. Consider Your Photographer’s Editing Style
This is so often overlooked by makeup artists, but it’s critical to consider this during your bridal preview.
If your photographer has a “light and airy” editing style, that will drastically affect how washed-out you could end up looking in your photos. You may end up needing a little more blush, bronzer, or eyeshadow so your look still photographs well.
If your photographer has a “dark and moody” style, we often like to use a lighter touch than normal so your makeup doesn’t appear too heavy in photos.
And if your photographer has a “true-to-color” style, what you see in person is typically very similar to how it will photograph.
We understand the delicate balance between making sure you look your best in pictures, while also looking beautiful in person, so you can feel confident about looking great in both settings.
4. How to Arrive to Your Appointment
SKINCARE:
We suggest arriving to your bridal makeup preview with clean skin, free of residual face & eye makeup. Feel free to have on moisturizer or sunscreen if you normally wear it. Each appointment begins with ultra-pampering luxury skin prep, including skin cleansing, gentle facial exfoliation, and lip moisturizing. If you’re able to schedule a HydraFacial (our personal favorite) beforehand at your local spa, even better! This will allow your makeup to lay on the skin flawlessly.
CLOTHING:
Wear something that makes you feel beautiful! A pretty off-the-shoulder top or your favorite white dress will enhance your experience and, believe it or not, can affect your choices throughout your consultation. This is a special experience during your planning process, so enjoy it!
TIP: Wear white, cream, or the color of your wedding dress to give you a sense of how your makeup will look next to your dress.
5. Make it a Date Night!
Now that you look and feel amazing, put your beautiful makeup to good use! I always encourage my brides to go out for dinner and drinks that evening if you can. Your date night makeup has already been done for you, and it’s a great way to slow down and connect with your fiancé in the midst of all the wedding planning. Making plans like this during your engagement can really help an overwhelming planning process feel so much more enjoyable.
6. Share Your Feedback
Sharing your feedback is one of the most crucial parts of this entire process. After wearing your look all night, we want to hear your honest thoughts. If you’re wanting to make a few adjustments to your look, that is welcomed and completely normal!
We are firm believers that makeup is not one-size-fits-all. Makeup wears differently on everyone, and hearing your feedback is crucial to help us perfect your look on your wedding day. We’ll make notes on any tweaks you’d like to make, so that by the time your big day rolls around, your makeup looks and feels exactly the way you envisioned.
We hope this guide helps you feel more comfortable prepping for your bridal makeup preview. We can’t wait to meet you & work together to create your dream wedding look!
Ready to book your bridal makeup preview? Contact us here.
Prep for Your Bridal Makeup Preview
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