Do I really need someone to do my make-up?

No, I don't think you have to have a MUA and no I don't think you're being naive. I am OK at makeup and wear it most days so I always thought I would do my own but the lady I booked for my hair didn't charge that much more for makeup so I thought I would just go for it. I am worried about it being caked on but pics of her other brides are really nice and natural plus I will be having a trial before the wedding to make absolutely sure I won't look like a clown. I also think it will take the pressure off me and I won't have to worry about getting my eyes wonky or anything.

You definitely have a point about wonky eyes. My eyeliner always tends to go wonky when I have somewhere to go!

I think only you know if you do or not, I thought the same myself but in the end did use one as I thought I deserved a wee treat. To be honest, when I first looked in the !irror it was more make up than I would normally wear but in the pictures it looked absolutely amazing.

This is the important part. A good MUA knows exactly what they need to do to make you look good both in person and in pictures. I know that when I do my own, often it either doesn't show at all in photos or it's really obvious that I'm wearing it (not in a good way!) I decided it was safer to get someone to do it for me, especially as one of my neighbours works for M.A.C. and is amazing.

It's worth having an MUA if you can afford a good one. It's the difference between you being you with makeup on and you being an amazing version of you - one you haven't seen before.

The transformation of a good MUA is remarkable.

It's worth having an MUA if you can afford a good one. It's the difference between you being you with makeup on and you being an amazing version of you - one you haven't seen before.

The transformation of a good MUA is remarkable.

If you know all the right things to use so that the make up photographs correctly then you're fine doing it yourself. I was going to do my own but at the last minute decided to have a trial and see, and that was it, I was sold. I explained I don't wear make up on a day to day and that I wanted to look natural, and it looked great. Most importantly though, it photographed beautifully and lasted all day, I couldn't feel it on my face and hubby didn't end up wearing any of it either!

I am a make up junkie, so I will be doing my own. If you feel confident with your skills then go for it. Just look online for products and techniques for photo make-up! :-)

There are a few people on here who are very good at putting on their own makeup and wished they hadn't on the day. most said the whole morning was so frantic that they didn't leave themselves enough time to do it properly and then felt rushed and it didn't look as good as they wanted. With a MUA you have some one who makes you sit down and have the make up put in. With calm steady hands. Have you ever been to a really important do where you are desperate for your make up to look perfect and you just can't get it right and you get more flustered and end up in a flap. Imagine that times ten.

If if you are normally a calm unflappable person or you don't wear much makeup and won't on the day then you would be fine doing it yourself. Or maybe your wedding is small so you won't be as nervous. Make sure you research foundations, primers and concealers as some have ingredients which reflect in photos which will make you look ghostly or your skin uneven.

I'm a makeup person, I wear it lots, experiment with new looks and brands. Have a huge collection of makeup. Would not even think about doing it myself for my wedding. I will be nervous and want it perfect which is a bad combination for doing it myself. My MUA was one of the the first things I booked.

I'm a trained MUA and even I considered having someone else do it for me on the day as I was worried about nerves getting the better of me on the morning. I actually had a trial with a fellow MUA who was great but I decided I'd do my own as I think it will actually keep me calmer doing it myself, I'm also going to be doing most of my two bridesmaids makeup. But that's just how I am, I'll need to focus on something.

Unless you are very confident with your makeup or you really don't wear any or much at all normally I would get a pro MUA. They know how to enhance your features, disguise the bits you don't like and ensure you look photo perfect. It's quite different having makeup applied that will last through such an intense day and look great in photos, compared to your usual night out makeup say.

If you find the right person, you definitely won't look like a clown. Often it does feel like you're wearing more makeup than you would every day, but that's because of the reasons above. Normally on your wedding day you want to look like the best version of yourself, and a good MUA will help you do that. Do some online searching for one in your area, or ask friends who've recently got married. Find someone who you can see good examples of their work and who's happy to chat to you about what you want, then when you feel comfortable with that have a trial - that's essential.

Good Luck!

I'm a trained MUA and even I considered having someone else do it for me on the day as I was worried about nerves getting the better of me on the morning. I actually had a trial with a fellow MUA who was great but I decided I'd do my own as I think it will actually keep me calmer doing it myself, I'm also going to be doing most of my two bridesmaids makeup. But that's just how I am, I'll need to focus on something.

Unless you are very confident with your makeup or you really don't wear any or much at all normally I would get a pro MUA. They know how to enhance your features, disguise the bits you don't like and ensure you look photo perfect. It's quite different having makeup applied that will last through such an intense day and look great in photos, compared to your usual night out makeup say.

If you find the right person, you definitely won't look like a clown. Often it does feel like you're wearing more makeup than you would every day, but that's because of the reasons above. Normally on your wedding day you want to look like the best version of yourself, and a good MUA will help you do that. Do some online searching for one in your area, or ask friends who've recently got married. Find someone who you can see good examples of their work and who's happy to chat to you about what you want, then when you feel comfortable with that have a trial - that's essential.

Good Luck!

I was considering doing my own had a couple of trials at the makeup counters in Debenhams buy it highlighted for me how little I do know about makeup and realised how stressed I would be on day trying to use the products. I was so lucky to find a lady who did make up for 15 quid and she was trained with bare minerals which was the brand I had already chosen. Fell very lucky!

I am definitely doing my own, I absolutely hate having my make up done and I always have the urge to wash it all off, no matter how good it looks! It just makes me not feel like me and I can't really explain why. It feels like i have cheated! I think people always look lovely with theirs done, it just comes down to personal preference. Mind you, I am having a tiny wedding (but would do my own regardless) I do wear makeup but hardly any foundation type stuff and I think this is a factor. I also have stupidly sensitive skin.

I don't mind having my hair and nails done though, so there is clearly no logic! Go with whatever suits you- maybe have a trial and see how you feel?

I'm doing my own. I considered an MUA but as we're getting married so far from home, I wouldn't have been able to have a trial, and I was afraid that they wouldn't do it the way I wanted. I get very anxious being touched by people I don't know, so for me the thought made me far more nervous than the idea of doing my own!

If you do decide to do your own, do plenty of research. I have spent months researching techniques and products, sampled lots of different brands, and practiced the look I'm going for. I put it on in the house and made myself cry to test it, took unflattering selfies with flash on my phone, and I've worn versions of it out at sweaty nightclubs. At this point I feel very confident in it. Maybe an MUA could make me look better,but I'll look and feel like me and won't be anxious about it, which is very important to me.

I wear makeup all the time and like to think im quite good at it. However i dont want my makeup to look like it always does. I want it to look amazing!! I think if you can afford a mua then defo get one. They also have makeup that works well with cameras!

I know what you mean about a stranger touching you, I am weirdly freaked by such things. Don't really enjoy getting my hair done either for that reason.

i think I'm going to have to add it to the ever increasing list of 'stuff to look in to'. I am obviously trying to look as amazing as I can, and I suppose I'm not sure if I can do that. Hmmm... more to ponder.

I was going to do my own. but then considered that i will likely be nervous with shaky hands! and also two bridesmaids to do aswell. i decided to ask a friend of mine who taught me everything i know about makeup. she was over the moon to be asked, im paying her despite her protestations. i also get the benefit of someone who really knows my style, can have multiple trials on a nice girly evening in.

I am torn between the two tbh

i think the main reason i am doubting myself as sometimes i do my own makeup and it goes perfect, other times it look blah or my eyebrows go wrong or my eyeshaddow and everything inbetween.

i have found a mua that is a good price though so i am atleast going to do a trial with her and see if its what i want

This has made me think! I don't wear make up a lot, but I can do make up. My issue is when I've tried it for the wedding makeup myself it doesn't show in pictures. And I worry if I put more on myself it won't look good. I have all the correct products etc. So thought maybe a make up artist would be better. I spoke to MOH and she said I won't look good and will look like a clown and stupid ( those who have read previous posts will know she has a way of words and making you feel good lol) people touching me doesn't bother me. I'more worried about spending money o trials etc and not liking it. Wats steering me more toward a mua is they know what looks good for pictures it may be a shock when you first look in the mirror but will still look good. I want to look stunning not normal which I think I won't be able to do. It's a tough one!

I only really wear make-up when I'm going out or when I've got an event on at work. I considered doing it myself but then I thought about how stressed I would be if I couldn't get my lashes on properly (I always have issues with one eye!), or couldn't get my eyebrows identically arched etc.

If I had the skill I would do it myself, but as things stand I'd end up taking all day! Plus, I've never had my make-up done professionally so I thought I'd treat myself

x

I never wear make-up but did have a MUA. I knew her personally which really helped as i'm a bit weird about strangers touching me (I hate going to the hairdresser etc). I was so worried i'd look weird with lots of make-up but it looked really good.

As long as you're clear about what you want (e.g. natural) and you've got a good MUA it's a nice experience. I wouldn't have been able to do my own make-up I think. I wasn't hugely nervous but if it hadn't been quite right i would have got hugely stressed about it.

Why don't you try those MAC wedding masterclasses? I saw a poster at House of Fraser about this. They teach you how to do your own wedding make-up... Could be a fun thing to do with the BMs? I'm not sure how much it costs though.

I was going to do my own - I didn't think I could justify the expense of a MUA, when I was never after something WOW in any event. I wear make up on a daily basis, had a couple of lessons with Dior, and bought a few nice bits of make up, but I just end up wearing the same thing, whether I am at work, or going out for the night.

So, over the past few months I have moved more and more towards having someone do my make up on the day, just so that it doesn't look like it does every other day, and for every other event!

I'm getting married at a hotel where there is also a full spa, so the girls from there are going to come up to my suite while I am getting ready, and will do my make up. It is costing £30 which is much less than I had originally been quoted elsewhere, and includes a free trial, so if I don't like what they do, I won't take it any further.

So, although I don't want to look like someone else, I DO want to look the best version of me, and that's worth £30 any day!!

My bridesmaid did my make up for me, and did a really good job. I don't wear much make up normally so didn't want to overdo it on the day. She is good at make up anyway so we just did a couple of trial runs before the wedding.

I know that obviously I'm biased in this one but a professional mua will make a huge difference on the day. I've worked on literally 1000s of brides so nothing rattles me and I always have a steady hand. Even if you're amazing at your own makeup nerves can kick in and you might struggle to apply your makeup. A pro will have studied photographic makeup so will know what products will look amazing on camera and in the flesh - trust me there's a lot of products on the market that don't. A pro will use tricks and techniques that mean your makeup will last until you remove it (a lot of my brides still look great the next day!). Lastly it's actually more cost effective than buying all your own products - if I totted up the cost of the products that I use on a typical face it could be near £400. If you do your homework and pick a mua with a lot of experience, great portfolio and reviews and an up to date Facebook or Instagram (so you can see their most recent work) you should only need to have one trial with one artist. Juliet x

If you're confident to do it then go for it. I will be doing my own just because I've never been very happy with it when others have done it for me.

I do have a few tips for you though, firstly use a foundation with no SPF to avoid looking really pale in flash photos (celebre hd pro foundation is great)

and practise what you want before the day, don't try anything new on the day! Make sure your mascara is waterproof incase of tears and you should be fine. Good luck

I am planning to do my own because I am getting married abroad and 1. Can't really spare the money for it, 2. Have no idea how to go about finding a MUA in Italy and 3. Not sure I would like what I was given! When my sister got married we had a MUA who was asked to make us look 'natural' but in my opinion there was way too much foundation and way too much/too dark eye shadow. Didn't look natural to me at all!

I have been to a few wedding shows and got a couple of vouchers for a free bobby brown make up lesson - the reps give them away in the goody bag - so me and my sister will be going for a lesson to do ours ourselves.

Think I will look for some tips or maybe have a trial in the UK before I go to get an idea of what bridal make up looks like on my face so I know what products to buy and how to apply them.

From a photographers perspective......and depends if you are like me and have oily skin. A good MUA is worth every penny. Even if you grab a student in training at the local makeup college or in House of fraser counter or something. The long wearing good make up really polished up well with your final photos. I do a bit of photoshop on my bridal portraits (erase dark under eye circles) so can fix these things in post, but most photographers dont. Mmmmm. But I totes know you want to save budget, but perhaps you can squeeze it from somewhere else?! x