Makeup- do yourself or get someone in?

Can't help there... but thought I'd say.. I know the problem!

I'm asking myself the same question at the moment. On one hand i think you know what you like so best of doing it yourself but on the other most ppl who use them really rate make up artists. Only problem is most in my area charge a small fortune for a trial and then even more for the day itself.

Re Mac they charge £25 for a "trial" but is redeemable against their products if you decide to buy i believe. For me they are too heavy where as i had a brilliant lady from Estee Lauder do my make up in Boots but they don't offer Bridal make up. x

Im doing my own

Went to see fab girl at Max factor counter who gave me a free make over and tons of advice. So far I have had 2 run throughs at home, going to do a couple more as well, just so im happy and confident in what im doing.

I was in the same predicament and in the end I opted to pay to have someone come and do it for me - I know on the day I'll be too nervous/excited to get it right, so it'll take me twice as long and I'll balls up my timings then! Also, doing make up for everyday and bridal make up are totally different. What I would say if you do it yourself is that if you have a TOG taking preparations shots of hair/make up make sure the make up is showing up on his camera -sometimes what we think is enough make up isn't for photos! xxx

I had a couple of free trials with Estee Lauder and Clinique - My mum came and watched - I bought make -up from Clinique and my mum did it on the day.

It was fine, looked lovely and I had great make-up for afterwards too

I had 3 trials all with different people and i didnt like what they done.

I figured i do a good enough job of my make up on a daily basis so i am going to do it myself.

I found make up artists cake on the foundation and i hate that!

I am planning on getting someone to do it, I don't want the extra stress on the day of having to do it myself. It is going to be my treat to myself and the bridesmaids.

I had a free trial with bobbi brown, which i hated. i also paid £25 for a trial with mac, which wasn't any more helpful, though as the £25 is redeemable against purchases, i did get a nice foundation brush and eyeshadow out of it.

the problem was that they didn't make me look like me, nor did it the way i wanted. this could be because 1, i'm a control freak, or 2, i wear make up everyday so none of them did it any better than me. that's not to say i'm a genius or anything, i just didn't think they did a better job. in the end, i did it myself. i wore the same make up that i wear every day, except with a better foundation, and slightly heavier eye make up, and took a bit more time over it.

i think it's worth going for trials, either to reassure yourself that you can do it ok, or to get some ideas. if they do it amazingly, ask if they do freelance make up? i know the lady that did my mac makeover did. or, if you have a friend whom is into make up, ask her to do some practices with you?

if you are looking for recommendations, i cannot recommend estee lauder double wear light highly enough. it gives good coverage, but isn't too heavy, and stays on alllllll day, which is a godsend for an oily skinned girl like yours truly.

eta - sorry, much longer post than i realised!

I am a beauty therapist and i do bridal makeup..

But on my wedding day i will be paying for someone to do it for me.. I see it as It all adds to the excitement of the day.. plus i will be in no fit state to do my makeup as perfect as i would like .. xx

I am obviously biased as i am a makeup artist.

You should be in very safe hands if you do your research and go for an artist with lots of bridal experience. It important that you have a chat with them about how you want to look on the day, the colourscheme and feel of the wedding and whether you wear makeup on a daily basis. This way the artist should get you looking exactly how you want to look at the practice.

A professional artist will know what will look best in the flesh and on camera and will also apply makeup that lasts all day.

If you do your own makeup you may find that it costs more to buy all the products that you would need for the wedding day.

Thankyou everyone. i use alot of virgin vie makeup and ive just ordered a liquid eyeliner (normally use pencil) and some brown eyeshadows with the intention of using them as wedding makeup. i think i need a good lipstick and foundation so will go to mac and buy fromthem, ill take my eyeshadow there and see what they say about the colours, im sure if they know they will be making a sale they wont get too funny about eyeshadow. then ill pactice practice practice!!! i think them doing my makeup will tell me if id want someone to do it for me, i wear it all the time and am quite particular so dont know if id trust someone else enough, i think i might be more relaxed doing my own makeup though on the day. if nothing else ill have aload of new makeup for when i go out!!!! xx

I was going to do it myself because I'm a bit of a rock chick and didnt want to look like a tangoed pearly pink bride

Then I found out an old friend from my clubbing days is a make up artist now so opted for her to do it as she knows my style I had my trial on saturday

she uses airbrush foundation which felt very light and I dont think I looked tangoed at all

I love what shes done with your eyes, i always wear a darker colour in the corners like that but i suppose its getting the whole eyelid right!!!

I can't stand anyone doing my make up - and I always hate the results - so I'll be doing my own.

If you want to do your own but still feel pampered, why don't you go for a facial a few days beforehand? Or go for a massage the day before to get you relaxed?

I'll be investing in a good waterproof mascara and foundation, trying to find a lipstick thats not too tarty, and following a good skin routine for a month beforehand.

Thank you Im very pleased with it

Where are you? I can pass on her details if you like shes very reasonably priced