Okay, a little levity and fun here! When preparing for your wedding many women think this means more makeup, more hair. Think again... :: THESE IMAGES ARE DEFINATE DON'Ts (except for Liz) :: DON'T 1. Too Much! — Less is more. Let your makeup and hair compliment YOU, your dress and accessories. You want a complete and finished look that compliments you and makes you feel at ease. Ahem... DON'T 2. Too Trendy — Sure today everyone is wearing Hello Kitty pearly pink, but 5 years from now you want to look at photos that have a timeless, classic and clean face. Don’t "date" your photos with super shimmer. Go with matte, neutral makeup colors and textures - you'll thank me later. DON'T 3. Makeup that is not you —If you never wear much makeup, don’t walk down the aisle or show up at a party looking like you lost a fight with a Drag Queen. Let your professional makeup artist help you determine the most flattering makeup look for you. Or as I always say - You, only better! ;) Fabulous! NOT... DON'T 4. Matchy-Matchy — Let your wedding party keep their personalities (and dignity) in tact and wear looks that suit them. Don’t give everyone bright shadows to match the dresses. Also, and I'm just going to say it - don't let that one friend who wants to shine above THE BRIDE do so. You know the one! Keep a cohesive, polished look for the entire party. That way everyone will get their chance to shine - especially for the formal pictures. Again, pretty and classic will win the day for most all weddings. (Yes, I'm showing bridesmaid dresses, but I think you get my point.) DON'T 5. Waiting until the last minute to look for your hair and makeup artist — I get a lot of last minute, frantic wedding day makeup inquiries. Please look a year ahead or so to find and book your wedding makeup artist and hairstylists - if you're spending a small fortune on wedding photos - do hire a professional to be a part of your "team". Compared to florals - which don't last past the week (don't get me wrong, florists are essential too) - your makeup and hair will be showcased in your photos for life. Just a consideration. :) Liz or Donatella? Which one are you? DON'T 6. Doing Too Much — so many brides rush out at the last minute to do too much - spray on tans, fake nails, facials - and end up with major flare ups, skin eruptions, bad tan jobs, etc. You've seen the pictures. You've heard the stories. Try not to deviate from you regular skincare routine. Continue to eat well, exercise, drink lots and lots of water, sleep 8+ hours (ha!) and try to avoid excessive intake of alcohol and caffeine (haha!) This is a MAJOR NO-NO to do too much all at once. Plan months ahead for any of your skin care changes, tanning (please don't be an OOMPALOOMPA!) and such. Please be a Liz and NOT a Donatella - in the tanning department...just sayin... DON'T 7. No Touch Ups — any great makeup artist will tell you that you do need a touch up or two. You will need blotting papers or powder to control face shine before photos, lipstick to reapply. Have a designated "beauty helper" to keep an eye out for you if they see you may need a little something and touch up. DON'T 8. Wrong look for you and your wedding style — magazines are great tools for inspiration - but remember we're talking about models, plastic surgery in some cases AND major photography editing - plus what looks good on someone in a magazine may not suit you. A common mistake is choosing a look that is super glamorous for their simple garden theme (the smokey eye and the pale Pam Anderson lip are common- OY!) Coordinate your look to the time of your event and wedding. And remember you can NEVER go wrong with classic clean beauty for your wedding. (I love Pammy, but not for most wedding looks... unless it's Vegas!) DON'T 9. Too shiney — I haven’t met a bride who didn’t want a “dewey” shining cheek. Careful because it can look super oily in photos. Opt with a small bit of highlighting on cheekbones or eyes, but not your entire face. This is the time to ditch the mineral makeup look as well - shimmer is not your friend for pictures. Pro brands are your friend and a professional makeup artist will know these particular brands (not retail, generally). Careful - slippery gloss ahead... DON'T 10. Sticky situation — Weddings mean you kiss a lot and tend to dance a whole lot! Smears are not fun. Keep lips creamy, stained or matte for best results. Too much gloss is just a sticky mess usually - difficult to maintain. YOU, only better! TM |








