It's no surprise that your wedding day can be one of the most memorable days of your life, and while planning for your wedding, bridal makeup is one of the key things to consider. It's the final touches that bring your wedding vision to life and helps make you feel beautiful for your big day and when you’re looking back at your wedding photos. Whether you wear makeup regularly or consider yourself a makeup minimalist, selecting the right bridal makeup can enhance your natural features while staying true to your style.
For centuries bridal makeup has had a rich history that has evolved to reflect the changing beauty standards and cultural norms of its time. In the past, it was common for brides to apply heavy makeup often to signify their wealth and social status. Today, bridal makeup has focused more on enhancing a bride's natural beauty and creating a look that makes her feel confident and beautiful, whether using a more minimalistic natural makeup approach or creating a bold and dramatic full glam look.
Key Takeaways
We're going to cover everything you need to know about selecting the right Ottawa bridal makeup artist, including;
- Some of the latest bridal makeup trends in Ottawa
- How to find the perfect match for your makeup artist
- Tips for your pre-wedding skincare
- How to prepare for your makeup trial
- and much more!
So, if you're planning a grand wedding celebration or an intimate gathering, this guide has information to help you create a stunning bridal makeup look that will make you feel like the most beautiful version of yourself.
Let's get started!
Beauty Blog Disclaimer: Just so you know, the images featured in our beauty blog do not represent Waring Makeup's work. To explore our portfolio and view examples of our creations, please visit the rest of our website or check out our dedicated portfolio page!
The Latest In Ottawa Bridal Makeup Trends
As a bride-to-be, you’ll want to ensure your makeup looks perfect for your wedding day. Having the right makeup can be the difference between feeling confident, beautiful, and comfortable in your skin or disappointed when you look back at your wedding photos. The truth is that with so many different types of makeup styles and trends, it can be challenging to decide which is the right look to complement your wedding theme.
Luckily, we've got you covered with some of the most popular makeup styles in Ottawa that you can consider for your big day and why you might want to consider that style for your wedding.
Natural Bridal Makeup
Natural-looking makeup is about enhancing your natural features and making your skin look flawless, which helps bring out the best version of yourself. Natural makeup has become popular in Ottawa because it appears effortless, fresh, and timeless, creating a lasting impression when you look back at your wedding photos. The goal with this style is to make it look like you're not wearing any makeup and let your natural features capture your audience's attention.
How This Look Is Created
To create this look, your makeup artists should use neutral shades to create a soft, subtle look that compliments your skin tone. Next, they'll focus on creating a flawless complexion while defining the eyes with some mascara and adding a natural flush to the cheeks.
Recommend for Brides
Natural bridal makeup is perfect for brides who want to appear as they if have minimal makeup. This is why it's great if you want a more understated look. It's versatile and customizable to suit your style and preferences. Plus, it's a natural reflection of you, so you'll never regret choosing it for your big day!
Classic Bridal Makeup
A classic makeup look is perfect for brides who want to create an elegant and sophisticated look. It’s a distinct style of makeup featuring neutral colour palettes, subtle eye makeup, and a bold lip. This look is built on the natural makeup style by continuing to highlight your natural features while using a couple of flourishes to your eyes and lips to make a statement.
How This Look Is Created
The classic makeup look is created by your makeup artists, starting with a flawless base. They then focus on defining the eyes with a soft smokey eye and move on to adding a bold lip colour, such as red or berry, to complete the look.
Recommend for Brides
If you're a bride who loves timeless elegance, then classic bridal makeup is for you! It's perfect for formal weddings or if you love vintage styles. In addition, it's easily customizable to suit your unique features and preferences, making it ideal for any wedding theme or style.
Glamorous Bridal Makeup
If you want your makeup to make a statement on your big day, then glamorous makeup is the right choice. This look is about creating drama and intensity with stunning bold eye makeup and lip colour that will make a statement.
How This Look Is Created
To achieve this full glam bridal look, makeup artists use metallic shades, glitter, and false lashes to create a striking, dramatic look. In addition, they’ll use full coverage to create a seamless base, allowing your eyes and lip makeup to pop.
Recommended for Brides
Glamorous bridal makeup is perfect if you want to feel like a Hollywood starlet on your big day! It's great for formal weddings or nighttime events. With many different flourishes to be added to your makeup, it is highly customizable to your vision and can offer many ways to make it unique.
Boho Bridal Makeup
Boho makeup is a newer makeup trend for Ottawa weddings since, as of late, there’s been a rise in outdoor weddings. This makeup style emphasizes natural, earthy tones to create a relaxed, free-spirited look. It's characterized by soft, feminine, and romantic colours. This look is perfect for complementing outdoor or beach weddings, especially if you’re considering a destination wedding.
How This Look Is Created
Artists use warm, neutral shades such as browns, golds, and coppers for boho makeup. They’ll also focus on creating a luminous, dewy complexion while adding a bit of shimmer to the eyes and cheeks. As for your lip colour, shades such as nude, pink or peach will be a perfect pairing.
Recommended for Brides
If you're a bride who loves a laid-back, natural look, then boho bridal makeup is definitely for you! Boho makeup is about creating a fresh, effortless look perfect for an outdoor or rustic wedding.
A skilled bridal makeup artist can create a masterpiece that complements your wedding theme and makes you feel like the most beautiful version of yourself.
When deciding which makeup style is right for you, it's essential to make sure you're considering your skin tone, hair colour, and facial features. If you’re feeling undecided as to which one is the right makeup style for your wedding, then make sure to consult with your makeup artist. They should be able to advise you on which will suit you best by considering your unique attributes and the style and theme of the wedding you’re planning.
Finally, remember that your makeup style should be an extension of your style, and you should feel comfortable and confident with your look on your wedding day. Whether you opt for a natural or dramatic look, the goal is to create a look that makes you feel beautiful and confident as you walk down the aisle. Trust your gut feeling when you make your final decision because you’ll want to be able to look back at your wedding photos with fond memories of your big day.
Now that we’ve talked about some of the bridal makeup styles you should consider let’s start going over some steps to help you make the most crucial decision, picking the right makeup artist.
How to Choose the Right Makeup Artist in Ottawa
Choosing the right makeup artist for your bridal makeup takes a lot of work and consideration. You’re trusting the makeup artist you select to make you feel beautiful on your big day, and that shouldn’t be a decision you take lightly. Your makeup artist will ultimately be responsible for creating the dream look you want and should be able to last throughout your wedding. This makeup should make you feel confident and beautiful. If not, it can be devastating when your makeup artist doesn’t achieve your true vision, leaving you stressed as you walk down the aisle.
Let's start with some essential factors you should use to evaluate every makeup artist to help you quickly narrow down your selection. Then, go over some tips you should follow to help secure your perfect makeup artist match.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Makeup Artist
Experience
The first thing you should consider when selecting your makeup artist is experience. You’ll want to ensure your makeup artist has the skills, knowledge, and expertise to craft the perfect look for your wedding. When evaluating different artists’ experiences, look specifically for ones with bridal makeup experience.
It’s one for a makeup artist to have years of experience in makeup, while it's another for it to be specifically in bridal. Weddings are complicated events with tight timelines and many moving parts to consider. So while a makeup artist might be comfortable applying makeup in their studio, it’s quite another story when coordinating large bridal parties, hair styling, and working in an unfamiliar venue such as your bridal suite.
Portfolio
Next, consider your makeup artist's portfolio, as this is a great way to see their work and understand their style. An ideal makeup artist should have a diverse portfolio with various makeup styles, skin tones, and ages. This will give you an idea of their overall versatility and whether they can create the look you want and customize it to your unique features and wedding theme.
However, be wary of portfolios with limited diversity in clients and styles, as they may only feel comfortable replicating particular looks and offer you a cookie-cutter style.
Reviews And Testimonials
After reviewing their portfolio, you’ll want to research their reviews and testimonials from previous clients. These are a great way to understand a makeup artist's work and professionalism. Look for reviews on social media, their website, and Google to see what others say about their experience working with the makeup artist.
It’s important to take all reviews and testimonials with a grain of salt, as their’s always two sides to every story. While some negative reviews can be pretty damning, there might be some other truths that weren’t shared. When evaluating negative reviews, look for common themes or patterns each client mentions. If you find a trend, then there might be some further questions you’ll want to ask that artist before booking.
The other thing you’ll want to be aware of with reviews is if there’s a pattern or frequency of positive reviews. As you might know, businesses can purchase services that offer to create positive reviews. These can be easy to spot as they are usually posted around the same time and don’t offer many specific details about their experience. Be mindful of too many overly generic 5-star reviews.
Products and Tools
Every makeup artist will use different products and tools unique to their kit to create their looks. When choosing a makeup artist, consider someone who uses high-quality, long-lasting products suitable for your skin type. This shouldn’t be interpreted as your makeup artist should use only luxury brand products for your makeup, as some drugstore brands are creating exceptional products that perform far better.
It does, however, mean your makeup artist should be able to confidently say why they chose to use a particular product over another one you might be more familiar with. Part of your makeup artist's expertise comes from their ability to test a more comprehensive range of products than regular consumers.
They should also ask if you have any allergies or skin conditions that certain ingredients can agitate and be able to offer alternative products instead. Finally, ask about your makeup artist's product selection and the brands they use to ensure they meet your expectations.
Finally, see if your potential makeup artist mentions sanitation practices or procedures for their tools and makeup applications. It’s incredibly important for your health and safety that your makeup artist takes time to properly sanitize their station between each application for your bridal party and should never reuse tools between different people. This is another reason professional makeup applications can be expensive: your makeup artist may spend hours afterward sanitizing and cleaning the brushes used. This additional time is factored into the overall price.
Personality and Communication
The final factor you must consider when picking your makeup artist is their personality and communication skills. You'll want to choose a makeup artist who makes it easy to work with, listens and understands your needs, and communicates effectively with you when you have questions or concerns.
While this final consideration won’t be possible until you inquire about an appointment and, more importantly, have your trial appointment. It would be best to be mindful of it as you communicate with your artist. If you feel like they’re not being clear, or there’s potential friction, they might not be the right artist for you. The last thing you want on your wedding day is added stress from your makeup artist because of a clash in personalities and a communication breakdown.
Be on the look for a professional, punctual makeup artist who, most of all, has a positive attitude and communicates clearly with you.
Tips for Finding the Perfect Artist for You
Ask For Referrals
A quick way to narrow down your selection of bridal makeup artists in Ottawa is to ask your network of family and friends for any local recommendations. Bonus points if they happened to get married recently or attended a wedding recently where they can ask the bride for their experience.
Consider asking other wedding vendors if they have any personal recommendations, as many different wedding vendors network with each other. For instance, your wedding photographer might have worked with a makeup artist on other shoots and can vouch for their experience and professionalism. The only thing to be aware of is possible kickbacks a vendor might receive for a potential recommendation.
It’s vital to still research any recommendations you receive to make sure they’re a good match for you.
Join A Local Bridal Facebook Group
Joining a local bridal Facebook group can be a great way to find a makeup artist for your wedding day. These groups are filled with brides-to-be and brides who have already experienced their weddings and spent loads of time researching them. These groups will also include wedding vendors and professionals looking to share recommendations and apply for jobs when brides-to-be are looking for potential vendors.
One of the great things about these groups is that you can get real, honest feedback from previous brides who used a particular makeup artist and their wedding day experience. They can provide recommendations, reviews, and even photos of their bridal makeup. Plus, you can get recommendations for other wedding vendors, such as hairstylists or photographers, which can save you lots of time planning your wedding.
Inquire With Questions
The next tip is to contact your short list of makeup artists with a few specific questions. The goal here is to start gauging their communication and professionalism.
Depending on how the makeup artist prefers to communicate with clients, this can be done in a handful of different ways, including:
- Messaging them on Instagram
- Filling out a contact form on their website
- Calling their business phone number
- Writing them an email
Make sure you use their most preferred way of communicating as you don’t want to send them a bunch of questions to an inbox that never gets checked and weeks go by without you receiving an answer.
Questions you may want to ask your makeup artist first could be;
- Are you available on [Wedding date]?
- What kind of experience do you have with weddings and bridal makeup?
- Are you able to accommodate a wedding party of X people?
- Can you travel to [Wedding venue]?
Ask a few preliminary questions to see if they can be part of your big day and give you a quick idea of their communication skills. A prompt makeup artist should be able to answer inquiries within 24 to 48 hours. However, don’t be alarmed if your makeup artist can’t respond immediately to any messages, even if they’ve been read, as they may be on a tight schedule that day with booked clients.
Consider Your Budget
Our next tip is to make sure you’re considering your wedding budget and how much you’ve allocated for your bridal makeup. Pricing between makeup artists can drastically vary between each artist, and it’s important that you find one that works with your budget. Ideally, a makeup artist should have a clear pricing structure on their website, but some may require you to inquire first to see pricing.
Remember that finding a cheaper makeup artist isn’t always the better choice in the long run, as you want someone with a lot of experience creating the look you want. When you consider how much money you’re putting into your overall wedding, investing just a little extra in your bridal makeup could drastically change the impact a crucial part of your wedding appearance has.
In worse cases, some couples have to rebook another photographer, hair, and makeup session to completely redo their wedding photos because one of the vendors couldn’t meet their expectations.
Schedule A Consultation
Once you've narrowed down your list, ideally down to one or two artists, you should contact your potential makeup artists to book a consultation. A consultation, also known as a trial appointment, is something you should never opt out of, even if you think you’ve found the perfect makeup artist.
We will cover trial appointments in more depth in a future section of this guide, but for now, it’s important to know that your consultation has a few essential benefits.
- You get to communicate your bridal makeup vision clearly.
- You’ll be able to evaluate your potential artist’s skills and experience
- You can ask lots of questions and build a rapport with your future artist
- You’ll have much time to reflect on your makeup and communicate any changes before your wedding.
Book In Advance
It shouldn’t be a surprise that skilled bridal makeup artists can be in high demand, especially if you’re wedding falls in the peak wedding season. Wedding season typically spans from late spring to early fall, with the greatest demand between June to September.
If you know your wedding will happen during these busy months, it’s crucial that you start your search for a makeup artist as early as possible. This will give you ample time to schedule trial appointments and ensure you can secure your wedding day with your favourite artist.
Your Pre-Wedding Skincare Routine
The Importance of Good Skincare Before the Wedding
A good skincare routine is essential for achieving a flawless and radiant complexion on your wedding day. Unfortunately, the months leading up to your wedding day can be stressful and lead to harming your skin. By starting a pre-wedding skincare routine, you’re helping to ensure your skin is healthy, glowing, and ready by the time your big day rolls around.
The reason why creating a skincare routine early is that your skin is the foundation for your bridal makeup. A healthy complexion can drastically help the appearance of your makeup and how it makes you feel when you’re walking down the aisle. Your skincare routine aims to help prevent breakouts, inflammation, and the appearance of texture.
Creating a pre-wedding skincare routine is an investment in a radiant, picture-perfect complexion that will last beyond your special day.
Creating A Bridal Skincare Routine
As mentioned before, you’ll want to start creating a consistent skincare routine early to allow your skin time to adjust and produce positive results. Finding the right products for your skin can sometimes be trial and error, and having extra time to change means you can find the right combination.
If you’re in the earlier stages of planning your wedding, you should aim to start your skincare routine at least a year before your wedding. However, if you are on a tighter timeline, you’ll still have time to see results if you start at least six months away from your big day. Again the longer you give yourself to adapt to your new skincare routine, the higher likelihood you’ll see the best results possible.
Consult With a Skincare Professional
If you’re newer to the skincare world, you should start by consulting a professional. This could include contacting an esthetician or dermatologist who can help you create a customized skin care plan. Their expertise will help you identify the right products that work for your skin type and any areas of concern.
They may also be able to recommend specific treatment plans and procedures you may want to consider in the months leading to your wedding. It would help if you considered these treatments well in advance, as you’ll want to avoid any final treatments in the month before your wedding. This will allow your skin to recover from significant treatments with ample recovery time.
Cleanse and Exfoliate
A proper skincare routine should include daily cleansing and weekly exfoliating. These steps are essential in helping to remove dirt, oil, and dead skin cells from your face. The result should leave your skin feeling fresh and rejuvenated.
Moisturize
Using a moisturizer is a staple in any skincare routine. With its goal of making your skin look hydrated, plump, and glowing, you couldn’t ask for a better trio on your wedding day. Your ideal moisturizer should be lightweight and easily absorbed into your skin, which your beautician or dermatologist should have helped you find.
Always Use Sunscreen
An easy one to overlook beyond the summer months is using sunscreen. As you know, sunscreen protects your skin from the sun's harmful rays. This means you should use sunscreen even in the winter or on cloudy days, as the sun’s UV rays can still harm your skin. Consider using sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day.
Treat Any Specific Skin Concerns
Understandably, you may have specific skin concerns, such as acne or hyperpigmentation, to name a couple. In addition, if you’re experiencing any skin concerns that are causing you stress or anxiety, this could be an excellent time to consider treatments such as chemical peels, micro-needling, or laser treatments. These treatments can help lead towards addressing these issues, with the final result leaving your skin looking its best.
To sum it all up, a pre-wedding skincare routine is something you shouldn’t skip out on if you want to achieve a flawless and radiant complexion on your wedding day. Remember, starting early in creating your new routine is essential and consult with a professional if you’re new to the skincare world. You should focus on daily cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection, and don’t forget the weekly exfoliating. By taking care of your skin leading up to your wedding day, you’re working towards having a healthy picture-perfect complexion.
Bridal Makeup Trials: What You Should Expect
You’ve spent the time researching potential makeup artists and have narrowed it down to either one or at least a couple. Now it’s time to book your consultation and see if you’ve found your dream makeup artist.
This section will review everything you need to know and should expect from your consultation or trial appointment. It’s vital that you keep all our tips and questions in mind when you attend your trial appointment as you’re about to decide who will be a part of your big day, and that decision shouldn’t be taken lightly. When you book your bridal makeup artist, you’re inviting them into your special day and trust them to be responsible for a critical part of your wedding preparations. If you follow these tips, you can feel confident in your final choice and enjoy a beautiful, flawless makeup look on your wedding day.
What Is a Bridal Consultation or Trial Appointment?
A bridal consultation or trial appointment is essential to the bridal makeup selection process. You’ll work with your makeup artist during your trial to communicate, create, and test your bridal makeup look before your wedding day. This is an opportunity to see how your wedding makeup will look and feel and allow you to make any necessary adjustments. You should leave your bridal consultation feeling confident that you’ll get the dream makeup you want for your wedding day.
A trial appointment should be booked for at least a few months before your wedding. If you’re booking for peak wedding season, you may want to book your trial up to six months in advance. You should expect your consultation to last up to two hours so you’ll have time to get to know your artist, experience your bridal application, and provide feedback after the makeup is complete. This is the chance for you and your artist to chat about your makeup preferences, review the inspirational photos you brought along, and refine the makeup to make it perfect for your wedding day.
Expect that your artist will take notes on the products and techniques they use so that they can replicate the exact look on your wedding day. This will also help you and your artist discuss any minor changes you may have as you reflect on your makeup leading to your wedding. It’s not unusual for you to potentially change your mind on some parts of your makeup as the big day approaches. Remember that if you decide to make some significant changes, your makeup artist might ask you to book an additional trial appointment so they can further understand your new vision.
How to Prepare for a Bridal Trial Appointment
Booking Your Trial
When booking your trial, booking the appointment for the same time you plan on having your makeup done on your wedding day is a good idea. This is because you’ll be able to see how your makeup adjusts over the day and evening and take note of when possible times are for touching up your makeup. You’ll also see how it wears in different lighting as the day progresses.
Bring Inspo Photos
Bring inspirational photos of makeup looks that you like, and be prepared to discuss your preferences and expectations for your wedding day look. This will help your makeup artist understand your vision without you needing to get into lengthy ambiguous descriptions. Your makeup artist should be able to understand the parts you like from these photos and adapt them to your own unique look.
Wear a Shirt That Matches Your Dress
Wearing a shirt that matches your dress colour during your makeup trial will help you better understand how the makeup will look with your dress. You'll be able to see how the colours and shades complement your dress and whether you should consider any adjustments.
Share Your Favourite Features
If you have particular features that you want to highlight or downplay, it’s important to share this with your artist during the trial. They can help adjust the makeup to accentuate your best features and create a look that makes you feel confident and beautiful.
Communicate Your Preferences
Be open and honest with your makeup artist about your preferences and concerns. Don’t be afraid to speak up if there's something you don't like or would change. A professional makeup artist will understand that this isn’t a criticism of their skill but ensuring you love your makeup. Honesty is the best way to ensure you get the look you want, which at the end of the day, is the same goal your makeup artist should also want.
Questions You Should Ask During The Trial Appointment
Ask your makeup artist what products they're using and why. Your makeup artist should be able to speak to the quality and reasoning behind why they’ve selected certain products for your bridal makeup. There can be a range of reasons why they may have chosen a product you’re unfamiliar with or different from what you’ve used regularly.
As we’ve mentioned before, a professional makeup artist should have vast experience using different products from a wide range of brands. You can learn more about the products available and how they can achieve the perfect look.
As we mentioned earlier, honesty is the best policy regarding your bridal makeup. Don’t hesitate to ask your artist if you want to change or adjust a specific part of your look. This is your opportunity to perfect the look, so communicate your preferences and concerns.
Your makeup must stay fresh and flawless throughout your wedding day, and your makeup artist is the best person to provide tips and techniques to ensure this happens. By discussing this with your makeup artist during your trial, you can work together to find the best products and processes to ensure your makeup lasts as long as possible.
You can also let your artist know of any potential events or activities that may happen during your wedding that you’re concerned might impact your makeup. This allows your makeup artist to fine-tune your application for these considerations.
Ask your makeup artist how long they believe it will take to complete the makeup style you’ve picked on your wedding day. Depending on the complexity or simplicity of the makeup, it can change how long you should plan to be in the seat. This will help you factor your bridal makeup into your master schedule. Of course, you should always add a 15-minute buffer between each session in case someone is running behind or an unforeseen circumstance arises.
Asking this question allows your makeup artist to recommend the right products suited for your skin and the type of makeup you’ve chosen. In addition, by discussing this with your makeup artist during your trial, you’ll understand how your makeup might react over the course of the day and ways to fix it on the fly if you’re not paying for your artist to stay for additional touch-ups.
It's important to double-check that your makeup artist is following proper hygiene and sanitation practices to ensure they’re not spreading bacteria or germs, especially if you’re booking an artist to do your bridal party’s makeup, as your family and friends trust that you’re booking them a safe and suitable artist.
Your makeup artist should mention that they use clean brushes, sponges, and new tools for each person in your bridal party. They should also say that in between applications, they take additional time to sanitize any makeup used, such as eye shadow or bronzer pallets. They should also use disposable products, such as mascara wands and lip applicators, to avoid cross-contamination.
You should leave your trial appointment feeling as if you can have peace of mind knowing that they take sanitation seriously and are committed to protecting the health and safety of you and your bridal party.
After The Makeup Trial
After your trial appointment finishes, you’ll want to spend much of your day documenting a few things. Start by taking photos of your makeup in similar lighting you’ll be in on your wedding day. This will allow your makeup artist to make adjustments to help extend the wear of your bridal makeup. You’ll also want to note any changes in the appearance or texture of the makeup.
You must also keep track of any potential reactions your skin might have had to the products used in your consultation. Consider this especially important if you have sensitive skin or possible skin concerns. This can include experiencing any itching, redness, or irritation. Let your makeup artist know as soon as possible if this has happened so they can make the needed changes to your future products to avoid these issues on your wedding day.
If you’re happy with the outcome of your trial makeup, you’ll want to book your artist as soon as possible. Makeup artists can get booked quickly, especially during wedding season, so securing your artist as soon as possible is important.
Recapping the Benefits of a Makeup Trial Appointment
We’ve covered a lot of information about bridal makeup consultations and trial appointments. Here’s a quick recap of all the benefits you can expect by booking one and why you shouldn’t pass on having one.
- You have the ability to experiment with different looks and styles until you settle on the perfect look for your wedding day.
- It allows you to ensure that any of the makeup products used are compatible with your skin type and won't cause any adverse or unexpected reactions.
- You can better understand how the makeup will look with your dress and accessories and make any necessary adjustments.
- You can share your preferences and concerns with your makeup artist, which will help ensure you get the dream bridal makeup you expect.
- You’ll have peace of mind on your wedding day, knowing that your makeup artist understands precisely what you want and have the skills to achieve it.
In conclusion, a makeup trial is essential to the bridal makeup process. With makeup offering such vast and diverse options and styles, you feel reassured that you'll get the bridal makeup you want. Also, with so many things to plan for towards your big day, having a successful trial appointment means you have one less thing to stress over.
Making Your Final Decision
What You Should Consider When Making Your Final Decision
Now that you’ve had all your trial appointments, it's time to decide which makeup artist you want to book for your wedding day. While some of the points we will discuss here may have been mentioned earlier. This time, the difference is that you have personally experienced the makeup artist's work instead of just reviewing portfolio photos and hearing recommendations. These are a handful of factors to consider when making your decision:
Quality of Work
Evaluate the makeup artist's work quality based on their portfolio, the trial run, and any reviews you've read. Were they able to create the look you wanted, and is the quality of their work consistent with what you saw in their portfolio photos?
Personality and Communication
Consider the makeup artist's personality and communication skills. Were they able to understand your needs and communicate clearly with you about how they could achieve your look? Good communication from your makeup artist will translate into helping you feel comfortable and confident on your wedding day.
Availability
Make sure the makeup artist you choose is available on your wedding day and has enough time to dedicate to your makeup. Ask about their availability for the entire day and ensure you have enough time to prepare before the wedding.
Overall Cost of Service
Consider the makeup artist's price and how it fits into your wedding budget. While you want to find affordable options, make sure you can find an artist that will offer you value for the money you’re spending. You’ll want to find a happy balance between affordable and not breaking the bank. Ask about additional fees or costs above the makeup application, such as travel or early start times. These should be clearly outlined in the bridal makeup contract you’ll sign.
How to Book With Your Chosen Makeup Artist
Once you've decided, it's essential to contact your chosen makeup artist as soon as possible. Use their preferred contact method to let them know you're excited to pick them to be a part of your wedding. Although you might have already shared your wedding plans with your makeup artist, be sure to reconfirm all the critical wedding information again. Key things to confirm again would be your wedding date, time, and location of your wedding and if it still works with their availability. If you have any final questions that could impact your decision to book a certain makeup artist, then this would be the time to ask them.
Once you’ve indicated that you will book a bridal makeup artist, two things will be required to secure your wedding date. They are:
A Booking Deposit
As the saying goes, “Money talks.” In this case, sending your deposit to the makeup artist shows that you’re invested in being part of your wedding. Deposit amounts can vary between makeup artists, but the industry standard is usually 50%. Your bridal contract usually outlines how deposits are handled and what happens with deposits in the event of changes towards your wedding. Speaking of contracts…
A Signed Bridal Makeup Contract
Given the importance of weddings, bridal makeup usually requires the bride to sign a contract with their makeup artist for both parties to clearly understand what is expected of each other for the big day. Make sure to take some time to review all the terms in your bridal contract and understand what the potential penalties could include. An example of this could be if someone in your bridal party is late arriving for their makeup application which could result in additional late fees being charged.
Tips for Finalizing Your Bridal Makeup Contract
Once you've confirmed your booking with your makeup artist, the last step is completing the contract and sending your deposit, which you’ll want to pay close attention to. Here are some tips you should follow when you’re reviewing your contract:
Understand the Contract Terms
Start by reading the contract carefully and thoroughly understanding all its terms. While bridal makeup contracts are pretty simple, you must read them entirely to avoid being surprised by a clause later on, like if you need to reschedule your wedding.
Be Clear on the Costs
While focusing on the initial bridal makeup package costs is easy, ensure you know the total cost of the makeup artist's services. For example, when booking a makeup artist to travel to your venue, there are usually extra fees, such as travel costs.
Finally, take note of the payment terms and deadlines. You should pay your wedding vendors according to their outlined schedule, or you risk a potential no-show on your big day. It’s a good practice to add these payment dates to your calendar with alerts for a week or two, so you’re not caught off guard with making these payments.
Finalize the Details
The contract should include information regarding the specifics of your wedding day and the bridal makeup package you’ve selected. Ensure all these details are accurate, as something might have been overlooked or missed. Confirm the start time, location, makeup application length, and other logistical information. This ensures everyone is on the same page, and no one should expect any last-minute surprises.
By being thorough with your bridal makeup contract, you can ensure that your big day will start on the best foot possible.
The Do's and Don'ts of Bridal Makeup in Ottawa
Now that we’ve covered the entire process of booking a bridal makeup artist, it’s time for us to cover some good best practices every bride should consider for their makeup. You’ve spent so much time choosing the perfect dress that it’s worth spending the extra time making sure you have the right makeup. We’ve rounded up the best common mistakes to avoid and helpful tips and tricks to level up your bridal makeup.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Planning a wedding can be a monumental task, and it’s easy to get caught up in the moment and overlook some important elements in preparing for your bridal makeup. While some of these mistakes have been discussed earlier in this guide, we wanted to emphasize the importance of not making these mistakes. So here are seven of our most commonly seen mistakes brides will make in preparation for their bridal makeup:
Overdoing It
One of the most frequent mistakes brides make is overdoing their makeup. Going all out with your makeup can be tempting, but too much can look unnatural and heavy in photos. Depending on the style of makeup you’ve chosen for your wedding, it’s important to take a moment to chat with your artist about refining the look to match the style you’ve asked for.
Skipping the Makeup Trial
We’ve talked at length about the value a makeup trial provides, yet many brides will still inquire about booking an artist without needing a consultation. Your makeup trial is crucial for ensuring that your makeup looks perfect on your wedding day.
We can’t stress it enough. Do not skip this step! As it's your opportunity to try out different looks and make any necessary adjustments. No one wants unwelcome surprises at their wedding, yet skipping a trial appointment is doing just that!
Not Considering Your Dress
Your makeup should complement your dress, so consider the dress style and colour when choosing your makeup look. For example, a bold, dramatic makeup style may clash with a simple, elegant dress.
Ignoring Skincare
We’ve highlighted the importance that proper skincare is just as important as makeup, if not more so. So take care of your skin before your wedding day to ensure your makeup looks flawless. Following our steps to create a skincare routine will help ensure your skin isn’t dry or flakey, meaning your makeup will look smooth and even for fantastic wedding photos.
Not Communicating With Your Makeup Artist
Your makeup artist can't read your mind. Instead, express your preferences and concerns to ensure you get the perfect look. Regarding your makeup, honesty is the best policy that still rings true. Speak up if you’re unhappy about a part of your makeup, and your artist will do everything possible to fix it. Just be sure you’re not throwing any surprises at them on your wedding day.
Not Using Waterproof Makeup
Tears are common at weddings, so it's important to use waterproof makeup to prevent smudging and smearing. This is especially important for mascara and eyeliner. Be sure to ask your artist if their products are waterproof and can hold up if you get teary-eyed.
Neglecting Your Lips
Your lips will be fully displayed on your wedding day, so ensure they're in good condition. Take the time to exfoliate your lips and moisturize them with a lip balm to ensure they look soft and smooth. Choose a long-wearing lipstick that won't fade or smudge throughout the day.
By avoiding these common mistakes, you can ensure your makeup looks flawless and natural on your wedding day.
Makeup Tips and Tricks for Brides
Now that we’ve covered the most frequent mistakes, here’s a short list of all the tips you should follow for your wedding makeup:
Start With a Clean Canvas
Allowing your makeup artist to start with a clean canvas is crucial for the best-looking bridal makeup. Avoid wearing cosmetics or products on the day of as they could interfere with using a specific product, or your makeup artist may need you to scrub your face, which can cause your skin to become agitated and irritable. Both of which you want to avoid right before you get your makeup done.
Think About the Lighting
The lighting at your wedding venue can affect your makeup in photos. So it’s vital that lighting is a consideration when creating your look with your artist. For example, if your wedding is outdoors in natural lighting, you may want to use more subtle makeup. But if your wedding is indoors with dim lighting, you may want to use bolder makeup to ensure it shows up in photos.
Lastly, as we mentioned about preparing your bridal suite, you’ll want to ensure adequate lighting in the room where you apply your makeup. If you have any concerns about lighting in your bridal suite, let your artist know well in advance, and they should be able to bring additional lighting.
Consider Using False Lashes
False lashes can make your eyes look bigger and more dramatic in photos. Choose natural-looking lashes for a subtle effect, or go bold for a more dramatic look. Lash extensions are also an option for those who want a more permanent solution. However, it’s important that you’ve tried these well before your wedding day to ensure you love their result.
Don't Forget About the Eyebrows
Well-groomed eyebrows can frame your face and enhance your overall look. Fill them in with a pencil or powder for a natural look. Also, consider getting your eyebrows professionally shaped before your wedding day for a polished look.
Bring Touch-up Products
As mentioned earlier, bring some of your essential makeup products with you to touch up throughout the day. A short list of this includes lipstick, powder, and blotting papers to help control shine. Also, ask if your artist can provide you with a touch-up kit if you’re not hiring them to stay around for potential touch-ups.
Be True to Yourself - Lastly, it's important to remember to be yourself. Never feel like you must completely change your look because it’s your wedding day. Instead, choose a makeup look that makes you feel beautiful and confident.
To wrap up, these makeup tips and tricks can help you enhance your natural beauty and feel confident on your wedding day. Experiment with different looks, take care of your skin and communicate with your makeup artist to ensure you get the perfect look for your special day. By doing so, you can enjoy a stress-free and beautiful wedding day with stunning makeup.
Mastering Your Bridal Makeup Journey
Wow! That was a lot to cover and more than we had initially planned to write about when we started this guide. However, choosing the perfect bridal makeup and makeup artist is critical to planning your wedding. From understanding the latest makeup trends in Ottawa to finding the right makeup artist and preparing your skin for the big day, there are many factors to consider. To help you make the right decisions, this ultimate guide to Ottawa bridal makeup should have provided you with all the essential information you need to feel confident in booking your bridal makeup.
Remember to book your makeup artist in advance, take care of your skin before your wedding day, and communicate your preferences and concerns.
If you're getting married in Ottawa and need a professional makeup artist, consider booking with Waring Makeup. With over thirteen years of experience and a portfolio of happy clients, Waring Makeup is dedicated to making your wedding day look perfect. So don't wait until the last minute to book your makeup artist – contact Waring Makeup today to schedule a makeup trial and take the first step toward achieving your dream bridal makeup.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cost of bridal makeup in Ottawa varies depending on the makeup artist and their services. On average, you can expect to pay between $250 and $650 for a bridal makeup package. This price should include your trial appointment as well. However, prices may be higher for more experienced and in-demand makeup artists. You may also receive a reduced rate for your bridal makeup if you book the same makeup artist to do your bridal party’s makeup too.
Hiring a makeup artist for your bridal party is a personal choice, whether you’re going to cover the cost or share the cost with your bridal party. If your bridesmaids want their makeup done, hiring the same makeup artist to ensure everyone looks cohesive is a good idea. Some makeup artists offer discounts for bridal party makeup, so be sure to ask about group rates.
Yes, you can wear false lashes on your wedding day. False lashes can make your eyes look bigger and more dramatic in photos. Choose natural-looking lashes for a subtle effect, or go bold for a more dramatic look. Lash extensions are also an option for those who want a more permanent solution.
To ensure your bridal makeup lasts all day, use a makeup primer to create a smooth canvas, and choose long-wearing products. Next, use a makeup setting spray to set your makeup. Finally, bring touch-up products with you to touch up throughout the day, including lipstick, powder, and blotting papers.