Lacey Haegen Makeup Artist

There is so much to do when planning a wedding. There are so many details to think of and manage. Planning a wedding is a major task and it is usually a new and overwhelming experience. In the beginning, the planning is managed through check lists: pick a date...check, book a venue...check, book a caterer...check, etc. But, the closer you get to the 'big day,' the issue becomes timing. Knowing how to schedule all of those fabulous details, vendors, services, and celebrations on that 'big day' is a big deal.

There are many tools available to today's Brides that help with planning, but I frequently receive phone calls and emails from Brides frantically trying to find a Makeup Artist at the last minute, so here are some tips on when to book your wedding day Makeup Artist.

1. Book your Makeup Artist at the same time as your Photographer.

Your Makeup Artist is AS important as your Photographer because most likely YOU are going to be in the majority of the pictures and you will want to look your best. Not only will the pictures be forever, so will your makeup in those pictures. I would suggest booking your Hairstylist at this time as well.

2. Schedule your Makeup (and Hair) trial runs on the same day as your Engagement photos.

This will give you the opportunity to see exactly how everything photographs and make any necessary adjustments with your Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist ahead of time.

3. Show your engagement photos to your Makeup Artist.

Makeup Artists are Artists and they are usually the most critical of their 'art'. Seeing the pictures will usually inspire new ideas or validate their previous color choices.

4. For the wedding day, allow yourself at least 1 to 1.5 hours for just YOUR makeup.

Not only is this the only time that day you will be able to close your eyes and relax, but unfortunately your phone will be ringing off the hook, Aunt Sally will need directions to the church, your Sister will have forgotten her shoes, the caterer won't be able to find the vendor entrance, etc., and this ALWAYS cuts into your time. Even if you have hired a Coordinator, there will be a million last minute details and texts to deal with.

5. Work with your Makeup Artist to put together a schedule for the day.

Create time slots, assign them to specific people, and email the schedule to your bridal party ahead of time. With everything that is going on on a wedding day morning, especially with larger bridal parties, there should be a "butt in the chair" at all times; this goes for Makeup and Hair.

6. Consider WHERE you are planning to get ready.

If you are planning on having your Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist come to your location, work out the schedule so they can work with/around each other. Ask both service providers for a reasonable time frame for each person in the bridal party, and help them coordinate a plan before hand. If you are planning to get your hair done at a salon, make sure there is room for your Makeup Artist and that the salon is on-board with a non-staff Artist working on the premises.

*One last tiny bit of advice.

Unless you are the only one in need of Beauty Services on your wedding day, please always hire a separate Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist. For bridal parties larger than 2 people (including you) there just isn't time for one person to do everything, and do it exceptionally. There is a much better chance of your expectations being met if you hire one person to specialize in each technique.

For years, I have heard customers say they are looking for the "perfect" lipstick. After years of helping women pick out lipstick I have learned that when looking for a new lipstick, it can be a very daunting task for the Customer and the Artist. Choosing a lipstick should be fun! But sometimes it is the "how" of choosing a new color that is frustrating. Thousands of times I have seen customers belly up to the lipstick display and exhibit some very odd methods of color selection. It is very common to either rub the lipstick on the top of a hand and then hold their hand up to their face. Or customers will apply the color on their lips, fluff their hair, and try to make a judgement while looking into a tiny hand mirror. 9 times out of 10 the decision is "don't like.' Ladies, I have to bring humor to this and say that this is the equivalent of trying on a new gown while having your pants around your ankles and your socks still on! It is no way to showcase a gown or a new lipstick!

If you really want to find your perfect lipstick, you need to approach the task in a different way. Lipstick should never be the main focus from the get-go. Lipstick is the "finishing touch" of a "look." The best way to find your most flattering shade of lipstick is to sit down (when you have at least 45 mins) and have your makeup done from start to finish. You will notice that every Makeup Artist will chose your lip color as the last step in the makeup application. This is because once you have all of your makeup on and your lips are bare, the true color of your natural lips will stand out. Your "perfect" lip shade is absolutely obvious if chosen in this way.

The only time lipstick should be the focus, is if it IS the focus of the "look." For example, if you know you want to wear red lipstick and you want to build a "look" around red lips. But please, do not go into a makeup counter and expect to try on every red lipstick until you find the "perfect" one. Schedule a time to have your makeup done with the understanding that you will be wearing red, and then at the end of the application see what tone and richness of red would be compliment you and the special "look" you are trying to achieve. It will be a much more enjoyable and productive experience, I promise!