Several of our brides this year have received a mirror from their makeup artists, taken one quick look, and nervously gulped, “Don’t you think this looks like too much?”

If the makeup artist knows her job, the answer is simple: Nope.

Let me explain. I love makeup, but I’m definitely not a kohl-rimmed eyes kind of girl. I don’t put glitter on my face, and I rarely go for dramatic lipstick (but when I do, it’s so much fun!).

So I’m not about telling brides their makeup needs to look heavy on their wedding day. The only way their makeup needs to look is 1.) Flawless, and 2.) True to the bride’s style. But that doesn’t mean that there shouldn’t be a little more makeup on the bride on a day when she’s going to be laughing, crying, battling nerves and pulsing with adrenaline, dancing, receiving dozens of kisses and hugs, and spending at least an hour or two out of doors.

Brides, I know you want to look amazing. Like this.So here’s a little secret, brides: All the makeup your MUA applies at 1:00 p.m. will not still be on your face for your 5:00 p.m. ceremony. It will fade. You will start to get a little warm and maybe even a little oily under that foundation and powder. Let the makeup expert do her job thoroughly, and your guests will think you applied your makeup as you waited to walk down the aisle. Tell the makeup artist to wipe off some of the makeup when she first applies it, and you’ll be stopping to retouch your makeup at least once or twice before the ceremony, again before pictures, and maybe even again before the reception.

Amber (the stunning bride in the photograph above) was a little worried about her makeup at first. But she didn’t have to touch it up once during her wedding day; she looked absolutely gorgeous in her portraits; and her makeup never looked heavy. Because Randi from Randi & Co. knew exactly what she was doing when she applied the foundation, powder, blush, and eye shadow — and she applied just the right amount.

Suffice it to say that I understand some brides’ fear of overdoing makeup — hey, my wonderful friend/makeup artist Tiffany and I had two trial runs before my wedding day to make sure I would look just right — and I don’t think a woman has to be wearing a lot of makeup “for the camera,” either. But I’ve also seen numerous occasions when “too much” makeup turned out to be “just right.” And we’ve had nothing but absolutely beautiful brides. So the moral of this story is: Figure out what you want your makeup to look like on your wedding day, but don’t be afraid of makeup on your wedding day. Better that you dab off a touch of foundation right before you walk down the aisle than that you have the makeup artist blot it all off hours earlier, only to have to reapply!

(And I promise you, brides, if I’m shooting your wedding, I will not let you step in front of the camera if your makeup truly does look like “too much”!)

~ Laura