Wedding Countdown Checklist

Wedding season is right around the corner! Unless, you know someone like me who decided to get married on Valentine’s day, which is a few weeks away. I have to say that was my most interesting and eventful Valentine’s Day to date. These days, I’m sticking to attending weddings as a guest or better yet, as the makeup artist for the day.

Now, I don’t consider myself a professional makeup artist, but I seem to get drafted to do makeup for weddings. I have to admit that I absolutely enjoy it, and I love making women feel special.

Call me crazy but no matter what role I’m playing in a wedding, I have my personal wedding preparation to-do list. As a guest or as the bride’s makeup artist, I have to step out of the house looking just right. I think I prepare for the day just like the bride.

Here is a wedding countdown checklist for preparing to attend or work a wedding:

Makeup and Hair Trial – This is for my brides. Please for all that is good and holy in the world, do a hair and makeup trial, at least, a month before the wedding. This gives you and the stylist time to figure out what look will work best for your theme and colors. Plus, if you don’t like the outcome the first time around, you will have a chance to try it again before your wedding. In short, this is to prevent you from being a hot mess on your big day.

Facial– Try this a week before to give your skin time to adjust to any product that may be new to you. Nothing worse than having an allergic and no time to recover…sensitive skin issues that I know too well.

Manicure & Pedicure – There is nothing like a fresh manicure for all of the handshakes and hugs your will pass out during the wedding. For me, I refuse to show up with chipped polish and hangnails. I also recommend using a neutral polish.

Waxing – Whether it’s me or the bride, I recommend waxing a few days beforehand. It minimizes embarrassing and furry pictures. Plus, it gives makeup a smooth canvas. Makeup looks so much better on a smooth face.

Brighten Your Smile – A little more than two weeks before the wedding, start whitening your teeth. This time, I used Crest 3D White Supreme FlexFit Whitestrips. The box says it takes two weeks to work but I like to start a little earlier because I get white spots on my teeth. It normally disappears in a few days, so I want to make sure I have my teeth time to settle.

Having a great smile is important to me for a few reasons. One of the first things I look at when I meet someone face to face is their smile. A beautiful bright smile can be so many things but for me, it’s a sign of hygiene. Yep, I said it. I wouldn’t want a makeup artist working on me with a smile that suggests that oral care isn’t high on their priority list. That immediately makes me wonder how they care for their brushes and products. I want to feel comfortable that they properly sanitize their products and my face won’t break out. Don’t judge me! I have OCD and sensitive skin.

I treat my preparation for a wedding like serious business. A bright smile can help put a nervous bride at ease. There is something about someone smiling and telling you everything is ok.

With all of the photographs that are taken for weddings, I want to make sure I look my best in the event I end up in a picture or two.