Wedding makeup 101: Tips for flawless style

The reception:

Considering the desire to keep to time, maintaining that flawless look will take a combination of expertise, discipline, patience, and more importantly, professional speed.

Go for an outfit that prioritises comfort. You would be doing a lot of moving around, dancing, among other activities, and as such, the dress must not just be stylish but very comfortable. If you can, go for low-heeled shoes. For very long dresses, ensure the space around you is convenient to avoid ‘accidents.’ For makeup, let your artiste focus on the lips, eyes, cheeks, forehead and neck. You may be doing a lot of kissing, so pay attention to lip makeup. Preferably, go for long-lasting matte lipstick, with a touch-up of gloss. After each kiss, all you’ll need is a light touch up to avoid looking washed out. For lipstick or eyeshadow, only use bold colours if it would be in line with the overall theme colour for the wedding and won’t look odd.

The traditional:

Even if you’re a novice to style, traditional weddings have a way of transforming people beautifully. And as such, your skin must be in top shape. For Edo and some Delta brides, for instance, who use just wrappers, leaving the shoulders, neck and parts of the back exposed – although in some cases scantily masked by beads – you cannot afford not to take care of your skin. You will be the cynosure of all eyes that day and you may just as well bask in the warmth of the appreciation. For brides from the West, the neck and parts of the shoulders and back are also exposed, so skin care is a must. For makeup, keep the activities of the day in mind, noting the venue and the expected weather. Let your lips and your eyes pop and don’t be afraid to go with bold colours, as long as they are appropriately applied.

Whether your wedding is a few days, weeks, months or years away, looking flawless plays a key role in ensuring that the day works out just fine. Ms Bukky Adetola of Mizzy Tola Beauty Concepts shares some tips for looking your best as a bride.

The court:

You would not be able to determine the weather at the venue and to avoid the stress that comes with sun or rain, keep your makeup light. You have only a few guests present anyway. For the outfit, keep it simple and ensure you’re in tune with your groom so you don’t end up looking awkwardly paired in photographs.

The church:

As with the traditional, prioritise skin care, especially if you’ll be wearing an outfit that will reveal the shoulders, back, neck, among others, even if you’ll use patterned net fabrics. Take note of the ground on which you’ll walk and ensure you get the right shoes. It would be pointless to wear stiletto heels on gravel – choose platform heels instead. Always test your outfit by wearing it around before the D-day. If you can, avoid wearing a bra – only if you can. Wear comfortable undergarments and be absolutely sure your dress isn’t unnecessary revealing, especially with the possible change in lighting – also note same for the reception dress.