I have been part of the Bridal Party countless times. [by the way, I am not part of the picture ;-) it's from
http://www.yourspecialwedding.info/what-does-a-bridesmaid-do] Being a bride's maid has its own perks and perishes. Sometimes, the couple will sponsor your dress and it will be given to you as souvenir. Other times, they will include bride's maids in the make-up package. These two significant benefits of being a bride's maid in a wedding are really worth appreciating.
There were a few weddings I have been invited to be part of the bridal party that which didn't offer such benefits. In 2002, I attended a wedding as a Bride's maid and had to pay for the dress and the hair and make-up. Way back then, I was merely a student who can't afford the luxury of things [oh and even now, I still can't afford the luxury of things 9 years later ;-) ]. But of course, my parents (who were also financially uptight then) paid for everything. I had to settle with what they had chosen and can afford at that time.
To cut the story short, I had the most horrible hair and make-up fix in the history of my bride's maid life. Clearly, the make-up artist wasn't that good in balancing color palettes that matched my skin tone and the dress and the time of the event. It did happen twice about six years later, I was a bride's maid again and the make-up artist made me look like a Halloween horror in a bright red dress.
LESSON LEARNED: I learned to teach myself how to apply make-up, what products to choose and what colors to mix so I won't look so horrible during the event which was usually I have an important role to play. The internet has been my greatest ally throughout the years of learning basic beauty tips. So let me share to you some basic tips for every bride's maid:
1.
If you want to do it yourself make-up, first determine the color theme of the occasion. From the color, you can figure out the kind of eyeshadow that you are going to apply on your eyelids. Apply
liquid concealer first before everything else. It hides the blemishes of your skin. Then apply the foundation powder. I suggest you invest in quality foundations such as
Max Factor and
Mac. In the long run, they're worth every penny. Start from top of the face down and outwards.
2.
Take note of the time of the event. When it is held during daytime, wear pastel colors make-up. Shades of pink, blue, green, yellow, etc. will truly be helpful. After all, the purpose of make up is to accentuate your natural features and not alter them. The lighter the shade the more it emphasizes your natural beauty. When the event is held at nighttime, you can wear darker eye shadows, bolder lipstick and darker shades of the palettes. It is important not to overdo it though. Applying too much dark make-up will turn you into a walking horror. Shades of dark blue, dark green, earth colors, etc. will do the trick. You can research in
Youtube on how to apply the shades over each other and what colors to pick.
3.
When it comes to accessories, the lesser the better. For
dangling earrings, as much as possible you may choose not to wear anymore necklace as it will clutter the over-all look. For stud earrings, you can wear a necklace to bring the impact of the get-up. Wear one-piece bracelet to give that elegant look but don't wear bangles as it brings out the impression that you want to outshine the bride. Ditch the wrist watch unless it looks like a fine piece of jewelry when used with the dress.
4. For your hair-do, if you are wearing dangling earrings, it is best to wear lay-down hair or wavy and curly hairdo. This style will complement the earrings. If you are wearing a stud earrings, show it off by pulling away your hair in a stylish bun or simply in a chic ponytail. This will show off your shoulders and neckline which could be very sexy get-up.
5. Be wary of your feet. Get a foot spa or a pedicure a day before the wedding. Unless you are wearing closed-shoes [which is a fashion crime in every wedding], you need to prep your toes to make it look pretty as you also walk down the aisle. An ugly pair of feet will ruin the sexy sandals and the overall get up. It is a must for every bride's maid to have pretty toes even for the wedding day only. If the couple provides uniform sandals, make sure to attend fittings so you wont get sore feet during the wedding event.
6. Be ready with an emergency kit which includes tissues, mirror, touch-up kit, etc. You may not know any impending mishaps so it is better to be prepared for anything. Better to have it when you don't need it than you need it and you don't have it.
Most of all, be aware of your role in the wedding event. I will write about it in the next blog. I hope this article has been helpful to every bride's maid mesdemoiselle.
=)
-Leah Judith Jacobe-
The Wedding Planner
Davao City Philippines
leahjacobe@gmail.com
