the 10 dos and don'ts of bridal makeup.

Along with family visits and lots of food, the holidays usually bring with them a host of engagements, and by this time of the new year wedding planning is in full swing for many couples! Whether you are newly engaged or have been planning for a while, make sure you don't forget one important element - wedding beauty! Below is a list of 10 expert bridal tips, to make sure you look flawless on your big day!

DO:

1. 'Make sure you have your trial at least three weeks, but no more than 3 months before your wedding. If you plan on using fake tan for the big day, have a test run before your make-up trial so that your artist can see what colour your skin becomes with the tan,' says M·A·C Senior Artist, Rebecca Butterworth.

2. 'Wear a white t-shirt if you’re having your make-up test in a store so that you can see how the make-up looks against a pale colour and take a picture of yourself in day light (with no flash) to see how it looks' says celebrity make-up maestro Caroline Barnes.

3. 'Bring references to your make-up trial, also known as "tears". Start looking for images of make-up that you really like and bring them with you on the day. Try to identify what it is you like about the make-up in the image and take into account that if you have the skin colour of Dita Von Teese then the make-up of Kim Kardashian won't necessarily translate onto you,' says Rebecca from M·A·C.

4. 'Remember that bridal make-up needs to have enough colour to compensate for the whiteness of the dress. There’s a big difference between everyday clothes and a wedding dress, so there should be difference in your make-up, too. Starting with beautiful natural-looking skin, and adding colour to cheeks and lips will really make you glow,' says Bobbi Brown.

5. 'Use false eyelashes – whether strip or the more natural individual, they’re a brilliant way to make your eyes stand out, and looks amazing in photographs.'

DON'T:

1. 'Have your make-up trial anywhere with overhead fluorescent lighting. If you have a professional make-up artist coming to your home, arrange a time when it’s still daylight outside,' says Caroline Barnes

2. 'Trowel it on. It’s a total myth that your make-up has to be plastered on for the photographs. Lots of wedding photography is done in natural light, and if you choose a heavy base the make-up will look obvious. Just ensure your T Zone is matte and that can be achieved with fine translucent powders and blotting powders, not layers of make-up.'  

3. 'Go for anything too trend-led. It's worth bearing in mind that you'll have to live with photos from your wedding for the rest of your life, so it's best to avoid statement looks and opt for something more classic; that glittery eyeliner you saw on a Parisian catwalk might look super pretty and modern now, but chances are it'll look tired and dated in twenty years' time. This isn't to say that you'll have to make yourself up in a symphony of beiges though if you're used to a more punchy make-up - vintage wedding dresses in particular can look breathtaking with a classic old Hollywood lipstick colour,' says Alex Babsky.

4. 'Be scared of going a bit brighter. Neutral, brown, and pale lip colours can look washed out in photographs, so choose a lipstick that’s one or two shades brighter than what you would normally wear. If you usually wear a neutral hue, it should be worn as a base, with a pink or rose colour on top. If you typically wear dark lipstick, use that as the base, and apply a brighter pink on top to give the colour a lift. Pinks, roses and plums are all great, classic choices for brides,' says Bobbi.

5. 'Rush. Allow at least 45 minutes to an hour for make-up application on the wedding day,' says Bobbi.

Lianne