If you’re buying special pajamas for your wedding, please make sure they button up for easy removal. Lower cut, button up styles are best so that I can blend your makeup down your neck and chest. If you are worried about makeup getting on your PJs before getting-ready photos, bring another button up that we can do your makeup in! Getting ready pics only happen after you’re already ready, anyway, so you can just change before those. Try to leave any casual jewelry, especially necklaces, at home so that they aren’t in our way.

Please don’t forget to wash your face and moisturize in the morning! This makes a huge difference in how your makeup applies. Leftover, dry foundation or mascara is a pain to remove with wipes and takes up some of our valuable time. Brush your teeth, put your contacts in, and shave your armpits before sitting in the chair, because those are tasks that can mess up makeup if you leave them for later. Get the big tangles out of your hair if possible.

Instead of constantly running downstairs to check certain decor decisions and greet/pay vendors, try to designate someone else to do this or have your maids/mom switch off. Give your phone to someone else if possible, and just be in the moment, listen to music, have a mimosa, and chat with everyone. That’s what makes the morning memorable!

You have to eat something and drink water to service your body! Even if you don’t feel hungry, try to have a small, nourishing snack to keep you from getting lightheaded or drowsy. We don’t want you to be falling out in the floor from low blood sugar and dehydration.

How your makeup and hair looks for your ceremony and reception has a lot to do with how you treat it in the morning. My work can last you all night, but not if it’s sabotaged.

* Please avoid doing emotional gifts and letters of any kind after your makeup is done, especially if you know you are an emotional person. It’s always the ugly crier who has a full beat on when the sweet letters come out. This makeup can definitely withstand a few tasteful tears with some gentle blotting, but there is no makeup that is going to last through a big bawling session. If a makeup artist tells you that it will, they are LYING! Rubbing, scratching your face, tugging on your lashes and excessive tears or sweat without gentle blotting are going to deteriorate your makeup. Open gifts and letters the night before or first thing in the morning.

* Avoid that steamer like it’s the plague. If you have your makeup and/or hair done, you should not be in a room with a steamer. Have someone else take all the dresses and steamer into another room. Not only is the steam/heat not friendly to makeup/hair, I have lost count of how many times I’ve seen those things spray water all over someone’s dress or cute pajamas. I’ve seen them burn many of hands and clothes (especially silk), too.

If there is something bothering you (within the scope of things I can change), please let me know! Maybe there’s a speck on your eyebrow that you want filled in more, you wanted your lips to be more over-lined, or you want a little more face-framing left out. You are most likely the only person on the planet who could’ve noticed it, but this is a luxury service that I’m providing you, and I always want you to point it out to me so we can tweak to your liking!