Saskia Wright is a highly acclaimed wedding make-up artist and has been working with Luby on her look for ‘A Very Twilight Wedding’.
What is the starting point when designing wedding makeup?
I always start by asking the bride how much makeup she wears on a night out. This helps to gauge the amount of glam she’s used to wearing. I also ask her if she has any non-negotiables such as she has to have her signature eyeliner flick, she only likes peach blusher, she hates lip gloss etc.
I also like to find out how her skin handles makeup throughout the day. Does it last well, does she get a shiny face, does her skin seem to just eat makeup. These questions help me to understand the bride’s skin type.
Do you prefer to create a dramatic makeup look or something more natural for a wedding?
Both, it depends on who you are. My whole ethos for bridal glam is that you want people to see you and their initial thought to be ‘wow she looks amazing’ as opposed to ‘her makeup looks good’. In other words you want people to see you before they see the makeup. I think there is no right answer of dramatic vs natural makeup for brides. It’s so specific to you. If you wear full glam every day and you love that and that’s part of who you are then 100% lets go for the most stunning full glam effect. However if you only wear mascara and a lip balm everyday then lets do a dreamy elevated version of that. You’re about to see everyone you know and love and they want to see you as they know you (just more polished of course!) I will say if you have a specific makeup style preference then book someone who emulates that. I find it tricky when someone has booked me through my instagram and can clearly see my style of glam but then shows me inspo of other glams that are a totally different style to mine. Picasso can’t paint like Van Gogh and Van Gogh can’t paint like Picasso if you get me!
How do you achieve the balance between the right makeup for the camera and for the day itself?
This is a good question, I always ask who the photographer is because some photographers use certain filters that really change the look of the makeup. You can have the same glam photographed by someone that uses orange tint filters and the contour and blusher will look harsher than in real life. Whereas the same makeup photographed by someone who does light, bright airy photos the contour and blusher will look softer than in real life. I find a happy balance in between, I’ve now been doing this long enough to know exactly how makeup will translate in natural lighting and in photos – so you don’t have to worry!
You have a bride that has no clue which way to go with her make up – what would your advice be?
Think of a time you loved how you felt and looked and start from there – what did you like about your makeup that day/night. It’s great to look at makeup inspo on Pinterest and Insta but be careful too, don’t just screenshot images you like because they’re aesthetically pleasing and you love how Rosie Huntington Whitely looks with that red lipstick. Really think about how that makeup will translate onto you. If you find the inspo images route helpful then find people with similar skin tone, eye and hair colour – this is more realistic and closer to how it’ll look on you. Otherwise, put your trust into your artist – they’ll know what to do, you can try different options and find the perfect look at the trial.
How much do other elements of the wedding ie, the dress, the venue etc. impact a make up design?
I always take these elements into consideration when creating someone’s bridal glam but ultimately I’m doing the makeup to compliment the person’s personality, face structure, skin tone and hair colour more than the dress and flowers!
In the lead up to the wedding do you have any beauty advice that will prepare the skin for such an important day?
The earlier you start with facials/treatments to target certain concerns, the better. Profhilo is fantastic for the ultimate bridal glow, improving skin texture and tone. Drinking lots of water, hydration from within is key! If you have specific skincare concerns, seeing a dermatologist is an invaluable investment. I always advise no new skincare or facials in the 2 months before the wedding day. Stick to what your skin knows and loves in the final countdown weeks as it’s just not worth the risk of trying new things that your skin could react to.
You’re doing make up during what can be a very stressful and nerve wracking time. What is your advice to a nervous bride?
Think about who you want to get ready with on the day, I know this sounds weird but believe me there’s a running theme I see when it comes to brides stress levels and who is around them on the morning of. Getting ready in the same room as 9 other excitable girls is typically always just a bit too much and too overwhelming for the bride. It’s great to have just a couple of your nearest and dearest with you whilst getting ready. If you’ve not got a wedding planner and your mother or maid of honour is helping to organise the day – do not spend the whole morning with them! You just don’t need to overhear them on the phone freaking out to the bar about the delayed arrival of Champagne. There’s a reason you’ll never see a wedding planner hanging around the bride before the ceremony!
Thank you so much for answering our questions – have you any parting words of wisdom you’d like to share with us?
Leave more time than you think you’ll need to get dressed.
Stick a few cotton buds in your bouquet to catch the tears if needed!
Do not steam a thin veil! I’ve witnessed a bridesmaid burn a hole in one before…
Take bouquets out the water in advance and dry them off well, water marks on silk bridesmaids dresses ain’t cute.
Enjoy the glam/getting ready part of your day, be present in every moment and soak it all in, it’s YOUR part of the day, for you, celebrating you!
