My Wedding: Hair and Makeup

This post is part of a series about our DIY Kentucky Vineyard wedding. It was such a labor of love and there is so much to tell, so I’ll be splitting it up into categories. I hope you’ll find some inspiration and entertainment from what we did for our wedding, along with some ideas for your own day! You can read about the music here, the venue here, the decorations here, or the dress here!

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When planning my wedding look, I knew I didn't want to look too unlike myself and that I would be styling my own hair and makeup. I wanted to walk down the aisle and have Kyle see who he fell in love with, but the very best version of that person. With that in mind, I went for very simple hair and makeup styles, which were basically just bumped up versions of my normal, everyday look.

hair

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Since I often wear my hair down, I searched for hairstyles with long waves and natural curls. I ended up going with a pincurls-type style, with my hair clip as my only adornment.

I used a tutorial from Pinterest to practice doing my own hair, and probably went through the styling process at least 10 times before the wedding day. I purchased my hair clip at the same boutique that I bought my dress, but there are so many amazing options on Etsy and BHLDN.

As far as products go, I only used a few simple things. I applied a smoothing serum to my wet hair before blow-drying it, and then used a texturizing powder for a little volume and grit before curling. I curled my hair using a 1 inch curling iron, and pinned each curl in place to set using small metal duck clips. Once my hair had cooled, I removed the clips and sprayed everything with a strong but flexible hairspray. I sprayed my hair several times before everything was said and done, because I was told by a brilliant hair stylist, Alex, that several light layers of spray would be best for that hairstyle. (Thanks, love!)  Of course, the weather got to my hair eventually, but I think it held up pretty well for the most part of the evening. And honestly, I live my life with hair that hates humidity, and I was having too much fun to try to fight it that day.

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I attached my hair comb using a couple of bobby pins, and it helped keep my hair away from my eyes and open up my face, and added a touch of sparkle. I didn't wear a veil, but a hair accessory still made me feel very bridal.

makeup

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Again, I wanted to keep my makeup looking like myself.

First of all, a primer and setting spray is a must. I went to the MAC counter a few weeks before the wedding and had one of the makeup artists create a look for me so I would know what products I might need to purchase. I typically wear neutral shadows, a cateye liner and a bright lip anyway, so I didn't really veer from that for the wedding day. I was mainly concerned with what foundation to wear. The artist helped me pick out the perfect formula that would stay put and keep my face nice and even throughout the long wedding day.

I wore several neutral shades on my eyes, as well as my usual cateye liner, kept my brows nicely defined and made sure my eyelashes were as long and thick as possible. I seriously hate waterproof mascara, but it's just a must on your wedding day. I also wore a peach blush and my favorite cheek highlighter to brighten up my face. I got a spray tan a few days before, so I had some color going on.

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The lips were the best part. I combined about three different products to get the best red lip for the wedding day. Of course, red lips are not the easiest thing to deal with, but if you do them correctly, they can be your friend. I purchased a red lip liner when I visited MAC, and used a combination of a matte red lipstick and a lip varnish/stain to get those babies to stay put. I didn't touch up until after my first glass of champagne at the reception, which I think is a pretty awesome time span.

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//1. benefit Stay Flawless Primer //2. MakeUp Forever Full Cover Concealer // //3. MAC Pro Longwear Foundation //4. MAC Loose Powder // //5. NARS Blush //6. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish //7. MAC Eyeshadows // //8. Eyeko Liquid Eyeliner //9. Maybelline Falsies Mascara // //10. Stila Stay All Day Vinyl Lip Gloss //11. MAC Lip Pencil // //12. Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray //

I wanted to look back on my wedding photos and see a classic, timeless look, and I think my hair and makeup met that requirement. My wedding day was when I felt the most beautiful and the most confident, and I love that my hairstyle and makeup look helped give me that.

The biggest piece of advice I can give to you about your wedding day look is to remember that this isn't prom. This is the time when you want to feel the most beautiful, and not just because you can rock more sequins than your peers. This is your moment to show people your true, natural beauty, even if you need a little help with some products. Go light on the glitter shadows and just focus on that pretty, bridal glow. Make sure your skin looks nice, that you've got enough sleep (or as much as possible...so many emotions!), and drink a lot of water. A LOT. If you think you've had enough, drink another glass. This helps your skin so much, and people are going to be looking at you all.day.long. Try to look like yourself. Your husband-to-be fell in love with you before you were wearing a fancy wedding dress, and he has probably seen you at your worst by now, so he knows what you really look like. This isn't about how perfect your hair and makeup is - it's about the two of you starting your life together! Of course you want to look and feel wonderful, but don't let smudged eyeliner do you in. However, if you really want to know something about a product, just let me know. I think I've tried 75 percent of them out there.

 What type of hair and makeup looks do you like for weddings? Would you ever do your own hair and makeup for your big day? 

All photos by Jessica Hutchinson.