Your wedding day is easily one of the most photographed days of your life, so it’s no wonder brides and their wedding parties go above and beyond to look their best. And while we’ve all searched the internet and built our Pinterest boards with the perfect hair and makeup looks, we tend to focus on what looks pretty — and lose sight of what might not be functional or best in the long run! Keep dreaming, and keep pinning everything you do want… but read on for a few things you might not. Speaking as someone who’s photographed a wedding or two, here’s my top five wedding day hair and makeup mistakes to avoid.

Wedding Day Hair and Makeup Mistake #1: Trying Something New (at the last minute!)

Don’t get me wrong… if you want a new look for your big day, go for it! Just don’t wait until your wedding month to take the plunge. When it comes to beauty products, makeup looks, haircuts and colors, it’s best to test it out in advance, when there’s plenty of time to correct (or regrow!) anything you don’t like as much after all. There will be plenty of other things to worry about on your big day. Making a plan, playing in advance and having a glam trial set up are all great ways to avoid any surprises or disappointments when it comes to your wedding day hair and makeup.

Mistake #2: Getting Too Trendy (and dating yourself later!)

Trust me, there’s a difference between being fashion-forward and falling into trend traps. Remember looking at your parents and grandparents’ school photos? The blue eye shadow and Farrah Fawcett Flips haven’t exactly stood the test of time, and neither will anything we’re all sporting right now. Your wedding photos will be the images you cherish for years to come, and the ones you show and pass down to the next generations! Make sure your wedding day hair and makeup can stand the test of time as something you’re proud to share.

Mistake #3: Catering to Your Inspo (and not to yourself!)

Hair-spiration is a beautiful thing, and is usually super helpful for whoever is styling you. But odds are, the bride in the photo is not you… and this is YOUR big day! When choosing your makeup look and colors, make sure you’re looking at things that will work with your skin tone, face shape, eye shape, eye color, etc. The same thing goes with your hair! Does your dream up-do work with your natural hair texture? Will it match the style of your dress? Does everything bring out the very best in your features? Have your inspiration handy, but don’t be afraid to personalize your final look into something that works perfectly for you!

Mistake #4: Disregarding the Weather (even if your wedding is indoors!)

Does your hair get frizzy in humidity? Does your skin dry out in dry air? Wherever your ceremony takes place, it’s important to consider the weather when putting together a plan for your wedding day hair and makeup… especially if you’re planning on taking any photos outside! If it’s typically windy, opt for a hairstyle that’s not going to blow in front of your face all day. If it’s typically sunny, make sure your makeup products (and any parts in your hair!) are armed with an adequate SPF. Need some extra moisture or setting power? Have your favorite products handy! You can usually look up a city’s monthly average well in advance, but it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your detailed local forecast as the big day gets closer. 

Wedding Day Hair and Makeup Mistake #5:  Too Much Drama (and not enough shine!)

There’s something timeless and stunning about black and white wedding photos, am I right? Well nothing stands in the way of those images more than going too dramatic with your wedding day hair and makeup! When it comes to your hair, make sure nothing is slicked back too severely (so you don’t photograph bald from the front), and make sure any smokey eyes won’t become sunglasses when your images are converted to black and white. There are plenty of ways to make a dramatic statement without compromising your photographs… Remember, we want this day to last forever! How it photographs is just as important as how it looks in person. (And no one wants to spend the whole day touching up and maintaining a dark or heavy look!) Don’t hide yourself behind too much drama, and opt to let your beautiful self shine!

No matter your style, having a plan, doing a trial and making a day-of schedule are the tried and true ways to avoid any wedding day hair and makeup mistakes. Play to your strengths, do what makes you feel beautiful, and above all else, be YOU! Beauty trends come and go. Your love is forever! Let’s capture a timeless day that will make your heart swell.

Choosing a venue is a massive part of creating your dream day. Afterall, they book up first, set the stage for the day’s events and create the backdrop for all your photos! It’s so important, in fact, that over the course of planning, you’ll likely have not one, but TWO wedding venue walkthroughs. But what’s the purpose of each visit? What should you look for? What should you ask? It’s a lot to take in each time you’re on-site, but there’s always a way to keep it simple. Read on for my tips and tricks, and all you need to know about wedding venue walkthroughs!

The Initial Walkthrough

Your initial tour will give you a great idea of the policies, event spaces, and all the options, preferred vendors, and inclusions available for your big day. You’ll get to see where you’d be getting ready, along with how each space could be used, where things could be set up, etc. This wedding venue walkthrough should include the bride and groom, your newly-appointed planner (if you’re using one), and whoever is responsible for this piece of the budget. The goal? Find the perfect place with the perfect date available. Obtain a contract, an understanding of logistics, vendors and rentals, then… save your date! 

Do this:

• Ask for their open and available dates right away. If your ideal date is already booked, it’s good to know that before you fall in love with the space to properly weigh the pros and cons.
  
• Make note of ideas that come to mind while you’re touring each space. Are you picturing something in particular? Did you spot a way to incorporate a special item or activity? Make notes of all your inspiration in your phone, or write it all down!
  
• Snap a few photos on your phone to reference later when planning decor, etc. There are likely tons of photos on your venue’s website, but snap a few pics of your spaces from different angles, while it’s not set up and perfectly decorated for someone else’s event.

Not this:

• Don’t assume anything you can dream up is allowed (send off with sparklers, alcohol across the property, etc.)
  
• Don’t waste your walkthrough! Be present. Texts can wait! Use this time to get as much information as possible.
  
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions… That’s what your guide is there for! Ask away while you’re present, while questions are fresh, and while you have everyone’s attention.
  

The Final Wedding Venue Walkthrough

A month or so before the big day, you’ll schedule one final wedding venue walkthrough to iron out all the last minute details, ask any remaining questions, and make sure the spaces are what you remember them to be. The goal? Finalize all the details for the wedding day, and make sure all parties involved are on the same page. 

Do this:

• Take your time. If possible, clear an afternoon for this walkthrough so you don’t have to rush through this process. Now is the time to address any concerns, have any remaining questions answered, and, this being the FINAL wedding venue walkthrough, you don’t want to skip over anything!
  
• Confirm arrival and departure times so you can communicate that information to your wedding party and beauty team.
  
• Enjoy! This is the last time you’ll see your wedding venue before it’s showtime. Take it all in. Be excited. This is it! 

Not this:

• Don’t forget about the rehearsal! Yes, the wedding is the main event, but your families and wedding party will need to confirm the arrival time, schedule and plan for the rehearsal, too.
  
• Don’t assume everyone knows what they’re in charge of! Use this wedding venue walkthrough to review and finalize who is doing what, when it needs to be done and where things will be so there’s fewer chances of miscommunications.
  
• Don’t stress yourself out! There’s a lot of information to confirm and there will be a lot of finalizing going on, which can be stressful — especially this close to the wedding! But don’t forget, you’re in good hands! If there’s something in particular that’s causing anxiety, use this time to smooth it out. 

Bonus Tip: Bring your photographer to the final wedding venue walkthrough! They’ll want to see the spaces and lighting they’ll be shooting, along with hearing the schedule for the day’s events. They might even snap a photo or two to capture your excitement—and who knows? Those photos could end up being some of your favorites!