What should I do after a bridal makeup trial?

Give yourself time to live with the look before you decide. Take photos indoors and outdoors, in daylight and in the evening, because makeup can look very different in each. Check how it photographs from the front and the side, and ask someone else to take a few candid shots too.

Wear the makeup for at least four or five hours, ideally through a meal and a walk, to see how it settles, fades or creases. Make notes as you go: the lipstick you loved, the eyeliner that felt heavy, the foundation that looked perfect in the mirror but washed out in photos.

Then contact your artist with clear, kind feedback. Say exactly what you would keep and what you would tweak, and attach any photos you took. Most artists welcome this and will adjust the final look. If you felt unsure about the artist or the result, it is better to know now and book another trial with someone else.

Finally, keep your trial photos and notes somewhere safe, and bring them with you on the wedding morning. That way your artist, and you, have a clear reference for the look you agreed on.