If you have made the difficult and emotional decision to scale down your wedding and go ahead with your big day but with a considerably reduced number of guests your wedding can still be as amazing as a larger-scale celebration.

At the moment due to Covid restrictions in the UK, you can have a maximum of 15 guests attending your wedding. I recently had the pleasure doing the makeup for a ‘micro wedding’ and I spoke to the Bride after the day and she said it was so special and intimate and had the people they care about the most attend. My bride still pulled out all the stops but also saved money. She may not even go ahead with the sequel wedding she planned for 2021 as her micro wedding far outweighed her expectations.

I still recommend having your wedding makeup done professionally if you were going to originally when you planned your wedding. No matter the size of your wedding you still want to look and feel your most beautiful and want gorgeous photos you can share with the friends and family that perhaps couldn’t attend. The bride I recently did had lots of people watching via zoom so you still want to look the best you can on the day and for the screen!

Here are some of my tips and ideas for a perfect micro wedding make up.

Mood Board

You may have more time on your hands as we are all spending more time at home and with your guest number reduced why not spend some time doing a makeup mood board. This is a good way to decipher the look you like and analyse what you don’t like. An inspiration or mood board is there to inspire you but also communicate to your makeup artist the kind of makeup styles you like. Remember these looks are your inspiration and not necessarily to be recreated exactly on you. You can choose elements from the look. It might be the whimsical vibe of one image but the eyeliner or the lipstick of another. You can talk through your images and your reasoning behind it with your makeup artist. You may not be able to describe the look in your head but find a visual representation. Your makeup artist can guide you and talk you through the makeup styles which will suit you. The inspiration board can include colours and textures you are drawn to as well as the overall vibe you want your wedding to have.

Virtual Make up Trial

I recommend a trial where possible so on the day you and your artist know exactly the look. If it is not possible to have a face to face trial a virtual trial can still help to finalise the look and put you at ease. It’s a great way to make sure you and your artist are on the same page with ideas. Come to the call with a general idea of your bridal style if you can not to worry if you have no idea. If you have your dress organised or colour scheme all this information helps. Have an open and honest conversation and if you don’t like a suggestion say, some brides have a very specific makeup look they want to try and others need a little more guidance on their wedding look. It’s a good way to build up a rapport between you and your artist before the wedding day. A good hair and makeup artist will have ideas for you just from talking to you.

When I’m talking and looking at a bride I’m always thinking of the kind of looks and makeup style I think will suit her, then it’s just a case of marrying this up to the Brides ideas.

A virtual consultation is a great way for your artist to gain an understanding of your desired looks so don’t worry if you can’t meet in person. When I couldn’t get to do a face to face trial on my recent bride I made sure I had a little extra time on the day to do any alterations to the look we had agreed on. But ultimately I knew what she wanted before we started on the day. We didn’t need that extra time in the end and it was one of the most relaxed weddings I have done. Put your trust in the expert they will be able to do their job and make sure you are really happy with the final look for the day. I find my best looks and happiest brides are when I gain a deep understanding of the bride’s desired vision but ultimately they trust me to create the makeup look that I know will suit them and to be the most beautiful bride on the day.

I gave my bride a choice of 5 lipstick shades to choose from so she could go into the store and try on her hand or look online and see which one she would like and feels drawn to. Lipstick is the most personal product of a bridal makeup look and can change the whole feel of the makeup. I like my brides to have the final say on the lipstick/lip products they will be wearing and I suggest they have this in their makeup to top up on the day. My bride picked out her top two shades and went for the first one on the day.

The Makeup Look

Essentially a micro wedding makeup look is no different to any other bridal makeup. Longevity is especially important as you will have to wear a mask at some point. Choose a mask that works well with your dress it’s up to you whether it’s silk or material and choose one that feels comfortable as well.

Here is my ten-step bridal makeup look that has staying power!

Step 1. Prime

Prime your skin well! This is going to go a long way to increase the longevity of your foundation and complexion products. Use your normal skincare don’t try anything different before the wedding day. Apply a good primer all over the face after moisturiser, choose one for your skin type but choose one without a glow or any shimmer. A good combination I used for my recent brides is the Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Blurring £17 it visibly smoothes skin and holds the foundation on. I then went over the centre of the face and around the chin where the mask is going to be with the MAC mattifer this mattes the skin and will stop any foundation transferring onto a mask. My recent bride had normal skin and wasn’t oily at all but I use this trick for her and her makeup lasted all day. The foundation will not budge!

Step 2. Eye Shadow

Eyes are the focal point of any makeup look but particularly for a bridal makeup look. Eye makeup stays on so even if the rest of your make up has worn off slightly the eye makeup will not go anywhere for at least 8 hours if you follow these simple tips.

I use an eye base I love the MAC Paintpots they are not too heavy but ensure the eyelid is totally matte and primed ready for the eye shadow. I have a few colours in my kit and you match your skin tone or shade of eye shadow you will be using. I use Painterly a lot! Next, I really pack on the eye shadow with a MAC #239 brush to really press the colour in. Matte eye shadows will last longer on the eye but I look to use a mixture of both shiny and matte textures.

Step 3. Foundation / Concealer

So we have primed the skin and let that settle, we have started the eyes and done the eyeshadow and wiped away any excess dropping underneath the eye. So next is the foundation whether you are going for light coverage or full coverage I suggest to go for a matte finish. This will transfer less onto masks and ensure the foundation has every chance to go the distance. Now there are a number of great long last foundations on the market, personally, I have the MAC Studiofix in my kit I use this for my TV and editorial work and I just love it has the full range of colours. I also use the Estee Lauder Double wear foundation as well. Now just because a foundation is matte doesn’t mean it needs to look heavy and thick. I always use a brush and blend on the face to the desired consistency. At the moment I am loving the MAC #159 duo fibre brush.

I could not live without concealer! But essentially concealer and foundation are the same product so don’t be afraid to use the concealer all over the face or visa versa. So for under the eye I love the Nars radiant creamy concealer it’s very moisturising but also pigmented so covers well. Then for the nose and around the chin, I like the Tarte shape tape. This is a liquid concealer also but heavier than the Nars creamy concealer and more matte so it will last underneath a mask. If you are doing your own makeup you can apply with the applicator and then I blend with a beauty blender.

Step 4. Setting Powder

A translucent powder is your best friend! A setting powder does what it says on the tin it will set your foundation. Hold your makeup in place and stop it transferring to your mask or your new husband’s face! A good powder will create a smooth finish ready for your blusher contour and bronzer etc. Carry this with you in your handbag on the wedding day, if you or your bridesmaid sees any shine just press on either with a puff or powder brush. I have been using recently My Kit Co brush 0.22. £18.50 which is a duo fibre dome-shaped brush which gets into the nooks and crannies of the face.

Step 5. Blusher / Bronzer

Blusher and bronzer really bring the whole wedding makeup look together. 90% of my brides want a blusher they can see and rosy cheeks even if they are having a contour as well.

A blusher will lift your makeup look. You don’t want your blusher to smudge so I apply a cream blusher first then set it with a blusher then set with your translucent powder. So it’s a about layering of makeup to increase longevity rather than one thick application. I don’t use a small to medium fluffy brush to apply the blusher onto the apple of the cheeks. MAC #129 is a perfect size.

Step 6. Highlighter

Back in the day when highlighter hadn’t been invented yet, I used to use a MAC eyeshadow pigment called vanilla this was meant for the eye but was amazing on the high points of the face. Now there are soo many to choose from so go with one that you are drawn to. Two or three shades lighter than your natural skin tone works really well. So if you want more of a matte highlight go for a concealer that’s two shades lighter than your foundation. I apply highlighter to the highpoints of the face not necessarily the nose or lip as that will be covered by a mask at some point and also I have never met a bridal client that wants their nose to stand out more, which is essentially what a highlighter does. I would go for a powder highlight rather than a cream for your wedding just so it stays on longer you don’t want to be away from your guests to long when topping up makeup. A couple I love at the moment is the Becca Champagne pop the powder formula.

Step 7. Mascara/eyeliner

Mascara really completes your bridal makeup look. I prep the lashes by curling them and coating them with a primer for extra volume then apply two coats of a long-lasting waterproof mascara. Or you can layer the waterproof mascara over your trusted mascara. If you will be wearing false lashes do one coat of mascara then the lashes then another coat of mascara to blend in the lashes.

So have a think about how you want your lashes to look if you like a separated lash look or a full lash look and also what kind of brush you like. I like the lashes to look a bit more separated and to use a tiny fan brush to apply the mascara and get right to the root and the fan combs through as you apply.

In My Kit - Dior Show Waterproof Mascara, MAC Extended Play Mascara

Step 8. Brows

Brows frame the face and are an important feature of the face. Let them grow as much as possible before the day. I use a brow gel to hold brows in place. I then fill in where there are gaps with a brow shadow or a pencil matching the brow colour.

Step 9. Lips

Matte lipstick stays on longer simple as that. So if you don’t want the lipstick to transfer onto your mask or new husband than choose a matte lipstick. First, make sure your lips are primed with a balm at the start of your makeup application. I then use a lip liner that is a near shade to your lipstick and line the lips and then on to the centre of the lips. See my blog on MAC Bridal lipsticks to see my top ten colours.

My Favourite Matte Lipsticks: MAC Kinda Sexy, MAC Devoted to Chilly, Nars

Step 10. Setting Spray

A setting spray does what it says on the tin. It’s a final step to ensure the longevity of your makeup on the day. Spray it over your makeup when you have totally finished holding everything in place. That with all the other 9 previous steps and your makeup should last the whole day. Depending on your skin type you may need to top up with powder and definitely your lipstick.

My top three setting Sprays, Urban Decay All Nighter £26, Hourglass veil soft setting spray £47, Huda Beauty Resting Boss Face £27.00.