Want the inside scoop on the Fargo area wedding vendor scene? I got you! After shooting weddings in the area since 2010 and working with so many venues, stylists, DJs, artists, etc., I’m turning my mental list of favs into a REAL list for you.

Today’s featured vendor Laura, owner of Faces by Laura E.

Hi! I’m Laura,

owner and lead artist at Faces by Laura. I’m also a wife and mom. I live in Grand Forks but am originally from Southern California. I love adventure and travel! I’ve lived in some exciting and beautiful places stateside from just over the river from NYC to the top of a mountain in Colorado. I graduated with a degree in Visual Communications at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in San Francisco, however, I ultimately found my home in the cosmetics industry shortly after graduating. I worked for MAC Cosmetics for about half of my career and credit them with some of the best training and experience I have received. I love the first sip of coffee in the morning, a good Netflix documentary, and a good belly laugh! Weddings are among my favorite events to do makeup for so I’m going to fill you in on some of my best tips and tricks for brides!

Wedding Day Inspiration

Finding inspiration for your wedding day is very helpful in my opinion, but only if you are realistic that it is used for starting the process of creating your own unique look. When looking for inspiration on places like Pinterest, it’s easy to find looks that you like or are drawn to for your makeup. There are a lot of photoshopped looks or looks done on models with features that are ideal for certain looks. Keep in mind your hair color, eye color, eye shape, face shape and skin tone. Look for photos featuring women with similar features so you can have realistic expectations. It’s important to also trust your artist to have a strong understanding on how to emphasis your specific features. Any good artist will have enough experience and knowledge to draw from. How you envision your look is important, as well and communication is key. It can be difficult to describe exactly what you like or want. A great Makeup Artist can read between the lines to a degree but will also ask you the right questions to figure out your likes and dislikes.

COMMON MISTAKES

I would advise against a look that is very dramatic for your wedding day unless it falls in line with the tone of your wedding. I also suggest to my brides that should they get their brows waxed to do it no closer to the wedding than three days. This way the fine hair has time to start to come back and the makeup has something to stick to.

WEDDING SKIN CARE ADVICE

I typically suggest keeping your normal skincare routine the week before your wedding and leading up to the wedding. There are a few facials and exfoliating treatments that are safe to do before your wedding but ultimately you never know when your skin could react to something foreign. I’m sure I will sound like a broken record you’ve heard before but truly, drink as much water as you can, wear sunscreen regularly, do not sleep with makeup on, moisturize your skin, girl! Spray tans are safe but can be unpredictable in their effectiveness. I’m a big fan of embracing your natural skin tone. We are all so uniquely different and fair skin is just as beautiful as someone who has naturally more pigmented skin. You will also feel so much more comfortable in your own skin if you embrace it as it is and don’t have to worry about matching different parts of your body with tanner.

LASHES

Let’s talk lashes. They are amazing and finish a look like nothing else does. To me, they are necessary in a bridal look. I love individual lashes for the bride so I can tailor them to her specific eye shape and the look she is desiring. Strip lashes are a close second. Coming in at third place are lash extensions. I have a love/hate relationship with them. Here are my pro’s and cons: Pro’s- 1. They look incredible the first week you have them. 2. They are easy once they are on. You just wake up and go. Cons- 1. They require maintenance. Typically you have to go in every 2-3 weeks to get them filled in which usually takes around an hour or more. 2. They do not recommend wearing mascara on them so once your eye shadow is done they usually have fallout from the shadow on top of them. This is difficult to remove or cover without mascara. So, it’s really up to each individual and their needs but do keep in mind that there are women who experience a reaction to the glue that is used to apply the extensions and this is why they are my least favorite for the wedding day. Can you imagine getting them put on a day or two before the wedding and having a reaction that you have to then combat before the big day so you don’t have puffy eyes?! Better just to avoid the risk altogether.

AIRBRUSH MAKEUP

I do offer airbrush! Airbrush can be beautiful but not unique in it’s ability to stay put or look flawless. I can achieve the same look with a traditional application. That being said it is up to the bride to decide what type of application she prefers and I charge a small additional fee for airbrush due to the cost of the machine, maintenance, separate foundation and the extra time it takes to apply.

MAKING YOUR WEDDING DAY MAKEUP LAST

For touch ups I typically include a small bag with the following for the bride: A straw, blotting sheets, mints, powder, a sponge for application, a small tube of lash glue & my business card in case of a makeup emergency (which thankfully has never happened). The feedback I have received from past brides has been that their makeup has lasted well into the night and if any had to touch up it was usually their lips if at all. Because of this type of feedback I only use a setting spray upon request as I know the products I use are high quality and have great staying power.

MY FAVORITE LOOK RIGHT NOW

I love a glowing, natural look with full & soft lashes right now. Healthy and glowing skin are very in and I am here for it! Matte is out. If you’re someone who tends to have more oily skin this does not exclude you! You can have healthy looking skin without going full on matte and this trend actually benefits you because it requires a lot less product on your skin to keep it matte all day.

BRIDAL TRIALS

The bridal trial is for a bride who needs peace of mind or has a very specific look or requirements. It definitely helps the bride and the artist to confirm they are both on the same page for the wedding day. Personally, I feel confident going into a wedding day without a trial but I also know that it eases the brides worries to have a trial done beforehand. Some tips for your trial are to try and schedule your makeup trial, hair trial and dress fitting on the same day. This can sometimes be difficult but if possible book as many of those together as you can to see the total look you’re going for at once. Also, for your makeup trial it’s great if you can wear a white top. This just helps you envision your look with your dress. The trial is also a great time to talk about what you will do for touch-ups on the wedding day.

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR MAKEUP ARTIST

I think a lot of brides don’t have enough requirements for their wedding Makeup Artist. It’s one of the biggest events of your life and it’s your face! Of course, I’m saying that as a wedding Makeup Artist but just in general you should look for someone who is punctual, has good reviews, has a high standard of sanitation with their products and tools, and communicates in a timely and professional manner.

Good questions to ask before hiring a MUA for your wedding are:
1. How long have you been a licensed MUA?
2. May I see your portfolio? (if not represented on social media or their website)
3. What kinds of credentials (other than a license to apply cosmetics) do you have? This can be certifications, continuing ed courses taken, or tear sheets/call sheets for photo shoots or production work.

Personally, I wouldn’t hire someone without a professional website and easily accessed photos of their work. In a time where social media and Youtube are directing much of the path of the beauty industry I think it’s important to maintain a high standard of professionalism. It may be considered “old school” but I think it speaks volumes about how that individual runs their business and carries themselves in person as well as on the internet. If you are inquiring with me about your wedding day I’ll just go ahead and answer these questions for you! I have been in the beauty industry and working weddings for 14 years. I am a licensed Master Aesthetician and I have multiple certifications from MAC Cosmetics, multiple call sheets, multiple credits in magazines and work in production.

All of my work can easily be found on my website and social media:

 www.facesbylaurae.com 

www.instagram.com/facesbylaurae 

www.facebook.com/facesbylaura 

I hope you found this info helpful and if you get a chance I’d love for you to check out my Facebook & Instagram pages!