When to book a makeup artist
The wedding season in Masuria runs mainly from May to September. That is when Saturdays disappear from the calendar fastest, especially in Giżycko, Mikołajki and the lakeside hotels. For a summer Saturday it is worth writing several months in advance, and if your wedding date is fixed, even earlier.
In your first message, tell me:
- the wedding date and the time you need to be ready,
- where you will be getting ready, for example at home, in a hotel or a manor house,
- the number of people who need makeup,
- whether you would like to book a makeup trial.
Based on this, I will check my availability and prepare a quote. I book a bridal package date once we have agreed the terms individually and you have paid a deposit, which counts towards the price of the service. The quickest way to write to me is the form at the bottom of the page.
The makeup trial: when and why
The makeup trial is included in the price of my bridal package. A good time is usually one to three months before the wedding: you already have your dress and an idea for your hair, and there is still time to make decisions calmly.
At the trial we test the shade and finish of your skin, the intensity of the eyes, the eyeliner and the lip colour. We check how the makeup looks in daylight and in a phone photo, because on camera it usually looks softer than in person. We also set the time when the preparations will start.
Bring to the trial:
- a photo of your dress and accessories, for example jewellery and veil,
- an idea for your hairstyle, ideally with a photo,
- makeup inspiration, if you have any,
- clean, moisturised skin with no makeup.
If you can, keep the makeup on for a few hours after the trial. You will see how it wears, and photos taken in different light will help us refine the details.
A lakeside wedding: sun, wind and humidity
In Masuria the weather can change within a single afternoon. Sunlight reflects off the lake, it is often windy on the jetty and by the shore, and in the evening it gets cooler and more humid by the water. I plan makeup for an outdoor wedding so that it copes with each of these situations:
- Skin preparation. Hydration and a well-chosen primer are the foundation of long wear. Oily and combination skin benefits from mattifying products, dry skin from hydrating ones, so that foundation does not emphasise dry patches.
- Thin layers. Several light layers last better than one thick one and look natural up close, even in bright sunshine.
- Mattifying where needed. The forehead, nose and chin stay matte, while the cheeks keep a healthy glow. That way your skin does not look shiny in photos.
- Eyes that withstand wind and tears. Waterproof mascara and long-wearing brow and eyeliner products will not smudge when the wind blows off the lake or emotions take over.
- Long-lasting lips. A long-wear lipstick, or a lip liner under gloss, so that the colour lasts through the congratulations, the toast and dinner.
- Setting. Finally, I set the makeup so that it looks fresh from the vows to the last dance.
A church ceremony and a reception in a hall mean different light from an outdoor setting. If you are planning both, I adapt the makeup so that it looks good both in the dim light of an interior and in full sunshine by the water.
Makeup in photos: flash and daylight
Wedding photos are looked at for years, so with bridal makeup I always think about the camera. A few principles I follow:
- A little more definition than usual. The camera softens colours, so I emphasise the brows, lashes and facial features slightly more, but in a way that still looks natural up close.
- Highlighter in moderation. In sunshine and with flash, a strong highlighter can look like shiny skin in photos. Instead, I go for a satin, fresh complexion.
- Products tested with flash. Some powders and cosmetics with mineral filters can create a pale cast on the face in flash photos. I choose products that look good on camera.
- A face that matches the neckline. I match the foundation shade to your neck and décolletage, so that in photos your face does not stand out from the rest of your body.
A sunset photo session
In Masuria, a session by the water during the golden hour is often one of the most beautiful shots of the whole day. The warm, soft light enhances glowing skin, so instead of a strong highlighter, a natural radiance is enough.
The golden hour is roughly the last hour before sunset. In Giżycko the sun sets at around 9 pm in June, around 8 pm in mid-August and before 7 pm in mid-September, so the session usually takes place during the reception.
If you are planning a session on your wedding day, tell me when you book. We will plan the makeup so that it looks just as fresh in the evening as in the morning, and before the session a quick refresh is enough: a blotting paper on the forehead and nose and a touch-up of the lips.
Getting ready in Giżycko, Mikołajki, Mrągowo and Ryn
On your wedding day I come to wherever you are getting ready: a home in Giżycko, a hotel in Mikołajki, a guesthouse near Mrągowo or the castle in Ryn. I bring a full kit of professional cosmetics and tools. All I need from you is:
- a spot by a window, ideally with daylight,
- a chair and a small table or worktop for the cosmetics,
- a plan for the day with the time you need to leave, so that we can plan everything with time to spare.
The travel cost is included in your individual quote, and we set my arrival time with a margin for the journey. In summer, especially at weekends, the roads between Masurian towns can be busy, so it is better to allow a few extra minutes.
A sample plan for the wedding day
For unhurried makeup, it is worth planning about an hour per person. It often works well to do the bride last, so that her makeup is as fresh as possible when she leaves. We agree on the order together, including with the hairdresser, so that we do not get in each other's way.
Example: a ceremony at 3 pm, getting ready in a hotel in Mikołajki, makeup for the mother of the bride, the maid of honour and the bride.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 10:30 | I arrive and set up my station by the window |
| 10:45 | makeup for the mother of the bride |
| 11:45 | makeup for the maid of honour |
| 12:45 | makeup for the bride |
| 14:00 | final touches and photos of the preparations |
| 14:15 | dress, accessories and the parents’ blessing |
| 14:30 | leaving for the ceremony |
This is only an example. We adapt the plan to the time of the ceremony, the number of people and the work of the hairdresser and the photographer.
Your skin in the weeks before the wedding
The most important thing is regular moisturising, including your lips. Do not introduce new cosmetics or treatments just before the big day, to avoid irritation. Plan stronger treatments, for example acid peels, several weeks in advance and ideally discuss them with a cosmetologist.
In summer, be careful with the sun. Strap marks and new pigmentation are hard to conceal with bare shoulders, so protect your skin with sunscreen and skip tanning just before the wedding.
The last week:
- shape your brows a few days before the wedding, not the day before, so that any redness has time to fade,
- brow or lash tinting and lash extensions also a few days in advance, ideally tested before the trial,
- water and sleep, because tiredness shows most under the eyes,
- a light dinner the day before without much salt or alcohol, so that your face is not puffy in the morning,
- on the wedding day, clean, moisturised skin with no makeup, and contact lenses in before I arrive.
Touch-ups during the day
With the bridal package I stay with you all day, so I take care of makeup touch-ups as we go: after the ceremony and the congratulations, before the photo session and during the reception. For the moments when you are without me, for example in the church or at the registry office, it is worth putting these in the maid of honour’s bag:
- a lipstick in the shade from your makeup,
- blotting papers, which refresh the skin better than powder added several times,
- cotton buds and tissues for happy tears,
- insect repellent if you are going down to the water in the evening; apply it to your body, away from your face.
Frequently asked questions
How much does bridal makeup in Masuria cost?
I set prices individually. They depend on the travel distance and the number of people, among other things. The makeup trial is included in the price of the bridal package.
Do you travel outside Giżycko?
Yes. I most often work in Giżycko, Mikołajki, Mrągowo and Ryn, and throughout Warmia and Masuria I also travel to places such as Kętrzyn, Węgorzewo, Pisz, Ełk and Olsztyn.
Will you also do makeup for my mum and maid of honour on the wedding day?
Yes. We agree on the number of people when you book, so that we can plan the preparation time well and the bride is ready without any rush.
Do I need to pay a deposit?
Yes, for the bridal package. I book the date once we have agreed the terms of our cooperation individually and you have paid a deposit of the agreed amount. The deposit counts towards the total price of the service.
Would you like to see my bridal makeup? Take a look at my portfolio or the bridal makeup page.