DIY Wedding Makeup? Brides Are Now Shifting Away From Glam Squads

My mother was recently perusing her wedding photo album when she expressed discontent over the way her face was caked up with a rather gaudy makeup look. Decked in a foundation much lighter than her skin tone coupled with Barbie-pink lipstick, she exemplified the quintessential image of a small-town '90s bride. She remarked, "My beautician insisted that this was the 'in thing' so I went with it." While makeup artistry has certainly come a long way since then, the idea of handing the responsibility of my special-day appearance to another person felt unsettling. That was when I decided I would be taking the reins of my bridal makeup into my own hands.

To my surprise, I found several Indian brides on social media who made the same decision, leading a cultural shift. No, not just the Asoka bridal makeup trend, women are now taking the independent route for their actual weddings.

Not only is it about taking control, but it is also about going easy on their wallets, adopting a curated look, or even just preferring an understated vibe. I delved into the stories of some such brides to get some perspective on this emerging trend.

Why Are Brides Being Their Own Makeup Artist?

The different tales behind each bride's self-styled makeup look revealed how important self-expression at their wedding can be. While some brides had planned on being their own MUA, others had to take the responsibility out of necessity. 

Tanya Sethi had planned on doing her makeup for the pre-wedding events and hired a professional for her main wedding ceremony. However, when the artist cancelled at the last minute, she found herself having to tackle the task alone.

"Since I love makeup and know what works for my face, it became a calming experience. I had the freedom to execute the vision I had in my mind which allowed me to be relaxed," the Delhi-based content creator told SheThePeople.

She added, "Looking back, I can't think of any downsides to doing my own makeup. It saved money and gave me control over how I looked. I'd encourage other women to try doing their makeup for their big day, as long as they practice beforehand."

Neha from Mumbai had a similar experience. "My makeup artist had to cancel a few days before my wedding due to an emergency. Instead of going through the hassle of finding someone else, I decided to do it on my own," she shared.

While Neha knew the basics of makeup artistry, having to glam up on her wedding was a different ball game. With the helping hands of some family members and a plethora of YouTube tutorials, she finally mastered her bridal makeup.

"Of course, it was not easy because it was so last minute. Plus, the dressing room was chaotic. But now I have a very memorable and funny experience to look back on," she described. Not to mention, some badass bragging rights!

Conversely, Prabhleen Malhi from Chandigarh chose to do her own bridal makeup instead of spending a hefty sum on a professional artist. " I used that money to buy good makeup products that I can keep using," she said. "I didn't want heavy makeup which is in trend these days. Though that makeup looks good in pictures but not in reality. I wanted to look like myself," Malhi asserted, showing off her soft, radiant glam. 

Bengaluru-based Felicia D'cruz described, "I am an artist (illustrator) and I can be very detail-oriented. I prefer my workstation a certain way and I didn't want to trouble a makeup artist by nitpicking or interrupting their work."

D'Cruz added that she wanted her dressing room with as few people as possible so she could have a stress-free preparation process. "Being in control was so meditative for me," she expressed. 

Simple Weddings On The Rise

In another interesting trend, couples are opting for less extravagant ceremonies that eschew the usual 'big fat' and 'banthan' features of Indian weddings. At many such events too, brides are taking charge of their makeup.

Several prominent content creators have proudly shown off their court wedding looks, presenting subtle and subdued glam. These include Meghna Verghese, Satshya Tharien, and more.

Singapore-based creator Tharien mentioned in one of her YouTube videos that she opted for a lightweight salwar-kameez and minimal makeup for the day of her court marriage, keeping in mind the long waiting time.

Considering how most Indian weddings can be exhausting on the mind, body, and finances, brides becoming their own makeup artists is driving in an era of more relaxed and personalised experiences.

Moreover, the ability to have significant control shows a shift in women's autonomy to participate in the prep for their special day. Couples are moving away from traditional and often pointless expectations to embrace originality.