Picture-perfect face for your wedding day

As a bride, you want to put your best face forward on your wedding day. Makeup artists give two words of advice: be prepared.

While many brides say that they want to "look natural" on this special day, seasoned makeup artists say that's a mistake. "Look, you're not going bowling. You're getting married," says Terri Daniels, an artist at a Denver beauty salon. "Brides need to wear some makeup. "

A makeup practice run is an absolute necessity, she says. "You don't want any surprises on the wedding day."

Many brides opt to have their preliminary makeup consultation/application done in conjunction with their engagement party. Daniels thinks this is a good idea.

"This enables them to get some feedback. They can see what others think of their makeup," she says. "Whatever they do, they shouldn't have a practice run and then go home and sit in their apartment by themselves. I tell them if nothing else, go to the butcher, the baker and see what they think of your look."

You will want to find a salon far enough in advance so that there will be no surprises, so you can try shades and make sure you are not allergic to products.

During a makeup consultantion, many things will be taken into consideration -- the color of the gown, flowers, accessories, your skin tone and your hair and eye color.

It's also important to take into consideration time and location of the wedding, says Marilynn Dworkin, another makeup artist. Is it an afternoon ceremony? An evening candlelight wedding? In a church or outdoors in the sunshine? A daytime wedding usually calls for a more naturally elegant look with subtle colors and minimal frosty shadows, she says. An evening ceremony can carry off more dramatic colors and makeup.

Dworkin offers a preliminary makeup consultation a week or two before the wedding. At this time, the artist looks at the bride's skin and coloring and decides on appropriate shades and colors of foundation, shadows and lipsticks.

"It's like a dress rehearsal for the makeup," she says.

The cost of the makeup consultation and on-location application (the makeup artist comes to the bride) starts at about $75 and can be as much as $500.