Bella Expressions

ing day. By her recommendation, I bought specific cream and liquid products to recreate the look for the day of. I also prepared detailed documents for everyone receiving services that included their bare-skin selfies, inspiration photos, and written preferences/needs so the artists could come prepared. On the wedding day, the artists went to my home instead of the venue due to miscommunication by the owner, I imagine. Not a big deal, but just one more thing that stressed me out in addition to the following issues. I realized the artists only looked at the documents I made upon arrival, wasting my time and defeating the purpose of preparing them. The owner wasn’t there, and I was assigned a different artist who ignored my requests. I asked for minimal, moisturizing products to enhance my skin - no powders, only cool tones, cream blush, liquid highlighter, no eyelid color or products, no bronzer or contour, and a wet eyeliner. I asked at the start to lightly cover a few tiny spots, but she immediately went full coverage without asking. I guess because she thought that was necessary for a few little spots? She never explained that she thought the bare-skin look “had to go.” Instead, she applied heavy powder, warm tones, dry pencil eyeliner, and full-coverage products that made my skin look cakey, old, and dry. After realizing she wasn't going to do what I asked, I would politely question why and offer my own products while trusting her judgement, even though she said she couldn't use my products anymore. She also said, “If you don’t want the picture, then we need to figure out what you DO want,” scoffing at my requests. I felt dismissed and humiliated in front of everyone in the room. When I saw myself, I cried. I knew my requests went out the window but i never wouldn't expected this look. I did not recognize my face and felt incredibly ugly on my wedding day. The artist rushed out for another appointment while I was still visibly upset. My mom, done by the same artist, also felt horrible; her wrinkles were incredibly emphasized and her expression when she saw herself made me cry a second time. I felt awful for her. Meanwhile, my grandmother, much older, had her makeup done by Stephanie and looked natural and beautiful. Angel and Stephanie stayed to help as much as possible, and Stephanie did a beautiful job on the rest of the bridal party. There was only so much they could do after so much heavy makeup had already been applied on me. I reached out to the owner afterward and never received a response. I paid $1,800+, and the lack of preparation, communication, and respect left me feeling unheard. For reference, Pictures A–C show the trial makeup I loved and expected, while Pictures D–F show the makeup from my wedding day, reflecting the issues described above. Picture G is my inspiration photo.