Shannon O'Brien

gorgeous as well, and were genuinely so happy with their makeup (which is unheard of for a group of 9 picky girls!). I hired Shannon for her makeup skills, and am so glad I did, but I really lucked out with how cool, genuine, and fun she is. If I had to give one piece of advice to future brides, it would be to hire hair stylists and makeup artists whose personalities you love, because they are going to be in the room on the most important morning of your life. Shannon made the room so much more fun. Sometimes I catch a glimpse of a wedding photo and think "wow I did a good job on my makeup that day," then I remember I'm not that talented, but Shannon is. Exclusively planning spacial events in Chicago from now on so that Shannon can do my makeup! THANK YOU Shannon!

natural glam look that I was seeking for my wedding day - I felt like myself, but elevated. All of my bridesmaids and the moms felt gorgeous as well! Both artists were efficient and everything ran right on time, with touch-ups provided. Shannon is a pro - don't miss out!!

ighly recommend

sure I was happy with my makeup! She is SO talented and I felt so incredibly pretty on my wedding day because of her! Most of the time when I get my makeup professionally done, I’m not 100% happy, there is always something that I don’t like, I think many of us have had this experience. Shannon did my makeup looks for my Rehearsal and wedding and I couldn’t be happier. She made me feel so beautiful on the inside and out! She is one of those girls that just gets it! She also was so supportive and made me feel at ease throughout the entire process, even on wedding day when things got crazy! My day would not have been the same without her, I’m so thankful she shared her talents with me. Brides, reach out to her far in advance because she is always booked! I would also recommend booking her full day package-it was so nice to have her for touch ups throughout the day and before the ceremony! She is one amazing human!

natural and subtle looks that only could be recreated by a professional. Very happy booking Shannicat.

in 5 weddings so far and have never been so impressed or happy with professional makeup. Julia really nails the "glowy" soft glam look that is impossible not to love for your wedding day. I would highly recommend her!

annon and her team were such a pleasure to deal with leading up to the day! They all responded so fast and booking could not have been easier. When I tell you she nailed it...she nailllllled it! I can truly say I have never felt as beautiful as I did on my wedding day. The other ladies with me all looked stunning and everyone was thrilled with their looks as well. Shannon uses the BEST products and our makeup truly lasted all night - through all the tears at the ceremony and sweat from dancing lol. Not only did we all feel/look amazing - but Shannon is so kind and fun. She totally put me at ease and allowed me to really soak in all of the joy in the room. She was so professional and was able to deal with all the different (aka crazy) personalities, skin types and ages of her clients (aka my family). I could go on and on, but will wrap it up by saying that I 100% made the right decision to book Shannon right out of the gate! I could not recommend her more!!! THANK YOU SHANNON! <3

he right choice and was so excited to have her do my makeup again for my wedding! Wedding day my makeup was perfect and my friends and family also all looked so gorgeous.

perfect balance of making sure to check in throughout the process and ask my opinion to ensure the look was exactly how I envisioned it, but also shared her expert opinion and suggestions for the look as well a perfect collaboration! I still felt like myself on the wedding day which was very important to me. In the past working with some other artists I’ve looked in the mirror and not even recognized myself. My mom and bridesmaids also felt so beautiful and her team was of course so awesome and professional and Fun! They got my wedding day morning off to a great start and I’m so glad I was able to book her :)

est from my trial to my wedding day and literally calmed my nerves as I was basically shaking in her chair the morning of hahaha. She's also so efficient — between me, my mom and MIL, and my 6 bridesmaids she was able to get all of us done with time to spare for touchups and didn't look rushed once. Highly recommend Mallory for your wedding day MUA!!!!

everyone absolutely LOVED their makeup (including my mom who was very anxious about getting hers done because she never wears makeup - Jose made her feel so comfortable and she was talking all day about how much she loved her look!!) One of my bridesmaids was not planning to do makeup because she's never liked what it looks like for weddings - and she changed her mind once she saw how beautiful all the girls looked - and Jose fit her in right away!! I absolutely loved my bridal makeup and it stayed on SO well throughout the whole night (and it was 80 degrees out and I danced hard for 4 hours straight). Shannon was super easy to work with throughout the planning process - so responsive and their online contracting tool is very straightforward. I also did a trial with Jose & booked him for my rehearsal dinner - where he on the spot came up with a different look for that night that was fun and unique from my wedding day look! This team is so, so professional but SO nice and fun to have around on your wedding day! Literally could not have asked for a better experience and will recommend to anyone who asks me for a rec in the future : ) Thank you so so much Shannon, Jose & Mallory!!

rked and listened to any feedback I had. My wedding party, mother and mother-in-law absolutely loved how they made them look and feel. Shannon is truly an artist!

tions. She's so talented! She's also the sweetest person ever and was so chill, down to earth, and fun to work with. I absolutely loved her work for both the mini and big events and cannot thank Shannon and Julia enough!

ly is so talented! All my bridesmaids said they have never felt more beautiful. I would 10/10 recommend Shannon and team to everyone! Thank you so so much! 🤍

ghly recommended her to every bride!!

h a great time getting ready and when we needed advice on our looks, Julia was able to advise. Thanks to Shannon and and team for making us all look glowing for the event!

the MUAs on the team. Shannon's communication is impeccable and she was always quick to respond to all messages, no matter how silly my question felt. I was able to secure Jose for my wedding day and my experience couldn't have been better. Jose and I clicked instantly at our preview and I couldn't have loved the look he created for me more. On the wedding day, Jose was punctual, professional, fun and energetic. He seamlessly recreated my preview look and made it even better, if that was even possible. He took the same care and attention with my mom, bridesmaids and flower girl. Everyone LOVED their looks and received compliments on their makeup all night. Our makeup lasted the entire day and night, still looking fresh after the last dance of the night with no smudges despite the tears, rain, dancing, sweat and everything in between. I highly recommend the Shannon O'Brien team for your wedding day MUA needs!

then blown away by her personality at my bridal trial. She is so sweet, fun, and easy to connect with - I left the trial feeling super confident, excited and comfortable leading up to my big day - and also immediately booked her for my rehearsal makeup too which was perfect! Shannon and her team went above and beyond on my wedding day. I absolutely loved my look and Shannon really took the time to make sure of that. I was a bit more stressed than usual as my mom has Alzheimer’s and she was feeling overwhelmed in my loud and chaotic bridal suite :) Shannon couldn’t have been more accommodating and sweet with her. I felt so grateful to have a makeup artist who cares about the whole experience, not just the look. Having been in many weddings, I know it’s rare when the entire bridal party is obsessed with their looks too! Each bridesmaid looked stunning and couldn’t stop raving about Shannon and Mallory. She is truly a gem and played such a big part in making my wedding weekend the best EVER!!

e around- especially on your wedding day! She truly cares and not only wants to help make you look beautiful, she wants you to feel it. I am so grateful to have had her with me and help make me laugh and calm my nerves on my wedding day- while making me look and feel so beautiful.

olute pros and got through our huge bridal party (15 people!) with so much professionalism and fun conversation. We all felt so at ease because they just "got it" - whether someone wanted a natural look or a full-out fierce glam, they were communicative through the process and made us all feel our absolute best. My bridal look was PERFECTION and despite some happy tears during the day, did not budge! I felt as beautiful at the end of the night as I did when I left the makeup chair. I will recommend Shannon & team to anyone and everyone and will definitely try to find excuses to work with them again in the future :) Do not hesitate to book Shannon for your big day - absolutely AMAZING!

t how good we all felt with our makeup. Not only is Shannon amazing at what she does, but she is the sweetest and makes you feel extremely comfortable. Shannon is truly the best makeup artist in Chicago and I will refer her and her team to everyone and anyone planning a wedding!

responded right away to any emails or questions I had. She did such a great job on my makeup as well as everyone in my bridal party. We could not stop talking about how great she was! She was so fun to be with on my big day and it would not have been the same without her!!

t longer than we expected! Julia is an insanely talented artist and left us all looking and feeling like models. She even eased my mom's worries of being "too done" and gave us a very natural glow. Thank you so much, Julia!

the best in Chicago. I would recommend to anyone!

s. She is so patient and communicative, and took the time to get to know me and the look I wanted, and she delivered it so effortlessly....as if she had known me and had been doing my makeup my whole life. Not only is she incredibly talented, she makes you feel so comfortable, and is the most wonderful, warm, kind human being, and probably one of the coolest people I've met - I would literally hang out with her every day if I could. She was the most fun, chill vibe while I was getting ready with my bridesmaids and she made me feel like the most beautiful version of myself on my wedding day. I will forever be in awe of her both for her talent and just who she is as a person. She is the best of the best and if you want to look like a wedding goddess queen, don't wait to reach out to her! Everyone knows how amazing she is, and for good reason <3

rly as possible.

xt day asking for her contact information because everyone loved it). It looked amazing in pictures and in real life and everyone in my bridal party agreed that her makeup was the best wedding makeup they had ever had done. She is also the most adorable, sweetest human alive and beyond professional. Her team member Jose is also amazing and so much fun. 10000/10 would recommend Shannon over and over!

mselves when it comes to makeup, but that’s exactly what happened with Shannon! She had an incredible way of highlighting everyone’s natural beauty and delivering the exact look they were hoping for, whether that meant a full face or a soft, dewy vibe. Making everyone feel beautiful was obviously first and foremost, but beyond that, she also added such fun and positivity to the day. From our initial phone call when she helped me think through my pre-wedding skincare routine, to spending extra time with me before leaving to make sure I loved my whole look head-to-toe, she went above and beyond every step of the way. I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with her and will be recommending her to everyone in the future!!

to ensure everyone felt safe and comfortable! Our day was changed in so many ways because of covid but she made me and my mom and sister still look so lovely and feel so special!! She is extremely skilled at understanding a persons aesthetic, and highlight all of their best features! I can’t recommend her highly enough!!!!!

ave never written another review in my entire life, except for after eating some crab rangoons at a Thai restaurant that changed my life -- but it would be unacceptable for me to not share my deep love and appreciation for what Shannon did for me on my wedding day. Like every other person in the world, I do the classic "zoom in on just yourself in a photo and pick apart everything". My wedding was no exception. I can gladly report back that I've never felt more confident, beautiful, and myself than I did on my wedding day, and in on my wedding photos. This is all as a result of Shannon and her insane talent. Shannon is obnoxiously beautiful, kind, smart, badass, and hilarious. The type of vibes you want around you on your wedding day. She is to make-up what Prince is to music. What Michael Jordan is to basketball. What Lisa Frank is to trippy trapper keepers. Shannon O'Brien is simply the best. If you haven't booked Shannon as your MUA yet - trust me, do it now.

ed on our day and BUMMED is a definite understatement to how I felt when I got the news (let this be a lesson and book her quick!). I am insanely picky about my glam and since I couldn't have Shannon - I was flying in someone from California who did my glam when I lived there... needless to say when COVID hit - I was without a MUA. I decided to check back in with Shannon as I knew lots of events were cancelled and wanted to see if she would be comfortable doing my glam (less than 5 people present). Her previous event had cancelled and she was able to do my glam! I was ecstatic! We did a trial run and she was receptive to my ideas and also suggested alternatives which I appreciated as I was a bit all over the place. Day of went flawlessly. She even acted as my human sun-shield for getting ready portraits and sewed the button back on my husbands suit! Literal life saver. It goes without saying Shannon is so kind and accommodating; I would recommend her 1000 times over.

lable. She exceeded my expectations in every way - from the way she used my inspiration pictures to transform me, to her fun and outgoing personality. She really added a fun element to our getting ready suite with the girls. She also took sanitation and cleanliness of her makeup and tools very seriously. Something that really stood out was how gracefully she worked with my mother who has permanent nerve damage in her face. Watching my mom see herself transformed in to the most beautiful she's ever felt brought the whole room to near-tears! It was magical. If you find Shannon available for your wedding date, book her ASAP! She is so talented, easy to work with, punctual (stays on that wedding timeline!), and sweet. I will forever be grateful to her and her team!

a glow up version of myself. We had to postpone our huge reception, but still decided to get married in June 2020 amidst the pandemic. Shannon was SO accommodating, safe, professional, and personable while applying our makeup (for me, my mom, my mother-in-law, sisters-in-law). Everyone looked STUNNING and everyone was obsessed with their look. I couldn't have dreamed of a better look for my wedding day. Shannon knew exactly what everyone wanted and executed flawlessly. I am beyond thankful I was able to book her for my wedding and that she worked her magic like she did. I can't wait to have her do my makeup next June for our big reception!!

ersonable. She exceeded my expectations as a bride and I've been very happy to continue booking her for my clients since the big day!

VE to hire Shannon O'Brien." So I did. With little information at my fingertips about when or where the wedding would even be, I made sure to just lock her in before any other details were finalized. And it was by far the easiest and best decision I made for who I wanted to work with for the wedding. Shannon is not only stunning and talented beyond measure, but she is also a breath of fresh air. She radiates positivity and fills the room with fun, which was one of the biggest things I was looking for on my wedding day. I wanted a team that would fill the room with joy. Her reputation is impeccable because of the work she does behind it. Looking through her portfolio online before even meeting her, I trusted Shannon's vision without question. At the makeup trial she explained how little tweaks can happen the day of and honestly, if she had just said, "Sit still and let me work my magic" without having any discussion with me about the day's look, I would have just let her because she is a wizard with the makeup wand! She asked me what I wanted and then also gave her suggestions . Let me say this, I suck at makeup. I do. So to have someone with so much skill and artistry (and be able to work with all different "palettes" (or faces)), I had the most confidence in how I would look on my wedding day over any other day of my life. Not only does Shannon make you feel beautiful on the outside, but she helps you feel beautiful on the inside. As cliche as that might sound, it's completely true. She let's everyone shine and has this way of letting you feel like the most gorgeous person on earth. It's a gift that view people possess, to make someone feel that good about themselves. She's easy to work with, insanely organized (she unfolds a makeup collection out of a suitcase like a magician displaying a deck of cards- precise, neat, and nothing out of place), and one of the nicest people you could hope to meet. I'm not sure I'll ever feel as perfect as I did on that day- and isn't that what every bride wants? Which is why I'm looking for an excuse for her to do my makeup again. I'll find one, I will. (My husband would be happy for that, too) I can't speak her praises enough. Hire Shannon and you'll never want to wash your face again.

Once the process started, my biggest concern was makeup. After having many bad experiences as a bridesmaid (all 200 times), I was very nervous about my "bridal look." Who doesn’t want to feel comfortable on their wedding day? I stumbled across Shannon’s Instagram page (shoutout to @Shannicat), and aside from her being the most fashionable and upbeat person, her brides all looked fantastic and most importantly, NATURAL. I knew I had to reach out. Sadly, I received the email that every bride dreads-- she was booked. Of course she was. Her talent is a known fact in the Chicago area. I was crushed, but I started the process of make-up trials with other makeup artists. While they were all very nice, I left each time feeling like a typical bride. No one was able to capture who I was without changing my features. I didn’t feel “special” or beautiful and something just didn’t sit right. Months passed, panic ensued, and the heavens opened: Shannon O’Brien was now available for my wedding. Instantly, I went to contract—no trial runs, no questions asked. I was so confident in this decision that I didn’t even schedule my first trial until 2 months before my wedding—me, the most type A individual, went on blind faith up until the finish line. Once I met Shannon, I knew I made the right decision. She opened the door with a huge smile on her face, assuring me that I would look exactly how I had envisioned. I showed her 3 photos, at most, and left the rest up to her. By time she had finished, I felt amazing. She enhanced my features, made me feel beautiful, and most importantly, I still looked like me! On the morning of the wedding, there was a common theme in the room: Everyone loved Shannon O’Brien. Bridesmaids were raving about her. No one asked for changes (how unheard of is that with 12 bridesmaids and two mothers?) Everyone gravitated to her station to watch her work, myself included. She made the entire group feel at ease between her relaxed demeanor and her uncanny ability to listen and capture everyone’s beauty. For the girls who wanted a natural look, she achieved it. For those that wanted a more done up look, she made it happen while still making them look classic and elegant. She was and IS an absolute dream come true. To give more weight to my confidence in Shannon, I ended up paying extra so that she would stick around for almost the entire evening. I knew there would be a lot of happy tears shed and touch ups would be a must, and I was right. Every time I went back to the room for Shannon to re-glamorize me, she celebrated with me, told me to take in the evening, and sent me back out reminding me of just how perfect this evening was. And she was right. Hiring Shannon was easily the best decision that I made throughout this wedding planning process. Although I didn’t know it then, she was truly the glue that helped keep it all together. She allowed me to look and feel my best self, and because of this, I was able to not let anything else get in the way of what was certainly the start to a lifetime of memories. I cannot recommend Shannon enough. She is one of the most talented and delightful individuals, and I look forward to hiring her for every big life event I, hopefully, have coming my way. Thank you, Shannon!

ils, scheduling, answering questions, and always early/on time to appointments. She did my wedding makeup and I had 11 bridesmaids. I knew that getting ready the day of the wedding I would have a rollercoaster of emotions, so it was important for me to be surrounded with positive energy. Shannon truly brought the BEST energy the day of the wedding! She was so positive and so much fun. She was such a good listener and so patient when we told her what type of makeup we wanted, and she made mine and all of my bridesmaid's visions come to life. Everyone absolutely LOVED their makeup and felt so beautiful. I wanted a 'soft glam'/natural look, and it was absolutely perfect. I love how she made my skin look flawless and it didn't feel like I was wearing heavy makeup. My makeup stayed perfectly on my face for the entire day/night. I cannot express enough about the importance of choosing a wedding (or any event) makeup artist who is not only super talented, but also makes you feel relaxed and comfortable and someone who you trust, and that perfectly describes Shannon!!

we wanted to share our day with our family and friends. With this I had no idea how to go about finding someone to do my hair and make up (I’m pretty particular). Shannon was recommended to me by a friend that wanted to use her but she was unavailable for her date. After viewing her amazing work, my mom gave her a call and she also couldn’t have said nicer things about Shannon. Through deciding what package to do, setting up a trial, and all that comes with this Shannon made us feel so comfortable. She was always available for any questions, and honestly just made me feel more comfortable with the whole process. She offers to go wherever you need for a trial, and truly listens and works with you to make you feel like the most beautiful person in the room, but still like yourself. She truly made the day so fun and relaxed! Myself, my bridesmaids, and my mom could not have been more beautiful thanks to Shannon! She is such a kind and genuine person, I loved working with her so much! If you are getting married, Shannon and her team are a MUST, she is the absolute best!

than that! The day of, she and her assistant arrived timely and did a fabulous job. My youngest sister is not a glamour girl and Shannon worked with her to help her feel comfortable in her look. I cannot recommend Shannon enough! We all looked stunning thanks to her!

erfectly "winter glam," but she was SO fun to have around and we didn't want her to leave. She was extremely cognizant of all the bride feelings, and made an extra effort to ensure I stayed calm and comfortable. Could not recommend her any higher, and I only hope to work with her again for something else!

n accommodating for one or two stragglers at the end for some eye shadow help. Shannon went above and beyond to make sure everyone was satisfied with their make up. Not to mention she was so easy going! Had conversations with everyone and all The girls felt super comfortable around her! Since my wedding I’ve recommended her to everyone! I’m A make up artist myself, so trust me! Shannon is all you need to help make you feel flawless!

ut how our makeup has never looked better. I highly recommend Shannon because of her great talent and sweet personality make for a great start to your day !!!

dal trial was perfect and Shannon really listened to my overall makeup vision. I am someone who wears little to no makeup so the day of my wedding I wanted to still look like me and not have that shellacked face of makeup bridal look—and Shannon delivered! Her products were great (I bought half of them after she used them on me) and I never felt more beautiful on my wedding day. I highly recommend Shannon for your special day and also to follow her on instagram— she gives great makeup tips! xx

tch. She was super easy going and was able to catch on to my vision immediately! With the day of our wedding being so hectic, Shannon came in and worked her magic, leaving me at ease. I don't think I have ever been in a wedding to have every bridesmaid so pleased with their makeup, but on our wedding day this was the case!