By Sharon Naylor

Every bride wants to look perfect on her wedding day.

To achieve that glowing, radiant look, and to make the face that he loves even more beautiful, you’re far better off hiring a professional makeup artist than doing your own makeup. Yes, you’d save a few bucks by wielding your own foundation sponge and powder brush, but the results from an expert makeup artist are truly priceless.

Wendy Zerrudo, owner of Face F.X. in Central New Jersey (www.facef-x.com) says that when a bride attempts to do her own makeup, “it’s overdone. It shows. You don’t want people to see you on the wedding day and ask ‘who did your makeup?’ You want them to say, ‘you look beautiful!’”

A self-done makeup job often looks cakey and unnatural, as brides know that they need to use a heavier hand to look good in the pictures. But a professional will make you look flawless both in the pictures and in real life. A bride wants to look like herself, only better. That’s what a professional makeup artist can do.

Christina DePascal, an experienced makeup artist and aesthetician in Red Bank (732-693-7900; www.depascal.com) also recommends to keep in mind how you’ll look in your wedding pictures. "The only thing you get to walk away with is your photographs. This is a good reason to get your makeup professionally done. You want to look your best," she says.

Meryl Schwartz, a professional makeup artist and owner of Ashimoto Essential Beauty who often does brides’ looks (www.ashimoto.com, 973-379-8909), says that the advantage of hiring a professional makeup artist means you have access to celebrity-level techniques so that your makeup looks perfect from the beginning of the day to the very end. “We use layering, waterproofing, airbrushing with a silicone base that is lighter than regular makeup, and we use a special sealant—all to make sure that your makeup looks freshly-applied all day. We also do lash applications to give you that beautiful density in person, and so that photos in which you’re looking down at your flowers or down at your ring come out beautifully.”

In addition to the high-tech factor, it’s also a matter of the perfect shading. While your everyday makeup look is pretty, you may not know the exact shades—or have the right products—to make the most of your skin tone, the color of your eyes, and the color of your hair. Many brides say that their makeup artists transformed them from looking pale and washed-out in their dramatic white wedding gowns to looking glamorous and gorgeous, celebrity-style with a fresh, young finish. Even if your gown will have some color in it, your makeup will need to make you stand out in that dress—and not in a Vegas showgirl way. “A professional makeup application would provide an even finish, not just on your face but on your neck and chest,” says Zerrudo. “It’s flawless.”

Plus, there’s something very VIP about having your makeup done on your wedding day. A pro is tending to your look so you can relax and enjoy your getting-ready time. You’re going to be absolutely stunning.