What No One Sees: The Real Behind My Wedding Weekends

The beauty, the chaos, the care, and why it all matters.

Intro: The Illusion of Effortlessness

There’s a kind of magic to wedding mornings. A quiet undertone of excitement. A bride glowing in her glam. The steady rhythm of lashes being placed and curls being pinned. If we’ve done our job right, it looks and feels effortless.

But that’s the thing. Behind every “effortless” bridal morning is a whole lot of effort. It looks and feels like a choreographed production… because in many ways, it is.

Most people only see the end result. They see the photos, the champagne toasts, the smiling team in black. What they don’t see is everything that happens before the first brush is pulled out of our kit or the first hot tool gets plugged in. They don’t see the weight we carry to make it all happen…. emotionally, physically, and professionally.

This post isn’t about venting. It’s about honoring the work it takes to create beauty that holds. If you’ve ever wondered what really happens behind the scenes of a wedding weekend, here’s a look inside.

I believe it’s important to share this not just with clients, but also with newer artists. It’s easy to say “I love makeup and want to be a makeup artist,” but this career comes with a whole layer of professional systems, business-minded decisions, and strategic focus that can’t be ignored. Those pieces are what differentiate a professional artist and a hobbyist.

Before the World Wakes Up

My wedding weekends often start before the sun even thinks about rising.

Because of those early mornings, I spend the evening before double-checking brushes, laying out lashes, and making sure every tool is clean. I’ve got lighting equipment, hair padding, curling irons, backup products, timelines, tripods (even though I’m horrible at content, lol), a stylist chair, and more.

Sometimes I’m on the road by 5:30 AM. I’ve driven hours in silence just to arrive calm, composed, and ready to greet my bride like I haven’t been up since the middle of the night. It’s not always glamorous, but it’s necessary. I love when clients compliment how pulled together I seem at 6 or 7 AM. Trust me, there’s a lot of intention behind that. Fun fact: I’m the furthest thing from a morning person.

But I recognize that when I walk into a bridal suite, the energy I bring sets the tone. If I’m flustered, they’ll feel it. If I’m grounded, they’ll breathe easier. That’s part of the work too. Im responsible for being the calm, being the presence that holds space while everything else is moving.

I always say glam is my favorite part of the day, because while you’re in the chair, you’re forced to disconnect. Simply because you have to be still. You have to rest for a minute. It lets your body relax. Your brain slows down. I try to guide the conversation in a way that feels grounding and safe. Whether we talk about your wedding, your coworker who gets on your nerves, your love life, or your favorite snack, I want you to just feel good. We laugh. We cry. We connect. Just for a moment, you get to breathe. Sometimes, if I can tell my client is worked up or tense, we don’t talk and I play my zen playlist just for us to hear.

It’s not just about makeup. It’s about how I show up to do it.

The Quiet Breakdown

By the time the last lash is placed and final touch-ups are done, most people think the day is winding down for me. In reality, it’s only the halfway point.

While everyone’s getting dressed and photos are starting, I’m in the corner breaking down my setup, packing up tripods and lights, and making sure nothing gets left behind. It’s not a quick process. Everything has to be organized, and loaded back into the car, all while still being present and available for final checks. I’m doing final looks at each curl, each blush placement, making sure there’s nothing that I need to tweak or touch.

Most wedding mornings are six to eight hours of standing, holding a brush, curling iron, or blow dryer with little to no break. My hands are tight, my back is sore, and I’m running off adrenaline, water, and maybe a snack bar if I was lucky enough to eat it. But I do it because I care, because it matters, because your experience matters.

Why I Still Show Up

For everything this job takes… the early mornings, the heavy kits, the mental checklists, the quiet exhaustion, it gives even more.

I get to witness transformation. Not just the kind that happens on the outside, but the kind where someone looks in the mirror and feels beautiful in their skin. I get to be a calm presence in the middle of chaos. I get to create space for stillness, even if it’s just for a moment.

That’s why I still show up. Not for the Instagram photos or the final look. I show up for the in-between. I show up for the small glances, the quiet moments, the deep breaths right before you say “I do.”

This work is demanding. But it’s also sacred. And I’ll keep choosing it, again and again.