Budget Wedding Makeup

1. D.I.Y.

Don't panic: with a little practice, you could learn to apply makeup like a pro for your wedding day. Consult a book (such as Bobbi Brown's Makeup Manual) or spend some time with trained professionals at the cosmetics counter. Take some flash photos of yourself (in a variety of lighting situations) to see how you'll look in pictures. Your wedding is not the day to adhere to a "less is more" philosophy, so put aside the Chap-Stick and invest in good tools and quality products (which you can try out first at the cosmetics counter).

2. Go to the Cosmetics Counter

Generally, you can walk in and have a full makeup application right at the cosmetics counter (my vote is for M.A.C. or Bobbi Brown) for free, provided you purchase a few items. Going to the mall a few hours before you walk down the aisle might not be your idea of a relaxing wedding day, but it is a lot cheaper than paying a professional to come to you. You can try the walk-in route, but you'll likely feel calmer if you scout out the employees and try to make an appointment for a makeup application in advance.

3. Enlist a Friend

If you know that your palms will be too sweaty to grip a makeup brush on your wedding day, consider asking a friend to apply your makeup. Since her idea of tasteful eyeshadow might be different than yours, have a couple of practice runs in advance. Try a few different looks, being sure to take pictures and make notes about what products are used, where.

4. Go Online

Visit your local Craiglist or your local boards on The Knot to find a fellow bride or makeup-artist-in-training who is willing to work for little fee, if any. Lots of other brides are looking to make extra money for their big day, so you may be able to trade wedding-day services with another bride. At the very least, the chatty brides on these sites are happy to share tips and recommend vendors.