Prettifying for your wedding can cost a pretty penny — and it can also cost a bride her natural glow.
So, to spare herself the expense, Megan Diem Easton took the big-day makeup matters into her own hands.
“I decided to do it myself,“ Easton, 25, a marketing expert from Nashville, Tenn., told The Post.
Shelling out less than $100 on drug store makeup from Milani Cosmetics, the anti-glamour girl, who tied the knot with hubby Jacob in early November, self-preened as part of the do-it-yourself bridal makeup movement.
It’s a trend away from spending loads on professional primping, which can run brides over $1,500, per Brides.com. The hefty figure doesn’t include a 15% to 25% tip, nor the approximate $200 per-person for bridal party glam, so warn wedding know-it-alls at The Knot.
Kelli Ann Sewell, a NYC celebrity makeup artist, tells The Post that she’s noticed an uptick in Big Apple brides opting to DIY.
“The New York bride is an independent, self-sufficient girl — the city just brings it out of them,” said the face paint pro, 29, who’s dolled up VIPs for both New York and Paris fashion weeks. “The [DIY bridal] makeup trend is reflective of that self-confidence.”
With the average cost of US weddings climbing to an eye-watering $36,000 this year — up from $33,000 in 2024 and $29,000 in 2023 — according to Zola’s 2025 Wedding Trends report, couples are becoming increasingly creative about keeping damages to a minimum.
Last year, budgeted bride Monica Razak, 29, from Jersey City, scrapped her dreams of rocking a $10,000 number from Kleinfeld’s to handcraft her own bridal gown for a cool $700.
And newlyweds Nova and Reemo Styles, of The Bronx, previously charged guests over $300 per person for a seat at their reception tables in Hudson Yards.
For many local lovebirds, it’s all about journeying into forever for less.
To guide unbridled brides, both near and far, glam guru Sewell offers a series of virtual tutorials on perfecting a natural, yet elevated wedding look via her website and app. Subscription access to her haute how-tos costs either $12.99 per month or $120 annually.
“As a makeup artist, of course, I want myself and other makeup artists to have work,” said Sewell, acknowledging that the DIY fad impacts the bridal cosmetology industry. “But for some brides, doing your own makeup, having that moment of peace can be an act of self-care.
“It can really calm you down before you walk into this whole new world.”
Going it alone had that effect on Easton.
“My wedding morning was very wholesome,” said the Gen Zer, whose bridesmaids and mom all made up their own mugs for her holy matrimony. “The whole day was about love — not how I looked.”
Viral footage of her solo slay scored more than 4 million views on TikTok, where vicious trolls criticized her fuss-free gussy up, calling it “horrible.”
But the digital bashing doesn’t change how wonderful she felt the day of.
“Not having any strangers in the room made it feel normal,” said Easton, who prefers a minimal, understated embellishment to her face. “Doing something I do every day kept me relaxed. It wasn’t tense.”
And sometimes those “strangers,” despite their expert skills, just miss the mark when it comes to bringing the woman of the hour’s vision to life.
Lauren Avery Holmes, a California newlywed, wasn’t happy with her hired help’s handiwork.
So — amid much social media controversy — she washed off the expert’s makeup to re-do it herself just 20 minutes before saying “I Do.”
“I already look a lot more like myself,” Holmes sighed with relief in a now-private TikTok post of her reimagined mien. “So much better.”
Zoe Bucuvalas, too, took full command over her glam — by taking an impromptu trip to Sephora in the middle of her Dec. 28 wedding.
“My makeup artist was amazing, but I wanted to wear my favorite lip gloss at the reception,” Bucuvalas, a 30-something from Boston, told The Post. “And my husband said, ‘Why don’t we just walk to Sephora and get it?’”
She and groom, Daniel, who planned their micro-wedding in 48 days, exchanged vows at a church near Beantown’s Prudential Center, a high-end shopping mall.
But before joining their 60 guests at their restaurant after party, the couple made the pit-stop for Bucuvalas’ beloved $40 Dior lip oil in shade “Rosewood.” (Her absolute favorite is “Raspberry” — but, of course, it was sold out.)
“There’s this stigma that brides have to fully entrust their looks to makeup artists, but you really don’t,” said Bucuvalas, a former New England Patriots cheerleader-turned-MedSpa marketing coordinator. “I felt like the best version of myself because I used makeup I love. It was perfect.”
“People might think you’re crazy for breaking tradition and taking control of your wedding makeup, but who cares?” Bucuvalas said. “It’s your day.”
