An Open Letter to BRIDES Magazine

Dear Editors, Copy Writers, and general informers at BRIDES Magazine,

As a beauty professional in the wedding industry, I have subscribed to your magazine for several years now. I think it's important to keep up-to-date on wedding trends, fashions, and what brides these days are thinking about. You typically have several great campaign spreads that tip me off as to what I will be asked for in the upcoming wedding seasons. There's also usually a few beauty products in there that I would not have been exposed to, otherwise. For all this and more, I thank you.

However, in this most recent edition, June 2011, I really have to ask...WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!?!

"No Makeup Artist, No Problem?" Really? Do you have any idea how much money these women spend on their photography? It is, by far and large, one of THE most important parts of their wedding day. When the flowers have died, and the cake eaten, and the presents unwrapped, what are they going to have left besides new housewares? That's right, their photos. And the one thing that will be in almost 80% of their shots will be THE BRIDE. So, why on earth would you suggest the possibility that they jeopardize their investment on photography by not having professional makeup?

Of course, I had to read the story. You must have been joking when you published that. Starting with a beautiful woman: DUH. The mark of a good makeup artist is NOT how pretty she can make and already pretty woman. But guess what? Most brides don't look like that! They have their own concerns- pimples, wrinkles, dark circles, small lips, small eyes, wormy looking eyebrows... THAT'S really what we are there to help them deal with. It's great and wonderful and all that you used such a naturally perfect girl for your piece, but come'on...that's about as realistic as an ice-cream wedding cake in the Vegas summer.

So let's say that by some chance, the woman reading these is as flawless as your model. DO YOU REALLY THINK BLACK AND GREEN EYESHADOW IS THE WAY TO GO??? I can count the number of times on one hand that the situation warranted green eyeshadow. And shimmer? Course I have a lot of shimmer in my pallets. But green and shimmer at the same time for a wedding day? Assuming that combo is pretty, as your spread does make it look pretty good, how many girls do you really think that's gonna look good on? The rinky-dink caveat that you put two pages later suggesting other colors does not nearly make up for the gigantic full page demo of makeup that really doesn't suit most women. You could have at least offered a bigger disclaimer somewhere in there.

I was married three years ago. I have been a makeup artist for seven. Guess what? I had a makeup artist on my wedding day. I knew damn well how to do my own makeup, but I not only was shaky with nerves, I sure could use someone else's perception. In fact, I've done SEVERAL weddings where other beauty professionals have hired me just for those reasons alone.

Your article really does your target audience wrong, and if your going offer DYI advice, stick to what you know...programs and favors.

Kindly,

Amelia C