A Q&A with Wedding Professionals

Valorie Cole spent her career beautifying on-air personalities ranging from politicos on CNN to Nashville’s top talent on the Country Music Awards before dedicating herself to wedding clients and her makeup line, Daniel Cole. She shares her best advice on destination wedding beauty tips, trends and brands.

What is your approach to bridal beauty?

I love to make a bride feel confident, special and the most beautiful she has ever felt by enhancing her best features. The phrase from most brides that sums it up is, “I want to look like the best version of myself.”

Do you have any tips for brides to keep their makeup looking great for the duration of the wedding?

I have quite a few! The main tip is to use a foundation that has a lot of pigment and is not a liquid. It will last longer; you will perspire through it and it will not evaporate. You won’t need a setting spray, which is sometimes an irritant. For normal skin, use a loose powder to set the makeup, especially in the T-zone. Use pressed powder for oily skin, although I prefer a soft glow without too much powder. I love the oil-blotting sheets, but if it's super hot, paper towels are most absorbent for perspiration, blotting not wiping.

For the eyes, a great primer keeps shadows from creasing and eyeliner in place. I really don't like waterproof mascara, but it's a necessity for such an emotional day.

What beauty advice do you have for brides preparing for a destination wedding?

The best beauty advice is not to try ANYTHING new for two weeks before the wedding. This includes medication, different makeup, self-tanner, permanent lashes, new brow products, skincare routine, abrasive skincare treatments, a new hairdresser — basically anything you have not tried before, do not try it right before the wedding!

If you are prone to breakouts, wedding week nerves can cause issues. HYDRATE and talk to your dermatologist about the best way to treat this.

When doing a site visit for the destination, make sure to do a trial with the makeup and hair team if you are using local talent. I like to do both trials on the same day, because you can get the whole look, see how it lasts and give feedback to the stylists. If this isn't possible, then I would hire your favorite team and bring them with you.

Thought these snippets of wisdom were absolute gems?

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