Exclusive | I did my own makeup on my wedding day and it had a surprise benefit besides the money I saved

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 ...