From Nails to Hair: My Stress-Free Bridesmaid Day

Last week, I attended my friend's wedding as one of her bridesmaids (I previously wrote about how we threw her a bridal shower here). It was my third time being a bridesmaid, and I'd say the experience was surprisingly swift and… effortless. My only job was to pose and look pretty.

I realized it would've been impossible to feel that much peace at a wedding without the help of a professional wedding organizer. With a team ready to tend to her needs, my friend looked completely content and stress-free. Everything felt like a walk in the park. It was a stark contrast to my second experience as the only bridesmaid, where I basically played the role of the bride’s PIC (from holding her bag to fetching whatever she needed, I truly was the bride’s PIC).

Don’t get me wrong—I'm not trying to compare the two experiences. I cherish them dearly. I just want to point out that this time, I felt less tired and more energized. I felt more like a guest enjoying the day than a participant running the show.

And I also had time to document and compile a bridesmaid’s go-to prep guide for you guys here:

The Day Before the Wedding

My fellow bridesmaid and I had our nails done at Lucete Original Korean Eyelash and Beauty Studio in Pluit Junction Mall. Since we would be wearing two different purple dresses, we decided on something simple with a touch of purple on our matching nails.

The Wedding Day

For the bridesmaids, my friend hired @chamelia.makeup, a makeup artist based in Jakarta. For the first time ever, I was genuinely happy with how bold makeup looked on me...

The MUA was very attentive to which colors suited our undertones. She even asked which lip color I preferred, and whether I wanted gloss. How considerate! I also got to choose which fake eyelashes I wanted to use.

Tips: Don't forget to bring a button-down shirt to avoid smudging your makeup while changing! I forgot mine... but hey, all was well that ended well.

Much to my surprise, the makeup stayed on until late at night, guys. Even without a touch-up before the reception, the makeup held up perfectly. I even struggled to remove the eyeliner afterward—all I could think was, "This must be as strong as Taylor Swift's makeup on the Eras Tour."

While the MUA worked on my makeup, a hair stylist named @danaaaylna_hairdo.mua styled my hair based on inspiration my fellow bridesmaid and I had agreed on earlier. A half-up hairstyle doesn't always look good on me, but in the hands of a professional, it looked amazing! This was how my hair turned out, and I really loved it:

Here's a more zoomed-out picture of my makeup and hair:

Not to sound narcissistic, but I'm cropping out the bride and groom in the pictures below, since their wedding photos aren't mine to share. I just want to show you how well my dresses matched the decor and overall vibe:

My dress for the holy matrimony: My friend bought it from here.

My dress for the wedding reception: It was rented from Yukisan House of Brides. 

At the end of the day, every wedding is beautiful—not because of the setting or grand preparations, but because the lovebirds are happy, surrounded by the people they love.

I wish the newlywed (and everyone about to walk the same path) a happily ever after.