Picking and sending your wedding stationery can be a stressful experience. After all, they’re generally small bits of card and you might feel as though there’s a lot to say! If you don’t want a cluttered invite, then here are some things you do and don’t need to include on your wedding stationery.

Do: Names

Obviously you’re going to want to include who is getting married on the invite. It could be a little bit awkward if people turn up to your wedding, not knowing who is actually tying the knot. You can include Mr and Mrs, or your preferred titles, but just the names will be fine…

Don’t: Parents’ Names

It used to be that the parents always paid for a wedding, but this is becoming rarer nowadays. Most people tying the knot pay for the wedding themselves, which means you can exclude the parents’ names if they’re not contributing. This also gets over any difficulty if you have step-parents, blended families, and so on.

Do: Where it is

This is another no-brainer, as you’re going to want to let guests know where they’ll be going. Make sure you include all of the venues if you’re going to be getting married in one place and then moving onto a reception somewhere else.

Don’t: Directions

There’s such a thing as Google Maps now! With space on an invite limited, there’s not much need for directions to the venues anymore. However, you could always include a separate card with directions, suggested hotels, and other useful information on it. This may be helpful for older guests not too savvy with the internet!

Some of these may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised at how much of the vital information gets taken off to make space for something not necessary. Buck the tradition and keep your invites as simple as possible, with just the basics, then opt for a wedding website for more details if you’d prefer!

Finding the perfect makeup artist for your wedding is both an exciting and somewhat nerve-wracking experience. Do you rely on personal references, or do you turn to artists you’re following on Instagram? Should you get a preliminary consultation, and what type of questions to ask? Find the answers to these and many other questions below!

How to Find a Bridal Makeup Artist

Celebrity makeup artist Mehak Oberoi says that at the beginning of the process, each future bride should understand that there is not a single right answer. To some brides, word-of-mouth recommendations may be the safe option they need, but to others, the solution may be to give an experimental artist whose work they admire a chance. Since trials aren’t currently possible in most places, she advises brides to do their homework beforehand, (and this includes the products they want their artist to use).

Both Oberoi and Bianca Louzado caution future brides not to trust every fancy Instagram photo because they have all been retouched. They advise you to look at pictures “where you can see skin,” as well as to focus on the one feature you want to accentuate – be it brows, lips, contouring, eyes, etc. Know your budget before you start contacting makeup artists, and don’t trust the number of followers an artist has because that doesn’t necessarily reflect their talent and/or professionalism.

Discuss Safety Precautions Beforehand

Regardless of how you go about choosing a bridal makeup artist, it’s important to discuss the safety measures before meeting in person. Whether that includes both sides bringing a negative test result, proof of vaccine, or another precaution, you need to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Oberoi advises that the makeup artist should use separate brushes, pencils, and tools when working on two or three people at the same time (such as the sister and the mother) and that if liquid formulas are used, the applicators should never come in direct contact with the skin. These and other aspects of your safety on your big day should be talked over with your artist to guarantee everyone’s well-being.