Pia Reyes, make-up machine

Thank you post #1

All couples — and I mean ALL — invest in photography or videography, which is totally understandable. What I don’t understand is why not as many brides invest in their make-up. Or why few grooms understand that it’s a very necessary expense. I mean, would you really want to look at photos where you don’t look  pretty? They’re going to last for all eternity, you know, so you might as well have the most beautiful version of yourself documented.

This is why it took me forever to book my hair and make-up artist. I did two trial make-ups and reviewed the portfolios of at least 20 experts before landing on the website of  Pia Reyes. You know that feeling when you finally find The One? You get nervous (because you might not be able to afford her) and then giddy (because you could) and then you gloat (because you found a gem in the wedding world). I went through the whole thing.

I booked Pia, a make-up artist for Lancome, without a trial make-up, just a few e-mail exchanges on rates, pegs, etc. Now I don’t normally do that, but I was so sure, based on her work (then, mostly in the fashion industry), that Pia could pull off the look I wanted — and as always, I was right (LOL).

Looking at our photos now, I know I could not have made a better choice.

Tres Hijas: This is me (right) with my sisters Argen and Abbie, all of us at different stages of evolution. LOL.

The tools of the trade:

The bridal suite scene: Pia and her hairstylist Dave Lopez photoshop everyone — my mom and sisters, my coordinator-friends, Rhoel’s aunts and our flower girls. Make-up sessions started at noon, five hours before the wedding.

A final check:

And this is it, folks — smile for the cameras!

Pia and Dave also gave me a second look for the reception. This is us with our favorite pastor, Nuel Nanez, and his lovely wife Iris, AFTER the reception. Hail the staying power of make-up.

SIDE STORY: A day before our wedding, we treated our guests to a sunset sail on paraws. Problem was, we arrived late from Kalibo with our suppliers and had only about 1.5 hours to rest and get ready for the event. Pia and Dave, both freshened up, took no more than 20 minutes  (I swear they’re a mean make-up machine) to hide my stress that day.

My only regret in all this — yes, I do have one — is that I can’t afford to get Pia to do my make-up everyday for the rest of my life. 8 )

Our Tab: Can’t tell coz it was a special out-of-town arrangement.

Try Pia: 09178485632, piareyesmakeup@yahoo.com