Always the Bridal Makeup Artist, Now the Bride

After 18 years of prepping others, the beauty pro finally had her own walk down the aisle—and learned plenty of lessons to share.

After nearly two decades of glamming up brides, Victoria Elizabeth finally stepped into the role herself. At 38, the founder of the successful eponymous bridal beauty company says she “waited her whole life” for the right person—and the day did not disappoint. However, being the bride, not the artist, came with a few surprises and some real perspective shifts on the process she has built her career around.

Here, she shares what she learned—what she’d do again, what she’d do differently, and what she’s now telling her clients based on her own big-day experience.

Don’t Skip the Support System

Victoria chose not to have a traditional bridal party made up of close friends. “At this stage of life, that felt right.”

Her nieces and sister-in-law were by her side, and while they offered love and presence, she realized in hindsight just how important those “hype girls” can be.

“I think that’s something a bridal party often brings: the energy, the reassurance, the ‘You’ve never looked better’ vibes. ”

Her takeaway? “Have your friends around you who know how to lift you up. It’s not about the title of ‘bridesmaid’—it’s about the emotional support.”

Trust Your Team

As a makeup artist herself, Victoria had access to top-tier talent. “I could’ve had Scott Barnes do my makeup,” she says. “But I wanted to use my own team. If I’m telling brides to book them, I had to trust them with my own face.”

Her go-to artists, Julie (makeup) and Stephanie (hair), delivered. “They were phenomenal,” she says. “I felt so taken care of.”

Still, it took five hair trials and one makeup trial to land on the final look. “And on the morning of, we still changed it,” she laughs. “Steph did a blowout on top with Hollywood waves on the bottom. It was classic, but with a twist—and I loved it.”

Choose a Space That Sets the Mood

One of Victoria’s biggest tips? Pick the right place to get ready. “It sets the tone for the whole day,” she says.

She created a joyful, relaxed environment with her team. “I should’ve been an entertainer,” she jokes. “We were doing karaoke, praying together—it was a vibe. I had my girl McKayla as my gopher, just running for earrings or coffee. Everyone had a role, and no one was scrambling.”

She also hired a professional dresser. “I spent $20,000 on my dress—I wasn’t about to wrestle with it myself,” she says. “She sewed what needed sewing, made sure everything fit perfectly. It was worth every penny.”

Plan for Touch-Ups All Day Long

Victoria now strongly recommends having your beauty team stay for touch-ups. “People don’t realize how much they need it until they’re looking shiny or their lipstick’s gone in photos,” she says.

“And listen, the photographer isn’t worried about that stuff. They’re getting the shots they need; they’re not checking if your veil’s straight.”

Having a touch-up artist made all the difference. “Every single photo looks flawless,” she says.

Spend Where It Counts

“I used to tell brides, ‘You don’t need that—save your money,’” Victoria admits. “But now I say, don’t save on the things you’ll see in every photo.”

Her advice? Cut favors, skip extras like the photo booth if needed, but never settle on hair, makeup, or photography.

“These are your forever photos. How you feel when you look at them matters.”

Build a Beauty Timeline That Starts Early

Victoria began her bridal beauty prep six months out. Her lineup:

Skincare + Injectables: Cosmetic dermatologist Marina Peredo, MD, handled everything from filler to Morpheus8 and laser treatments. “After weight loss, I lost volume in my face. She brought it back beautifully.”
Facials: Six sessions with Royal Ritual Aesthetics (located within Victoria Elizabeth) to improve texture and elasticity.
Teeth Whitening + Training: Liz, The Teeth Whitening Fairy, not only brightened her smile, but she also helped Victoria lose 70 pounds through personal training.
Spray Tan: A long-lasting, custom glow by Tanned by Taylor.
Nails: Celebrity nail artist Pattie Yankee recreated the lace pattern of her dress in intricate nail art.

Manifest the Moment

One final, full-circle moment: three years before the wedding, Victoria bought a $1,000 crystal-studded robe in Greece, long before she had a fiancé.

“My staff thought I was nuts,” she says. “But I told them, ‘I’m wearing this the morning of my wedding.’ I bought it by faith.”

And she did.

Follow @victoriaelizabethofficial to see more behind-the-scenes content and photos.