Makeup?!?

I've always been a low maintenance sort of person. Maybe because my mom is that way, or I only have brothers, or because makeup and hair products cost money, and using them takes time...I'm not really sure exactly why I missed the whole acting like a girl thing when I was a teenager.

But when I started teaching, I wanted to make sure that I was able to look professional, and somehow putting on makeup in the morning made me feel like I was putting on my "game day" face, in a good sort of way. At the recommendations of friends, I went to the Clinique counter during their bonus days, and bought way more makeup than I thought was possible. I have since spent the last year and a half getting increasingly better at putting on my own makeup. (The big thing for me is that in the last month or so, I have finally figured out how to put on eyeliner without looking like Marilyn Manson. This is huge for me.)

The point of all of this is that I still haven't been convinced about the need for makeup. I mean, really- how much of a difference can it really make on a day to day basis? But then Calvin and I went to hear DJ Tiesto in DC. I looked at the photos, and while Calvin thinks that he looks like a mess (I disagree), we both agree that I look much better than I normally do in pictures.

See what I mean:

Shiny on the left for my birthday, and much less shiny on the right at Tiesto. (And my nose seems to keep getting bigger. Looks like I did inherit the nose that everyone on my mom's side of the family has.) Now I know that lighting makes a difference, but I tend to be shiny in nearly every picture of me. While I felt like I had on way too much makeup at Tiesto, in the picture, I think that it looks good overall. If you disagree, please tell me nicely :-)

What this means to me is that good makeup is essential for the wedding. I know, I know, I should probably have already figured this out, but makeup just isn't much of a priority for me. But the question remains- should I hire someone to do my makeup (anyone have any suggestions for someone in the Cleveland area?), or should I go to Sephora and DIY (or ask one of my lovely lady friends to help me out in this area?) What are you doing for your makeup for your wedding?