Your input needed: Wedding makeup trial

Last night after work I went out to the mall to visit the MAC store and have them do my eye makeup to give me wedding ideas. I already tried this twice, at Sephora and Aveda, with less than stellar results, but I had high hopes for MAC. And the woman did a decent job, unlike the Sephora guy who ignored what I said about soft and natural and did my eyes in gold and green. (Apparently it looked good, objectively speaking, but to me it looked terrible, and I did not feel like myself.)

Anyway, this woman did my eyes in soft pinks and browns, which I liked, but somehow the whole effect was just... weirdly frosty. I don't know. I know you're supposed to do something different from the everyday for your wedding, and I will step it up from my basic allover color that I usually do, but I think that after three failed attempts to get a professional to do what I want, I'm going back to my standard evening makeup, taught to me by a Sephora makeup artist three years ago.

Let's have a look at the photos from the three makeup trials, keeping in mind that the last two were just eyes and not skin (though the MAC woman did go overboard with the blush).

First, the Aveda trial (part of the problem here was that Aveda makeup is all natural, which means that it was pretty much gone within half an hour):


Then, many hours post-Sephora, when much of the green had faded (with La):


And last night, post-MAC:


Lastly, a photo of the handiwork that I loved, three years ago:


I don't know if you all will agree, but I like the makeup in the last photo much better than in the others. It blends more naturally, it's dramatic but not over the top, and it just generally feels like me.

(Incidentally, looking at the photos my friend and I took of my makeup three years ago has horrified me, because I looked so much YOUNGER then. My GOD. Three years isn't THAT long. This does not bode well for my desire to age gracefully.)

Anyway, after I reviewed the photos and decided to go with my standby, I scrubbed my face, broke out all the makeup I've bought in preparation for the wedding, and did my own trial run. It was the first time that I had put all the elements together--foundation, concealer, eyeshadow, lipstick, etc. So of course I turn to you. Behold, my results photographed in the harshest possible light (flat flash) from different angles for optimal viewing (click to enlarge):





I have definitely decided that I'm going to do my own makeup. It will be some version of the above, but I need real, honest input. The goal here is to look natural, like myself, and not like a raccoon in person, but also pretty, photogenic, and even-toned. What do you think of the makeup? Does it photograph well? Does it suit me? Is it dramatic enough? Too dramatic? What needs changing or tweaking? Did I apply it all wrong? Honesty is key, here. So, let it rip.