Your Wedding Makeup Look

Your wedding day is one of if not the most important days of your life, and of course you want to look amazing. As well as your dress, shoes and hair, your makeup is something that you really want to get right. 

Your wedding makeup should be all about enhancing your natural beauty and working with the best of your natural features so that on the big day you look amazing, photograph fantastically and can cherish the memories for years and decades to come. 

Here is our guide to ensuring you look the best for the big day. 

Pre Wedding Day

The work starts in the months and weeks beforehand. Start by establishing a skincare routine, focusing on cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. Regular exfoliation and hydrating face masks will help you achieve a smooth and glowing complexion. Consider scheduling a professional facial a week or two before your wedding for that extra boost. 

Additionally, ensure you get plenty of sleep, stay hydrated, and maintain a healthy diet to promote overall skin wellness. Of course, these aren’t just great tips for your wedding but for life in general!

It’s also important to decide what look you’re going for. Some people like to build up a scrapbook or mood board of ideas to inspire them, and these can be physical or virtual depending on personal preference. There’s loads of places to go to find ideas. Wedding and lifestyle websites are a great place to start along with social media, particularly Instagram and Pinterest where you can save stuff you like as you go. 

Fashion and Beauty magazines/websites are another great source and don’t be afraid to ask friends or family if there’s something about their look you really like, just don’t copy it exactly. 

A good idea is to decide on the level of glam you want, whether it's natural, soft, romantic, or bold or if there’s a particular look you like such as goth or even a period you’re drawn towards such as 80s makeup. Obviously it’s a good idea to choose a makeup look that will work with your wider look or theme if that’s what you’re going for and think about how the other elements we mentioned earlier (dress, shoes, hair) will all work together. 

Having a consultation with a professional makeup artist and a trial before hand is heavily recommended as this will mean there are no nasty surprises come wedding day. Whilst you might feel that you are fully competent to do your makeup (and you may well be, lot’s of people do!), consider that there is going to be an awful lot going on on the day, you’ll be doing a million different things and a professional likely knows what will last, what will work and have access to kit that you might not such as a full set of professional makeup brushes.

If you do choose to go the pro route, a professional should analyse your skin type, tone, discuss your desired looks and guide you to help you make important choices such as products and shades. The trial is a great time to, as the name suggests, try a few different looks and techniques and see what you really like. It’s important to be open to guidance and suggestions but also be confident that if there’s something you really want or really don’t then make sure you are heard and understood. Remember, this is your wedding day.

Wedding Day

If you’re going to tackle the job yourself, it’s a good idea to get a good set of bridal makeup brushes. This will make sure you’ve got all of the kit you need to hand. 

On your wedding day, primer is key as this will build a foundation for the rest of your look. Choose a foundation that’s a perfect, or as near perfect as possible, match for your skin tone. Blend it evenly across the whole face using a damp makeup sponge or foundation brush. Use concealer to cover any blemishes or any dark rings under your eyes. 

The eyes are the focal point of your face on your wedding day. Prime your eyelids to prevent creasing and improve the longevity of your eye makeup. Choose eyeshadow shades that complement your eye color and blend them seamlessly for a soft, romantic look or opt for a smoky eye for a more dramatic effect (again, consider overall look). Define your lashes with a volumising mascara or, for added drama, use false eyelashes. Be sure to choose lashes that suit your eye shape and desired level of volume.

Add a natural flush to your cheeks with a blush that works with your skin tone. Opt for soft pink or peachy shades for a fresh and youthful appearance. Apply the blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend it out towards your temples for a natural-looking glow. If desired, contour and highlight your cheekbones to add dimension and luminosity to your face.

Choose a long-lasting lipstick or lip stain in a shade that suits your overall look. Consider your skin undertone and dress color when selecting the perfect hue. Outline your lips with a lip liner that matches your lipstick, then fill in the entire lip area. 

It’s a good idea to put a basic kit together that you can ask someone to hang onto for you so you can touch up your makeup at key points in the day such as just before photographs or the reception. 

Remember, it’s your day so however you choose to do it, make sure you get the look you want and do it perfectly!