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The Whole Works
By Louise Baltruschat Hollis
Photos by Lori Young Photography
When it comes to our wedding day, we want to look and feel amazing. Am I right or am I right?
Part of that feeling can come from wedding makeup. Whether you are a beauty junkie or a makeup newbie, these bridal makeup looks are sure to help you find the perfect idea.
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Before We Begin
First things first, we’re going to look at beautiful wedding makeup looks to inspire your style. Before answering some FAQs on wedding makeup! Hooray. Shall we dive in?
Go for a lash-lengthening mascara or treat yourself to lash extensions, a lash lift of a pair of falsies to create eye drama.
Photo: Jade Touron Photography via Staycation Wedding Ideas Makeup Artist: Rebecca Brown Make Up
Don’t be afraid to add sparkle to your wedding day look. It can look ever so gorgeous.
Photo: Laura Williams Weddings via Autumn Wedding Colours Makeup Artist: SW London Makeup
For a soft yet dramatic eye-makeup style, go for soft eyeliner. Use a pencil or shadow to bring all the romance.
Photo: Natalie Silvester Photography via Blue White Wedding Ideas Makeup Artist: Olivia Mills Makeup
Using the same colour on your eyes and lips can look really natural.
Photo: Sofia Balli via Whimsical Tuscany Wedding Beauty: Eleonora Gentile Luxury Hair Spa
Go bold and use a red lippy for a real bridal statement.
Photo: Naomi Mills Photography via Christmas Wedding Theme Makeup Artist: Sophie Brown
Soft pink makeup colours are really feminine and can really tie together with your wedding theme too.
Photo: Ellie Lou Photography via Beach Picnic Wedding Makeup Artist: Sophie Wylie
More often than not, we’re all looking for flawless skin. So firstly, consider focusing on getting your base right. As well as having makeup that’s long-lasting by using primer, setting powders and spray.
Photo: Lottie Topping via Natural Outdoor Wedding Makeup Artist: Lauren Louise
A natural blusher makes all the difference to a make-up look. Having hair in a half-up half-down hairstyle shows off your makeup too.
Photo: Emily Collett Photography via Blue Yellow Wedding Ideas Makeup Artist: Genevieve Turley Makeup Artist
Allow your natural brow to shine through and enhance them with a brow gel, pencil, shadow or brush. Brows really frame the face, so you could even take the plunge and have a brow treatment pre-wedding. Be careful to test out in advance though to check you like the end result.
Photo: Eloise & Mitch via Park Wedding Ideas Makeup Artist: Makeup by Faye Neill
Perhaps you just want a natural, freshly woken-up look to your make-up? Go for it!
Photo: Paige Mary Photography via Italian Wedding Ideas Makeup Artist: Caitlin Palmer Hair and Makeup
Using metallics such as gold is a great way to add subtle glam to your eye makeup.
Photo: Charly Mae Photography via Sustainable Woodland Wedding Makeup Artist: Lauren Jacobs Make Up Artist & Hairstylist
Yes, you can go for colour on your lids and lips.
Photo: Emma Wilkinson Photography via Beige Wedding MUA: Sarah Meredith MUA
For a boho bridal look, stick to earthy tones and just wandered through a meadow vibe.
Photo: Eloise & Mitch via Park Wedding Ideas Makeup Artist: Makeup by Faye Neill
Match a bold colour scheme to your makeup and have fun with your shadow colour.
Photo: Sarah J Scott Photography via Blue Purple Gold Wedding Ideas Makeup Artist: Millie Makeup
Go for gloss lips for high shine. Be sure to pack a spare lip gloss in your wedding day emergency bag for top-ups!
Photo: Jemma King Photography via Retro Autumn Wedding Ideas Makeup Artists: Sam Page Make Up Artist MakeUp by Vivienne
Warm brown tones can work so well for a bridal makeup look.
Photo: Sophie Mort via The Hall Barns Wedding Prestwold Make Up Artist: Hannah Finn Makeup
Use a highlighter to achieve a soft and gentle glow to your makeup.
Photo: Rosetta Li Weddings via Loft Wedding Ideas MUA: Michele Rose Beauty
Contouring is not for the unpractised. Ask your MUA for advice or practise contouring in the run-up to your day if you are looking to accentuate your features.
Photo: Sarita White Photography via Field Wedding Ideas MUA: Lifeofabeautygirl
To achieve a luminous dewy look on your wedding day you could choose a highlighting primer, glowy foundation, glossy eye stick and lipstick to really get your glow on.
Photo: Jemma King Photography via Retro Autumn Wedding Ideas Makeup Artists: Sam Page Make Up Artist MakeUp by Vivienne
For a natural makeup look, go for a matte with a subtle glow to highlight cheeks, nose and your cupid’s bow.
Photo: Steph Kiely Photography via Purple Winter Wedding Ideas Makeup Artist: Jodie Elleanor ( flawless base with matte smokey eyes with a tiny pop of glitter)
Make your makeup all about your eyes and lips by adding glam vibes.
Photo: Casey Crowe Taylor Photography via Afrofuturist Inspired Wedding Makeup Artist: Shauné Hayes Makeup Artist
You can go bolder on your wedding day. Swapping pastel-tone lipstick and shadow for a bolder shade can look stunning.
Photo: Freya Raby via Oakwood At Ryther Wedding MUA: Chrys Chapman
Bronzer is a wonder product come summer and is a great way to add glow and warmth to any bride’s look.
Photo: Laura Williams Photography via Burnt Orange Wedding MUA: Makeup By Sam
Think outside of the box on your wedding day. How about swapping black or brown eyeliner for a fun glitter version?
Photo: Lex Fleming Photo via Disco Wedding Ideas Makeup Artist: Powder Blue Artistry
Fancy a more natural look in the day, but want more drama come evening? Simply update your lip colour as the party starts.
Photo: Terri Pashley Photography via Jungle Wedding Ideas Makeup Artist: The Make Up Works
MUA: Rosie Hart shares exactly how she created this stunning bridal look.
Ysabella has the most beautiful, warm glowy skin so we kept the face makeup very natural and fresh and focused on enhancing the eyes. My go-to foundation to achieve this finish is MAC Face and Body. It’s light, but totally buildable and has a beautifully dewy finish.
For the eyes I used pops of copper, burgundy and bronze using my Bobbi Brown Infra-Red palette and a small set of natural lashes to bring the eyes to life! For the lips I used a lipstick shade not too far off Ysabella’s natural colour and finished it with a Fenty lipgloss to give her that boho glow.
Photo: Heather Sham via Campervan Wedding Ideas
Bring a touch of shadow beneath your lower lash line to really accentuate your eyes.
Photo: Debs Alexander via Boconnoc Wedding Makeup Artist: Charlotte Albert
Subtle eyeliner teamed with minimal eye shadow can look absolutely stunning.
Photo: Whitney Lloyd Photography via Stately Home Wedding Makeup Artist: Hannah Clare Hair and MUA
Yes, brown smokey eyes can work so well with deep red lipstick.
Photo: Laura Williams Photography via Burnt Orange Wedding MUA: Makeup By Sam
Can you see how a touch of highlighter can really draw attention to your eyes? Simple but oh so beautiful.
Photo: Luke Batchelor Productions via Moroccan Wedding Inspiration Makeup Artist: Gilly Church
Shoot organiser Iris and Ivy Photography shared how shoot MUA created this flawless bridal look.
Michelle G Makeup Artist went with pink tones on the lips with Oriflame and soft smokey browns on the eyes by Dior. To compliment the bride’s beautiful skin she used Charlotte Tilbury and YSL.
Photo: Iris and Ivy Photography via Glewstone Court Wedding
Allow your natural skin to shine through with a light-coverage foundation and highlight your lips and eyes with a touch of metallic.
Photo: WhitneyBre Photography via Romantic Fall Wedding Beauty: Yvonda Smith Beauty
For an old-time Hollywood glamour feel, go for dramatic eye makeup and bold lip colour.
Photo: Gina Fernandes Photography via 1920s Wedding Ideas Makeup Artist: Sigmakeup
Photographer Camilla Andrea shares all about this makeup look.
Finally for our model and bride for the day Clem. I asked Emma at Brunetti Make Up to be our MUA for the day because I loved the fact that Emma’s make up kit was thoughtfully purchased and researched. She is all vegan/cruelty free which is something I feel is so important.
She created a no make up/make up look on our gorgeous bride Clem. Concentrating on flawless looking skin and just accentuating her lovely features.
Photo: Camilla Andrea Photography via Modern Pink Wedding
Team deep burgundy lips with a light silver dusting over the eye socket. So pretty!
Photo: Jessica Bevan Photography via Montague Farm Wedding Makeup Artist: Martine Turner
Don’t be afraid to have fun with your makeup and shake up traditional wedding looks. This multicolour shadow looks amazing!
Photo: Brad Gommon Photography via Endeavour Woodland Weddings Makeup Artist: @bridal_bykaycie
Shoot organisers at The Green Escape share more about this glowing wedding makeup look.
The makeup look created by Joanne Hook was a gorgeous natural, glowing skin with warm toned smokey eye and nude stained lips.
Photo: Vladana Parker via Bronze Wedding Ideas
Having a glitter station at your wedding? Looking for just how to apply it? Take a look at this cool and fun glitter look.
Photo: Pierra G Photography via Unconventional Wedding Ideas Makeup Artist: Louise McIntosh Glitter Bar: Queen Mab Glitter Bar
Add some delicate touches of gold around the eyes to create a mesmerising bridal style.
Photo: Tom Jeavons Photography via Woods Wedding Makeup Artist: SJB Hair and Makeup
If you aren’t used to wearing much makeup, ask your MUA to create a barely-there look.
Photo: With Love Rose Photography via Boho Fairytale Wedding MUA: Sarah Dunn MUA
Having a gothic wedding style? Be sure to bring the atmosphere to your makeup style too.
Photo: Taylar-Jayde Photography via Black Wedding Ideas Makeup Artist: Charlotte Marie
Shoot photographer Christine tells us more about this striking gold-style wedding makeup.
Grace Benson worked perfectly within the colour palette and style of the shoot. She just “got” the concept and went with it. Laura looked incredible with the palette of neutrals and golds that Grace chose.
Photo: Christine Third Wheeling via Celestial Wedding Ideas
Using a bright yet pretty coral colour palette can work beautifully for a bridal look.
Photo: Birgitta Zoutman Photography via Coral Wedding Ideas Makeup Artist: Fran Hansen Hair & Special FX
The classic smokey eye can really look stunning on your wedding day.
Photo: Lianne Gray Photography via Asian Fusion Wedding Ideas Makeup Artist: Pose Sheffield
How about a bolder eye look and neutral lips?
Photo: Jo Bradbury Wedding Photographer via Woodlanders Folk Wedding Ideas Makeup Artist: Aimee Chorley Make Up Artist
Go luminescent with statement eyeliner and fluttery eyelashes.
Photo: Hannah Brooke Photography via 90s Wedding Ideas MUA: @creative.dm
Take inspiration from the 50s with cute vintage-style wedding makeup.
Photo: Becky Ryan Photography via Retro Kitsch Wedding Ideas Makeup Artist: The Vintage Beauty Parlour
Fields & Festoons Outdoor Weddings shares how the MUA created this divine beauty look.
Emma created a soft, dewy makeup look showcasing our brides’ natural freckles, with a subtle smoky eye and a berry lip.
Photo: Love and Life Studio via Lakeside Wild Berry Farm Wedding Makeup Artist: Emma Rae Makeup & Beauty
Minimal makeup sometimes can be tricky to achieve. But good quality makeup, a fantastic MUA or lots of practice can be sure that it goes on flawlessly on the day.
Photo: Heledd Roberts via Garden Picnic Wedding
Makeup artist Petal Blush shares how this look was put together.
For hair and makeup I kept things fun and simple – loose boho curls with a simple half up using twists, and for the makeup I used some of my favourite bridal products including Charlotte Tilbury, RCMA, Pixi, and finishing the look off with some subtle false lashes.
Photo: Kelsie Scully Photography via Spire Brighton Wedding
And finally, you can DIY your make-up!
📌 If you’d like to see some more real bride makeup ideas, do check out the real wedding features on the blog too.
Most makeup artists will look to have a trial for the bride which is priced between £50-£125+. Additionally, the on-the-day make-up for the bride will cost in the region of £80-£250+. Some MUA may offer a package deal for the trial and on-the-day application, as well as sometimes hair styling.
For the wedding party, you can look to pay between £40- £100+ per person. Plus often there are makeup trial costs to consider too. Again, makeup artists may have a package option for the bride and wedding party together.
There are no hard and fast rules as to who pays for wedding makeup. The bride’s makeup will be paid for by the couple or whoever else may be contributing to the wedding budget. For the wedding party, it really depends on the couple. Some couples may choose to pay for their wedding party. Others may ask their wedding party if they’d like to book and pay for their own makeup with the bride’s makeup artist.
It all comes down to personal preference and more often than not the wedding budget.
There can be a difference between makeup for a wedding and a usual daily makeup routine. However, it really depends on your own makeup routine. If you aren’t a makeup wearer, professionally applied wedding makeup may look quite different.
A professional MUA will look to prep the skin and may use additional steps and products such as primer, false lashes, lip liner, contouring, finishing powder/setting spays and more. Whereas a daily makeup routine may be simpler and may not include as many products or steps.
That being said, you may be a beauty junkie and already have a full-on makeup skillset with many of the same steps as a professional. Either way, it can mean wedding makeup is similar or dramatically different to a normal day makeup application.
You can absolutely do your own wedding makeup. There are no rules saying you have to book a MUA.
It all comes down to factors such as personal preference, budget constraints and timescales. The decision is all yours.
To do your own wedding makeup, you can keep things really simple. Just apply your usual makeup.
Alternatively here are some tips to enhance your DIY wedding makeup:
You do not need to wear makeup to a wedding. If you don’t like makeup and don’t want to wear it as a bride, bridesmaid, wedding party member or wedding guest, ditch it. Be yourself. You deserve to feel confident and fabulous in your own skin, in your own style.
And that's a wrap! We've looked at over 50 wedding makeup looks as well as answered some bridal makeup FAQs. Hooray!
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