25 Stunning Wedding Makeup Ideas For The Bride & How To Pick One

Okay, wedding makeup, let’s discuss. And no, I do not mean the basic makeup one wears when going for brunch or when attending a work video conference.

I am referring to wedding makeup, the type that has to endure tears, sweat, and unpredictable emotions, as well as the possibility of dancing to ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ at the close of the reception.

It’s practically war paint for your face, and it must remain immaculate for several hours. Easy, isn’t it?

What I am trying to say is that many of you may be thinking, “It is just makeup, how difficult can it be?”

But I respond with ‘HA!’ And to that, I say, let’s differentiate between the two: weddings and any other day.

Yes, now all of a sudden, a million possibilities come into the picture that never even bothered you before.

How much makeup coverage do you want – light or heavy? Do you want to sport a bold lip color or a nude lip color?

And what would you like your foundation to be like – glowing or flat? And do not even get me started on eyelashes.

Are you going to go for fake eyelashes or just mascara? All these questions need to be answered to achieve the ideal bridal beauty look.

But before you start crying into a tissue, don’t worry, I have you covered.

We’re going to break down the whole wedding makeup thing so that by the time you finish this, you will feel like the Beyonce of bridal beauty.

Or at least someone who won’t shed silent tears because of eyeliner. So take your favorite beverage, sit back, and let’s discuss how to choose the ideal wedding makeup look for you.

First Things First: Who Are You? (No, Really)

Let’s get this straight: Your wedding is not the day you decide to become someone your husband does not recognize.

If you are somebody who has only used tinted lip balm and mascara, then your wedding day is not probably the best time to go overboard with smoky eyes.

On the other hand, if excessive lipstick is simply something that you cannot do without, then please do not listen to anyone telling you to tone it down on your “special day” because you need to look “natural.”

Nah, this is your day, you should be looking absolutely like yourself, but you just woke up and put on your super glam self, and are walking down the aisle.

When choosing the bridal makeup look, it is important to work out which features to emphasize yet remain your true self.

By “yourself” I do not mean the version of you who has been dry shampooing your hair for three days and is lounging in oversized sweats with untold stains.

Rather, this is the version of you that is beautiful, empowered, and ready to take on the world. This is about identifying the look that portrays you as the main character in your very own fairytale.

Self, Oh Skin Please, Self

As we say I do and I get how enticing it might be to skip this topic, let’s discuss your face. Naturally, it is going to be the center of focus in every wedding occasion picture, if we may spoil the surprise.

If you desire to be glowy or somewhere in-between with a heavy-defined cheekbone look – your skin’s base.

And naturally, we want that base to be the best it can be, ie, smooth and even and glowing.

What is the secret to this achievement?

Preparing your skin appropriately for make-up application is actually a successful beauty hoax.

You may be tempted to jump straight into comparing lipstick colors, which can be fun, but do bear with me.

In order to achieve this optimal and flawless makeup look, it is best to stay consistent with your skincare leading to the wedding.

Exfoliate the skin, ensure it is adequately hydrated and for the love of everything holy, never try new creams during the week of your wedding rehearsal unless you plan on getting a skin breakout on your wedding day, in which case, go for it, my friend.

So you have children and prepped the skin, you now want to think about what your base colors need to be.

Do you want sun-kissed skin as if you are a goddess, or do you want to have a more stark white look? The key here is to understand your skin type.

For those with oily skin, a matte finish should work nicely to keep any shine at bay throughout the day.

But if your skin is indeed more on the dry side, a dewy foundation would help keep the glow on the skin and look no further.

Take note of this bonus tip: In terms of the base makeup, you may want to consult your makeup artist about a long-lasting and photogenic base.

Imagine going through the trouble of getting beautiful wedding photographs and only to realize that the foundation used had such high spf that it made you look like a ghost.

No one wants to look like the Ghost Bride of Casper.

Eyes: The Windows to your Wedding Day Drama Behind the Curtain (and Your Soul for That Matter)

Now, onto the eyes. The makeup on your eyes has to be up to the level since it can either enhance or destroy the entire bridal look.

Care to share your ideas with us?

Perhaps champagne haze with flirty lashes is appealing to you? Or you are determined and want to depict yourself as a tormented character from the gothic novel.

Either way, your makeup for eyes should follow the natural shape and color of your eyes and make your eyes more visible in those all-important wedding photographs where you are sobbing over your bouquet.

Our best mascara tip: go for waterproof products. Actually, it is more like the best friend that holds your hair as you retch on margaritas and tells you that today is all about you despite your embarrassing state.

Believe me, there will be weeping, and you do not want to be the one looking like a raccoon.

Unless of course, that is exactly what you want to look like, in which case by all means go ahead.

Cheeks: which is your all-time favorite shade?

Cheekbones are also where things get a little bit touchy because you will be applying lipstick and it will have to last the whole day’s activities of eating, drinking, quite possibly kissing and then screaming I LOVE YOU to everyone around.

The main idea when ordering is to bring a stick that feels like lips but does not turn every day full use of the mouth into some nightmarish experience.

Those of you who enjoy a classic red will love it. Red lips always look stunning and classic, timeless even, provided the rest of the makeup is for the most part minimalistic.

Focus on this rather than this for the rest of your day.

Choose formulas that will not disintegrate halfway through the day, or worse, leave stains where they shouldn’t be (on your dress/spouse/champagne/great haul).

You may also wish to consider going for natural hues like nude or pink that can deliver the same appearance if you are one of those who wish to go naturally.

A soft and nondescript lip serves as an accessory to a dramatic eye or even makes a nice statement without competing with facial features.

Just ensure it is a color that blends in with your complexion—you don’t want to seem pale or as if you left the rest of your makeup undone.

What Women Encourage Girls Seem to Have Mastered: Highlight and Contour

I consider encompassing highlighting and contouring the best of witchcraft known to man.

With contouring, you could carve your cheekbones with a knife while a well-placed highlight is enough to have you looking like a bourbon-covered angel.

But here is the kicker: the aim here is to augment the features of the face, not change it.

We’ve all encountered makeup lessons that showed how to apply contouring so you would end up looking like someone else entirely.

That is not what this is about.

There will be no drama to the statements made in the Manuscript; quite the inverted pyramid here, with a hint of contour to most in the middle and a subtle highlight toward the top.

One of the best things about this look is that it makes you feel like more of yourself, but just the right amount of idealistic and refreshingly beautiful version of yourself.

It’s like you: in picture-perfect conditions. You know what I mean.

The Final Touch: Selecting Your Wedding Makeup from These 25 Examples

Now that you have been given a clear explanation of what to keep in mind about your bridal makeup, you may move on to these 25 incredible wedding makeup ideas that are nothing short of stunning.

Whatever your taste, soft and romantic or bold and glamorous there are options here for every bride.

Everything from non-existent skin makeup to excessive and theatrical style will strike inspiration.

Do browse about and look for the one that interests you and do not hesitate to combine and integrate them. After all, it is your wedding day.

Whether you prefer a statement lip, dark eyeliner, or rosy cheeks and dewy skin, the outcome is less crucial than how beautiful you actually feel that day.

Now go spread your wings and be fabulous, after all, it is your wedding day so make all the usage of shine you want.

And even if it all goes wrong, there is always champagne to reach for. And lots of it.