Featured image by Ali Leigh Photo Co.
How To Match Bridal Makeup with Wedding Themes
Your wedding speaks volumes about who you are as a person, your journey as a couple, and, of course, your tastes, so you want it to be as unique to you as possible.
The bride is usually the center of attention, with everyone’s focus on her gown, hair, and makeup, and to leave a stunning impression on your wedding day, you must look your best.
While designers and hairstylists will cover the rest for you, we’re here to help you out with the bridal makeup, which can be tricky if you don’t know what you want.
In this article, we have included tips to help you choose a wedding makeup look and ensure it matches the theme and decor perfectly!
Incorporate Your Personal Style
One of the most crucial factors about your wedding makeup look is that you have to feel happy wearing it, so don’t forget to include your personal style in your bridal makeup instead of just going with what the makeup artist suggests.
Understand the type of daily makeup you like - moderate, minimalist, or full-out glam. For example, if you’re someone who just puts on lipstick, eyeliner, or mascara, you’ll feel pretty uncomfortable if your makeup is overdone, and you don’t want that for your special day. Natural beauty is a trend in professional makeup artistry for weddings.
Visualize Your Makeup Look
Have a discussion with your makeup artist about what you specifically want or don’t want in your look. You must communicate your vision well. Find out details about the cosmetics and foundation they use in the event you have sensitivities or allergies. Communication is a key part of having your service professionally done so as not to run into sudden breakouts from cheap products or beauty products you may have specific issues with.
Plus, discussing this in advance means you can also ask for tips to prep your skin before your big day. Makeup artists have a lot of tricks, and these can certainly help you get the bridal glow for your big day. When hiring a beauty agency for your professional hair and makeup needs, all of these questions and concerns should be covered up front in your bridal consultation, and then again in your trial run.
Include Wedding Elements
If your wedding is themed around a specific location or vibe, then let it reflect in your makeup as well. For example, if you are planning a destination wedding somewhere, maybe include a flower or leaf in your hairstyle for a natural, vibrant touch to your overall look.
If you choose coast-inspired venues like these in Southern California, eye makeup with sandy tones and pink blush will give you an ethereal, sun-kissed bridal makeup look that will have all eyes on you as a beautiful bride!
Bride Leanna
Beauty by WPI Minneapolis
Photography by Emily Paulson
Key Wedding Colors
If your wedding has a statement color scheme going on, don’t forget to include that in your makeup look. Whether it’s bright, bold colors or simple all-white decor, you can wear complementary eye or lip makeup to match it with your wedding colors cohesively. Suppose your wedding colors don’t match your skin tone; you can use muted shades of the same colors to tie your whole beauty look together.
Consider The Wedding Attire
As strange as it may sound, your wedding dress, especially the fabric, plays a key part in wedding makeup inspiration. For example, if your wedding dress is soft and flowy with fabrics like chiffon, a “no makeup” makeup look would pair well with it, but light makeup on a fuller, satin gown would look rather bleak. Bridal makeup, even in its simplest form, is an art that requires a professional to capture your vision and natural beauty.
Match It To The Season
The season is important, not just to inspire your bridal makeup colors but also to check what products you should use. For instance, long-lasting, waterproof products are a must for hot summers because there will be a lot of sweating, but this isn’t necessary during the cooler months. As a general rule of thumb, know that cool tones look great in Summer and Winter, while warmer tones match the Autumn and Spring colors.
Venue Theme And Decor
While some couples choose a single theme across their wedding venue, some include bits of everything that showcase their love story; use this in your makeup as well! For example, if your venue shares similar features to Watermill Grove in Tulare County, a natural glam look will perfectly complement the rural, nature-inspired setting with gardens and ponds. Whereas having your wedding reception in a palace-like setting means you can go the extra mile with high-glam makeup like bold red lips or smokey eyes. As the bride, you'll likely want your bridesmaid's makeup to match the theme as well.
Pick A Focal Feature
You must choose which part of your face you want to stand out. Whether you want your eye color to pop or draw attention to your luscious lips, choose one area of your face to play with. This way, you prevent your entire face from looking overdone.
You don’t want too many features fighting for attention because it may only look like a mess or just too much. If you’re going for a bold eye look, then keep the lips minimal, and vice versa. Your bridal makeup look should reflect your personality and style while accentuating your favorite features.
Bride Meredith in Chicago
Photographer: TWA Photographic Artists
Beauty by WPI Chicago
Do A Trial Run
We can't stress this enough.
Be sure to check out the complete look before the day itself. Once you’ve narrowed the ideas for your makeup, request your bridal makeup artist for a trial to know what it looks like so you can make the necessary adjustments.
Don’t forget to wear something similar to your gown, or the gown itself, to get a taste of what you’ll look like. Ask a friend to take pictures indoors as well as outdoors; this way, you know if the makeup looks dull in different lighting. Your skincare routine will also lend to the outcome of your desired look. The best way to embody your vision of being a beautiful bride is to implement your skincare routine months before the big day.
When booking a Beauty Agency like WarPaint International, the trial run is a mandatory part of our bridal contracting process. This helps you avoid disappointment and know what to expect on the day of your wedding. Professional artists will also know what worked for you and how to make subtle changes on your big day to perfect your look effortlessly. Trials ensure confidence and everyone wins.
Listen To Your Gut
In the end, it’s all about how you feel and what you want. After doing your trial, don’t forget to address what you didn’t like or felt uncomfortable with so your makeup artist knows what to avoid on your big day. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or request changes because you get to decide how you look at your wedding, and it should be absolutely breathtaking.
You are, after all, the bride.