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Almost every bride-to-be says she wants to “look natural,” on her special day. The reality is, however, that appearing unfinished or as if you just woke up can leave you looking tired in your wedding pictures. Not to mention, with an elegant dress on, you want your face to complement your attire.

We want to help glam up your natural features while you get to still look like yourself. So, what can you do to look polished but avoid the caked-on makeup look? Here are a few simple ideas for how to rock the minimal makeup look.

Glowing And Radiant


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There’s a special kind of beauty that comes from having sun-kissed skin. To pull off a glowing, wedding look, try using some bronzer where the sun would naturally kiss your skin – on your cheekbones, jaw, nose, and forehead. Don’t forget to add a little to your neck so everything looks even. After adding a dab of foundation and some concealer, it’s time to select your bronzer shade. Generally, your bronzer should be one or two shades darker than your natural skin tone. Brush a tiny bit on your wrist first to see if it makes your skin glow or if it looks fake.

If you have naturally dark skin, try using an amber bronzer. If you have a medium-complexion, try a rosy shade. For those brides with fair skin, stick to a honey colour. Always use a wide brush to apply your bronzer, as using a pointed or thin brush can create unsightly, defined streaks. For a softer, all-natural appearance, use an open fan brush and add the colour slowly, building up the shade until you’re happy with the look.

Metallic Glam


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Eye-shadow can scare off a lot of brides who want to keep things simple. Everything from gradients, glitters, and layers of colour can become overwhelming, but your eye makeup doesn’t have to be complicated. When you’re going for a natural wedding look, applying a few shades subtly can look stunning.

Add some shadows and metallic accents around your eyes. These colours can elevate your iris’ natural colour and give you a stunning smoulder. Metallic shades like gold and copper look vibrant and glamorous. You won’t have to do much else with your face if you perfect your eye makeup game. Finish the look with some eyeliner, mascara, and matte nude lipstick.

Pretty In Pink


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The reason a little rose colour on your cheeks looks flattering is that everyone, no matter their skin colour, has some natural, pink undertones. Once you find the right shade for your skin tone, add some blush and see how it can instantly make you look youthful and bright. The last thing you want is to fade in the background of your wedding photos.

Swirl a small amount of blush onto the apples of your cheeks. Don’t forget to buff the colour out by using large circular motions. Adding your colour this way should create a natural-looking glow that brightens your face. Have fun with your blush, but don’t go overboard with it either.

Goddess Brows


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If you’re one of the lucky ones who was born with thick and beautiful brows, let them be your main focus. A natural brow with glowing skin and a neutral lip can make a statement without all the other products or contouring. If you want to achieve full, natural eyebrows but your hair is on the lighter side, there a few tools and tricks you can use to make them appear more natural.

Before filling in the gaps of your eyebrows, use a spoolie or angled brow brush to gently and repeatedly brush your eyebrow hair upwards. After you fill in the gaps with an eyebrow pencil, you can brush your natural hairs upwards again to blend in the colour and control any wild hairs. When shaping your brows, it’s important to remember to stay away from dramatic or loud lines. Instead, take the time to carefully apply your colour to even out your natural shape.

Testing, Testing


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Nothing is more natural than confidence. Therefore, you definitely want to test your makeup look before your big day. When it’s your first time in the makeup chair, try bringing inspirational photos you want to emulate or some images you saved on Pinterest. If you choose individuals who share your skin tone, hair colour, and eye colour, it may be easier to replicate the look.

When you bring samples to your test run, the makeup artist can give you expert feedback if certain details will or won’t work for you. Be clear about what you want, but stay open to your artists’ creativity. Once you’re happy with the result, you can let the makeup artist do their thing, and you can sit back and relax.

Be Yourself


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The last thing you want is for guests to arrive at your wedding and not be able to tell who is getting married. You want to look like yourself, no matter what makeup you choose to wear. For example, if you always sport a neutral lip, then stick to your signature look on the big day.

Perhaps even elevate the look and try using a lip stain in the colour you love instead of a lipstick. With all the drinking, dancing, and eating you will be partaking in, you shouldn’t have to worry about reapplying throughout the night. Also, try using a liquid, waterproof eyeliner instead of the one you regularly use so that your makeup stays intact, even if you tear up a few times throughout your big day.

The key is to look like an even more elegant, polished version of the person your significant other fell in love with. Be yourself, and you’re sure to wow the most important person at the wedding.

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For a true diva, a wedding is a perfect opportunity to show off her styling skills. If the wedding happens to be your own, then it’s practically a fashion paradise just waiting to happen, and picking out the right attire and accessories is probably one of your favourite parts of the whole event.
If you’re giddy with happiness at the very prospect and can’t wait to show off the hottest trends, then get ready to be the most modern, gorgeous bride in 2019. For our eager fashionistas, here are some popular styles that should inspire all sorts of fun outfit ideas for your ceremony.

Daring, Sexy Crop Tops

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We love the idea of getting the kind of wedding outfit that you can wear even after the event, and the crop top and long skirt combo is one of the trendiest things that you can pick up. It’s definitely sexy, but what’s even better is just how damn elegant it can look. With only a hint of your midriff bared, a sleeveless or off-the-shoulder crop top can be downright demure, and if you pick a simple one you can even utilise it for different occasions. Imagine a marriage anniversary a year from now, and you wearing it underneath a sleek blazer? But not only that, a two-piece outfit like this can make it easy to change into something more comfortable after the ceremony, so you can bring a soft pair of pants or a simple skirt to change into for that wild after party you were planning—everyone loves a bride that shows off two outfits in one go.

As for the bottom half, pick a long, dramatic skirt that swishes as you walk, or maybe go for something a little more form-fitting and pick a mermaid cut that will flatter your curves.

Dramatic Jumpsuits


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Wedding jumpsuits are a great invention, and they’re a great choice for brides who want to be a little more comfortable and still leave an impression. Most of the cuts look very sleek and polished, and they’re very popular with corporate queens and important business women because they give off an aura of power and luxury that can be really fun at weddings—who says that everyone needs a frilly dress? If girly outfits are not your thing, pick a jumpsuit and throw a blazer over it for full effect.

Pure, Unadulterated Sophistication


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Meghan Markle is to thank for this blessedly wonderful trend. For ladies who believe that elegance lies in simplicity, her Givenchy wedding dress was an inspiration that is still highly recognised as the ultimate form of royal sophistication. It’s influencing bridal trends everywhere, and the clean cut, simple silhouette, and lack of fussy or excessive details mean we’re getting garments that truly represent feminine grace. To pull this off, find wedding dresses that have traditional cuts and pair them with very simple, natural makeup and minimal jewellery. The trick here (and the reason everyone was so impressed with Meghan’s attire) is to let your own beauty be the biggest ornament—anything you wear is just there to enhance it.

Floral Fantasy


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Reem Acra gave us a very interesting blend of floral details and metallic for 2019, and this is a very good direction for the kind of bride who loves the romanticism of weddings. Whether the flowers are subtle lace details on your veil or something that covers the whole dress, it’s hard to go wrong with something like this—you’ll feel like a princess and look totally feminine and demure.

Mini Lengths

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Not every dress needs to be huge, puffy, and dramatic. Shorter wedding dresses are a great choice, particularly if you picked a venue where you expect your guests to dance and be a little more active instead of simply sitting around. Look for garments with shimmery details or a fun feather trimming, and feel free to incorporate a 1920's vibe into the whole thing. The mini dresses actually work really well with finger curls, smoky eyes, and jazzy dance tunes. Of course, you can also go for sheer panels over a soft satin base if you prefer a little more serious kind of look. Just make sure to pair your dress with a really good pair of heels that will elongate your legs and make you feel more glamorous.

Headband Accessories


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When it comes to accessories, they seem to be focused mostly on one statement piece, and for 2019 that’s going to be a headband. Whether it’s pearls, shimmery gemstones, or simple satin ribbons, brides will be turning to hair ornaments to complement their attire and make them look just a touch more ethereal. If a headband doesn’t go with the hairstyle you were planning, consider wearing a circlet—they’re easy to incorporate with any kind of up-do, and they can make you look very regal.

Luminous Skin


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No more heavy, cakey makeup trends, gals. We’re slowly shifting more towards natural looks, and you no longer have to worry about elaborate eyeliner or buckets of bronzer that will completely change your natural skin tone. Next year invites minimalism, so master the art of natural makeup and enjoy the way it enhances your best features.

Your wedding is a great opportunity for you to play with fashion! Go as traditional or as out-of-the-box as you like, and have fun showing off your style.

Written by Sophia Smith