How can I waterproof my wedding makeup?

Whether you suspect rain or think you may shed some happy tears, create a grippy foundation with an eye primer so eyeshadow lasts longer. Also consider using waterproof mascara and eyeliner that won't budge, flake, or smear after hours of wear.

What are some tips for applying eye makeup to mature eyes?

While age is just a number , it's important to find a beauty routine that makes you glow from within. Start with well-moisturized skin and an eye primer that's effective in preventing eyeshadow creasing. Give the eye area a youthful appearance by avoiding hard eyeliners—a light smokey eye and clump-free lashes (try a lash serum and thickening mascara for best results) will go a long way in making the eyes pop. Avoid anything shimmery on top of fine lines as the metallic finish will accentuate texture.

Best Wedding Eye Makeup Looks for Every Bridal Style

Woman with smokey eye makeup — Stocksy / Design by Zackary Angeline

Choosing a wedding dress can be one of the most important decisions you make for your wedding, but the dress is just one small part of your overall bridal look. You also have to decide on whether or not you want to wear a veil or bridal accessories, how you want your hair styled, and what kind of wedding eye makeup matches your own personal style.

There's no wrong answer when it comes to your wedding eye makeup look. If you're more of a natural makeup kinda gal, it's perfectly fine to skip the false lashes. A natural, defined eye and flushed pout photograph beautifully on their own. If you love a cat-eye liner, don't be afraid to rock a big, black wing at the altar. All that matters is that you feel like the best version of yourself in whatever direction you decide to go in.

We've rounded up the best wedding eye makeup inspiration to help you find the perfect bridal look for your big day.

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Natural Glam

No matter your eye shape or skin tone, you can't go wrong with a feathered neutral brown eyeshadow all over the eye and full, fluffy brows. For added drama, place the darkest color in the outer corner of the eye below and into the crease. Add a pop of a light brown shimmer in the center of the lid for some sparkle.

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Bring the Drama

Bride wearing a bold red lipstick and dramatic smokey eye makeup — PHOTO BY AMY ANAIZ

For something a little more intense and dramatic, go for a dark matte look. Trace the upper and lower lashlines with a matte pencil, smudging it out at the outer corners for a subtle smoke. Skip the shimmer if you want to keep this look sultry and smokey, or add a pop of highlight to the inner corner for a little bit of sparkle.

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Matte Lids and Defined Brows

Bride with a natural matte smokey eye — Photo by A SEA OF LOVE

Deep matte browns on the lid and defined brows are a match made in heaven. (Brown eyeshadow amplifies blue or green eye colors and seemingly melts into irises of the same hue.) This romantic, sultry eye look paired beautifully with a nude lip to enhance this stunning bride's natural beauty.

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Full, False Lashes

Bride with full, voluminous, dramatic lashes — Photo by BRAEDON PHOTOGRAPHY

False lashes enhance natural lashes, making them appear fuller and longer. They help define the lashline and really make the eyes pop, especially if the rest of the bridal makeup is quite minimal. We love the elegant yet dramatic feel they gave to this bride's wedding day look when paired with a perfectly pink lip.

The 9 Best False Eyelashes To Wear On Your Wedding Day in 2023

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Soft and Smokey

natural, smokey wedding day eye makeup — PHOTO BY CARMEN SANTORELLI

If you're looking for a wedding eye makeup look that feels dramatic but still soft and romantic, take a cue from this gorgeous bride when it comes to eyeshadow placement. By placing the darker shadow on the very outer corners and keeping the rest of her look very simple, it adds depth without looking too dark or heavy.

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Bold Brows

Bride with beautiful, bushy natural brows — PHOTO BY LAURKEN KENDALL

Bold, bushy brows are totally in right now, so don't be afraid to let them grow in before the big day. Fill them in with an eyebrow pencil that's the same shade as your natural brow color or maybe one shade darker. It's amazing what magical things a defined brow can do for blue, green, or brown eyes. Paired with a dark brown smokey eye, bold brows perfectly frame the face.

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Dramatic 'Look-at-Me' Lashes

Bride with defined, dramatic eyes and effortless waves — Photo by Jacqueline Benét

Say "I do" with this effortless eye look that makes light eyes blaze. Simply darken the upper lashline with a matte shadow or pencil and buff it out with a small pencil brush. Load up on mascara, adding a good amount to the lower lashes to add balance and give that dramatic doe-eyed effect.

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Smoked-Out Winged Liner

Ornately dressed bride with smoked out, dramatic wing liner and red lip — PHOTO BY JILLIAN MITCHELL

We love this bride's take on the classic bridal smokey eye—a perfect match for brides with brown eyes. To nail this sultry look, buff out a matte black eyeshadow in the shape of winged liner. Apply a gel or liquid liner over the top of the eyeshadow for an additional dose of drama.

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Classic Smokey Eye

Bride with a dark and moody smokey eye look — PHOTO BY JILLIAN MITCHELL

If you want something dark and moody, take a deep brown and blend it all over the lid and underneath the lower lashline. Brighten up the lower half of your face with a pink blush and natural lip color to balance out the dramatic eye look.

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Subtle Winged Liner

Something about a natural-looking winged liner just goes so well with wedding eye makeup. Use a gel or liquid liner to achieve this subtle feline flick, starting at the edge of the lower lashline and curving gently toward the tail of the brow.

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Wispy Lashes

Natural bride with full dramatic lashes putting on earring — PHOTO BY CORRINA WALKER PHOTOGRAPHY

Dark, full lashes against natural wedding makeup will never go out of style. Look for a wispy lash strip with lashes that crisscross at the base for the most natural yet glamorous effect. If the lashes are too long for your eyes and droop down past the natural lashline, trim the ends with a pair of eyebrow scissors before applying.

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Smokey Golden Shadow

Bride wearing smokey and shimmery, golden eye shadow — PHOTO BY JULIETA

Gold looks incredible on darker skin tones (take note, brown-eyed brides!) and warms up the sparkly flecks in blue and green eyes. For a gilded-eye look, place the shimmer in the center of the lid—above your pupil—to accentuate your eye shape and color. Blend a deeper bronze into the crease for smokey definition.

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Neutral and Naturally Beautiful

Beautiful bride with natural makeup — PHOTO BY RACHEL HAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY

If you want to look like you on your wedding day, go for something simple like this romantic eye look. Add a darker color to the base of the lash line and blend until it's soft and subtle. Apply mascara, skipping the false lashes altogether if you think they're too dramatic for the vibe you're going for.

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Dark and Smokey With Dramatic Winged Liner

Bride with dark and smokey wedding eye makeup and dramatic winged liner — PHOTO BY TREEBIRD PHOTOGRAPHY

Turn up the look of a classic winged liner by adding a bit of drama with dark eyeshadow. Go for velvety browns to smoke out the lid and finish with a big, bold wing. If you really love a smokey look, smudge out the eyeliner with a pencil brush and black eyeshadow.

Clean up any fallen eyeshadow and sharpen the wing with a pointed cotton bud soaked in makeup remover.

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Natural Shimmer

Bride getting natural wedding makeup done — PHOTO BY HEATHER WARAKSA

Get that effortless bridal glow by applying a shimmery eyeshadow to the center of your lid, blending up and out toward the brow bone. Keep the rest of the look simple and glowy with a pale-pink lip and matching blush. And, of course, don't forget the highlighter on the tops of your cheeks.

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Minimal and Effortless

Bride with simple, natural, and effortless makeup — PHOTO BY MARGHERITA CALATI

For natural brides that don't wear much makeup on a day-to-day basis, consider keeping the eyes minimal. A swipe of mascara and sweep of dark eyeliner in the waterline is all you need to heighten barely there wedding eye makeup. Fill in the brows and keep the rest of the look fresh and natural with a sweet blush and nude lip.

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Glitz and Glamour

Glamorous bride with dramatic false lashes — PHOTO BY IVASH

For the bride that wears false lashes and a full face on the reg, a barely there approach just won't hit right. A dramatic, glam eye look is a much more aligned wedding eye makeup choice. Contoured cheeks and a full pout complete this dramatic bridal look.

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Voluminous Lashes

A full strip of falsies can sometimes deter from a more fresh-faced look. Take a more demure approach with soft shadow and intentionally placed individual lashes at the corners of the eyes. We love the way this effortless look complements the bride's natural features.

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Bronzed Glow

Bride rocking a smokey golden bronzed eye look — PHOTO BY LISA POGGI

We're all familiar with the magical effects of golden hour. Now imagine a wedding eye makeup look bathed in the same light. This smokey and dramatic bronzed eye is all sorts of warm and decadent on brown eyes, but it can also accentuate blue or green eyes. Complete with nude lips and highlighted cheeks, you're sure to be glowing well after the sun goes down.

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Natural Radiance

Boho natural bride looking radiant — PHOTO BY RACHEL HAVEL

A California wedding begs for a boho bridal eye look. Blend soft brown and taupe shadows on the lid and apply a few coats of mascara for that natural, radiant look. Pair with a pinkish brown gloss and subtle highlight.

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Deep and Dramatic

Deep shadow and lengthy, curled lashes spotlight this bride's stunning almond eye shape. The dark liner stands out on her fresh, glowing face and draws all the attention to those captivating eyes. We love how the glossy lip is such a perfect nude tone that it practically melts into her skin.

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Clean, Defined Liner and Luminous Highlighter

Bride with a natural liner and dramatic — PHOTO BY OLIVIA & DAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Pair crisp, flicked liner with a fresh, glowing complexion for an uncomplicated yet striking bridal look. A whisper of highlight on the cheekbone goes a long way in natural compositions. This look easily translates from day to night and feels modern yet classic.

Keep a hydrating face mist on hand and spritz throughout the day to set the makeup, keep it looking fresh, and maintain a dewy complexion.

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Earth-Toned Smokey Eye

This is a gorgeous look for a sunset outdoor ceremony. A stunning smokey eye feels grounded and natural with neutral earth tones. Keeping the smoke contained to the outer corner of the eyes for gorgeous definition like this. A nude pink lip completes this natural, flawless face.

FAQ

How can I waterproof my wedding makeup?

Whether you suspect rain or think you may shed some happy tears, create a grippy foundation with an eye primer so eyeshadow lasts longer. Also consider using waterproof mascara and eyeliner that won't budge, flake, or smear after hours of wear.
What are some tips for applying eye makeup to mature eyes?

While age is just a number, it's important to find a beauty routine that makes you glow from within. Start with well-moisturized skin and an eye primer that's effective in preventing eyeshadow creasing. Give the eye area a youthful appearance by avoiding hard eyeliners—a light smokey eye and clump-free lashes (try a lash serum and thickening mascara for best results) will go a long way in making the eyes pop. Avoid anything shimmery on top of fine lines as the metallic finish will accentuate texture.