Fall Wedding Makeup: How to Choose the Perfect Look

With over two million weddings being held in the U.S. this year, soon-to-be brides are already brainstorming makeup ideas for their upcoming fall wedding. 

Getting inspired is essential for curating your ultimate look and slaying on your big day. But with so many potential makeup styles, knowing what to do can feel overwhelming. 

If you're searching for makeup inspiration, we've got you covered. Here's everything to know about choosing your fall wedding makeup.  

Summarize Your Wedding Day in Three Words

The best way to brainstorm bridal makeup ideas is by describing your dream wedding day. For instance, if you're tying the knot in a forest or in front of a dramatic fall-inspired backdrop, you may choose smokey eyes with a dark lip.

On the flip side, brides should ask their makeup artist for a nude lip and winged eyeliner for a classic black-tie event. 

Get Inspired 

Seek inspiration from your favorite celebs and influencers, who are renowned for rocking killer makeup. Spend time scrolling through visual-heavy platforms like Instagram and Pinterest, so you can create a mood board of your top looks.

Ideally, search for celebs with a similar skin tone so that it aligns with your under and overtones. 

Consider Your Wedding Day Outfit 

One of the top makeup tips is drawing inspiration from your wedding day outfit. There could be a specific pattern or the shape of your dress that could influence the makeup. For instance, brides with a flowing gown should choose a bold lip or dramatic eye to tie the ensemble together. 

Do a Wedding Makeup Trial

The only way to know what would or wouldn't work is by doing a wedding makeup trial. Find a professional beauty service in your area that can recommend makeup suggestions and help you curate your ultimate bridal look. But give yourself plenty of time before the big day, so that you can compare styles and choose the one you're most comfortable with. 

Focus on One Feature of Your Face

For a sophisticated style, focus on one feature of your face to highlight so that it looks timeless. Decide, for example, whether to enhance your eye or lips, depending on which one you prefer.

Listen to Your Gut 

Like with most major decisions in life, listening to your gut is crucial. Choose wedding makeup that makes you confident and aligns with your personal style. The last thing you want is to feel self-conscious when you're walking down the aisle. 

Know What Makeup Mistakes to Avoid 

Many brides make the mistake of ignoring their current skincare routine, which can have a dramatic effect on your overall bridal look. Because temperature and humidity levels drop in fall, our skin may lose moisture, so use products like hyaluronic acid to protect your skin barrier. 

The key to glowing skin is making sure you're cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing so that you have a great base to work with. Once you've got the basics sorted, you're guaranteed to maximize your bridal makeup choice. 

Further, don't forget that your diet and hydration levels are linked to skin health. This means you should drink plenty of water and eat skin-friendly food like dark green veggies, fatty fish, and nuts to maintain a glowing face. 

Another no-no is using regular makeup products. Ideally, you'll choose long-lasting or waterproof makeup to minimize touch-ups and stay looking beautiful throughout the day. If you don't have the top products, it's wise to hire a professional makeup artist because they'll be armed with quality makeup that will withstand the day. 

And although seeking inspiration from others is useful, don't expect the makeup to look exactly the same on your face. For instance, a smokey eye may enhance a celeb's eye color better than yours, so spend time tweaking it until you're happy with the results.

You should also avoid choosing a style that's trend-led. Remember, you must live with your wedding photos for the rest of your life, so it's better to choose a classic look. If not, there's a risk that your makeup will look dated or overly styled, which is every bride's worst nightmare. 

Check Out These Fall Makeup Styles 

Before searching for a professional makeup service, browse makeup ideas to check out the endless possibilities. This will help you find a look that aligns with your style and tie your ensemble together. The most classic ones include:

Classic Bridal Makeup

Sure, you're getting married in fall, but that doesn't mean you can't embrace classic bridal makeup. Enhance your eyes with dark brown eyeliner for a soft look and rosey lipstick to add a splash of color.

Classic bridal makeup will never go out of style because it works with every skin tone and style, which is perfect if you want a low-key option. 

Natural Fall Wedding Makeup

Many brides tying the knot in fall use the season to inspire their makeup choice. An elegant look is going for nude or gold tones to celebrate the time of year, especially if you've arranged a rustic or country-style event. Another great option is richer colors like mauve or dusty rose, depending on the level of drama you're going for. 

You can even go for a "no makeup" look for fresh-faced brides. This means reducing your makeup to mascara, blush, and simple stained lips. Not only will you look elegant, but you needn't worry about reapplying makeup during your special moment. 

Embrace Rose Tones 

Go all out by choosing rose tones for your fall makeup. Brides glow when they choose monochromatic pink hues that look soft and elegant. This includes everything from your eyeshadow to lipstick choice. 

A Bold Lip

Nothing screams fall makeup better than a bold lip.

The beauty of lipstick is you can experiment with an array of shades without diminishing how striking you look as a bride. If you want to play it safe, choose a red lip, whether it's an eye-catching crimson or a sophisticated ruby. As you experiment with different shades, check that it complements your gown, so that you're confident on your big day. 

Many brides choose a cool burgundy lip as it complements Fall's orange and red shades. Or, if you want it to look softer, create a gradient lip instead. 

Try a Coral Crush Palette 

Coral pink screams fall vibes. If it complements your skin tone, pair coral eyeshadow, blush, and lipstick for the ultimate fall look. You can also enhance the pink hues with a sparkly bronzer on your cheeks. 

Dark Wedding Makeup

Brides leaning towards the dramatic side should rock dark wedding makeup. You could, for example, pair winged eyeliner with a smoky eye or set the mood with plum lipstick. This works best with lace and flowy chiffons that are popular with fall gowns. 

A Statement Eye 

Brides can also make a statement with graphic eyeshadow. You could either rock a triple wing or experiment with geometric eye makeup. You're guaranteed to stand out and add a pop of creativity to your bridal look. 

You can also choose a neon liner with a matching eyeshadow to make a statement. To keep with the fall theme, pair shades of orange or fuschia for a playful option. 

A timeless option is pairing a smokey eye with a nude lip. This is a go-to daytime look, as it won't steal away from your outfit. And if you want a dramatic evening option, choose a purple-based blush for your cheeks. 

If you're not confident rocking black makeup, swap it for a brown smokey eye instead. These add a great dimension to your look and it's less likely to detract from your outfit. 

White Liner

Winged liner is a fall favorite, but try swapping it with white liner instead. 

Or, if that doesn't tickle your fancy, experiment with different colors until you find one that sticks. The key is to draw a curved line along the lid, rather than the lash line, as it creates a unique spin on a classic makeup tip. 

Choose Extragavant Lashes 

We often forget how much power false eyelashes wield. Depending on what you're comfortable with, you can either let them be the star of the show or pair it with a red lip. And, for our goth girls out there, you can also sport falsies with vampy lips.  

Play Around With Texture 

Regardless of which makeup style you choose, experiment with texture to improve your look. For instance, pair matte lipstick with shimmer eyeshadow for a trendier choice. Decide whether to slather your eyelids in glitter or make them pop with a dash of black eyeliner. 

You could also pair the glitter with a rosy matte onto your lids and cheeks so that you glow. 

Go Gold

Embrace a luminous look by choosing shimmery highlighter or eyeshadow to ooze infinite glamor. Fall brides love this option because it lets you sport the rich hues of the season without letting it eclipse your look. It also means that you'll sparkle throughout your big day.

Think About Your Brows 

Many brides-to-be decide to leave their brows natural. Not only is it bold, but it lets you enhance their natural beauty without affecting your makeup choice. To keep things neat, tweeze any stray hairs outside of the natural arch so that it looks elegant. 

But if you prefer the sleek look, schedule an eyebrow threading appointment because it's the safest and least painful option. Work with your beautician to sculpt your brows and choose a shape that best suits your features. 

How to Find a Professional Makeup Service for Your Wedding

Not all makeup artists are created equal, so it's important to find the perfect fit for your wedding. 

The first step is to ask friends and family members whether they can recommend a makeup artist, especially if they've recently had their big day. This will boost your chances of working with a reliable beauty service that is worth your time and money. 

Brides should also check out artists in their local area and read reviews, both on their page and on third-party sites like Yelp. Although it can be time-consuming, this simple act will give you valuable insight into the makeup artist's service and whether their style aligns with yours. 

Most reputable makeup artists will have a portfolio that you should flick through. This will either be on their social media pages or their website. 

When you're happy with your decision, book the service early, so that there's plenty of time before your big day. You don't want to risk falling in love with a professional service; only to find that they can't pencil you in. A good rule of thumb is to book a wedding makeup artist at least four months before the event to be safe. 

You also don't want to rush the creative process and not be 100% confident with your makeup choice. Ideally, makeup artists will spend time helping you'd decide on a palette and figure out how to enhance your features.  

Enjoy Our Fall Wedding Makeup Guide

Now you've read our fall wedding makeup guide, it's time to start brainstorming ideas. 

There are many ways to channel fall into your bride-to-be outfits, such as donning a statement eye or a bold lip. Brides should also think about their lashes and brows to complete a look that they'll love forever.  

If you're looking for beauty services in Springfield, MO, we'd love to help. Contact us here to make an appointment.