We all know the classic bride. She’s glowing but not shiny, flushed but not feverish, natural yet perfected, and can sometimes err on the daring side with a pop of colour on her lips or eyes. But while brides do tend to play it safe each season (who wants to look back at their wedding pics and think ‘that was so 2016’?!), each year does see subtle differences when it comes to the beauty looks at weddings.
Make-up artist Hayley Dutton explains: “Rather than bridal beauty trends changing year to year, elements of key looks will evolve along with general beauty trends throughout the year.” Celebrity make-up artist and presenter Michael Brown adds: “I think there will always be that typical bridal look - fresh faced, soft pink lips and cheeks and a strong lash - but as general trends change and update each year, these are reflected in bridal trends also. A bride still wants to look current, taking in modern trends at that point in time.”
To discover just what trends are set to make an impact on the big day in 2016, we chat to some of Australia’s most renowned make-up artists...
The biggest make-up trends for weddings in 2016
When it comes to the biggest trends for weddings in 2016, it all comes down to skin. “My biggest trend predictions for brides this year comes back to skin. Using illuminators and highlighting primers under foundation to keep a real look, adding highlight (strobing) to the frontal points of the face,” says Brown.
A theory Dutton supports: “Given so much of what we are seeing on the catwalks is beautiful soft luminous skin and judging by the Pinterest boards of the brides I am seeing each week, I would say the quest for perfectly dewy natural skin is going to be trending this year.”
For The Bridal Makeup Co owner and director Tobi Henney, beautiful skin is not just about using the right products on the day - but ensuring the bride has a good routine in the lead-up to the wedding. "Working with beautiful skin makes all the difference. Seek a professional to help your skin be in the best shape pre-wedding."
While soft angelic-like shades on the eyes will always be on-trend, 2016 will see brides wanting a little more impact take cues from the runway - but in a subtler way. “Stronger shapes and colours will start to filter through into something a little more subtle than what is on the catwalk, but will no doubt amp up the sex and wow factor of a bridal look,” says Dutton. And while some may look to add drama to their lips, others are experimenting with deeper lips. “Rich berry red is such a hit with brides at the moment,” says Brown.
Wedding beauty trends versus general beauty trends
Wedding beauty trends tend to borrow influences from general beauty trends, while retaining elements of tradition. “Most of the time wedding trends will change to keep in line with current beauty trends, however, there are some occasions in which wedding trends tend to stay more with tradition rather than fashion,” explains Oz Beauty Expert make-up artist Bonnie Gillies.
“For instance, bold lip colours are in, yet brides that want to go bold tend to stay more with a traditional bold red rather than neon pinks, oranges etc. I guess the wedding industry is aware that pictures and memories from the day will be remembered for years to come - so avoiding anything too new or experimental seems like the safest choice.”
Adding to this theory, Henney reveals, "Like fashion make-up, wedding beauty trends do change from time to time. However, there are certain elements which always remain the same. All brides are after beautiful, flawless skin and want their best features to be noticed. Bridal editorials, Instagram and celebrity weddings all seem to influence brides around Australia with the current wedding beauty trends."
Brown is finding the modern day bride is looking to general beauty trends for inspiration now more than ever before: “We are seeing brides taking a more fashion approach to their beauty looks. More undone than all dolled up, yet having a touch of modern elegance.”
But while it can be fun to embrace elements of current beauty trends on a wedding day, Dutton believes there are key rules that still need to be followed when it comes to bridal make-up. “Even though a dewy natural base may be on trend, if we are working with a bride that tends to have an oiler skin type (likely to get super shiny by the time she is ready for photos), then we need to ensure she has enough of a matte coverage to ensure she is shine-free. So in that sense, we need to slightly override the trend to ensure we have her looking her best.
“Having said that, what we might do is go for a light to medium coverage, just enough to ensure she looks and feels amazing, and then work with a highlight to create a dewy feel. Perhaps just on the highpoint of the cheekbones and on the cupid’s bow so that the rest of the face that needs to be matte will be and we have accents of that trend coming through. This is the same for other trends such as eyes, cheeks (contour/blush) and lips where we may need to alter [the] application to suit the needs of our bride as well as keeping on trend. So in a sense, what we try to achieve is the perfect balance between trend and achieving beauty perfection for our bride.”
Key things to remember for every wedding - from the experts
- Don't be too edgy, stick with styles and colours you know suit you. Look like yourself, don't try and be someone else on the day. Yes you want to look amazing, but make it the best version of yourself and not somebody else's look.
- Don’t be scared of make-up! The camera takes off so much, so go for a little more than you usually would. Your make-up artist can still do this while keeping it soft and natural-looking. Bridal make-up definitely doesn’t need to be packed on just for photography, however, there needs to be a perfect balance between a beautiful look in natural daylight and enough impact for photography.
- Have a trial make-up look done and wear it all day to check your make-up will last the distance and look great. Think longevity - choosing quality, long-lasting products is key.
- Pack an emergency bag - powder, lip balm, lipstick, eyeliner and a compact mirror just in case. Know your weather situation as this can affect how the make-up will wear throughout the day. If it's going to be hot and humid, test out your foundation in this climate [so you] know what your face responds to.
- Don’t go overboard with heavy foundation. By all means go crazy with illuminator and fake lashes, but try a lightweight dewy-looking base that is matched exactly to your skin tone. This will still give you coverage but it will look more natural (like your actual skin) and less cakey.
- Experiment with lip colours in the lead-up to your wedding. You don’t only need it to be long-wearing, you also need it to be comfortable and hydrating while you wear it.
- Lashes are a non-negotiable - whether you are going for a natural look or something a little more dramatic. They will finish off the eyes and create extra definition, especially when the eye look is more subtle. Even if you are not a big make-up wearer, always put a focus on brows and lashes... These two areas can really make someone pop and you want that on your wedding day, especially for photos.
- Less is more on the shine factor. We all love a luminous bride, but keep the shine to the cheekbones only. Try and opt for more of a matte finish when it comes to the T-zone - shine on the nose, chin and forehead aren't great photographic finishes.
- Don't forget about the body - it is an extension of the face. Moisturise it, some light colour is always good to warm up the look, and even add highlighter on the pop points - the shin bones, shoulders and the collarbones.
Essential wedding day beauty products for the 2016 bride
Dermalogica
Fiberblast C
mesoestetic anti-ageing flash ampoules
Balancing Gel Mist
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum
Swisse Hair Skin Nails+
Cheeky Groovy Blush