Who says all eyes are on the bride at a wedding? Well, most people do, actually. But putting some thought into your wedding guest makeup is a valid and noble pursuit. Brides get lots of advice and assistance getting ready for their big day and even bridesmaids are expected to look nothing short of stunning, but that doesn’t mean you’re invisible just because you’re sitting at the farthest table from the dance floor with seven people you’ve never met before.
Based on the kind of wedding, the time of day, and the venue, going to a wedding gives you the opportunity to choose between countless wedding guest makeup looks. Sometimes it’s simple makeup, sometimes it’s glam, but it’s always creative and so you—even if the day isn’t technically about you. Check out these makeup ideas for wedding guests, including a couple of beauty looks by Milk Makeup Director of Artistry Sara Wren.
1. Outdoor Wedding GlowEven if you’re not the one saying “I do” to a lifetime of marital bliss, you can say "I do" to impeccable, glowing skin the next time you’re a wedding guest. Sales & Education Executive Ari Adams loves to marry Sunshine Skin Tint SPF 30 with Matte Bronzer in Baked for a warm, subtle look. He finishes it off with a few sprays of Hydro Grip Set + Refresh Spray to let everything melt in and stay put. Bonus: “Sunshine Skin Tint is perfect for outdoor weddings,” Ari says, “because it has sunscreen and photographs well.”
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2. Daytime Smoky EyeThink a smoky eye is only an evening vibe? Think again. “Moving away from traditional black and gray color palettes is the key to a daytime smoky eye,” Sara says. “For this look, I start by lining my waterline with Infinity Long Wear Eyeliner in Outer Space. Then, I take that liner across the upper lash line and, before it sets, smudge it out to create a hazy, smoky shape.” She then tops it off with brown and gold shimmer Color Chalks: Double Dutch and Hopscotch.
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3. Classic Winged EyelinerMarket Trainer Ayriel Sorrentino got inspiration for this sultry look from Old Hollywood femme fatales, but gave it a modern, versatile twist. “Sepia tones are perfect to accentuate the natural contours of the eye,” she says, “and it also provides a muted but glam look that works for any occasion”—weddings included. “To create a softer blend in the crease, I used the Matte Bronzer shade Baked and a blending brush to buff out any harsh edges,” Ayriel explains. “To ensure it lasts all day, I use Hydro Grip Eye Primer.” She also swears by doing her eye makeup before her complexion makeup to help avoid eyeshadow fallout. (But just in case it happens, add a little makeup remover to a cotton bud, roll it gently on the smudged area, and marvel at how it disappears.)
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4. Splash of Drama“When I envision the perfect wedding guest look, it’s clean and precise with a bit of drama that has to last all day,” says Market Trainer Taliah Graham. That lasting-all-day part is why she starts with Hydro Grip Primer. “It’s my go-to for all-day wear and the hydration my skin needs. I follow that up with a quick fill of the brows using the KUSH Brow Shadow Stick in Grind and then setting the hairs in place with the KUSH Brow Lamination Gel.” She spot-corrects and highlights with Future Fluid All Over Cream Concealer, letting it dry down before blending it out; in the meantime, she applies Matte Bronzer in Blaze and her favorite Lip + Cheek shade, Quirk. “To bring my base together, I do a light layer of Hydro Grip Set + Refresh Spray and blend the rest of my concealer out with a sponge, setting with a translucent setting powder and another layer of setting spray to really lock it in place,” Taliah says. She completes the look with a combination of Color Chalk in Hopscotch and RISE Waterproof Mascara to add just the right amount of drama.
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5. Quiet LuxuryJust because you’re not the bride doesn’t mean you can’t get some great wedding guest makeup ideas from one. “This look is inspired by Sofia Richie’s wedding makeup. I love the concepts of timeless beauty and soft aesthetics,” says Market Trainer Reham Alrebh. “I focused on enhancing my features by using soft and flattering colors to create fresh, glowing skin with a dreamy look.” The key: Hydro Grip Set + Refresh Spray, which lends a dewy finish to this makeup and enhances its overall effect.
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6. Soft RomanceThis simple yet stunning look is Market Trainer Mimi Sanchez’s go-to for any special occasion—especially in the summer. “I use the Pore Eclipse Mattifying Primer in my T-zone and Hydro Grip Primer on the rest of my face to lock in the 12-hour wear,” she explains. (Who says you need to use one kind of primer if you have a combination skin type?) “Next, I used my Future Fluid All Over Cream Concealer mainly on the center of thfporee face, bronzed with Matte Bronzer in Blaze, and added a touch of Lip + Cheek in Flip for a pop of color.” Like her primers, she combined her setting sprays, too: Hydro Grip Set + Refresh Spray to for extra hydration and Pore Eclipse Matte Setting Spray for a soft, filtered look. “Oh! And how can I forget the lip? After lining, I popped some Electric Glossy Lip Plumper in Buzzed in the center for the perfect glossy pout.”
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7. Candlelit GlowYou didn’t think a makeup artist like Sara would have just one wedding guest makeup look idea, did you? No matter how you might want to do your eye look and lips, this complexion-makeup tip is sure to wow. “To create soft-focus, candlelit skin, I love to forgo foundation,” Sara says. “Instead, I mix Bionic Glow in Virtual with the perfect shade of Future Fluid All Over Cream Concealer for my skin tone to create a customized, medium-coverage, glowy foundation.”
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