How To Wear Smokey Eyes on Your Wedding Day

When it comes to wedding day make-up, we're big advocates of the ‘less is more' technique.

But getting married is a pretty big deal – so it deserves some rather special make-up. And no look says, “big night out” more, than a gorgeous, seductive, glamorous smokey eye.

But can it work for your wedding day? Why, of course it can!

Make-up by Lora Kelley, Photo by Mireia Cordomi

Whether you're a make-up fiend who loves nothing more than lashings of shadow and mascara or an au natural bride who wants to amp up their look for their big day, all it takes is a little planning, practise and inspiration and utterly sexy, super chic smokey eyes can be yours on your wedding day.

In case you missed them, here are a few smokin' tutorials we've featured over the years:

– Dramatic Smokey Eye Make Up Tutorial by Mariam Jensen

– Megan Fox Make Up Tutorial by Tabby Casto

– Elizabeth's Lilac Smokey Eye Consultation At The Bobbi Brown Counter In Selfridges, London
(Note from Elizabeth: This was waaay back when I first started BM so please excuse the blog post layout, tiny photos and weird use of ‘fancy' brackets!)

Dos and Don't For Smokey Eyed Brides

– If you're doing your own make-up for your wedding, get plenty of practise first, and invest in some quality brushes and products.

– Give yourself plenty of time on the morning of your wedding to get your make-up just right. Start with your eyes, and then go back and do your base make up afterwards, as there's likely to be an overspill of shadow on to your cheeks.

– Don't overlook your foundation. When it comes to gorgeous smokey eyes, a great base is half the look. Flawless and dewy is the way to go.

– Consider using an eye primer, so your shadow stays put into the small hours.

– Blend, blend, blend, and when you think you've blended enough, blend again! The secret to a gorgeous smokey eye is great blending – you shouldn't be able to tell where one shade begins and the other ends.

– Go with browns, bronzes, greys and greens with your shadow – avoid too much black on your wedding day make-up. If you want to lighten up the look, use pinks and neutrals on your inner lids.

Photo via Weddings by Lilly

– Typically, smokey eyes go with a nude lip, but can look really fabulous with a bold lip too – perhaps keep it nude for a day time ceremony, then amp up the lippy for the evening.

– Smokey eyes can sometimes make your peepers smaller, brighten them up with highlighter on the inner eye, and lashings (and we mean lashings!) of mascara.

– Eyeliner will dictate how dramatic this look will go, for more subtle eyes, choose brown kohl or crayon liner, working up to a black liquid or gel liner for something stronger.

– If you have close set, hooded or small eyes, look up specific tutorials to suit your pretty peepers. (There are tonnes on YouTube – see our faves below!)

– Finally, if you're getting your make-up done professionally, be sure to have a trial beforehand. Smokey eyes are quite a general term to make-up artists, and can mean anything from smudged kohl or a matte grey eye, to full-on shimmer with dark black lids, bring a few pictures of smokey eyes you like, so you can explain exactly what you're looking for.

Be Inspired By Brides With Smokey Eyes

From subtle blush smokey to dark grey lids, pin your favourite smokey eyes, to use as a reference for your own wedding day look…

Photo via Alfred Young Bridal

Photo via Fashion Bank

Make-up by The Look Beauty, Photo by Purple Tree Photography via The Wedding Co.

Make Up by Lora Kelley Photography by Jen Huang with Nevealbums via Once Wed

Make-up by Wedding Make-Up By Nicola, Photo by Kerry Ann Duffy via Bridal Musings

Make-up and Photo by Stureplan

Make-up byAna Ospina, Photo by Her Lovely Heart via Bridal Musings

Photo by Erich McVey

Photo by Carlos Serrao via V Magazine

Photo via Jessica Choay

Get the Look With Expert Tips & Tutorials

YouTube is just full of great smokey eye tutorials – we've hit up some of our very favourite beauty vloggers for their smokey eye how-tos, and found one to suit, whatever look you're after.