Wear Colorful Eyeshadow on Your Wedding

One look at my closet and it's obvious: I'm not shy when it comes to color. Just about every hue known to man is represented, and even if I'm wearing black, I'll punch up my outfit with a bright accessory. So it's only natural that my makeup wardrobe has the same vivid personality. 


But while I love to play with color most days, I don't think I'll be so keen when it comes to my wedding-day makeup. Huge mistake, says renowned makeup artist Laura Geller. When it comes to wedding day eye makeup, a little color on your lids is a must. Neutrals can be flattering, but color can make your eyes stand out like never before, adding depth and intensity. (And hey, it's not like a tiny swipe of purple eye shadow is going to overshadow your dress!)



On your wedding day (aka the day of a thousand photographs), why not give your eyes the focus they deserve? To show how easy -- and essential -- bright eye makeup is, Geller gave me these tips: 


Tip No. 1: Let your eye color be your guide
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to wearing color, but there are some hues that seem to flatter certain eye colors more than others. For blue eyes, Laura loves shadows in the cool toned family like rose, mauve, and pink; violet, eggplant, and coppery bronze colors complement green eyes really well. Brown-eyed girls can truly wear anything, but Laura especially likes sage, forest green, gold, and amber. Hazel eyes look great in most colors, too, though purples make them really pop. 


Tip No. 2: Keep it soft
Geller always tells her brides to steer clear of colors that are super bold (like neon or day-glo shades) anywhere on the face. She says these intense shades are easy to mess up and can look awful in photos if you don't know what you're doing. The key is to pick a more toned-down version of the bright color you want to use and to blend, blend, blend! There shouldn't be any defined lines of shadow on your lids, just a soft swipe of color. 


Tip No. 3: Try a line
If the thought of a purple eyelid freaks you out, consider just using an eyeliner in a bright shade along your top lashline. It will still help bring out your eye color, but is subtle enough not to be noticed from the back row of the church. Use a brush or your finger to smudge the line and make it even more subtle. 


Tip No. 4: Go neutral everywhere else
Particularly if you're wearing a saturated shade like blue or purple, keep the rest of your face more natural. "You'll want the eye to be the focal point and not have to compete with your other features," says Geller. Obviously, you want to define your cheeks and lips too, especially for photos. The trick is to choose softer colors that look like extensions of your features -- a just-gone-for-a-run flush and a rosebud lip are perfect.