20 bridal beauty looks to suit your vibe, from modern to romantic

“I'm not a regular bride, I'm a cool bride.” Categorising the vibe you want for your day may come easy to some, but if you're not sure what bridal beauty look is most “you”, we've got ya.

From minimal to statement, beachy to boho, or retro to romantic, we've lined up some of the prettiest bridal “camps” to help get you inspired when choosing the direction of your glam for your big day.

Romantic

The perfect balance between formal and relaxed, the romantic look is all about creating an aesthetic that feels personal and intimate, without it feeling too ‘done’. If you favour floaty fabrics and dreamy silhouettes, structured beautifully, the romantic look could be for you. Try looser hairstyles, like this undone low ponytail, which looks equal parts laid back and elegant and finish it off with a soft makeup look that adds dimension without stealing the attention away from your big day.

Classic

Classic for a reason, you can't go wrong with a smoky eye and nude lip. Pair it with a timeless hairstyle like a low bun, a chignon or a half-updo and your glam from the day will stand the test of time.

Modern

The modern bride takes elements from classic bridal, but updates it with a current twist. Take the classic look from above for instance? Snatch it with a sleeker bun or low ponytail and get even more precise with the makeup details (the brow, cut crease and lined lips) for a modern, high-definition beauty look.

Soft

You don't want to look like you've done nothing, but you also don't want to look like you've done the most either, stick to a soft glam aesthetic. Choose a shadow shade that compliments your eyes, but just use a light touch so that it's more diffused (the same goes for bronzer and blusher). As for your hair, opt for some light styling that works with your texture, whether it's defined curls, semi-straight or soft waves.

Boho

When it comes to the boho bridal look, your first stop is a flower crown. But if you want it to feel a little cooler, we love floral flower grips, slid into hair. You can do it with faux or fresh flowers. As for your hairstyle, the secret is to keep it feeling “undone” and organic, so head towards messy waves and natural curls.

Minimal

Want a barely-there glam that celebrates you in all your natural beauty? Minimal is the way forward. This means taking things back to basics and only using the few products that make you feel that little bit more polished. Opt for a clear brow gel, some light contouring (if you want it) and a lip combo that's close to your natural colour. It's always a good idea to have a little cheek action to stop things feeling flat, so choose a blusher that adds colour to cheeks without feeling too OTT (cream formulas work great for this). As for hair, gently scoop it off and away from your face with a soft bun, or braids, or if you prefer it down, an ear tuck can keep your face clear.

Bronzy

Want to channel bronzed goddess vibes? Make sure you choose a warm-toned eyeshadow palette with plenty of bronzes and browns for a sultry, romantic moment. We love mixed textures to add dimension, like a matte eye base with a little sparkle in the inner corners, and some soft liner for definition. Keep to bronzier tones on your complexion too, which means plenty of (you guessed it) bronzer, and warmer shades of blush like apricot or tawny pinks. Likewise, on lips, brown-toned pinks and nudes look beautiful.

Statement

Who says you can only do eyes or lips? Your big day is all about you, so you might as well turn up. For a statement eye, winged liner will never not look incredible, as for lips, red is sexy, powerful and audacious (though we're here for bright pinks, dark berries or whatever shade that makes you feel your best).

Golden

The perfect mash-up between bronzy and glowy.

Glowy

Want to be a glowing bride? It's all about a silky, megawatt complexion, and the secret is skincare prep. To ensure your skin is smooth and glowy, get your skincare routine in order in the run up to your big day with some gentle exfoliation and plenty of hydration. And make sure you spend as much time on skin prep on the day as the makeup itself. As for intensifying your glow, we love layering highlighters, start with a glowy, luminous foundation (you can even mix in some liquid highlighter), then go in tactically with a powder highlighter on the high points of your face. Finally? Seek out that golden hour light to set the whole look alight.

Desi

Desi girls are renowned for their beautiful bridal makeup, from dark kajal-lined eyes, to beautifully defined lips. You can keep it classic, or add a twist by mixing finishes (soft-matte skin and satin lips), playing up details (ultra smudgy liner and overlined lips) or remixing the colour (a nude or deep maroon lip in place of ruby red).

Grungey

If peaches and pink are not your vibe, no-one says you have to wear them. For a glam-grunge take on wedding makeup, we love a deep lip and sultry eyeshadow. You can make it your own by leaning into moody matte textures or flip the script by adding some sparkle.

Indie

You don't have to follow any pre-set formula when it comes to your wedding makeup, so if you like to keep things experimental, with graphic eyes, face gems or alternative lip and cheek colours, you do you. Like the day itself, your bridal beauty look should be representative of you.

Natural

Simply want to feel like the best version of yourself? Keep it natural and lean into what makes you, you. Skip heat styling in favour of air-dried textures and go for some light grooming when it comes to makeup: brushed up brows to enhance your brow shape, a little mascara to define eyes, blusher and some tinted lip balm.

Glam

If you want to feel like the most glamorous version of yourself on your wedding day, go for full-on glam. We love side-parted Hollywood waves, slick cut creases, full, fluttery lashes and defined lips.

Beachy

The easiest shortcut to a beachy beauty vibe is tousled, textured beach waves that feel a little more laidback and mussy. Perfect for a beach wedding, since you may as well lean into the windswept look.

Cool

Tap up the current trends for a bridal look that's cool and current. The spiky '90s bun is back and a beautiful way to mix up your bridal glam and we love this modern semi-smoky eye.

Retro

The ‘60s and ’70s were defining decades for some truly delicious wedding inspo. The nuptials of Priscilla Presley, Jackie Kennedy and Biance Jagger are still referenced to this day. The decades' popular elbow-length veils work beautifully with half-up hairstyles, while cool-toned eyeshadows and mod nude lips pair perfectly.

Smokin'

Want to look straight-up sultry? The answer is a seriously smudgy smoky eye.

Bombshell

Channel the ‘90s supermodel aesthetic with tons of volume in hair and a bombshell blow dry. We love a soft-toned brown smoky eye to finish things off and a ’90s nude lip.

For more from GLAMOUR's Beauty Editor, Elle Turner, follow her on Instagram @elleturneruk