Journal · Seasonal beauty
Fall wedding makeup: rich lips, bold eyes and beautiful skin
As much as I love the ease of summer makeup, I really love the bold, daring side of fall. The season trades dewy glow for polished skin, and soft glosses for berry, wine and plum lips. Here’s how I translate those autumn favourites into fall wedding makeup that looks timeless in photos, plus how to wear the trends every day.
By Corrie Elle, founder and lead makeup artist · Updated October 2026 · 6 min read
The short version
- Fall skin is a little more matte and polished than summer’s dewy glow, but it should still look like skin.
- Rich lips in berry, wine, plum or oxblood are the signature of the season.
- Jewel tones with a metallic finish add depth to the eyes without looking heavy.
- For a wedding, balance one bold feature with soft definition everywhere else.
Fall wedding makeup starts with beautiful skin
To me, great skin is a 12-month trend, because it never goes out of style. The difference in fall is that skin tends to look a little more matte and polished, leaving behind the dewy finish of the summer months. In other words, think less bronzed goddess and more sophisticated starlet.
The nineties keep influencing beauty in a big way, too: monochromatic nude faces, effortlessly smudged liner and muted, well-defined lips. For a bride, that translates into a soft-matte base with a touch of glow on the high points, so the skin still looks alive in photos.
Corrie’s tip
Need quick definition for your eyes? Sweep your bronzer or a neutral blush into the crease, so it doubles as an eyeshadow and ties the whole face together.
Rich lips for fall wedding makeup
Fall always brings back berry, wine-stained, plum and oxblood lips, and they never get old. So tuck away the shimmery glosses and reach for a deep lip with a soft-matte or velvet finish.
On a wedding day, a deep lip works beautifully with softly defined eyes, but it needs precise lining and a little planning for touch-ups. If you love the idea but feel nervous, start with a sheer berry stain, which gives the same mood with less commitment. Here’s how to choose lipstick colour for your undertone.
Fall eyes: metallic jewel tones
Metallic shadows return almost every autumn, usually with a twist. Lately, it’s richer jewel tones in a metallic finish, such as deep plum, bronze, graphite brown or a hint of peacock blue pressed onto the centre of the lid.
For brides, however, I like to keep the base of the eye in a matte taupe or warm brown, then add a single metallic shade where it catches the light. As a result, the eyes look luminous rather than glittery in close-ups.
Fall wedding makeup looks I love
These are three ways I adapt the season’s trends for brides, depending on the venue, the dress and how bold you’d like to go.
For a classic bride
Berry romance
- Soft-matte skin, plus a warm glow
- Taupe and bronze eyes as well as fluttery lashes
- Then a berry or rosy-plum lip
For a minimal bride
Nineties nude
- Monochromatic nude cheeks and eyes, as well as lips
- Smudged brown liner, so eyes look effortless
- Finally, a muted, well-defined lip
For an evening bride
Jewel-toned glam
- Plum or bronze metallic on the lids
- Defined lashes and, if you like, a soft wing
- A wine or oxblood lip, especially if it’s perfectly lined
Love the jewel-toned look? See how I create full glam bridal makeup with a classic red lip.
Making fall wedding makeup last in cool weather
Cooler air, indoor heating and outdoor portraits in the wind all affect how makeup wears. Here’s how I prepare for them. Getting married in July instead? Read my guide to summer wedding makeup.
01
Hydrate first
First, use a richer moisturiser and a hydrating primer, because dry air makes matte foundation cling to flaky patches.
02
Keep the base thin
Next, apply a thin layer of soft-matte foundation, then add coverage only where it’s needed, so the skin still moves naturally.
03
Prep the lips
Then exfoliate gently and use a balm early in the morning, since deep shades highlight every dry patch.
04
Line before you colour
After that, line and fill the lips completely with a matching liner, so a dark lipstick fades evenly instead of leaving a ring.
05
Plan your touch-ups
Finally, pack your lipstick in your bridal emergency kit, along with your liner and a cotton bud for quick fixes after the ceremony and dinner.
Fall wedding makeup: your questions
For more seasonal inspiration, follow my latest looks on Instagram.
What makeup is best for a fall wedding?
Soft-matte, polished skin, eyes in warm neutrals or metallic jewel tones and a richer lip, such as berry, plum or wine. Balance one bold feature with softer definition elsewhere.
What lipstick colour suits a fall wedding?
Berry, rosy plum, wine and brick shades all suit fall beautifully. If you prefer something softer, try a rosy nude with a berry undertone or a sheer berry stain.
Should fall bridal makeup be matte or dewy?
Somewhere in between. A soft-matte base with a little glow on the cheekbones photographs well and lasts longer in cool, dry air than a fully dewy finish.
How do I stop a dark lipstick from fading unevenly?
Exfoliate and moisturise the lips first, line and fill them completely with a matching liner, then apply the lipstick in thin layers and blot between them.
Getting married this autumn? Let’s create your fall look.
Share your wedding date, your venue and the colours of your day. We’ll design a seasonal look at your trial and check availability in Toronto, the GTA and Ottawa.