Experts Share 2015 Bridal Beauty Trends

Last Sunday, intrepid brides-to-be, many with their grooms in tow, braved the icy weather to experience the utterly fabulous Engaged! magazine’s bridal showcase held at the St. Regis and Willard hotels. Lured by the presence of the top DMV wedding vendors (and the open bar with its purveyance of excellent champagne, no doubt) the matrimonial-minded enjoyed an afternoon surrounded by the finest in wedding stylists, gowns, stationers, photographers and of course, make-up and hair artists.

Engaged! Magazine put on a fabulous event, where guests enjoyed tasting delicious food and viewing beautiful wedding gowns.
(Photos: Lia Phipps/DC on Heels)

After a quick tour of the St. Regis hotel, I immediately sought out the makeup and hair experts to share with me the latest trends in bridal beauty for 2015. According to makeup artist Nikki Fraser, of Beauty ‘n the Bride, the most au courant look of the season is a delicate, naturally flushed look — the quintessential English rose comes to mind. Fraser describes the lips as “just-bitten,” so a soft rose, pink or coral tone adds just the right touch of color. To achieve the requisite rosy cheeks, her technique is to shape and sculpt the cheekbones with varying shades of pink or rose, instead of the usual taupe or beige-toned contouring powder.

Fresh-faced bridal beauty (Photo: Patricia Lyon Photography, Hair: Remona Soleimani)

However, if you’re loath to give up your signature red lipstick for your nuptials, you’re in luck, as a red lip is on-trend for bridal beauty 2015. Or, if you can’t live without a smoky eye, try the toned-down version using soft brown and peach hues. The key, Fraser told me, is to be true to your own style and look — her goal as a makeup artist is to bring out the unique beauty of each bride.

The perfect red lip (Photo: Cassidy Duhon Photography Makeup: Nikki Fraser)

When brides do their own makeup they usually make one of two mistakes: either too little makeup, which can result in looking washed out in photos, or too much, rendering the bride unrecognizable to the wedding guests (and the groom!). To avoid either scenario, Trish McEvoy regional makeup artist Lorena Tabor suggests booking a makeup lesson well before the wedding. The Trish McEvoy technique is to have the makeup artist do half of the client’s face, allowing the client to complete the other half in the same manner. For a perfect wedding makeup try the Power of Makeup Planner Collection Perfect Nude — this was on display and I thought the colors were just right for a natural, yet glamorous look.

Let there be no doubt — floral wreaths are currently all the rage for spring 2015. Bridal hair stylist Remona Soleimani, proprietor of Bridal Hair by Remona, told me that you really can’t go wrong this season with a loose arrangement of waves encircled with a garland of fresh flowers. The floral wreath provides a lovely complement to three of the other popular bridal hair trends: the low bun (which has supplanted the low ponytail), wearing hair down in loose waves and plaits. The latter can be French braided, asymmetrical or even incorporated into an elegant up-do. Perfect for spring — a delicate crown of baby’s breath is effortlessly feminine and romantic and can be worked into any of the aforementioned styles.

Floral garlands are on-trend for spring 2015 (Photo: Jennifer Hughes Photography Hair: Remona Soleimani)

Soleimani also observed that many brides-to-be are inspired by the hottest red carpet coifs, which is great, although she always gives her professional recommendation for adapting the style to suit each lady’s individual look.

Don’t underestimate the importance of selecting a memorable scent for your wedding. The olfactory sense is most inextricably linked to memory, so a special fragrance can henceforth evoke memories of your wedding day. I stopped by the Jo Malone display and learned about the symbolism behind their classic wedding perfumes: Wild Bluebell can represent “something blue,” Orange Blossom symbolizes happiness and good fortune, while the peony of Peony and Blush Suede is thought to bring good luck to a marriage.