Smokey eye makeup can give you a jaw-dropping wedding day look, both classic and striking.
You can find choices from soft, natural browns for a romantic touch to daring styles with shimmery metallics.
Trick is blending right, starting with lighter shades on the lid and slowly building depth with darker colours in the crease.
Whether you like timeless neutrals or fresh takes with rose gold and copper, there's a perfect smokey eye for every bride and skin tone.
Lets take a look at some of our favourites...
Image & Makeup credit: Bridal by Stefania
Make Me Bridal Hair & Makeup Pro from Surrey
Make Me Bridal's Top Smokey Eye Makeup Ideas for Brides
Natural Smokey Eye for the Bride
For brides wanting a classic yet understated makeup look, natural smokey eye offers a great mix of romance and elegance. This eye makeup style makes your features better without being too much, perfect for creating a natural bridal makeup look on your big day.
Begin with neutral brown eyeshadow shades. Put lighter tones near the inner corner of the eye and slowly build deeper colour towards the outside edge. Using a good fluffy blending brush makes that smooth change between colours. Work the darker shades along your lower lash line to define the eyes whilst keeping that soft, romantic feel.
Pair your natural smokey eye with a soft pink lip colour, one that goes with rather than fights your eye makeup. This combination works with any kind of wedding, from rustic barn parties to fancy ballroom bashes. Keep the makeup light and buildable for the best results.
Image & Makeup credit: Beauty Infinity
Make Me Bridal Hair & Makeup Pro from Hampshire
Soft Brown Smokey Eye Look
A soft smokey eye is an even gentler take on the natural smokey, ideal for brides who fancy a hint of drama in their wedding eye makeup look. This bridal look works with light, neutral shades that make subtle depth without swamping your natural features.
Start with a shimmery eyeshadow in soft taupe or champagne across your lid. Blend a slightly darker shade into your crease, putting the colour on the outer corners for gentle shaping. Keep the intensity controlled, think morning mist rather than stormy skies.
Team your soft smokey eye with a nude lip to keep that balance in your makeup style. Pick colours that suit your skin tone and create that radiant look you're after. This adaptable eye makeup look works beautifully for all wedding styles.
Champagne Smokey with Matte Charcoal
Champagne shimmer with matte charcoal creates striking contrast. This bridal smokey eye uses light and dark, shimmer and matte to create dimension. The combination is sophisticated and works for both day and evening weddings.
Apply champagne eyeshadow with shimmer to the center of the lid. Blend matte charcoal into your crease and outer corner. The contrast between light shimmer and dark matte creates drama and makes the eyes pop.
This requires careful blending with a fluffy brush for a seamless transition. Keep your lip colour neutral to let the eye makeup be the star.
Image & Makeup credit: The Bridal Stylists
Make Me Bridal Hair & Makeup Pro from London
Classic Smokey Eye for Bridal Makeup
Brown smokey eye makeup lifts your bridal look with rich, earthy tones. Layering shades from light taupe to deep chocolate creates depth without looking overdone.
Blend these colours smoothly with a fluffy brush. Put darker brown eyeshadow on your outer corner and crease, keep the center of the lid lighter. Pair with a soft pink lip to keep balance.
Start with lighter brown shades near the inside corner, slowly build intensity as you move outwards. This lets you control how strong the look is. Works beautifully with brown eyes and flatters every skin tone.
Burgundy Smokey for Drama
Burgundy tones create rich, romantic drama. Deep burgundy eyeshadow creates a smokey eye that's bold yet wearable. The wine tones are gorgeous for autumn and winter weddings and create real impact without being too severe.
Apply burgundy across your lid, blending deeper shades into your crease and outer corner to create depth. The burgundy creates warmth and richness that's striking in photos. Add a touch of shimmer to the center of the lid to lighten the look slightly.
This works beautifully with deeper lip colours if you want to go bold, or neutral lips if you prefer the eyes to be the focus. The burgundy smokey eye is sophisticated and romantic.
Image & Makeup credit: Stephanie Warren
Make Me Bridal Hair & Makeup Pro from Hampshire
Dark Smokey Eyes with Shimmer
Shimmer takes your smokey eye to the next level. This glamorous style catches the light and photographs beautifully. The trick is layering dark eyeshadow first, then placing shimmer just so.
Build your classic smokey eye with deep, rich shadows along your lid and lower lash line, smudge gently for a soft finish. Once the blend is right, add your sparkle. Go for fine shimmer in matching colours or pick a metallic shade that fits your wedding theme.
Bridal makeup is about balance. When you're sporting such a strong eye look, keep other features simple. Pick a neutral lip and use blush sparingly. Your shimmery smokey eye stays the main attraction and photographs perfectly.
Peach and Bronze Soft Smokey
Peach and bronze create a soft, approachable smokey eye. This is warm and friendly, perfect for spring and summer weddings. The combination flatters warm skin tones and creates a fresh, glowing appearance.
Use peach eyeshadow on your lid, then blend bronze into your crease to create gentle depth. The soft colours create dimension without being too dark or dramatic. Add a hint of shimmer for extra glow.
Pair with peachy or coral lips and soft blush. The cohesive warm tones create a radiant look that's natural yet polished.
Image & Makeup credit: Stephanie Warren
Make Me Bridal Hair & Makeup Pro from Hampshire
Dark and Smokey Dramatic Eyes
The classic black smokey eye is the ultimate in bridal makeup glamour. It delivers timeless sophistication that photographs beautifully and creates intense shaping whilst keeping an elegant feel.
Black eyeshadow lets you build depth and drama. Slowly build and blend from your lash line up through your crease with a fluffy brush. The key is making smooth changes that suit your natural eye shape.
This makeup style works with any wedding theme, from formal black tie to modern parties. Keep your lip colour neutral and your blush light to let the eyes stay the focus. Go bold for evening or softer for daytime.
Emerald Green Statement Smokey
For the truly adventurous bride, emerald green creates a statement smokey eye. This bold choice is striking and memorable, perfect for brides who want to stand out. The rich green tones are luxurious and create real drama.
Apply emerald eyeshadow to create your smokey base, blending with black or deep brown for depth and dimension. Keep the green concentrated on the lid and blend darker tones into the crease.
This requires confidence to pull off, but when done right, it's absolutely stunning. Keep the rest of your makeup neutral to let the emerald be the focal point. Perfect for evening weddings or brides who want their something different to really make an impact.
Image & Makeup credit: Suzanne Dusek
Make Me Bridal Hair & Makeup Pro from Surrey
Light Brown Subtle Smokey
A subtle smokey eye with light brown tones brings romance and refinement to your wedding makeup. This creates depth and shape whilst keeping a soft, dreamy quality that photographs beautifully.
Focus on smooth blending. Start with lighter brown eyeshadow on your lid, then slowly work darker tones into your crease. Avoid harsh lines, aim for a gentle fade that looks effortless. Each shade should melt into the next.
Pair with a natural lip colour and a hint of blush. This keeps your eyes as the main event whilst maintaining balance. This makeup style goes with any wedding theme.
Classic Brown or Light Gray Balance
Brown or light gray tones offer versatility. This lets you customize your smokey eye based on your colouring and preference. Brown creates warmth whilst light gray creates cool sophistication, both work beautifully for wedding makeup.
Choose brown for a natural, romantic effect. Choose light gray for a cool toned, modern look. Both create the smokey effect through layering and blending, building from light to dark for dimension and depth.
This flexible approach is perfect for working with your makeup artist to find the perfect bridal look. Whether you lean warm or cool, these classic tones create a timeless look. The key is proper blending and finding the intensity that suits your style.
Image & Makeup credit: The Bridal Stylists
Make Me Bridal Hair & Makeup Pro from London
Matte Smokey Eye Look
A matte look creates sophisticated drama. This bridal smokey eye uses entirely matte eyeshadow to create depth and dimension. The matte finish is modern and refined, perfect for brides who want elegance without shine.
Start with a matte light brown base across your lid. Build darker matte shades into your crease and outer corner, blending with a fluffy brush for a seamless finish. The matte texture creates a soft, velvety appearance that's striking without being flashy.
For brown eyes, matte browns and taupes create beautiful depth. For green eyes, matte plums and soft grays work wonderfully. The matte smokey eye is perfect for brides who want contemporary sophistication.
Smudged Liner Soft Smokey
A smudged liner approach creates an effortless smokey eye. This technique uses eyeliner along your lash line and smudges it upward to create a soft, smokey effect. It's quicker than traditional eyeshadow application but still creates that sultry look.
Apply dark eyeliner along your upper lash line, then use a fluffy brush or smudge stick to blend it upward into your crease. Add a lighter eyeshadow above to create transition and blend seamlessly. The smudged liner creates depth and definition without needing multiple eyeshadow shades.
This is perfect for brides who want a smokey eye but prefer simpler application. The smudged effect is soft and romantic, working beautifully for both day and evening weddings. Pair with mascara and a nude lip.
Image & Makeup credit: Suzanne Dusek
Make Me Bridal Hair & Makeup Pro from Surrey
Voluminous Lash Smokey Style
Voluminous lashes take your smokey eye to new heights. Big lashes are the perfect finishing touch, adding drama and improving your eye shaping.
Choose lashes that complement your smokey shadow. Apply mascara generously to your natural lashes first, then add false lashes for maximum volume. The combination creates depth and makes your eyes pop in photos.
For evening ceremonies, go bold with layered, full lashes. For daytime weddings, pick natural looking strips that give impact without overwhelming. This combination keeps your eyes captivating from ceremony to last dance.
Taupe and Rose Gold Combination
Taupe and rose gold create a soft, romantic smokey eye. This is understated yet special, perfect for brides who want something pretty without too much drama. The combination of cool taupe and warm rose gold creates beautiful balance.
Use taupe eyeshadow as your base across your lid and into your crease. Layer rose gold on the center of the lid to add warmth and shimmer. Blend deeper taupe into the outer corner to create depth. The subtle shimmer adds just enough sparkle.
This works wonderfully for spring and summer weddings. Pair with a soft pink lip and rosy blush for a cohesive, feminine bridal look.
Image & Makeup credit: Bridal by Stefania
Make Me Bridal Hair & Makeup Pro from Surrey
Warm Brown Smokey for Medium Skin
Warm brown tones create the perfect bridal smokey eye for medium skin. The warm undertones complement your complexion naturally and create that radiant look you're after.
Start with a warm brown base, then build deeper chocolate shades into the crease. Add a hint of shimmer to the center of the lid to catch the light. The warm tones create a sun kissed effect. Blend with a fluffy brush.
Pair with bronze or gold highlights on your cheekbones. Keep your lip in warm nudes or soft corals. This creates a cohesive bridal makeup look that's warm, inviting, and stunning.
Navy Blue Accent Smokey
Navy blue adds unexpected interest to your smokey eye. This takes the traditional smokey eye and adds a pop of colour that's striking without being too bold. Navy is sophisticated and works as a subtle nod to your something blue.
Create your smokey base with gray or brown eyeshadow, then add navy along your lash line or in the outer corner. The navy adds depth and makes your eye colour pop, especially on blue-eyed brides. Blend seamlessly.
This is modern and shows personality whilst staying elegant. Keep the rest of your makeup neutral to let the navy be the interesting element.
Image & Makeup credit: MK Hair & Makeup
Make Me Bridal Hair & Makeup Pro from Wiltshire
Smokey Eye with Defined Brow
A perfectly defined brow frames your smokey eye beautifully. Strong, shaped brows add structure and polish, making your smokey eye even more striking.
Groom and fill your brows before starting your eye makeup. Use a brow pencil or powder that matches your natural colour, creating clean lines and fullness where needed. The defined brow makes your smokey eye look more intentional and polished.
Pair your defined brow with any smokey eye style, natural or dramatic. The combination creates a complete bridal makeup look that photographs beautifully.
Soft Grey Smokey for Brides
Soft grey creates a cool toned smokey eye that's elegant and modern. Grey eyeshadow in varying shades creates depth without warmth. The cool tones are particularly flattering on fair skin and create a sophisticated, understated look.
Start with light grey on your lid, building to deeper charcoal in your crease and outer corner. Blend smoothly to create that signature smokey effect. The grey tones are softer than black but still create drama and definition. Add a hint of shimmer to the centre of the lid.
Pair with cool pink or mauve lips. The overall effect is sophisticated and refined, perfect for winter weddings or formal celebrations.
Image & Makeup credit: Mel Kinsman
Make Me Bridal Hair & Makeup Pro from West Sussex
Rose Gold Smokey Eye for the Bride
Rose gold smokey eye makeup brings modern romance to your bridal look. This combines warm metallics with traditional smokey techniques. The rose gold tones flatter nearly every skin tone and add that contemporary twist brides love.
Start with rose gold eyeshadow on your lid, then blend deeper bronze or mauve into your crease. The metallic finish catches the light beautifully. Add a darker shade to the outer corner for depth and definition.
This bridal smokey eye works for both day and evening weddings. Pair with a nude lip and soft pink blush. The rose gold creates warmth and glamour without being too bold.
Bronze and Gold Wedding Smokey
Bronze and gold create warmth and glamour. This bridal smokey eye uses metallic tones to create a glowing, luxurious look. The warm metallics flatter most skin tones and create that radiant look every bride wants.
Layer bronze eyeshadow across your lid, then add gold to the center for extra shimmer and light. Blend deeper bronze into your crease. The metallic finish catches light beautifully and creates glamour without being too flashy.
This works wonderfully for evening weddings when you want sparkle and sophistication. Pair with a nude lip and bronze highlights on your cheeks for a cohesive, glowing look.
Image & Makeup credit: Mel Kinsman
Make Me Bridal Hair & Makeup Pro from West Sussex
Green Eyes Smokey Makeup
Purple and plum tones make green eyes pop. They sit opposite green on the colour wheel and make your eye colour sing. This bridal makeup choice creates real impact.
Use purple eyeshadow to create your smokey effect, blending from light lavender on the lid to deeper plum in the crease and outer corner. The contrast makes green eyes look brighter and more vibrant. Add a touch of shimmer to the center of the lid.
Pair with neutral lips and soft blush. The purple smokey eye is bold enough to stand alone. Apply eyeliner along your lash line and smudge slightly for a soft finish.
Image & Makeup credit: Kim Stokes
Make Me Bridal Hair & Makeup Pro from Lincolnshire
Brown Eyes Deep Smokey
Brown eyes look gorgeous with deep, rich smokey eye makeup. The darkest shades create maximum drama and depth. Dark tones make brown eyes look even more intense and captivating.
Start with a dark brown or black base along your lash line. Work the dark eyeshadow up into your crease, blending with lighter shades as you go. The gradient creates dimension whilst keeping intensity low.
Add mascara and false lashes to complete the look. The voluminous lashes add intensity and make the eyes truly striking. Keep the rest balanced with neutral lips and subtle contouring.
Image & Makeup credit: Bridal by Stefania
Make Me Bridal Hair & Makeup Pro from Surrey
Copper Shimmer Bridal Smokey
Copper tones create warmth and glamour in your bridal smokey eye. Copper eyeshadow with shimmer creates a glowing, dimensional look. The metallic finish is stunning for evening weddings and photographs beautifully.
Layer copper eyeshadow across your lid, then blend deeper bronze into the crease. The shimmer catches the light with every movement. Add a matte dark brown to the outer corner for definition.
This works wonderfully with warm skin tones and creates a sun kissed effect. Pair with nude or peachy lips to keep the focus on your eyes. The copper shimmer creates glamour without being over the top.
Plum and Bronze Smokey Mix
Plum and bronze create an unexpected smokey eye that's truly stunning. This combines cool and warm tones for a dimensional effect that's modern and romantic. The colour combination works on all eye colours and creates interest in photos.
Apply bronze eyeshadow to your lid, then blend plum into your crease and outer corner. The two colours complement each other beautifully, creating depth and richness. Add a lighter shade to the inner corner to brighten the eyes.
This is one of the best choices for autumn or winter weddings when you want richer, deeper tones. Pair with a berry toned lip for a cohesive bridal look.
Image & Makeup credit: Katie Djokic
Make Me Bridal Hair & Makeup Pro from Hampshire
And Remember... Perfect Bridal Smokey with Setting Spray!
No matter which smokey eye style you choose, setting spray is essential. This final step locks everything in place, keeping your eye makeup fresh from ceremony to reception. Setting spray prevents creasing, fading, and keeps your smokey eye looking perfect all day.
After completing your eye makeup, hold setting spray at arm's length and mist over your entire face. Let it dry naturally, don't touch or rub. The spray creates a protective layer that helps your makeup last through tears, dancing, and everything else your wedding day brings.
Use a setting spray specifically designed for long wear. Your makeup artist will have professional recommendations. This simple step transforms your bridal smokey eye from beautiful to long lasting and camera ready.
The perfect smokey eye for your wedding day is one that makes you feel confident and beautiful. Whether you choose soft and natural or dark and dramatic, working with a talented makeup artist from the MakeMeBridal directory gets you the look you've always dreamed of. Book a trial to test different smokey eye makeup ideas and find the perfect bridal look.
