Bridal Beauty

CEBU, Philippines - She swooped down the aisle like a vision in her matte gold wedding dress reminiscent of a 40s screen star. Ruby stained lips, big curls and refreshing rouge completed the Veronica Lake-ish look as she traipsed, Nina Simone’s romantic notes reverberating the walls of the cathedral. So picture perfect, heavenly!

Buoyed by the irrepressible glow of love, every woman is said to be most beautiful on her wedding day. But behind that beauty are also able hands of experts that created the “look.” A comprehensive guide to what particular “look” one wants to achieve is vital. After all, except if you’re Elizabeth Taylor (sorry I lost track of all her married names), your wedding happens only once or twice in a lifetime.

The Blushing Bride. A most natural looking make up is the key to this look. Think Vera Wang’s model brides. Take note that colors mostly used are earth hues that are closer to the skin tone and the hair is neatly coiffed with a moderate amount of rouge still in a pinkish glow.

The Elegant Evening Bride. As with any evening look, darker shades are used mostly in the eyes to achieve a classic beauty with the lips in moderate bronze but fuller in definition. Think Nicole Kidman when she wed then hubby Tom Cruise. Hair is in a tight bun with a single calla lily or you can do a rhinestone hairpiece.

The Fresh Morning Bride. Freshness almost always translates to a dewy look with minimal sheen of the skin and on the lips. A barely there eye color and a complementary whisper thin blush are de rigueur. So are the brows brushed moderately. Hair is in a loose ponytail with nary a trace of hairspray.

The Nostalgic Bride. Channeling halcyon days when Lauren Bacall reigned supreme, this look is not for the faint-hearted. Bloodstained lips, arch eyebrows and those peepers are dusted with ample amount of highlight and definition. Hair is haute coiffure, in every sense of the word, achieved mostly with hair extensions and wigs.

The Beach Bride. For those free-spirited brides whose stirrings are towards the primordial soup theory, this look is for you. Picture supermodel Cindy Crawford as she wed her restaurateur husband Randy Gerber. Sunkissed glow on the skin with hair slightly askew, then the bride is ready for a dip.

 The Dramatic Bride. Suitably for Angelina Jolie and her clones, this look is a perfect mix of old Hollywood glam and modern beauty. Key to this look is a heavily kohl-ed then smudged eyes and pale but perfectly lacquered lips topped with big loose curls that move with the breeze.