Natural bronzed bridal makeup for Laura's wedding at Sibton Park, Wilderness Reserve

Emily Chantal Makeup
5 days ago
4 min read

Laura wanted her bridal makeup to look natural, minimal and bronzed, complementing her soft romantic waves, bespoke Halfpenny London dress and the lovely spring florals running throughout the wedding.

The finished look was polished and luxurious while still very much like Laura - this is a balance I love to create for my brides!

Woman in a white off-shoulder dress stands indoors, looking right with a soft smile; abstract art and mirror behind her. Luxury wedding makeup in Suffolk by Emily Chantal.

Getting ready at The Clockhouse

Laura spent her wedding morning at The Clockhouse on the Sibton Estate. As a makeup artist, I’m always looking for the best natural light when I arrive at a venue, and the beautiful French doors in the kitchen gave me the perfect place to set up.

Woman applies makeup to a seated woman in a bright windowed room, black-and-white, calm prep scene. Luxury wedding makeup in Suffolk by Emily Chantal.

Laura’s brief was all about fresh, natural skin with warmth and subtle definition. I used Dior Face & Body Foundation to create a lightweight, skin-like base, with Rodial Lowlighter in Peach to bring luminosity to the complexion. Westman Atelier’s Blush Stick in Petal added a soft flush of colour, while Armani Eye Tint gave the eyes understated definition.

For the lips, I used Makeup Forever’s Wherever Walnut pencil with Fenty Gloss Bomb in $weetmouth for a soft, neutral finish.

It was a really sunny day, so longevity was particularly important. Bridal makeup doesn't just need to look beautiful when you leave the makeup chair; it needs to last through the ceremony, photographs, hugs, drinks, dinner and hours on the dance floor. I used Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder strategically to set the makeup without taking away the natural finish of her skin.

Woman in a white tulle dress gets makeup applied in a warm-lit room with woven fish-shaped lamps. Luxury wedding makeup in Suffolk by Emily Chantal.

Get Laura's makeup look: The key products I used

Fenty Gloss Bomb in $weetmouth
Armani Eye Tint in 22M
Dior Face & Body Foundation
Westman Atlier Blush Stick in Petal
Rodial Lowlighter in Peach
ByEllie Brow Texture
Laura Mercier Transucent Setting Powder
Makeup Forever Pencil in Wherever Walnut
Hourglass Blush in Sublime Flush

Click on the product images above to purchase them.

An exclusive Suffolk wedding at Wilderness Reserve

Set across 6,000 acres of woodland, lakes and rolling Suffolk pasture, Wilderness Reserve is removed from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, despite being only around two hours from London. Its collection of beautifully restored historic houses and estates can be hired exclusively, with only a limited number of weddings hosted across each estate every year.

Large tree in foreground beside a beige glass-fronted garden building, with lawns and spring trees under a clear blue sky.

That exclusivity makes weddings here feel very private and personal. Couples have the freedom to shape the celebrations around them, rather than feeling as though they're following a standard wedding-day formula. For Laura and Cameron, Sibton Park provided a stunning backdrop for a wedding that moved from an outdoor ceremony and cocktails on the lawn to an elegant dinner and late-night party.

Outdoor wedding ceremony setup with rows of gold chairs, white umbrellas, and pink flowers on a lawn before a brick wall.

A sun-filled ceremony on the lawn

Laura and Cameron married outside on the lawn in glorious sunshine. With the ceremony taking place outdoors, I made sure Laura's makeup could comfortably withstand the heat while still looking fresh and natural in person and in photographs.

Bride in white dress walks arm-in-arm with smiling man in navy suit down a garden wedding aisle, guests watching by a brick building

After the ceremony came one of my favourite details of the day. A marching band led Laura, Cameron and their guests along a verdant footpath towards the reception – such a joyful way to begin the celebrations.

Outdoor wedding procession with white-suited musicians playing saxophone, drums, and guitar as bride and groom walk through a grassy park

Post-ceremony cocktails were served on the lawn, accompanied by beautifully elegant canapés including oysters and pea bruschetta. And, naturally, bridal makeup has to survive the important things too: Laura's lip combination needed to be thoroughly margarita-proof!

Bride in white off-shoulder dress whispers while holding a cocktail at an outdoor wedding, with a beaded pearl handbag. Luxury wedding makeup in Suffolk by Emily Chantal.

Peonies, candlelight and cocktails

For the wedding breakfast, guests sat at elegant long tables filled with pink peonies and candlelight. The soft spring palette worked beautifully against the grandeur and countryside setting of Sibton Park.

After dinner, there was help-yourself tiramisu, petit fours and a cocktail menu for guests to work their way through. One particularly fabulous detail was the trays of cigarettes and cigars, complete with matches – a playful, old-school touch that felt perfectly suited to the atmosphere of the evening.

As daylight faded, the celebration shifted again and the venue took on the feel of a glamorous cocktail bar, complete with a DJ and saxophonist.

Laura also had one final bridal look waiting for the evening. She changed out of her Halfpenny London gown and into a floor-length silver sequin dress, ready to dance the night away with Cameron and their guests.

Smiling woman in a sparkling silver gown raises her hand on a red-carpeted staircase, holding a cocktail in a grand house. Luxury wedding makeup in Suffolk by Emily Chantal.

Luxury bridal makeup in Suffolk and beyond

Laura's wedding is a lovely example of why I never approach bridal makeup as a one-look-fits-all formula. Her makeup needed to be minimal and natural enough to suit her personal style, refined enough to sit alongside a bespoke wedding dress and luxurious setting, and durable enough for a sunny outdoor ceremony followed by cocktails and a full evening of celebrations.

Black-and-white portrait of a woman in a white off-shoulder gown standing in a brick doorway, looking calmly at the camera. Luxury wedding makeup in Suffolk by Emily Chantal.

For me, luxury bridal makeup is as much about how you feel wearing it as how it photographs. You should still recognise yourself when you look in the mirror – but also polished, confident and ready for everything the day brings.

I’m a Suffolk-based luxury wedding makeup artist working with brides across Suffolk and East Anglia, and I’m also available to travel throughout the UK and to destination weddings in Europe. If you're planning your wedding and would like to discuss your bridal makeup, I'd love to hear about your plans.