Stunning Beauty Moments From Real Weddings in 2022

A close-up of a bride getting ready for her wedding, having her makeup done on her wedding day. — Photo by Reem Photography / Design by Tiana Crispino

One of the biggest honors we have as editors at Brides is featuring hundreds of couples in our Real Weddings. And, one of the best parts about the end of the year is when we take a look back at each wedding, from the dresses to the décor to all the fine details—including special beauty moments that we know couples will never forget. Of course, since we have featured so many radiant brides, grooms, and wedding parties, picking our favorite beauty moments from the collection in 2022 was no easy task!

Here, we take a closer look at the beauty details, from all-out glamour, bold lips colors, unexpected accessories, and those little moments when inner beauty shines through. Scroll to see the stunning beauty moments from 2022 that will live in our minds rent-free—and might even provide inspiration for your own wedding day.

01 of 25

All That Glitters

A bride getting her hair and makeup done on her wedding day. — Photo by Brooke Miller Photography

The bronze, the glow, the swept-back hair—this makeup look for Alexandra Brown, debuted at her earth-toned, Joshua Tree wedding with her now-husband Dre Glover, was the stuff of wedding beauty dreams. Brown's beauty vision was all about creating a timeless look, so she opted for a half-up hairdo, dewy skin, and subtly elevated makeup elements like earth-toned eye shadow and bold lashes.

02 of 25

All-Out Glam

A bride with short black hair having her makeup done on her wedding day. — Photo by Reem Photography

We simply cannot get over the perfection that is this elegant, glowy makeup look worn by bride Amanda Stewart at her wedding with Omari White. Paired with her beautiful pixie cut, this look reflected the bride's authenticity—something that was especially important to her for the big day. “I was intentional on looking like myself and feeling like myself; it was important that I showed up authentically in all aspects of this day," she said.

03 of 25

A Soft Focus

Two brides with soft, feminine makeup on their wedding day. — Photo by Justine Milton Photography

These soft and feminine beauty looks worked perfectly for Sarah and Amy's 10-person wedding in the natural landscape of Alberta. Neither of the two brides wear much makeup day-to-day, so they wanted something clean and polished, with a touch of glam.

04 of 25

Charming Details

A bride getting ready for her wedding poses with glamorous makeup. — Photo by Elizabeth Austin Photography

Between her show-stopping engagement ring, her pendant necklace, and her accessorized updo, Brittani's bridal look for her wedding with Jared was subtly glamorous yet still felt totally natural (the bride opted for a nude-and-peach palette). Hints of jewelry brought an extra dose of sparkle to this look.

05 of 25

A Touch of Gold

A bride in a white gown and veil holding flowers poses in the forest. — Photo by Paula B Photography

Simple, fresh, and stylish: This is how we'd describe Caitlin's look at her autumnal, woodland ceremony with her now-husband Patrick. The sun hitting her golden drop-earrings make this look all the more stunning—and this design choice makes perfect sense since the couple told Brides that they wanted "something like a California sunset from an old photo, something that felt dreamy and distinct" for the vibe of their wedding.

06 of 25

Just the Girls

A bride and bridal party in robes sit together while getting ready for the wedding. — Photo by Emily Gude Photo

This photo is alive with energy and beauty. Before tying the knot at their Baltimore ceremony, Dallas and Matt each spent time getting ready with their nearest and dearest. Here, Dallas is pictured all glammed up (we love the swept-back look of her updo) with her girls, each exuding a distinct sense of happiness and that special pre-wedding low.

07 of 25

A Classic Red

A bride having her makeup done with a bold red lipstick. — Photo by Emily Melissa Photo

Is there anything more classic than a bold red lip? We love this photo of DeYandré Thaxton getting ready to say "I do" to now-spouse Vishal Reniguntala at the couple's color-infused wedding. Between her glowing skin and that pop of color, her beauty is unmatched.

08 of 25

Cue the Tulle

A bride in a white gown with tulle sits in her bedroom. — Photo by Chellise Michael Photography

Charleston, South Carolina was the setting for Emilie and Andrew's minimalist wedding—a design choice you can see here, reflected in the bride's stunning-yet-natural makeup look. The clean line of her dress accented with layers of tulle is the icing on top of this strikingly simple beauty look (fun fact: the bride did her own makeup!).

09 of 25

A True Classic

A black and white photo of a bride with dark hair and a white wedding gown. — Photo by Juliana Moreira Pessoa of Brett Matthews Gallery

Influencer Samantha Crompton knew she wanted to feel like a princess, so her fairytale Boston wedding with Bjorn Merinder was, of course, the picture-perfect fit. We love this black and white photograph showing Crompton posing for a serious moment; her beauty details show through in an almost piercing way, between her clean, elegant makeup, the delicate sparkle of her diamonds, and her slicked-back hairdo.

10 of 25

Hats Off to the Happy Couple

A bride in a white gown and a black hat standing with her groom. — Photo by Sotiris Tsakanikas Photos

We love the charm and elegance of this silk top hat atop the bride's soft locks. Georgia and Alex's Old Hollywood-style micro wedding in Athens was the perfect setting to debut this classic-meets-modern bridal look.

11 of 25

Colorful Close-Ups

An Indian bride shows off her henna and gold jewelry before her wedding. — Photo by Bruno Rezza Photos

At Jasmine Multani and Aadit Parikh's modern Indian wedding in Los Cabos, the bride's threadwork floral ensemble was complimented by several stunning beauty components: Her intricate henna, the layers of gold-and-turquoise jewelry, and a neutral makeup look matched with a low bun (both of which allowed the colorful elements to really shine through).

12 of 25

Old Hollywood Vibes

A bride in a white corset dress looks in the mirror. — Photo by Olivia Rae James SuÃ¡rez

Blogger Katie Sands' wedding day with husband Brian Bochner was a vision of bold, bright colors and multiple nights of embracing Miami's vibrance. So it's only fitting that she debuted this glowy, glamorous look complete with a pink lip and her signature loose waves on the big day.

13 of 25

Waves for Days

A bride wearing a white silk robe sits on a hotel bed getting ready for her wedding. — Photo by Bottega 53 Photos

Katie and Jimmy's romantic Tuscan wedding weekend was the perfect setting for the bride to debut these enviable waves. Katie explained that she typically wears her hair down, and wanted something elegant but easy for the big day. “I have a lot of hair, so I didn’t want to be worried about it staying in place. Ultimately, I wanted something simple but elevated from what I normally do.”

14 of 25

Statement Earrings and an Up-Do

A bride in a white one-shoulder wedding dress laughing on a hotel balcony before her wedding. — Photo by Amy Anaiz Photography

Khiari McAlpin and Curtis Lee Knox Jr.'s Miami wedding was all about warmth, romance, and elegance, so it's only fitting that she completely stunned in this glamorous makeup look, accented with sparkling statement earrings and a voluminous ponytail updo.

15 of 25

The Pooch and the Ponytail

A bride in white silk pajamas poses with her dog. — Photo by Hannah Forsberg

Maya Brown, for her wedding to PGA player Lanto Griffin, opted for a loose high ponytail, displayed in all its beauty here as she leans in for a kiss with the couple's sweet dog Troy. Brown explained that it was really hot on their wedding day, and she wanted an unfussy hairstyle, something that felt like her—adding an Ellen Hunter comb made the look a little more bridal.

16 of 25

The Epitome of Elegance

A bride with a low bun and sleeveless white wedding gown. — Photo by Chris and Ruth

When influencer Meghan Adams married her high school sweetheart Desmond Wilcox in Tulum, she opted for this elegant BHLDN birdcage veil, dotted with small pearls. Paired with simple, glowy makeup and a sophisticated low bun, this look is just perfection.

17 of 25

The Flower Child

A bride with long brown hair and a pink flower crown puts on her earrings before the wedding. — Photo by Michelle Scott Photography

Not all flower crowns are created equal, and this stunning piece worn by Michelle Kahl at her wedding to her husband Pete Mscichowski is one of the prettiest we've ever seen. For the couple's wedding, a mid-century modern affair in Arizona, Kahl and her sisters chose to do their own makeup for a more natural effect, which perfectly matched this dried floral headpiece by Maria Sn Novias—totally reminiscent of the surrounding desert landscape.

18 of 25

A Flower-Forward Updo

A bride with a sleeveless, low-back white wedding dress shows her low bun with white flowers. — Photo by Elizabeth LaDuca

You simply can't go wrong with a soft, low bun—especially when it's accented with a bundle of stunning fresh white florals. For Nicole and Gregory's intimate backyard wedding, lush flowers were one of the highlights. We love how seamlessly her hairstyle fit into the overall floral theme of the day.

19 of 25

A Ray of Sunlight

An Indian bride poses with simple glowing makeup. — Photo by Lev Kuperman

Food writer Priya Krishna and Seth Byrum's New Hampshire wedding weekend was full of glowing, sunlit moments, so it's only fitting that her hair, makeup, intricate henna, and dress completely came to life in this image where the sun is hitting her in the most angelic of ways. Krishna asked for makeup that felt true to her natural look, with a bit more glam—the way the sun lights up her pink lip here is just *chef's kiss*!

20 of 25

Soft Makeup, Loud Laughter

A bride in a white puffy wedding dress laughs. — Photo by Inma Fiuza

This natural look was a perfect fit for Sofía Arribas' and Jose Izquierdo's two-day affair in Spain’s romantic Basque Country. The way Sofia's hair falls as she throws her head back in laughter here is just undeniably beautiful, and we love the pop of sparkle from her earrings and the softness of her natural makeup.

21 of 25

Golden Hues

A blonde bride with a low bun wears an off-the-shoulder white wedding dress as she puts on earrings. — Photo by Danilo and Sharon

We can't get enough of the golden tones in this hair and makeup. Sophia and Philip Thorer's Italian wedding was the perfect setting for her to debut this look: a chic low bun, delicate gold dangling earrings, and an impossibly glowy makeup look that accented the grandness of her off-the-shoulder Newhite gown.

22 of 25

When the Stars Align

A bride in a sparkling wedding gown adjusts her earrings in the mirror. — Photo by Jodee Debes

Steph and Tim's bohemian summer wedding in Napa Valley was all about summer sunsets, pink and peachy hues, and celebrating their love in the warm season. Steph explained that for her makeup, she looked at red carpet looks and inspiration from Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Emily Ratajkowski, and Hailey Bieber. Ultimately, she opted for soft, glamorous makeup and long, loose waves—both of which brought out the fairytale vibes in her stunning beaded dress.

23 of 25

A Cascade of Loose Curls

A bride in a white strapless wedding gown poses with cascading curls. — Photo by Niki Marie Photography

There's something so timeless about a cascade of loose curls on a bride. For Taylor and Arran's luxurious Chicago wedding, the bride opted for a soft, glowy makeup look that matched the full-bodied softness of her loose curls. The result? An effortlessly feminine look that paired perfectly with her lace off-the-shoulder gown.

24 of 25

The Perfect Shade

A bride in navy blue pajamas sits to have her makeup done and lipstick applied. — Photo by Sasithon Photography

Tiffany and Will's floral-filled Brooklyn wedding featured a color palette of jewel tones, and the bride's makeup look very subtly reflected this design choice. She knew she didn't want much glam, so her makeup artist opted for a natural look with a light pink lip and eye shadow to compliment the wedding's color palette. Paired with a low bun, this simple look was perfection.

25 of 25

Neutrals and Nudes

A bride in a high-neck, jeweled white wedding dresses poses. — Photo by Pablo LaguÃa

The beaded Stephen Yearick wedding dress that bride Katlyn wore for her wedding to Raj in Mallorca was just as beautiful as their chosen destination. And while subtle, her elegant makeup consisting of a nude lip and sweeping eyeliner perfectly complimented the glamour of this bejeweled dress.