Six Months To a Year Before the Wedding
Start researching and experimenting with different hair and makeup styles to create your individual wedding day look. If you plan on using a stylist, make a consultation appointment and bring lots of pictures of looks you love. Agree on a style that you're sure matches your gown and your personality.
Eight Weeks Before the Big Day
Use microdermabrasion or glycolic peels once a month for two months prior, to give your skin a flawless, smooth surface for makeup and a rich glow. Set up a skin care routine to ensure that your skin will be looking its best for your wedding day.
A Month Before the Big Day
Exfoliate your body daily with a loofah and/or body scrub to maintain shiny, healthy skin all over (if you're going strapless, concentrate on your arms, shoulders, and back). For flaky lips, exfoliate by brushing them gently with a soft tooth brush.
Three Weeks Before the Big Day
See your stylist to get a final trim (remember, nothing drastic!) and consider adding some highlights. Perfectly placed highlights add an instant glow to your face.
Two Weeks Before the Big Day
Gather your products to make sure you have everything you could possibly need. The key to picture-ready makeup is a set of professional makeup brushes. Then, when applying your makeup, blend, blend, blend!
On the Big Day
For the longest lasting lip color that won't move through all that kissing and smiling, apply foundation over lips. Then line with a lip liner, then apply lip color with a lip brush.
For strappy shoes that won't stay put, use wig tape (it's clear and super-sticky) to the back part of the strap, adhering them to your foot.
To eliminate blinking in all your gorgeous wedding photos, use this tip: relax your eyes before the shot by looking down. Then, when the photographer says, "cheese", look up just as the picture is being taken.
To create a thinner line in your photos, angle your body slightly toward the camera. Never stand facing the camera straight on.
Don't be afraid to glam it up: it's your only wedding day, so don't forget to get glamorous! Use some sparkly additions you wouldn't normally wear, like false lashes or hair extensions. Remember, all eyes will be on you and you want to look spectacular!
By Lori Dunn
