Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. Looking beautiful on this special day is priority one for brides-to-be – after all, you will be the center of attention as you walk down the aisle!
If you’re looking for ways to make your face, hair and figure their most appealing on the big day – we can help! Here are some tips that you can use to become more radiant and to look your absolute best on your big day…
#10 – Proper Diet
A lot of brides go on crash diets before their weddings, in order to be as slim as possible when they get married. However, you can actually short-circuit your own beauty by dieting too stringently before you walk down the aisle. Harsh diets make women look drawn and even haggard, and they are unhealthy.
Instead of crash dieting, you should consider a careful diet that gives you all the nutrients to need to glow at your wedding. Make sure you eat well, but take it easy on carbs, sugar, and fat! To get the best results, make sure you eat enough omega-3 fatty acids (these are “good fats”), such as those in salmon and mackerel.
These omega-3 oils can improve the look of your skin and hair, and they also boost your mood and energy levels. Healthy foods like almonds, colorful vegetables and fruits, lean meats, and whole grains will be gentle on your system and improve your overall appearance.
Consider a regimen of probiotic yogurt before the big day – probiotics reduce bloating and make you seem slimmer – naturally. Lots of pure water (avoid sodas, even diet versions) will be great for your skin – it will moisturize from the inside.
#9 – Exercise
Getting into an exercise routine a couple of months before your wedding can be a very effective way to burn fat and tone your body. If you don’t usually do cardio, you should get into it gradually. Going for a run doesn’t cost anything, and it can be one of the best ways to reduce stress, tone your muscles, and burn calories.
If gentle exercise is more appealing to you, consider a yoga class or a stretching regimen such as Pilates. Many models and actresses use Pilates to create a long, lean line that looks great in clothes. If you want to look willowy in your wedding dress, Pilates can be exactly what you’re looking for. This system of exercise was designed to help people to recover from illnesses and injuries – it’s designed to be safe and effective.
Look for free intro classes in your neighborhood and test out a few options. Working out, along with a proper diet, will help you to look sleek and fabulous at your wedding.
#8 – Skin Care
Many brides opt for facials right before their weddings – and sometimes, they regret getting these treatments. The extractions in facials can cause swelling and redness. If you’re planning a facial, get it at least a week before the big day, to give your skin enough time to recover.
Your best bet is a careful, gentle regimen with products from trusted, dermatologist-approved companies like Neutrogena, Clinique, and Dermalogica. Be sure to cleanse, tone, and moisturize each morning and night, and avoid harsh products that strip your skin. Too many abrasive scrubs or chemicals can cause ruddiness – the last thing you want in your wedding photos.
Keep it simple, and always take your makeup off before you go to bed. Avoid serious procedures like chemical peels if your wedding is less than a month away. It takes time to recover from these treatments. Botox can also be a risk – if you’ve never used it before, now may not be the time to experiment.
Occasionally, Botox can cause drooping eyelids etc. It’s rare, but it does happen. Just go easy on your skin and keep it soft and smooth with the right products. A spray-tan might not be the best idea on your wedding day – if you tan, be sure you don’t go too far.
#7 – Makeup
Many brides get their makeup done professionally on their wedding day. You must find a makeup artist who understands subtlety – you don’t want to be too painted. A wedding dress is a time-honored symbol of freshness and innocence – your makeup should also look fresh, simple, and beautiful.
The best way to get good results is to study your own coloring. If your skintone is cool, with blue undertones, then cool pinks, purples, and ruby reds will flatter you. If your skintone is warm, with yellow undertones, shades like brick (orange-red), cinnamon, and honey-brown will highlight your beauty.
#6 – Wedding Dress
Using complementary color theory works with makeup – it also helps you to find the perfect “white” for your wedding dress. Some women radiate in pure snow-white – others will look best in gentle ivory that brings out the warm tones in their skin. Look at your skin, hair, and eye colors – are they cool or warm?
If you’re cool, you should go for pure, snow-white – it will flatter you the best. Ivory is perfect for warmer-toned brides. Then, consider your shape – if you’re curvy, a lower neckline and fitted waist will give your figure definition. If you’re boyish, add curves with a voluminous skirt and embellished (beaded) bodice.
Remember to take some pictures of yourself as your try on gowns – pictures don’t lie! As long as your feel great in your gown, you are on the right track.
#5 – Accessories
You can really add flair with your wedding accessories – they will create a sense of individuality. If you’re still shopping for wedding rings, consider buying matching bands for bride and groom. For example, if you’re of Irish, Scottish, or Welsh ancestry, you could opt for Celtic wedding bands engraved with ancient symbols.
If you’re both a little bit “alternative” you could go for bold, edgy designs. Use your bridal jewelry, shoes, and veil to express yourself on your wedding day.
#4 – Bouquet
Look for flowers that suit your coloring! If you’re pale and fair, look for pink roses, or blossoms in cool tones like lavender, mauve, and fuchsia. If you’re warm, look for a bouquet with orange and yellow blooms. Even a tiger lily or some exotic flower can look stunning when a bride has warm skin tones. Use your coloring to coordinate everything you wear and carry on your wedding day!
For more information on this, consider learning about “seasonal beauty” through a quick Google search – it can really pay off. Also, consider the symbolism of some flowers – white roses may be stunning, but they are often used at funerals, and their deeper meaning doesn’t mesh well with a wedding. If you’re superstitious, find flowers with positive, romantic associations.
#3 – Your Groom
What your groom-to-be wears can also affect how you look on your wedding day! If you’re not comfortable with his attire, it will show in your face and body language. Be sure to “guide” your fiancé as he shops for his tux, suit, or accessories. If you’re cool-toned, try to get him to wear things that flatter your coloring. Convince him that a classic look is more appealing than a pale-blue tux!
If he has his heart set on wearing something “original” at your wedding, at least make sure he chooses colors that work with your outfit. Then, smile and have a sense of humor about it. Generally, men will look best in subtle tones at their weddings, but some men have what it takes to pull off daring or colorful looks – it really depends on their personalities!
#2 – Underpinnings
Of course, only your fiancé will see what you wear under your gown, but it can actually affect the way you look in your wedding dress. Some “sexier” lingerie may not be supportive enough to flatter you.
Consider wearing more utilitarian undergarments (decent bras that hold you in place, even Spanx to slim you down if you’re feeling heavy through the hips and thighs) on your wedding, then packing away sexier underpinnings for your wedding night. This strategy can ensure that you look your best.
#1 – Attitude
A happy woman is a beautiful woman – nothing is more attractive than a bride who is at peace, joyful, and grateful. If you’ve given in to Bridezilla syndrome, find a way to put it behind you.
Every wedding has its little problems and snafus – you need to accept this ahead of time. By the day of your wedding, you should be feeling great about everything! Getting enough sleep, eating and exercising, and generally just appreciating the love you share with your fiancé will help you cultivate the right attitude on your wedding day.
Smiling and sharing your joy with loved ones and friends will make you sparkle on the big day.
This article was written exclusively for STL Weddings by Leigh Maher. Leigh is the owner of the online Celtic jewelry store: Irish Celtic Jewels. On his blog, he gives tips and information about all things Irish, including weddings and Celtic wedding rings.
