How to Look Your Best On Your Wedding Day

Your wedding day is one of the most memorable days of your life, and the photos you take will last a lifetime and beyond.  It’s completely natural to want to look your best on your wedding day, and waking up feeling confident in your appearance that morning will, at the very least, give you one less thing to worry about!

There are plenty of steps you can take to set yourself up for success and make sure you, your skin, and your body look stunning on your special day.  While we don’t recommend doing anything extreme, like crash dieting or unreasonably intense workout routines, there are lots of healthy ways to make sure that you’re glowing for your wedding.  Today, we talk about our favorite tips to make sure that you (and therefore your wedding photos) look as beautiful as you feel.

Get Glowing!

In the 60-90 days leading up to your wedding, it’s a good idea to pay special attention to your skincare regimen.  If you don’t have a skincare routine, now is the time to get one!  Choose gentle products that won’t inflame your skin and try to keep the products you use consistent in the month or two leading up to your wedding day to avoid any potential reactions or sensitivities and ensure you look your best on your wedding day.  

Regardless of the products you use, your skincare routine should include a few basic components.  You should wash your makeup off before going to sleep, then moisturize your face and under eyes.  In the morning, gently cleanse and moisturize your skin before applying your usual makeup, and be sure to wear SPF!  Supplement this basic routine with an exfoliating treatment once or twice a week, and perhaps a soothing face mask or deep hydrating treatment, depending on the needs of your skin.  

If you have specific skin concerns like cystic acne, hyperpigmentation, or persistent blackheads, it may be a good idea to consult a dermatologist.  They’ll be able to point you in the right direction to achieve glowing skin, prescribing products or medications if necessary.  

Give Your Grin a Glow-Up

It sounds silly, but you should be practicing your smile in the time leading up to the big day.  You’ll want to have a good idea of what muscles you need to use to look your best on your wedding day. You’ll be taking a lot of photos, so practice literally will make perfect! Smile care also includes taking care of your teeth, as well as using whitening services or products if you desire a brighter smile.  

If using an at-home whitening treatment, you’ll likely need some extra time to get your smile sufficiently brightened before the big day.  This is because at-home products are not as potent as those used by a dentist and therefore take longer to work.  Make sure to start your treatment with plenty of time to achieve maximum results before the wedding.

Choose Your Dress Early On

The dress you choose can be understated, or can become the centerpiece of the entire ceremony.  It all depends on what you want for your wedding. Whatever you decide, it’s helpful to choose your dress well in advance.  This not only allows for plenty of time for delivery and tailoring, it also gives you the opportunity to ensure that your choice looks coordinated with the general ambience of the ceremony.  

Be sure to choose a dress that fits!  You can always have it taken in to accommodate weight loss, but squeezing into a too-snug dress will make you look as uncomfortable as you feel.  That discomfort will translate into your photos, making for memories that look slightly “off.” It’s better to be comfortable than to try to wear a too-small gown.  Nobody knows the size on the label but you! Choosing a dress that you love and feel beautiful and comfortable in is crucial to looking your best on your wedding day.

Select a Flattering Hairstyle

The hairstyle you choose to rock on your wedding day should take into account your hair’s natural texture and tendencies.  This is especially true if your ceremony will be outdoors.  Nobody wants a hair meltdown (or frizz-up!) due to humidity or wind at their wedding!  

When choosing a style, also consider your face shape, the style of your gown and the ceremony in general, and any headpiece you will (or won’t!) be wearing.  If you color your hair, make sure to have your hair touched up about a week before the wedding. Even if you don’t use hair color, you can ask your stylist for a clear or colored gloss to add luster on the big day.  

Give Your Makeup a Trial Run

Your makeup on your wedding day shouldn’t be a surprise!  The products and style you choose will need to stay looking flawless for hours upon hours, so it’s important to test them before the big day.  Have a look at what your face will look like the day of at least a few weeks out (to allow for any potential allergic reactions to a product to clear — you never know!).  

A test drive of the products and their application will allow you to see how the different products look together and make any necessary adjustments.  We prefer a timeless look to wedding photos, since they’ll be around for many years (and trend cycles) to come.  A classical look won’t date you and will help you look your best for your wedding day. That said, if you are really attached to a bold look, talk to your makeup artist about it and find a way to execute it while still looking flawless.  

Get Good Sleep!

This is especially true the week of your wedding, but it’s important all the time:  get some sleep!  You need sufficient sleep to flush fluids from your body, maintain good circulation, and keep your skin looking vibrant to look your best on your wedding day.  Make sure to devote 7-8 hours per night to get the most from your rest.

Stay Hydrated!

It sounds cliche, but drinking enough water can do wonders for your skin and body.  Staying hydrated keeps your complexion bright, helps your body flush salt and toxins, and keeps excess fluid from building up in your face and body.  Upping your water intake leading up to your wedding can help you look and feel amazing.

To reap maximum benefits, shoot for at least  ten 8 oz glasses of water per day. The week before the wedding, up your intake to 12 to flush away excess water weight and bloating.  This is especially true if your cycle surprises you leading up to your wedding. Drink up, beautiful!

Takeaway

There are plenty of things to worry about on your wedding day, and your appearance shouldn’t be one of them!  A few simple steps in preparation for your wedding can make you look and feel dynamite all day (and all night!).  Take care of your body, and your emotions, leading up to the big day and you’ll notice a difference in your photos.