0 Top 10 Beauty Bridal Tips for your Wedding Day

1. Hire a professional for hair and makeup and plan well ahead. If you are on a very strict budget and can only afford one or the other, think about what’s most important to achieve your overall look. If you’re wearing a veil for example, an elaborate updo is probably not necessary as your hair will be hidden until you take the veil off. Instead you can focus more on your makeup.

2. Keep your finger nails low key. You want to look classic on your wedding day, not trendy so yes to french manicures and natural light shades, no to vibrant red, blue or green! Keep the trendy shades for your honeymoon….

3. Keep essentials on you or with someone you know well all day long.

• a little sewing kit incase of a rip or tear
• touch up makeup kit - be sure your makeup artist provides you with some product (I supply lipstick and powder to my brides) for touch ups. Designate one person who keeps the products with them and decide ahead of time how often you should be reminded to touch up. (I suggest every 2 -3 hours for lipstick and powder or when necessary)
• keep a nail file handy incase of an emergency nail situation!
• tissues – for all sorts of reasons!!
• a little talcum powder to keep you feeling fresh
• any medication you may need – for example, you don’t want to be dealing with a headache during the speeches!

4. Breath, relax and stay calm. You will look better! Remember this is your day. You and your future husband’s. I worked with a very lovely bride last month and near the end of getting her ready I had an ah-ha moment! We had just finished a very beautiful and intricate hair style and at that point, she brought out a hair piece that had a small veil attached to it. I had not seen this before as it hadn’t been part of our trial – it had been a family heirloom that was passed along to her a few weeks before her special day. It was a lovely piece mind you but no matter how we fussed over the head piece it just took away from her hair style and her overall clean, classic look. As time passed, all her bridesmaids and her mom were surrounding us, trying to convince her it worked well and that it looked great. At one point, she looked at me and I looked at her and my bride simply said “it’s my day and this doesn’t suit me, so off it comes.” She said this with a genuine smile and a calm happiness that made me feel pleased for her. I immediately took it off. Not one person disagreed with her decision and within moments the room was buzzing again with laughter and excitement. It really wasn’t worth getting upset over and she had loved her look without it – she made the right choice. My ah-ha moment came when I realized this bride was going to enjoy her day, no matter what. You won’t have many days that are just for you so try and make this day your own!

5. Treat yourself to some trials. Save magazine clippings of your favourite hair and makeup then hire a professional to give you the look you want. Be sure you keep yourself looking like you! This is most important. If you choose a look that isn’t you, it won’t look good and you won’t end up liking it. Remember that magazines are filled with beautiful people that are airbrushed to look even better. Be realistic – keep true to yourself.

6. Drink water! Stay away from alcohol and sodium the day before your wedding. I keep preaching this but it’s for a good reason. Alcohol and sodium both have a tendency to puff up your eyes and give sallow looking skin. Water is your saviour! 

7. Stick to light fragrances on your wedding day – natural and light. Many people are allergic to perfumes now-a-days so keep this in mind when choosing the right scent for your wedding day

8. Eat a good breakfast! Choose a healthy, substantial morning breakfast – stay away from too much caffeine (it can make you jumpy which you don’t want and it dehydrates which isn’t great for skin!) I recommend assorted fruits, a wholegrain cereal mixed with some yogurt and some scrambled eggs. Perhaps enjoy a smoothie and remember, drink lots of water.

9. If you exercise regularly do so on your wedding morning. If you can fit in a light workout please try to. It helps calm you and provide you the energy you need for the day ahead. If you like yoga (which I love!) try this on your wedding morning. A little yoga, a little meditation won’t do you any harm! Infact, it will only help.

10. Have a warm or cool shower. To help keep your skin looking good do not overheat yourself in the shower on the morning of your wedding day. Instead try a warm/cool shower. A cool shower will bring the blood to the surface of your skin which looks healthy! You will feel energized after a cool shower which is exactly what you want for the day ahead.