Bridal portrait and wedding day are such wonderfully exciting days in your life! After working with thousands of brides over many years, compiled below are some helpful ideas and tips to make your special day stress-free!
Your wedding gown and veil:
Avoid wearing tight clothing that could leave any line markings on your skin. These markings could show up when you put on your dress (bra straps, watch band, ankle socks), and will definitely show up on camera.
Wear a shirt that zips or buttons up the front so that you don’t have to pull clothing over your head after your hair has been styled.
Scuff the bottoms of your shoes in advance, so you won’t slip.
If your dress is not being delivered, keep it in the bag to protect it while carrying it to the ceremony site. Hang it in the car or lay it out on a backseat to avoid wrinkling it; do the same with the veil. Try to hang them both up immediately upon arrival so that any creases that could have happened during travel will smooth out.
Criss-cross bobby pins to keep your veil headpiece in place. Secure it tightly to the hair.
If you’re wearing a petticoat, step into it first, then step into your dress, pushing the petticoat down into the dress.
Wedding Makeup, Hair and Bridal Beauty:
If tweezing or waxing the eyebrows, do so at least one to two days prior to the wedding (skin around brows can become irritated and will not accept eye shadows smoothly).
Don’t tan too darkly if you normally do not (your facial features can get lost in photos with a too-dark tan, and you run the risk of your usual foundation shade being too light.)
If tanning or using a self-tanner, do so the day before wedding day. (self-tanner can rub off onto your gown.)
If you have obvious tan lines that will show up in your pictures, use a powder bronzer to ‘fill in’ the pale areas prior to slipping into your dress.
Avoid dramatically changing your hair color or hairstyle prior to your wedding. You will want to look like yourself in your wedding photos and videos.
Do not have your eyebrows dyed too close to the date of your wedding. They could come out too dark.
If you are having your hair done, ask your hairdresser if your hair should be clean or one-day dirty.
If you’re doing your own wedding hairstyle, decide in advance if your hair will hold it’s style better if it is clean or one-day dirty. Some styles work best when the hair is clean and others (like an updo) will hold better if the hair is slightly dirty. Make your decision about this in advance by doing a trial run rehearsal with a hairstyle you like.
If your hair is unexpectedly frizzy, spray a little hairspray onto the palm of your hand and lightly smooth over the frizz to calm it.
Do hydrate your body skin, using a moisturizing skin lotion, so exposed skin does not look dry or flaky in your gown. Apply an hour or earlier prior to dressing so there is no moisturizer residue on the skin that could stain your gown.
If you’re using body shimmer powders, do so before dressing. Skin should be completely dry (no leftover moisturizer residue). Apply body shimmer powder lightly, adding more if desired. Shimmer powders are pretty to wear across the shoulders, collarbone and back.
Do apply fragrance onto your skin prior to dressing and let it dry completely to avoid staining your gown.
Even if you have a professional makeup artist, do bring your own makeup with you, just in case it’s needed.
Do plan to have a lip color and powder for touchups later. A shiny face is unflattering in photos – powder will help to keep your face matte. Freshening your lip color after drinking and dining will keep your makeup looking vibrant for your photos and videos.
Do provide your own mascara if you’re using a professional makeup artist. A waterproof formula is recommended.
Do use cotton swabs for any mascara smudges or lip color smears. Do not put your fingers on your face, as your hands could come away with makeup on them and could smear onto your gown.
If you’re not carrying a bridal purse, either ask one of your bridesmaids to carry your lip color and powder, or have your groom slip these items into his pocket so you can do quick makeup touchups later.
Avoid using makeup primers or facial sunscreens with zinc, since they can make your face appear white in the photo flash.
It is recommended to do a makeup rehearsal at home if you’re doing your own makeup. Take pictures to see how you look. Make adjustments if needed, then take more pictures. You’ll feel more confident with how your makeup will look in your wedding day photos. High-pigment makeup colors are suggested for most beautiful results in photos and videos.
If you’re having a makeup professional do your makeup, do keep a mirror handy and check her progress as the makeup is being applied. You will want to look like yourself, just enhanced, so absolutely do tell her if you’re uncomfortable with any colors she’s using or whether the makeup it too light or heavy for your taste. It is better to work together while the makeup application is in progress, than asking her to re-do it when she’s finished.
If your makeup artist has a lip color that you would like to use for touchups later, ask her to give you a scraping of the color. Idea: put the scraping on the mirror of your powder compact, so you’ll have both powder and lipstick in one place. And for an easy ‘disposable’ lip brush, just bend a cotton swab in half and use the bent part (not the cotton end) to reapply your lip color.
If you’d like to wear false eyelashes on wedding day, try them on in advance and get comfortable wearing them at home. Eyelashes have a different feel to them, so practice wearing them prior to wedding day.
Slip into your gown after your hair and makeup are completely finished.
Important: After you’re dressed in your wedding gown, to reapply lipstick or powder, lean over from the waist toward the mirror, so that if any powder falls, it will not fall onto the skirt of your gown.
Miscellaneous:
Do take an ’emergency kit’: thread, needle, scissors, nail glue, hair spray, masking tape, nail file, spare earring backs, hand cream, tweezers, cotton swabs for makeup blending, etc.
If you wear contact lenses, do take your wetting solution in case your eyes become irritated or dry.
Do drink water throughout the day to hydrate and do eat something prior to dressing. Keeping some food in your stomach is essential to avoid nausea or dizziness from nervousness, even if it’s just a few crackers.
