I have worked with lots of brides over the years and have learned a thing or two about getting ready for a fabulous wedding day! This page is all about tips and advice to help you get prepared and look your very best on your special day. The better organized you are, the less stressed you will be. The less stressed you are, the better your skin will look. Stress can cause a nasty breakout. So here we go!
Makeup
Some brides want a natural look with their makeup, others want a dramatic look. A bride's makeup should reflect her personality and make her sparkle. The makeup may also coordinate with the theme of the wedding, the color theme or a time period theme for instance.
I find most brides want soft romantic makeup to compliment but not overpower the face. The makeup should photograph well in natural light and also in flash photography. The skin should look flawless and glowy but not shiny. The skin should not looked washed out against the white of the dress and veil.
Eye makeup should defined the eyes but not look dark and heavy. The lips should look a moist, not too shiny. Blush and bronzer need to carefully done so they don't appear too red or orange in the photos.
Hair must be done to perfection usually in a creative updo or downdo of curls, weavings or twists with the veil attached securely. This is the day to have professional hair and makeup. Brides, you must look extraordinary! All eyes are on you.
Nails
The most popular nail colors for brides are soft shades of pink, champagne, nude and pastel colors. I have used pale blue on brides and it looked amazing. The French Manicure done in the traditional white tip and pale pink overcoat is another option, but it doesn't seem to be as popular as it used to be. Don't feel that you can't do red on your fingernails. The soft shades are popular but they are not the rule. If you want red, do red. Toes can match or not. It is a fun trend to add a bold pop of color to your feet. That bold toe color works great for your honeymoon, too!
The Bridal Beauty Timeline
5-6 months before your wedding day
- Start planning your bridal hairstyle. Have a consultation with your hairstylist to determine if your hair needs to grow or if it needs to be cut in a new style. It is helpful to have a picture of your style idea.
- Schedule your hair and makeup appointments for your trial (about 1-2 months before you wedding day) and for your wedding day. Appointments for the bridal party should also be scheduled for the wedding day at this time.
- Get serious about skin care. Have a facial to help heal blemishes, smooth rough spots, and moisturize. A facial once a month will get your skin in tip top shape and your wedding day makeup will look better over beautiful skin. Be sure to use a good home care regimen.
- Start nail care regimen. A manicure will shape your nails and stimulate nail growth. Your nail technician will be able to recommend a good strengthener and a manicure schedule.
- Eat a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables, avoid caffeine, drink plenty of water, and get your beauty sleep, 7-9 hours each night.
3-4 months before your wedding day
- Get your brows waxed. You may need to grow in some spots to achieve the perfect shape.
- Time to try out self tanner. Exfoliate well before a light even application.
- Continue your monthly facial routine.
- Continue your manicure schedule.
- Continue your healthy diet and sleep schedule.
2 months before your wedding day
- Get your brows waxed to continue to perfect your shape.
- Have a facial.
- Continue nail care.
- Try a leg, bikini, and underarm wax for smooth carefree skin.
- Continue your healthy diet and sleep schedule.
1 month before your wedding day
- Have your trial hairstyle and makeup done. Don’t forget to take your headpiece and veil to the salon with you.
- Have a trim for a fresh look.
- Get a brow wax.
- Have a facial.
- Continue nail care.
- Have your teeth whitened.
- Continue your healthy diet and sleep schedule.
-Get your brows waxed. Sometimes makeup won't stick to freshly waxed skin. Have your brows waxed now then touched up by tweezing 2 days before your wedding day.
7 days before your wedding day
2-5 days before your wedding day
- Have your hair color touched up.
- Get Waxed. Have your legs, bikini line and underarms waxed.
- Have your brows tweezed.
- Have your brows tweezed.
- Pack a wedding day beauty kit. Get your skin care and makeup products together so they are handy for wedding day. Pack a bridal beauty bag to have with you on wedding day.
- Have a stress relieving massage!
- Do your best to keep your healthy diet and good sleep schedule.
1 day before your wedding day
- Get a light facial exfoliation and moisturizing. Your makeup will go on so much nicer!
- Have a manicure and pedicure.
- Apply a light even coat of self tanner.
- Try to get some beauty sleep.
Your wedding day
- Have your hair styled. Have clean and dry hair and be sure to wear a button down shirt.
- Have your makeup done
Tips from the Salon
Be sure to wear a button down shirt or zippered sweatshirt to the salon on wedding day or the bride may have to cut her T shirt off at home to avoid wrecking her hair and makeup!
Pack a bag containing little beauty items you may need throughout the day.
Create the Canvas
Your lips must look moist and juicy on your wedding day not cracked and peeling! Here are a few ways to exfoliate your lips:
Be sure to have a trial hairstyle and makeup done one month before your wedding.
Take your veil with you to the trial along with any hairstyle pictures and makeup ideas. By doing a trial, you will save time. Your hairstylist and makeup artist will know exactly what to do on your wedding day.
Arrive to the salon a little early on wedding day. The schedule is usually booked tight to get everyone ready and out on time.
Have each person check in at the desk to find out which stylist is doing their hair and their makeup and the times on wedding day. This helps keep everyone organized and on time.
Have each person check in at the desk to find out which stylist is doing their hair and their makeup and the times on wedding day. This helps keep everyone organized and on time.
Most brides have some sort of an updo done and their veil attached. This will take about an hour.
Makeup will take 45 minutes to an hour depending on the details such as, if you want to add individual lash flairs, strip lashes or cover a tattoo.
Don't forget your camera! It's always fun to have some getting ready pics.
Don't forget your camera! It's always fun to have some getting ready pics.
It's always an exciting day in the salon when a bride is on the house! The bride is the center of attention in the fun party atmosphere as she is primped and pampered.
If you choose, many hairstylists and makeup artists will come to your home, hotel or your wedding venue to get you ready on your wedding day. Be sure to have your makeup and hair trials done in the salon so the beauty pros know exactly what supplies they need to bring to get you ready. I can come to you!
Your Bridal Beauty Bag
lipstick, eyeliner pencil, face powder, tissues, a nail file, Q-tips, oil blotting sheets, safety pins, a comb, toothpicks, bobby pins, dental floss, mints
Your Skin
Makeup can only correct so much. It can cover redness and discoloration but it can't get rid of raised bumps. You need to have a nice canvas to work with. Begin a strict skin care regime at least 6 months before your wedding. Professional facials do wonders for your skin and your esthetician can recommend the best products for your skin type.
All skin types should be using an exfoliating product and a moisturizer formulated for their skin type. Exfoliation removes built up dead skin cells that make your skin look dull and can block your pores. This gives you fresher looking skin and less blackheads and breakouts.
All skin types should be using an exfoliating product and a moisturizer formulated for their skin type. Exfoliation removes built up dead skin cells that make your skin look dull and can block your pores. This gives you fresher looking skin and less blackheads and breakouts.
Peels that are creams, gels and liquids containing salicylic and alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) are great for removing dead cells. Use caution using a scrub, however. The grains in scrubs can scratch the skin and cause irritation. Be sure to treat your neck and chest as well. Follow the directions from the product manufacturer and your esthetician.
Sensitive skin should use mild exfoliating product once a week. Tougher skin types can exfoliate twice a week. More than that may dehydrate your skin.
A monthly facial at a salon or spa with give you a greater exfoliation. Professional products are generally stronger than what you can get for home use.
Use a moisturizer morning and night to keep your skin soft and hydrated. There are moisturizers made for all different skin types even oily skin. Your day time moisturizer should contain a sunscreen with and SPF of at least 15.
Sensitive skin should use mild exfoliating product once a week. Tougher skin types can exfoliate twice a week. More than that may dehydrate your skin.
A monthly facial at a salon or spa with give you a greater exfoliation. Professional products are generally stronger than what you can get for home use.
Use a moisturizer morning and night to keep your skin soft and hydrated. There are moisturizers made for all different skin types even oily skin. Your day time moisturizer should contain a sunscreen with and SPF of at least 15.
Your Lips
Mix together the juice from half a lemon and a teaspoon of sugar. Apply to your lips and let it sit for a minute or two. Gently massage it over your lips then rinse.
You can also sprinkle a bit of sugar on a wet toothbrush, then lightly scrub the lips using a circular motion.
Exfoliate your lips once or twice a week. Apply a moisturizing lip balm with an SPF such as Blistex after exfoliating and daily.
Makeup Advice
if you are doing your own makeup
if you are doing your own makeup
Flash photography emphasizes red tones. Areas of redness in the skin need to be camouflaged carefully. Avoid lipstick and blush colors that are too red.
Many mineral makeups contain a large amount of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide which can cause the skin to appear white in flash photography. Use a less reflective mineral makeup or stick to traditional cream or liquid foundations preferably without sunscreen.
Neutral and pale lip colors can appear washed out in photographs. Choose a lip color that is a shade or two darker than your usual color in a soft plum, rosy brown, or peachy pink.
Makeup the face, neck and chest with the same foundation and powder for a unified appearance.
Hide bathing suit lines by applying a light application of self tanner. Apply tanner to the lines a few days before your wedding day. A little matte bronzer sponged or brushed on will help hide them, too.
Pimple Emergency!
Whatever you do, DON'T SQUEEZE IT! Squeezing can cause inflammation, redness and swelling, that is impossible to cover!
First, wash the area with an acne cleanser.
Apply ice or a cold, wet chamomile tea bag to reduce swelling.
Apply a salicylic spot treatment to the pimple such as Juice Beauty Blemish be Gone. Or you can use an aspirin. Crush an aspirin, add a little water to make a paste, apply to the blemish, let it sit 10 - 15 minutes and rinse.
Toothpaste applied to a pimple helps dry it up overnight. Just use a non-whitening toothpaste. It will be less irritating. Use paste not gel.
A dermatologist can inject a cyst with cortizone to quickly reduce the swelling.
Just before makeup application, a little Visine gets the red out! Apply a few drops of Visine to a cotton swab. Hold the swab on the blemish for a minute. Let the skin dry. Then, apply concealer and foundation. Be sure to use powder to set it. Have a makeup artist do your makeup if you are afraid you won't be able to cover it.
Note: Allergic to ragweed? No chamomile! Allergic to aspirin? No salicylic acid!
I can do your makeup for your special day!
If you live in the Suburban/Mainline Philadelphia, Pa. areas and are interested in bridal makeup and hair styling services, contact me!
Click here to view my gallery and services
Bridal Blog Posts:
If you live in the Suburban/Mainline Philadelphia, Pa. areas and are interested in bridal makeup and hair styling services, contact me!
Click here to view my gallery and services
Contact Info:
Send me an email juicybeautyword@gmail.com,
contact by instagram or
facebook messaging,
Send me an email juicybeautyword@gmail.com,
contact by instagram or
facebook messaging,
or call Styling Point Salon: 610 566-1070 for in salon services and scheduling
Bridal Blog Posts:
Spring Bridal Makeup at Normandy Farm
A Summer Wedding
Summer Wedding Makeup: Tips for Sweat Proof Makeup at the Westin, Wilmington, DE
A Late Summer Wedding
Bridal Makeup at Hunting Hill Mansion at Ridley Creek State Park
Autumn
Summer
Summer Bridal Makeup At The Old Mill, Rose Valley PaA Summer Wedding
Summer Wedding Makeup: Tips for Sweat Proof Makeup at the Westin, Wilmington, DE
A Late Summer Wedding
Bridal Makeup at Hunting Hill Mansion at Ridley Creek State Park
Autumn
A Classic Bride
Bridal Makeup: Mother of the Groom
A Rustic Autumn Wedding in Lewisberry
Winter
Winter Bridal Makeup at Lucien's Manor
Eye Shadow with Dark Outer Corners & Red Lips
Bridal Tips
Bridal Fashion Show 2018, Makeup and Hair Styles at The Springhaven Club
Wedding Day Salon Tips
Bridal Skin Care Tips
A bobby pin trick for your updo
Bridal Makeup Trends
Do Facials Help Acne?
Over Exfoliated Skin
Types of Bikini Waxing made Easy
Facial Waxing and Makeup Adhesion
Bridal Makeup: Mother of the Groom
A Rustic Autumn Wedding in Lewisberry
Winter
Winter Bridal Makeup at Lucien's Manor
Eye Shadow with Dark Outer Corners & Red Lips
Bridal Tips
Bridal Fashion Show 2018, Makeup and Hair Styles at The Springhaven Club
Wedding Day Salon Tips
Bridal Skin Care Tips
A bobby pin trick for your updo
Bridal Makeup Trends
Do Facials Help Acne?
Over Exfoliated Skin
Types of Bikini Waxing made Easy
Facial Waxing and Makeup Adhesion
Have a Beautiful Day!
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xo
Licensed Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Makeup Artist
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. That keeps my blog running and supports the care of animals in need!😸