What Did (Or Will) You Do for Your Wedding Beauty Prep?

I’m not very comfortable getting dressed up and my husband fervently requested I “look like regular you”. So I didn’t have any beauty prep pre-wedding, and the day-of routine was just my usual morning get-ready bit plus an extra swipe of deo (much-needed, ha!).

There is so much pressure on women to be a more perfect version of themselves on their wedding day. So many people focused on ways (and several some pretty extreme ways) I could change my personal appearance that I found myself seriously thinking about just doing the deed in sweatpants and dirty hair. In the end I didn’t up thinking about how I looked at all, had a wonderful day, and like that the photos my family snapped look like regular ‘ol us :)

I did some teeth whitening trays, lots of working out, and a spray tan to help negate some tan lines. We got married in August, so my hair was fully up so I wouldn’t worry about it going limp or being too hot. I didn’t wear a veil because the symbolism of it is too much for me, so I opted for a jeweled hair clip, and a back necklace instead.

But my favorite wedding prep wasn’t for me, it was for my husband to be: I sent him for a shave at a barber shop so he could get a little pampering too. He loved it.

I read recently that buying charcoal pills, breaking them open and then brushing your teeth with the charcoal helps with whitening. I haven’t tried it yet but I was intrigued! The chemical whiteners always hurt my teeth and I always prefer to go natural when I can, especially when it comes to beauty.

Cannot wait to follow along as you continue to plan and prepare! Thank you for sharing with us!

I got married almost 2 years ago(yikes!) and essentially did no beauty prep. The main thing I did was use Crest whitening strips, which I’ve used before with great results! I had a 3-month engagement, so things were very busy and I didn’t have a lot of time to factor in extras like facials, etc. I had been doing a regimented workout routine in the year leading up to my wedding, including a crazy 90-day ab challenge, so I happened to be in good shape at that time. One thing I wish I had done was get a facial- I don’t wear a lot of makeup and feel that it would’ve made me feel a lot more comfortable in my own skin.

My best advice is to just have fun! Wedding planning can get very stressful and busy, but focusing on enjoying this amazing process is really important! Another thing to remember is that something WILL go wrong at the wedding.. and you can’t predict what, so be ready to just go with the flow!

Congrats! I remember reading a tip from Bobbi Brown that for any special event you should try to look like the most polished version of yourself – but definitely still look like yourself.
The night before my wedding I stayed with my parents. I showered, shaved my legs, whitened my teeth, etc. and my dad was like, you might want to chill with the bedtime routine when you’re married. Haha! I was like Dad, I’m getting married tomorrow. Obviously I’m going to take a little more time tonight!
Also, I won’t lie, I took a muscle relaxant the night before too so that I could sleep. I was just so exited!

Congrats! I got married in November of last year and focused on taking good care of myself before the wedding. By that I mean drinking lots of water, getting good sleep, and exercising a normal (not crazy or frantic) amount. As for beauty, I got eyelash extensions and wore Luxy hair extensions (when I met my husband I had hair down to my waist and wanted to bring back a little of that fairytale feeling), and I wore my usual shade of red lipstick (NARS Cruella). The red lipstick did get on my husband’s face a little during our first look and kiss but it was all part of the fun. The best advice I have though is to do your best to center yourself the morning of the wedding. It can be crazy. I stayed at my mom’s house with my sister, cousin and nieces the night before and it was like a big slumber party, but that morning, I excused myself to the garden, sat alone and meditated for 30 minutes and then re-joined the group. It helped keep me present for the rest of the day and night.

Wishing you the best! Enjoy every moment- it goes by quickly!

My advice? Remember that HE fell in love with YOU. Just be be YOU as your happiest self. If it makes you happy amp up up your style then do it but do it without stress. This is a time of joy and, again, he fell in love with YOU – just be you. At the end of a wedding what family & friends remember is how happy (and stress free!) the couple was…ask anyone about the bride’s dress or hair or nails or shoes (or caterer or flowers or…etc…) 1-5-10-20 years later and almost one remembers those details. What they do remember is the joy of the couple. Happiness is contagious and memorable. You are the bride; this is your day; you will be beautiful no matter how much or how little you do. Just have fun and do whatever makes you feel beautiful leading up to (and including ) your wedding day!

In March it will be 22 years since our wedding (yikes! Crazy how fast time flies!) yet I remember it like it was yesterday and, to this day, people who were at our wedding tell us how they remember how in-love we looked and how much fun they had celebrating with us. Not one person has ever mentioned my hair, my shoes or my flowers (I wore my mother’s dress so that is the only thing that gets mentioned by a select few who knew this fact). The details have faded and what is remembered is the joy of the day!

I wish you joy for a lifetime!

Yay! Getting married is so much fun!!

I felt like it was so important for me to look like the best version of myself that day- looking too “made up” or having hair that didn’t move was not on my agenda. I am pretty low key, although I do LOVE makeup and product. Having an updo or a smokey eye wasn’t my style and I didn’t want the bride version of myself to look not like the everyday version.

I made a list of priorities: great skin and styled (but not too styled) hair. I started drinking a lot of water, trying to sleep more, kept up with my skincare routine and closer to the wedding, cut out alcohol. I made sure that I didn’t give myself impossible tasks- I thought about getting a tiny imperfection in my teeth fixed, get regular facials, etc. but then I realized those weren’t going to happen without serious dedication and dollars, and I didn’t have the time or desire to deal with the stress of that.

I decided I was going to do my own makeup and bought an airbrush (temptu air), got lash extensions, found a GREAT brow stylist and really spent some time thinking about lipstick…two days before I got an oxygen facial to really give my skin an extra boost. I had a hair stylist friend come blow my hair out and we left it at that.

I felt like I was the best version of myself that day, there is just some kind of magic about your wedding day that will make it perfect.

I actually had Veronica Lake curls for my wedding, along with a small birdcage veil (our wedding had a bit of a 1950s-esque vibe to it since we loved to dance. Best part was a tea-length skirt that twirled when dancing! Our hobby was taking dance classes together). My sister did my make-up, which was a life saver because I don’t normally wear make up and felt a professional overdid it.

Oh goodness! I got married a year and a half ago and absolutely loved the whole preparation process – it was such a joy to prepare to marry my man :)

For the most part, I stuck with the best version of my normal routine (regular exercise, lots of water, good sleep, etc.). My cousin is an incredible hair and make-up artist, so we had a massive hair and make-up party in my parent’s kitchen on the day of the wedding…I felt absolutely gorgeous.

The one “special” thing I did ended up being a bit of a disaster! I scheduled an my first ever eyebrow wax and underarm wax a few days before the ceremony. On the way to the appointment, I stopped and got a 32 oz. fresh pressed green juice. Well, I chugged the massive juice and headed in for my waxing. The combination of an inexperienced technician, sensitive skin, and a low pain tolerance didn’t go well. Partway through my appointment, I excused myself to use the restroom and proceeded to throw up all that juice. Oof. Anyway, I managed to make it through the rest of the waxing process and I still laugh thinking of that moment…ah well, nothing is perfect, right?

I did weight watchers for 9 months to lose some weight and I worked out 4 days a week sometimes on weekends. I wanted a glam look makeup wise but didn’t get it since the salon I went to was not good at makeup. I wore a head piece and veil and did not regret it : ) I wore my hair half up half down

Congrats! I was just weeks out of my undergrad years when I got married so I let my mom take the lead on the beauty prep. While I wouldn’t go to those lengths for myself now, she provided some good direction. I saw an aesthethician 1-2x a week for the month heading up to the big day. She did microdermabrasion on my face and upper back, which was key since I was wearing a strapless dress.. My skin glowed! Since I was so young, I didn’t have a proper make up routine. And I had just grown my hair out so I wasn’t sure what would work with it. I did trials of both and they were both disasterous! I was really thankful to know what I didn’t want because it helped me decide on what I did want. They were both way over the top so I went more simple and I still love the way I looked that day.

Ah! I’m getting married in September, and I know I need to up my game, but I don’t really know where to start or what to do without spending so much money! Like you, I want to look like myself, but the most toned, glowing (inside and out!) version of myself. A few thoughts:

1. My friend who got married last year SINGS the praises of dermaplaning, and I recently jumped on that bandwagon. It is AMAZING. Look for groupons (to reputable places). There are tons! I’m toying with the idea of getting a peel or two (best to do in the winter months) and I started using retinol.

2. I am VERY COMMITTED to avoiding sunburn this year. I want my neck and chest to look gorgeous – not leathery – but to still have some of my trademark freckles show up, which my fiance loves.

3. My friends already tease me about my skincare “regimen” so I’ll keep that up, drink more water and eat less sugar. If I could recommend one product it would be Dr. Dennis Gross’ alpha beta peel. Your lines will decrease. Your pores will shrink. You will glow.
http://www.sephora.com/alpha-beta-universal-daily-peel-P377533

Congratulations and many years of happiness!

I struggle with stress-induced acne so I had constant nightmares about getting a huge cystic pimple right before our wedding day (YIKES!). To quell my anxiety, I Yelped the best facials in Portland and found my dream esthetician. I splurged and saw her three times leading up to the wedding and carefully followed all of her advice (lose the dairy, use a serum, exfoliate regularly) and my skin was glooooowing on our wedding day. Praise the lawd!
My makeup routine was easy for my wedding day. I stuck with my tinted moisturizer and swiped on waterproof mascara (Benefit’s “They’re Real!” was a must) and I chose a layer-able berry-hued lip stain to wear under some super moisturizing chapstick. I loved never having to re-apply! I highly recommend. Beyond that, I used a little brow gel and some bronzey eyeshadow I got for free at sephora using points, plus NARS Orgasm in Multiple (the shimmery stick version) on my cheeks for a little rosy glow.
Another helpful tip: do a lip scrub before you apply chapstick or lipstick! I asked one of my bridesmaids to stir up a little sugar and honey while I was getting my hair done. I slathered it on my lips, rubbed them together, then licked them clean. A delicious and easy DIY for having smooth lips for pictures :) CONGRATS!

I recently got married and while I had tons of ideas for beauty/wellness prep leading up to the day, I mostly focused on fitness and eating right and kinda forgot to do all the beauty things like whiten my teeth and get regular facials, whoops! But really, when you eat right, your skin is clearer and glows. I used at-home teeth whitening like a mad-woman the month leading up and it did the trick. I wore a veil, did hair half up with loose curls and like you mentioned, a subtle lip color. You’re definitely right, you want to look like the most beautiful version of yourself, but still like yourself! It’s a fun time prepping for the wedding, just be true to yourself and stay happy and calm as you prepare. Don’t stress and enjoy the process!

I married at 19, six years ago, so I probably would have been at the best shape of my life regardless, but I definitely (unintentionally) lost weight leading up to the wedding just with all the busy-ness and excitement. I had my hair up, done my my friend/bridesmaid’s mom, who had been cutting my hair for several years. We did a trial run and it turned out quite differently, but even better. My dress and veil were custom made – actually affordable in Dubai, where we were living at the time! It was my dream gown, and still is. Totally worth it. Although now I would probably have jazzed it up a tiny bit more and also gotten a necklace to match my earrings. The moment in a wedding of lifting the veil had always been my favorite, so that was a given for me. The funny result of that was when my new husband lifted my veil for the kiss (our first with each other, for real), the comb slipped out of my hair and the whole veil slipped out! The guests had such a great reaction and it kind of symbolized the joy of everything. Such a funny, personal memory, although I wish I had put the gorgeous veil back on for a few more pictures! All I did to prepare was upper lip threading (I continue to wax for myself), arm waxing (because the Indian woman at the salon talked me into it! It was fun although completely unnecessary), and Brazilian wax. Yikes. And to this day the only mani-pedi I’ve ever gotten, although I wish I had just done my own nails. I also did my own make up, with a little touching up from a friend. I just purchased some slightly fancier make up than I already had and got some help picking out a good lip color.

Also, both for you and your fiance, wear suncscreen before the wedding! My husband played golf with his wedding party the day before, and looks lobster red in our wedding photos!

On the day of the ceremony, we spent too long at brunch w/ friends and then were running late, plus we were getting our house ready to receive all of our family and friends afterwards, so I think I just did my normal makeup (it was an outdoor ceremony in a park). Then, the next day for the reception, which we again (stupidly) set up ourselves, I spent too long w/ set up and then had less than an hour to shower, change and be back at the venue for the reception. I took the quickest shower ever, threw on my ModCloth maxi dress, accidentally wore shitty old flip flops (thank god the dress was long), forgot to change my jewelry, and headed to my girlfriend’s house, where she did a pretty cat eye on me for makeup in about 20 minutes, and then I proceeded to rush to the venue.

The moral of the story is that we had an amazing weekend hanging out w/ our friends and family and everyone was partying so hard that my makeup ran and the majority of the pictures everyone is kind of a drunk, sweaty mess. This is indicative of my life and the people I love the most, so I wouldn’t have it any other way. (We did get a few “formal” couple portraits before I danced for four hours straight!) Don’t sweat your look, just have fun with all the people who love you guys. <3

i got married in 2000, it was a much simpler time before Facebook and Instagram! The only “special” things I did was get my make up and hair done for the big day.

My wedding advice to you is make sure you eat dinner at the reception! My husband and I were so caught up in socializing, dancing and having fun that we missed our meal! At the end of the night, we shared pizza with our friends and kept the party going.

The most important thing I did was a trial run on my hair and makeup beforehand. I didn’t know the stylist because I was getting married in my hometown and hadn’t lived there for 6 years. I was going for a smooth, low Grace Kelly thing but she immediately brought out the curling iron. We had to have a chat (I had no photos and this was before Smartphones) but after 3 attempts she got it and although I don’t remember the specifics of what my makeup looked like or the colors used I can say that I have never and probably will never feel as beautiful as I did that day.

Generally, I exercised, ate healthily, got a good-quality manicure 2 days before the wedding, and a good haircut ~2 weeks before.

I was very glad that I hired a skilled hair and makeup artist, who did a trial run well in advance, so we could finalize the plan. My makeup was “natural” and we used my favorite lip color. Just right.

BTW, my sister, who was my matron-of-honor, also hired the same stylist for her hair (she did her own makeup), which worked well.

It breaks my heart to see people dieting before their wedding… eat people!!! It’s 2017 and you need all the energy you can possibly muster, wedding or not. I eloped in May last year. I ate what I wanted leading up to it, did my own make up in 2.5 minutes and never felt more loved or beautiful. WHY?! Because my husband married ME, not a frantic workout freak with lots of make and a big up do…that’s not me. Ask your soon to be husband what he thinks you should do: promise you he’ll say “just show up!” Getting married is awesome, don’t burden yourself with expensive unnecessary things. LOVE is LOVE is LOVE is LOVE…

Congratulations! I just got married at the end of November, and there are things I definitely wish I had done differently but there are so many things that I continue to do today.

Firstly, I didn’t give two hoots about my weight. I am happy with my weight and on top of all of the other things I had to juggle, I just wasn’t going to be able to swing the stress of calorie counting and working out. I tried to eat as healthily as I could tolerate and that was it. My dress had a full skirt, so I wasn’t worried about looking sleek. I did, however, become regimented about using 5 lb free weight every night for months to get more toned arms as my dress was sleeveless.

My biggest concern was having beautiful, clear, and glowing skin, and I really was so pleased with how it turned out. It took some trial and error, but these are the products I used to prepare for the wedding and that I continue to use now. First, I wash my face with Neutrogena Acne Cleanser in the shower. Then I wash my face again when I get out of the shower with Tata Harper’s Nourishing Oil Cleanser (since the first cleanser strips your face of oils.) Next I splash SK-II’s Essence with Pitera on my face and neck and let it soak in for a few minutes. Finally I pat Tata Harper’s Replenishing Nutrient Complex all over my face. I cannot say enough good things about this product! It’s so moisturizing and gives you a beautiful glow. If I’m particularly dry, I’ll also use Tata Harper’s Repairative Moisturizer and/or Creme de la Mer (if I’m reeeally spoiling myself). I also started using a Retin-A at night, which has been great, but it really requires time for your skin to get used to it. I still can only use it every third night because it makes my face peel if I increase the frequency.

I wanted to do dermaplaning (uses sharp razors to remove all facial hair), but after reading online everyone said you can buy eyebrow razors from the drugstore and get the same results. I did this the day before the wedding myself.

I also whitened my teeth periodically in the weeks prior, got a light spray tan three days before, and got a manicure and pedicure the day before.

I got married in a different country & my hair/makeup artist didn’t speak English! Thank God for iPhone pics!!!!!

I really only did two things, but they made a huge difference in how I felt. I worked out (hard) with a combination of weights and cardio 3 times a week and I got regular facials leading up to the wedding. The combination is a perfect stress buster and my facialist became an amazing friend who I could laugh with about all the crazy stuff that comes with weddings.

I had ideas about a vintage, glam look with a red lip, but the makeup artist I saw before the wedding felt strongly that I should look like me, just turned up a little and that ended up making me feel extremely beautiful and comfortable in my own skin.

I was a very low maintenance bride (perhaps to a fault?). I did my own hair and make-up 30 minutes before our ceremony…

The only thing I did ahead of time that I really thought made a difference was to have my eyelashes dyed. I didn’t have to worry about smudging, crying, sweating after dancing, etc. It was so easy, and made it so I didn’t really worry much at all about my makeup on my wedding day.

Congrats!

Congratulations! I also recently got married, so this feels very fresh. I tried to stay healthy without going over board, which sounds like your plan as well.

I worked out 3x a week in the 5-6 months leading up to my May 2016 wedding and started the year of with a dry January and mindful eating. My ‘splurges’ (what I don’t normally do on a regular basis) were that I went for 1x/month facials (Mario Badescu is the best!) in that time period as well and I got my eyebrows professional shaped at Benefit Brow Bar (I’ve always been fairly natural/tweezed myself) twice. The first time was to make sure I liked how it looked but with plenty of time for my eyebrows to grow back, the second was the week before the wedding.

I’ve always gotten waxed regularly, so I kept up with that, but I did wax my legs for the first time in ages (I normally shave) a few days before the wedding. It made it so much easier to deal with during our honeymoon. I didn’t have to worry about shaving while we were away at all.

I had fun getting regular manicures every time I had a dress fitting so I could try out different “neutral” colors. Then when I decided on the best one I bought that color to bring the day I got my nails done for the wedding. Not sure if you’re getting married close to where you live or back where you grew up or somewhere totally different — but you never know what colors a salon might have.

I also made sure to have a real breakfast with eggs for protein with just my mom the morning of the wedding. It was a nice quiet moment when the rest of the day was filled with more loved ones. I got more nervous throughout the day, so ate less for lunch, so it was important to eat a real meal at breakfast.

Remind your parents and your fiancé’s parents that they should also be well-rested and taking care of themselves in the weeks leading up to the wedding. While you and the groom are center of attention, they are as well, and you don’t want your mother/in-law to end up hating their hair/make up on the day of the wedding either. So if you’re able to — maybe bring them along for a pre-wedding make-up/hair trail if they’ll be getting it professionally done on the day of the wedding.

Congrats!
I’m getting married in November in the Bahamas, and I’m enjoying everyone’s comments.
I plan on doing my own make up, and I’m debating if I want my hair professionally done or if I’ll have my sister do it since I want to keep it down- no fancy updo.
I’m going to have my nails done, and I’m considering having a lash perm because I have super straight stubborn lashes.

Does anyone here have any two cents on lashes?

Congratulations!!! So exciting!!! Whether you go experimental or classic your other half will love you all the same, so focus on having a good time and try not to stress too much about the planning <3

My husband and I wanted to have a long happy day of picnicking in which at some point, we stood up and got married. I had hair down to the bottom of my ribs, I was 29, and I’d been highlighting it myself since I was a teenager. The only time I wrecked it was a few weeks before my wedding. I hauled myself into a salon to get the color fixed; that and waking up to bathe were my only advance prep.

It was 1999, and we did all the setup and cleanup ourselves with friends and family, so I began the day in cutoff shorts, a red tank top, and Bullfrog sunscreen. When the first guests began to arrive, I slipped off and put on a casual red dress. When we decided it was time for the ceremony, I changed again into a stunning, floor-length satin gown; very traditional shape, corset top and belled bottom with spaghetti straps. It was a Jessica McClintock prom dress for which I paid $200, in scarlet, which was the color for our wedding and looked incredible in the park. I wore matching lipstick and no other makeup; it was summer and I had a a tan, and I didn’t want to worry about smearing eye makeup with happy tears. I piled my long hair in a bun and used red clips to fashion a veil from two densities of red tulle. I looked like a fairy tale! We paid for everything ourselves, it was simple and wonderful, and I’d do it all again in a heartbeat! My heart breaks for the amount of work and expense folks make of weddings today. Do what calls your heart! Your love is the ornament! It doesn’t have to be expensive.