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When it comes to planning a wedding, picking a date and dress can be the least of your worries. After all, looking radiant and picture-perfect on your special day takes some work and planning—okay, months of work and planning. To help you avoid any last minute beauty fiascos (assuming you don’t want to look orange in any of your wedding photos), we’ve put together the ultimate wedding beauty timeline for every bride. From when to get waxed to when to schedule your hair appointments, our guide will ensure you look every bit the blushing, glowing, beautiful bride when the big day arrives.
8 Months
Eight months before…
Beauty vitamins: Start taking beauty vitamins for longer, shinier hair and glowing skin. Don’t know where to start? Check out our guide to the best beauty supplements.
Test a new hair color: Thinking about a dramatic change for your wedding? Now is the time to try it out—if you hate it, there’s still plenty of time for you to grow it out or change the color without frying your locks.
Revive your skincare regimen: If you’ve been slacking on you skin routine, now is the time to start incorporating a more strict system. Cleanse, tone, target, and moisturize every morning and night—and don’t forget to exfoliate two or three times a week!
Start laser hair removal: It takes more than one session for lasers to fully remove your hair. Since you have to wait 4-6 weeks between sessions, make sure to start early.
Fitness and nutrition plan: Avoid crash dieting before your wedding by starting a fitness and nutrition plan now. You’ll look healthy and glowing on the big day, instead of exhausted and weak.
4 Months
Four months before…
Hair and makeup trials: Start experimenting with different hair and makeup styles, as well as different artists. Then, book them right after you’ve made up your mind—you don’t want run the risk of conflicting schedules or last-minute changes.
2 Months
Two months before…
Tanning options: If you want a bronzy glow on your wedding day, decide exactly how you’d like to achieve it. If you’re going to get a spray tan, book one now, rather than a few days before your wedding, as a test run.
If you’d rather use a gradual tanning moisturizer, like Olay’s Total Effects Moisturizer + Touch of Sun ($19), start incorporating it into your daily skin routine now.
Beauty accessories: Select any beauty accessories, like hair accessories or customized lipstick colors, now.
Teeth whitening: Most professional teeth whitening sessions take more than one appointment. Book your first appointment now, and use an at-home whitening kit after your last session to maintain your pearly whites. The last thing you want to worry about on your wedding day is sensitive teeth.
Botox: Botox takes a few days to kick in and usually lasts a few months. If you’re considering it, do it now to make sure you can correct any potential issues.
Kick fitness regimen into full gear: Take your fitness regimen to the next level at the two-month mark—add an extra thirty minutes of gym time each day, or start a weekend yoga class.
2 Weeks
Two weeks before…
Hair gloss, trim, and subtle color: Get a color-enhancing gloss treatment at your salon for shiny locks on your wedding day, and trim any split ends while you’re there. If you’d like a subtle color change, like balayage highlights, now is the time to get them done.
Exfoliate: If you haven’t already, start exfoliating your body at least two to three times a week. Try a gentle body scrub, like Fresh’s Brown Sugar Body Polish ($65), that sloughs off dead skin cells without stripping your skin of moisture.
Brows: Get your brows waxed, threaded, or shaped at the two week mark—tweeze any stray hairs at least one day before your wedding to avoid redness.
1 Week
One week before…
Gentle facial: A week before your wedding, go in for a soothing, hydrating facial.
5 Days
Five days before…
Wax: Get waxed at least five days before the big day so your skin has time to heal.
(Click here to see our guide to making your wax way less painful!)
3 Days
Three days before…
At-home skin treatment: Do a mild at-home peel to boost brightness a few days before—we love Goldfaden MD’s Fresh-a-Peel ($85) because it’s gentle and effective. Note: A professional chemical peel is too harsh to do only a few days before your wedding, so make sure to go in at least two weeks earlier if you plan on going to the dermatologist.
If you have oily skin, try a purifying clay mask like Kiehl’s Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Mask ($23). If your skin is dry, use a hydrating mask like SK-II’s Facial Treatment Mask ($125) to moisturize and plump.
2 Days
Two days before…
Manicure/Pedicure: Request a gel polish to avoid any chips and cracks on your big day.
Spray tan: Get your spray tan two days before your wedding—the extra time will allow the tan to fade in and look more natural.
1 Day
One day before…
Beauty sleep: The best thing you can do at this point is to get some shut-eye—you’ve done your work, now take some time to relax (or at least try to).
Hydrate: Drink lots of water the day before to ensure you and your skin are hydrated.
The Big Day
Congratulations—you’ve made it to the big day! Now all you have to do is smile and try not to cry (and if you do, your waterproof mascara’s got you covered).
Keep in mind, if you’re in need of a makeup artist, we’ve got you covered! Just ask ME!
