The Ultimate Bridal Beauty Countdown to Look Your Best on Your Big Day

One Year to Go –

The important thing to remember with beauty is that results are rarely instant, they take time and consistency. With that in mind start your prep as early as you can. Twelve months prior to the big day is the perfect time to nail your skincare routine and start taking any supplements regularly. That leaves you plenty of time to figure out what works best for your skin. You should also pay extra attention to your neck and décolletage, especially if your dress shows off this area.

Now is also a great time to start body brushing. Not only does this slough away dead skin cells, it also encourages lymphatic drainage. Stick to it and you’ll have tighter, smoother skin (with less cellulite) by your wedding day. 

It’s also a good time to start sticking to a stricter fitness plan, or working with a personal trainer to achieve your body goals. Nutrition is also important – try to stick to nourishing foods that are anti-inflammatory and contain antioxidants and vitamins to make you glow from within.

If you want any dental work done before your wedding, now is the time to set the wheels in motion. Teeth straightening takes months, so the sooner the better if this is something you’re considering. Teeth whitening can also take multiple treatments, so it’s best to begin the process early and maintain results at home for a sparkling smile. If you’re choosing to do laser hair removal, this also needs to be started early as optimal results can take six to eight sessions, which must be spaced four to six weeks apart.

Nine Months to Go –

Injectables such as botox, fillers or skin boosters should be started around nine months before the day. Multiple appointments are often needed to achieve desired results – botox, for example, needs to be topped up around every three months and it’s recommended that with most skin boosters, three treatments are administered. It’s especially important to start injectables a good few months before the wedding if you haven’t tried them before; that way, if you don’t like the results, there’s time to tweak or simply wait for the effects to wear off.

Six Months to Go –

Any programme of facials should begin about six months pre-wedding, and try to keep to one facial per month. Work with your facialist to decide what your skin needs at each appointment, whether that means adding in chemical peels or LED light therapy. If you’re also having injectables, bare in mind that facials shouldn’t be done until around two to four weeks afterwards.

If you’re choosing waxing as your method of hair removal, you should begin your regime around six months before the big day, with appointments every three to six weeks. Each time you wax, hair will grow back finer and softer and skin will be less irritated, giving better results. 

When it comes to hair and makeup, start your trials around six months out to ensure you have enough time to perfect your look, Try to plan the trials on date days or nights out with your friends, so you can monitor how confident you feel, get their feedback, and take lots of pictures to check how it photographs.

One Month to Go –

A month before the wedding is the final time to touch up any injectables before the big day. This gives botox the chance to kick in and filler an opportunity to settle and de-swell, as well as leaving room for any last-minute tweaks should they be needed.

Two Weeks to Go –

Hair cut and colour is best done with two weeks to go, as this allows your hair to look fresh and it’s also when extensions should be fitted, as it means they won’t be too tight, so can be comfortably styled.

Now is also a good time to get teeth professionally cleaned and have one last whitening treatment. This timeframe allows for any sensitivity from the cleaning and whitening to subside pre-wedding, as well as ensuring teeth are allowed to re-harden. They are more porous and prone to staining in the 48 hours after whitening (so no red wine or coffee!).

One Week to Go –

The one week marker is the perfect time to get one last facial before the big day. This should be an express version of the facials you’ve been getting – no extractions, acid or exfoliators that could cause irritation, just hydration and nourishment.

Since you’re probably also more than a little bit stressed at this stage, it’s also the best time for a massage. Any soreness will have eased off by the big day, and you’ll experience the relaxing benefits right when you need them most.

Three Days to Go –

Make your eyebrow wax and tint appointment for three days before the wedding. Tinting at this stage will allow the tint to fully develop and settle, giving enough time for colour to fade a little if it’s too dark when freshly dyed. Final waxing should be done now too – you’ll still be perfectly smooth on the big day and any redness or irritation bumps will have had time to disappear, leaving a perfect canvas for makeup and a spray tan.

Two Days to Go –

Get your spray tan two days before the wedding, as this allows time for the tan to develop (experts advise waiting eight hours before showering) and to set, which takes 24 hours and gives the richest colour payoff. This way, you’re able to control the development process and hit the golden glowy sweet spot before it all gets a bit Oompa Loompa. Any sooner, and the tan may begin to fade and turn patchy – not a good look.

Nails should also be done two days before, whether you opt for gel or acrylics. This means they look fresh whilst also allotting time to fix any last-minute issues.

One Day to Go –

On the day before the wedding, the best thing that you can do is hydrate and rest. Avoid salty foods which may cause puffiness, drink plenty of water and make sure you get at least eight hours of sleep (despite how nervous you may be!).