It’s no surprise that, as the bride, you are going to get a lot of attention on your wedding day. You will also have hundreds of photos taken of you to remember your special day. Of course, you will want to look your best! Here are just a few quick tips that will keep you looking fresh from getting ready until you are dancing the night away.

1. Practice! Whether you are having your hair and makeup professionally done or not, you will want to practice both before the big day. Use the same products you will use, that way you won’t have any surprise reactions to new products. I would recommend having these things done in the morning on a day that you will be busy so that you can test out the staying power of your makeup and hair style.
2. Be picky! Don’t settle for a hair style that is just okay. Keep tweaking and don’t be afraid to request a “do over” until it’s just right. The same goes for your makeup. Don’t settle for a bright, bold lip color just because your makeup artist likes it. This leads me to the next point . . .
3. Look like you! It’s fun to get a little fancier than you might otherwise, but stay true to your style! If you are a neutrals kind of girl, let your MUA know that ahead of time so she doesn’t glam you up too much.
4. Pack a touch up kit. Have things like oil blotters, Q-tips, baby wipes, mascara, powder and your lip color in a purse so that you can touch up throughout the day.
5. Have your brows groomed, but NOT on the day of the wedding!
6. Go for neutral nails. Have your fingernails and toenails groomed and painted a neutral color so that they look great in pictures, but don’t distract from that ring!
7. Hydrate!! Drink a lot of water leading up to and the day of the wedding to keep your skin glowing.
8. Stick with a low sodium diet. Bloating is not attractive or comfortable.
9. Have your hair cut and colored well before the wedding. I would suggest about 3 weeks prior to the wedding to allow your cut and color to settle and look the best. This also allows time for fixing color gone wrong.
10. Relax. Have a massage or schedule a day at the spa the week of the wedding. When you have your appointment, leave your wedding checklist at home (or at least in the car) and truly relax.
11. Sleep! I know you are trying to do a million last-minute things the weeks before the wedding, but make sleep a priority. Your wedding day is long and exhausting. You will need good sleep in order to make it through with energy and have the best time ever!

For more wedding planning tips, check out the “for brides” section below.