How To Look And Feel Your Best On Your Wedding Day

Its your wedding day, of course you feel amazing! But here are a few tips to make sure that what you're feeling on the inside matches the outside, and that you're picture perfect and spotlight ready for your big day!

• Try, Test, Trial- The best thing you can do for yourself is try, test, and run through a trial of everything! Now everyone knows that you need to pick out a hair style before the big day and try on your wedding dress(es). But don't stop there! Run through a make up trial, experiment with nail polish colors, try on jewelry, wear your shoes. I always see brides make the mistake of buying the most beautiful shoes that match oh so perfectly and they can only wear them for 30 minutes because its the first time the shoes have been worn and they're impossible to stay in. Wear your new shoes around the house every now and then so you don't ruin the soles for pictures. Be sure to take pictures of everything, don't let your memory be your guide on the big day. Take pictures from every angle in good lighting so you and your hairstylist/make-up artist know exactly what to re-create.
• Beauty treatments - Let the spa days begin, but tread carefully! Every bride knows there are hundreds of treatments you can get from getting your teeth whitened, to facials, to peels, to waxes, to masks, to scrubs, the list is almost never ending. But in your quest to have glowing radiant skin, don't over do it, or do anything that may cause a bad skin reaction. Try any treatment months in advance and make sure your skin is up for it and then again a few weeks before the wedding. If your skin is particularly sensitive, or maybe even your wallet, there are tons of home treatments you can try. Lemon and yogurt are great for your hair, and honey, oatmeal and bananas make a great face mask. Here's a great site I found with lots of spa at home tips and recipes. www.spaindex.com/HomeSpa/HomeSpa.htm But be sure to test these as well!
• Mehendi - Every Indian Bride for years has had to face the challenge of how to get the best mehendi color for her wedding day. Contrary to the myth that you should get your mehendi done the day before your wedding, the best time to get your mehendi done is 2-3 days before your wedding day, as mehendi reaches its peak color 2 days after its been removed. Try to keep the mehendi on for at least 6 hours, if possible sleep overnight with it on. Keep it wrapped up in paper and not plastic as plastic prevents air circulation. Apply a mixture of lemon and sugar about 2-3 times, but don't over do it. Scrape off your mehendi, don't wash it off, and keep your hands from water for 2-3 hours after removing the mehendi. Once removed, massage in oil over the design. If you keep all these tricks in mind, your mehendi will be at its best!
• Don't crash diet! The worst thing for you to do is to get engaged and then immediately put yourself on some sort of crazy crash diet. Many times a crazy diet can have the opposite effect, it can slow down your metabolism and force your body to burn fewer calories. Instead, make small realistic changes and adopt a healthier lifestyle. Start going to the gym with your fiance or a friend so you have someone else to motivate you as well. As always get plenty of water, fruit and vegetables in your diet and that will help your skin, nails and hair too. If you are steadily losing weight be sure to get your last dress fitting as late as possible and then hold steady! You don't want to be running to the tailor the day before your wedding.
• Make-Up - Generally when applying make up for your wedding day, one should have a slightly heavier hand. The make up has to show up in your photographs and has to last all day. But remember that make-up is there to enhance your features, not make you look like someone else. If you're used to wearing little or no make up, then a little mascara, lipstick and concealer can go a long way, you don't have to worry that you have to cake it on. Remember to blend blend blend, and of course try the look before hand. If you buy your make-up months in advance be careful that you don't tan or lose color, you want to be sure that your foundation is still blending well. Your wedding planner will of course always be nearby with the essentials like lipstick and powder for touch ups, otherwise, ask your bridesmaid or friend to carry it around for you.
• Bag of Tricks - Don't forget to pack and carry your beauty survival kit, complete with scissors, thread and needle, deodorant, lotion, toothbrush, perfume, eyelash glue (perfect for keeping those bindis and jewelry pieces from moving). Check out my blogpost on your complete wedding survival kit!
• Smile! - After all the primping and prepping, just try your best to get a good night's sleep the night before, even though you could stay up and take care of a million little things. Remember to eat on your wedding day, give yourself the energy to party all night! And finally don't get caught up in the details anymore, your fiance will think that you are the most beautiful girl he's ever seen - that's why he asked you to marry him. Let that thought sink in and let it show on your face - everyone will notice that the most!