The wedding date is set, now what? We consulted Valley pros about the timeline and they spilled their secrets! Read on to ensure that you're glowing from the inside out just in time for the big day.
5–6 Months Before Your Wedding
Go to the dentist. Visiting your dentist six months before your big day gives ample time to treat dental issues and figure out a plan of action for your perfect smile on your perfect day. “When it comes to improving your smile as a bride or groom, don't wait–plan ahead,” says Dr. Jacquline Owens of Bethlehem Smiles. The type of work that you and your dentist decide is necessary can vary from prosthetic—like veneers or crowns—to Botox and fillers or whitening. The knee jerk response to desiring a whitening effect may be to purchase something over the counter, but Owens warns against going that route: “Most whitening products that are offered over the counter contain abrasives in them to ‘buff out' surface stains and therefore make teeth appear lighter. These products can have successful yet limited results. They may remove mild extrinsic or surface stains, but bleaching products remove deeper, intrinsic stains and can have stunning results,” she says. Whatever dental work you desire, it's important to consult with a professional while there's still enough time to see results before the wedding.
Schedule a makeup consultation. “In the early stage of wedding preparation, brides usually are looking to book their makeup trial consultation. We recommend our brides set up their consultation about six months prior to her wedding date,” says Carmen Toro of Beauty Alibi. Why six months? It's important to meet and create a relationship with your makeup artist, and give yourself enough time to find your ideal look for the big day. Toro also recommends giving yourself ample time for a consultation to discuss likes and dislikes, and provide potential ideas on what you're seeking without the rush or stress that comes as the wedding approaches closer.
Enlist a personal trainer. If you're a bride looking to achieve a dream body for a dream day, it's worth considering enlisting the help of a personal trainer. Your health-related goals will dictate the length of time necessary to achieve them effectively and safely. Whitney Carullo, co-owner of Liven Up Health & Fitness, knows this all too well. “Pick a budget, create a goal and a timeline that makes sense and find the perfect trainer,” she says. “Give yourself an adequate amount of time to hit those goals because we all know planning a wedding is stressful enough to begin with!” While personal training is an added expense, it's a worthwhile pursuit if it will make you feel more comfortable in your own skin. Fitness aspirations and time will vary between people, but every bride deserves to feel confident on her wedding day.
Show your skin some love. Amanda King, licensed esthetician and co-owner of Apotheca Salon, suggests brides start getting facials on a monthly basis leading up to their wedding day. Healthy, radiant skin and relaxation? Yes, please!
3 Months Before Your Wedding
See a brow boss. Considering microblading for the big day? Similar to traditional tattooing, microblading is done with a small tool made up of needles that deposits semi-permanent pigment and creates very realistic looking brow hairs. Owner of The Lash Bar & More, Alyssa Sedler says, “Microblading is something I wouldn't recommend getting just for a wedding, but if it's something the bride has been looking into, then I would say it's definitely worth.” Not all brides will require microblading, but for those with sparse brows looking to add definition and shape to their face, it's something that should be considered and completed three to four months before the wedding.
Start waxing! For the best results, Joanna Grzegorzek, lead esthetician at Everlast Esthetic Center, says that brides to be should start the waxing process at least three months prior to the wedding date. The reason behind such an early start is to ensure the weakening of the hair follicle, which will result in slower and finer hair growth. The courser the hair, the further out a bride should start, if seeking those benefits. As the hair follicle weakens and produces thinner hair, the hair removal process becomes less painful. “It's very important to condition the skin with the use of products or exfoliating sponges to keep the skin hydrated and exfoliated to prevent any ingrown hairs,” says Grzegorzek.
1-2 Months Before Your Wedding
Begin your teeth whitening. If whiter teeth is a concern, now is the time to start the physical process. A convenient option, ZOOM is done in the dentist's office under an LED light in about an hour. “This is the most popular option and the most convenient, since it's applied by a professional and completed in one visit, with no night time whitening routine,” says Dr. Owens of Bethlehem Smiles. However, there are take-home options for those who have the preference, and there are some differences that should be considered. With Opalescence take-home professional gel, your dentist will create custom whitening trays and give a specific concentration of gel, depending on what the patient needs and their level of sensitivity. “The trays may be worn for 30 minutes or up to six hours at a time for a week or so. This may be a good option for a very sensitive patient, as the bleaching occurs slowly over the course of a few days,” says Owens. Opalescence GO is similar but are worn for 15–20 minutes each night and contain hydrogen peroxide. To put it into perspective, Owens says, “This option is the most economical of all three options. This product is a ‘step up' from Crest white strips when it comes to strength; however, I do recommend Crest White Strips for minor touch ups.”
1-3 Weeks Before Your Wedding
Prep your lashes. There's something so elegant about wispy, romantic lashes, but the effect isn't always perfectly achieved via a coat of mascara. With a full lash trend on the rise, brides have several choices. A very popular option is lash extensions, which are used to enhance length, fullness, thickness and curl by adhering extensions to the natural lash. There's also a lash lift, which is like a push up-bra for your lashes, and defines and separates the lashes. It's often complimented with a lash tint—the process of dying the lashes to give weeks' worth of dark, full-looking lashes without needing to apply mascara. “For a bride, what I recommend all goes based on that individual person,” says Sedler of The Lash Bar & More. “Every bride has a preference, but if they are looking into wearing false eyelashes, I always recommend extensions. Extensions are great because [brides] don't have to worry about the lashes coming up off the eye, and with extensions you can truly customize from classic all the way to volume where you will get more of a fluffy look.” Sedler recommends a lift and/or a tint at least three to four days before the wedding, because the lashes can't be wet for the first 24 hours and the client should not put mascara on for at least 48 hours. Lash extensions are a bit different depending on if the client intends on a one-time experience or is interested in making lash extensions a staple in her beauty routine (over time, lash extensions shed and need to be filled). “Personally, I think it is up to the bride on when she'd like to get her lash extensions done,” Sedler says. “I always recommend getting a full set and then one fill before the wedding to make sure the bride knows how to properly care for the extensions. However, if they would like to just get a full set and no fill, I recommend within a couple days of the wedding, but never the same day as the wedding.”
Groom your brows. Brows are similar to lashes in terms of the timeline. “For waxing and tinting, I recommend about three to four days before [the wedding] so the skin can calm down and makeup can adhere properly to the skin,” says Sedler.
Experiment with a spray tan. Around this time, it's worth considering if you're planning on getting a spray tan before your wedding. “We recommend that all brides try out a spray tan a few weeks prior to the big day,” says Lorena Bravo, owner of Organic Tans & Beauty Bar. “Ideally, the first time they get a spray tan is not the time before their wedding. The wearability and longevity of a tan depends largely on how a client's skin and lifestyle take to it. Our skin is our largest organ, so anything we go through physiologically can have an effect on how the tan wears.” If you're even slightly considering a spray tan, it's worth trying out ahead of time to get a feel for the wear and coloring you prefer.
Do your hair trial. Owner of With Love Mary Salon, Mary Ott recommends brides go for a hair trial three weeks prior to the wedding. “Some brides have this misconception that their trial run needs to be done sooner than later to ensure that they have their style set in stone. The truth of the matter is things change during their journey to their big day,” says Ott. “In my professional opinion, I think three weeks is the right amount of time to feel secure in their hair style decision.” To get the full effect of the look, Ott advocates wearing a shirt that somewhat mimics the top of your bridal gown to see a soft image of how the hair would pair with your dress. Ott is a big believer in helping guests get as close to their final look as possible. “I also suggest to my brides on the day of their appointment to bring any jewelry, hair ornaments, hair accessories, veil—anything that is going to be worn on the day-of,” she says.
Get your pre-wedding facial. The final facial before the wedding should be done the week of the event. King, of Apotheca Salon, says, “The facial would concentrate on a gentle exfoliation and hydration to make the skin glow. We have been using products from Little Barn Apothecary, and their pumpkin enzyme is perfect because it dissolves dead skin cells and exfoliates without irritating the skin.”
1-2 Days Before Your Wedding
Treat your hair. The weekend before your wedding, Ott, of With Love Mary Salon, suggests the use of a shine enhancement treatment as well as a conditioning treatment to ensure healthy and photo-ready locks. Shiny, healthy hair is the key to a good Instagram picture.
Go for your final wax. In those few final days before the wedding, a bride is likely to want a final touch up in regards to waxing. Grzegorzek, of Everlast Esthetic Center, recommends that a bride waxes at least three days prior to the wedding—in the case that any skin irritations were to arise, this would give the skin time to calm down.
Get your nails done. Owner of Nailplay Studio, Tuyen Bui recommends waiting until a few days before the wedding to get your nails done. “If a bride gets her nails done too soon, there's a chance of it chipping, and who has time to run to the salon on their wedding day when there's a zillion other things to do?” says Bui. Plus, allowing yourself a day of pampering before your wedding is sure to alleviate some of the stress and nerves you've been experiencing since the start of planning. There's nothing like rest, relaxation and beautiful nails to reinvigorate the soul.
Get your pre-wedding spray tan. If a bride decides she's going to get spray tanned for the big day, it should be the last step in her beauty regimen before the wedding. Bravo, of Organic Tans & Beauty Bar, says a spray tan could last as little as three days or as long as 10. “Unlike conventional tanning beds or sun-bathing, a custom tan is not one that's ‘built,' meaning it doesn't require more than one visit for a bride to achieve their perfect tone. We recommend that skin be flawlessly exfoliated and showered to maximize spray tan results,” she says, warning: “Massages, facials, waxing, manicures and pedicures need to be done 24–48 hours prior to the tan.” In Organic Tans' spray tan lineup, Bravo recommends the Natural Glow, as the tones contrast and compliment a light-colored gown. “We recommend that brides don't get their faces sprayed. All good makeup artists should be able to perfectly match their skin tone,” she says.
The Day of Your Wedding
Sit back and enjoy your special day, because you deserve it!
