As a wedding photographer, I’ve picked up a lot of dos and donts along the way. When people are preparing for their wedding they make mistakes along the way that can greatly impact how they look on their wedding day such as trying an experimental facial or getting waxed the morning of the wedding. You can find endless wedding photography information on my website (to see some of my beautiful wedding photography click here) but I have a lot of friends in the industry who have valuable information that I want to share with you that are outside my scope of photography. My long-time friend Robin has collaborated with me on this blog and I interviewed her to get her intel and expertise about hair and makeup for Weddings. Now, hair and makeup are not unrelated to photography because I want you to be as confident as possible looking back at your photos. How you look on your day is the foundation for the photos and no matter how good my photography or photoshop is you can still prepare to make yourself look as beautiful as possible. Some people are clueless about what is expected and show up totally unprepared. You could be breaking out from a facial you tried or just hungover and oily from partying the night before. Either way, if you follow these essential bridal tips and tricks you can ensure you look your best for your wedding and feel ecstatic flipping through your wedding album for the rest of your life.

At least a month before you should have a hair and makeup trial with your artists and if you want anything changed they can tweak it to make sure it looks exactly how you want it when your wedding day comes. If you just aren’t feeling their style anymore you have time to find a new hair or makeup artist.  This applies not only to your wedding but to engagement photos, pre-bridal portraits, or any other parties or events. Doing a bridal hair and makeup trial is the most important way to make sure you’ll love how you look on your wedding day. It is so important even if you feel like it isn’t necessary. I’ve had many brides express regret for not doing a trial and not being prepared for the outcome.

At least 2 weeks before your wedding, you should hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Lots of water means less acne and less chance of breakouts happening. When your body is hydrated your skin is healthy and can reach its full potential. Proper hydration levels help the skin to become plump and improve its elasticity, meaning it’s less likely to crack and have irritations and blemishes. Wrinkles are less visible and makeup won’t set into any preventable cracks in the face. Stress will exasperate acne and people don’t hydrate in the stress of planning their wedding. If you aren’t hydrating enough, make sure to set a timer on your phone to remind yourself to drink a cup of water at least a few times every day. Hydration is the best gift you can give your skin and face.

Facials can bring out acne and abnormalities so they’re recommended before your wedding but following this timeline is important. Getting a facial about 2 weeks before your wedding gives your skin enough time to recover in case any reactions occur. Saunas and facials remove toxins that need to come out. These treatments can have you looking refreshed, acne-free, and lacking discoloration. If your face is prepped the makeup can sit better on your face and looks better all day, especially in your photos. If you don’t know how your skin is going to react it’s better to get it done sooner rather than later.

If you’re planning on booking a massage make sure that it is at least 2 weeks before your wedding because they can make you sick or nauseous. Massages can push a lot of water out of you which leads to more frequent urination and inconsistent sleeping. Due to that, it’s not recommended to get one right before the wedding. You deserve to relax so treat yourself without having to worry about it being a time crunch or any adverse effects that might mess with your wedding timeline. Of course, deep tissue massages are more of a concern than a light massage but both can still make you slightly ill the next day. Many brides decide to get their nails, waxing, facials, and more on one big spa day a week or two before their wedding. It’s a good idea to have a relaxing day in the middle of the chaos of planning a wedding and following a timeline is key.

Anything to do with threading or waxing has to be done at least 2 weeks before, especially if you’ve never waxed or threaded before because all bodies react differently and some bodies need to get used to the process. If done for the first time it could be more painful than you expected and your skin could have an adverse reaction such as a rash, hives, blotchiness, discoloration, or tenderness. If done closer to the day you could have a botched job or unwanted redness. Most experts recommend that if you currently get regular waxing or threading then 2-3 days before the wedding should be fine but NEVER on the day of. 

Dirty hair curls well but not to the point of oily. If your hair is naturally curly have it pre-straightened so it comes out the best it can. To straighten hair can take 1 to 2 hours so make sure to allow enough time in your day to get everything done. For even better results, curl your hair on the second or third day after shampooing. Dirty hair can hold a curl better than squeaky clean hair, and it’ll save you a lot of prep time, too. If your hair feels greasy the night before, start with dry shampoo and if it still seems too oily you can wash it. Everyone’s hair has different levels of oil and different textures so if you know what is best for your hair then follow that regimen. Most hairdressers don’t want perfectly clean hair because it does not hold a style as the natural oils allow some sort of moldability. Due to this, try not to wash it the morning of the wedding or the day before.

Punctuality is the most important thing on your wedding day. Everyone will thank you if you’re patient and show up on time. It also allows us more time to achieve and perfect the look you desire most without having to rush. If you arrive early or on time it also allows for time if an emergency comes up in the chaos of your big day. A lot of people underestimate how much time they will actually need to get ready so time management is the most important factor in having your wedding day run smoothly. Punctuality also means hiring a great makeup artist with great reviews. If you hire your cousin who does great makeup that doesn’t ensure they’re going to be punctual but if you hire a professional the chances of everything being on time are much higher. 

During the hair trial, extensions are to be discussed and most clients actually bring their own. Clip-ins are generally preferred because they can be put in and removed quickly and fairly easily. They offer instant volume and, thanks to the seamless removal, require almost no maintenance or upkeep. Extensions immediately elevate your look and add thickness and drama. They can be used just for your wedding hair and taken out right after. Plus, they are generally much more affordable than committing to more permanent extension options. Another tip is to check with your stylist and make sure the color of the extensions blend seamlessly into your hair.

On your wedding day show up with a clean, dry face. You can moisturize if you need to but makeup artists like Robin prepare the whole face. Showing up to your makeup appointment with a clean, dry face allows the makeup artist to have a blank slate and less prep work is needed to begin your makeup. Your makeup artist will thank you for allowing them to have an easy start. If you have a skincare regimen you usually follow make sure not to skip it the night before or the morning of.

Let’s face it, you might be worried about crying your makeup off during your wedding. That’s a valid concern because it seriously happens all the time but it can be easily prevented with a few simple hacks, such as waterproof foundation, eyeliner, lashes, and mascara. If you could get lash extensions that is a big plus and you won’t have to worry about them falling off.  Otherwise, If you’re going to wear traditional false lashes, carry eyelash glue with you all day because if you start crying or sweating that glue might not hold.  If you use waterproof makeup your makeup also looks better in your photos and won’t need many touchups, long after your makeup artist has left.

Thank you for checking out our blog and a big thank you to Robin for giving me some of her expertise. if you are looking for Wedding photography in Orange County, Los Angeles County and Inland Empire area in California and if you love my work please contact me now! If you are ready to book your wedding, engagement, maternity newborn, family, sexy or boudoir or high school senior portraits please call Edna Eudave Square Eye Photography 714-420-8285 NOW! We shoot locally and globally.. contact me for pricing for destination wedding photography! I am in the historic home district of Whittier California in the North Orange County, South Los Angeles County area. The surrounding cities are

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