This weekend one of my oldest friends is tying the knot! We've been running around together since high school, making questionable decisions, dancing, eating our way through every restaurant in town and slowly turning into real grownups. Our friend group has now seems less like just friendship, and more just like family. It's fantastic to see my friend settle down with a man that shares so many of her interests and is incredibly kind, helpful and fun, just like her!
But weddings aren't something you just show up to, especially when you're a bridesmaid. First there's the obvious prep work -- picking out a bridesmaid dress, coordinating shoes, bridal showers and bachelorette parties galore -- but that's all planned out with a group, most likely in a really large group chat that has your phone's battery life at 45% by 10am. The less obvious prepping is done on your own at home in the weeks prior to the wedding -- the bridesmaid's beauty plan. There are hairs to be banished, skin to be toned and fake-tanned (so as not to blind unsuspecting family members) and nails to be shaped and polished. And getting everything whipped into shape in a timely fashion requires a master's degree in scheduling. Fear not, I'm hear to share my plan!
3 Weeks Out
The calm before the storm. You're not in full-on prep mode yet, but all the pre-wedding parties have died down, you've (hopefully) grabbed something good off the registry for your gift and you've booked your hotel rooms.
Now's the time to schedule yourself in for a hair refresh. Whether that means a full cut and color, some simple color touchups or just a trim, doing this a few weeks out gives your hair time to grown into the cut a little so it doesn't have that new haircut severeness to it, but it still looks nice and fresh.
This is also a good time to pick up some teeth whitening strips if that's your jam. I'm not particularly concerned about my teeth on a day-to-day basis, but it's nice to have them looking extra pearly when you know there will be a million eyes and cameras on your smile.
2 Weeks Out
With a couple weeks left to go, make sure your skincare routine is on point. Do not, I repeat, do not think this is a good time to mix things up. You don't want your skin reacting to some new serum you decided to break out last minute thinking it'll cure everything when really you're just left with a bunch of acne or a weird red rash! Stick to the classics, but just be a bit more regimented about it. In general I recommend a good exfoliation routine for awhile to make sure your makeup on the big day goes on nice and smooth, wear your sunscreen religiously and mask a few times a week for that dewy glow. If you have an acne spots, I highly recommend these pimple patches!
You should also be thinking about your makeup plan for the day. Go through your makeup stash, plan out your look and make sure you've got everything you need. The last thing you want is to be out of your favorite product and not have enough time to restock! Take inventory, test out the look and, if necessary, get yourself down to the nearest makeup counter. Here's what I'll be using for this wedding: BECCA First Light Priming Filter mixed with Too Faced Hangover primer, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer, Urban Decay eyeshadow primer, MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Groundwork, Glossier Boy Brown in Brown, Glossier Lash Slick mascara base and Urban Decay Perversion mascara for an added boost, Glossier Cloud Paint in Dusk or NARS Orgasm blush, BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfecter in Moonstone and finally, NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien.
1 Week Out
By this point we're really just working on the finishing touches. We've laid a good foundation already, we just need to tie it all together.
The biggest thing for me is fake tanning. I am pale. So so pale. Blinding. About a week before I'm required to display my casper-like legs to anyone, I like to hit the gradual tanner. I start with an exfoliating moisturizer and dry brushing during the first days of the week to get a good canvas. Then I apply self-tanner every day for about 3 or 4 days before the event to make sure you can't see my veins anymore but I'm not too dark either. I keep up with the dry brushing after I've started tanning to make sure things are evened out nicely, but I switch from an exfoliating moisturizer to a normal one to make sure my skin is quenched. If you want some good tips for self-tanning, check out Jules Von Hep's instagram highlights!
This week I also tackle any tweezing that needs to be done. I'll clean up my eyebrows a bit to make sure I don't have any rogue hairs, but still leave them looking really natural. This way you've got a clean look but you don't have any danger of puffy red caterpillars above your eyes on the big day.
Day Before
It's game time.
Start your day with a nice relaxing shower. Wash your hair, scrub down and use all those fancy shower oils you've been stashing away for special occasions. Break out that razor and clean up whatever it is you like to clean up.
Next up, grab your nail file and polish. I'm a bit of a beauty minimalist these days so I just like to opt for a clear polish on my fingernails and maybe, just maybe, a classic red on my toes. Whatever you choose, just even out your nails, get all the dirt out from under your nails and make 'em shine.
Now all that's left is packing up and hitting the rehearsal. Good luck!
But weddings aren't something you just show up to, especially when you're a bridesmaid. First there's the obvious prep work -- picking out a bridesmaid dress, coordinating shoes, bridal showers and bachelorette parties galore -- but that's all planned out with a group, most likely in a really large group chat that has your phone's battery life at 45% by 10am. The less obvious prepping is done on your own at home in the weeks prior to the wedding -- the bridesmaid's beauty plan. There are hairs to be banished, skin to be toned and fake-tanned (so as not to blind unsuspecting family members) and nails to be shaped and polished. And getting everything whipped into shape in a timely fashion requires a master's degree in scheduling. Fear not, I'm hear to share my plan!
The calm before the storm. You're not in full-on prep mode yet, but all the pre-wedding parties have died down, you've (hopefully) grabbed something good off the registry for your gift and you've booked your hotel rooms.
Now's the time to schedule yourself in for a hair refresh. Whether that means a full cut and color, some simple color touchups or just a trim, doing this a few weeks out gives your hair time to grown into the cut a little so it doesn't have that new haircut severeness to it, but it still looks nice and fresh.
This is also a good time to pick up some teeth whitening strips if that's your jam. I'm not particularly concerned about my teeth on a day-to-day basis, but it's nice to have them looking extra pearly when you know there will be a million eyes and cameras on your smile.
2 Weeks Out
With a couple weeks left to go, make sure your skincare routine is on point. Do not, I repeat, do not think this is a good time to mix things up. You don't want your skin reacting to some new serum you decided to break out last minute thinking it'll cure everything when really you're just left with a bunch of acne or a weird red rash! Stick to the classics, but just be a bit more regimented about it. In general I recommend a good exfoliation routine for awhile to make sure your makeup on the big day goes on nice and smooth, wear your sunscreen religiously and mask a few times a week for that dewy glow. If you have an acne spots, I highly recommend these pimple patches!
You should also be thinking about your makeup plan for the day. Go through your makeup stash, plan out your look and make sure you've got everything you need. The last thing you want is to be out of your favorite product and not have enough time to restock! Take inventory, test out the look and, if necessary, get yourself down to the nearest makeup counter. Here's what I'll be using for this wedding: BECCA First Light Priming Filter mixed with Too Faced Hangover primer, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer, Urban Decay eyeshadow primer, MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Groundwork, Glossier Boy Brown in Brown, Glossier Lash Slick mascara base and Urban Decay Perversion mascara for an added boost, Glossier Cloud Paint in Dusk or NARS Orgasm blush, BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfecter in Moonstone and finally, NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien.
By this point we're really just working on the finishing touches. We've laid a good foundation already, we just need to tie it all together.
The biggest thing for me is fake tanning. I am pale. So so pale. Blinding. About a week before I'm required to display my casper-like legs to anyone, I like to hit the gradual tanner. I start with an exfoliating moisturizer and dry brushing during the first days of the week to get a good canvas. Then I apply self-tanner every day for about 3 or 4 days before the event to make sure you can't see my veins anymore but I'm not too dark either. I keep up with the dry brushing after I've started tanning to make sure things are evened out nicely, but I switch from an exfoliating moisturizer to a normal one to make sure my skin is quenched. If you want some good tips for self-tanning, check out Jules Von Hep's instagram highlights!
This week I also tackle any tweezing that needs to be done. I'll clean up my eyebrows a bit to make sure I don't have any rogue hairs, but still leave them looking really natural. This way you've got a clean look but you don't have any danger of puffy red caterpillars above your eyes on the big day.
Day Before
It's game time.
Start your day with a nice relaxing shower. Wash your hair, scrub down and use all those fancy shower oils you've been stashing away for special occasions. Break out that razor and clean up whatever it is you like to clean up.
Next up, grab your nail file and polish. I'm a bit of a beauty minimalist these days so I just like to opt for a clear polish on my fingernails and maybe, just maybe, a classic red on my toes. Whatever you choose, just even out your nails, get all the dirt out from under your nails and make 'em shine.
Now all that's left is packing up and hitting the rehearsal. Good luck!
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