There are dresses and cake to choose, the reception hall to reserve, the band to book, the favors to order. There’s so much for the bride-to-be to do before the wedding. But in the flurry of planning and running errands, don’t forget one of the most important elements of your wedding—you!

When the music rises to a crescendo and everyone turns to gaze at you—the bride coming up the aisle—all eyes will be on you. By planning some beauty strategy, you can not only turn heads, but feel serene and confident, too. Here are some tips for looking and feeling your best on your wedding day.

Inner Beauty

To get that head-to-toe healthy glow, start on the inside.

1. Eat right. Make sure to get five servings of fruits and vegetables daily to maintain a healthy weight, and vibrant skin and hair tone. This is not the time to fad-diet, as erratic eating patterns can wear on your appearance and cause your energy to flag.
2. Exercise daily. A regular workout routine will improve circulation and erase the effects of stress, which can boost overall appearance and energy. 
3. Cut down on caffeine, salt, sugar and grease. These foods can cause weight gain, stress and bloating. 
4. Drink water. Hydration keeps digestion running smoothly and helps with feeling good, keeping headaches at bay and warding off fatigue. 
5. Take your vitamins. A daily multivitamin can work wonders on anything from indigestion and insomnia to frayed nerves.
   

Hair

Whether you’re planning an up-do, a twist, or silky and swingy, get to the root of healthy hair. Here are some ways to nourish hair inside and out.

1. Get your Bs. Experts believe a diet rich in vitamin B helps bring out hair’s natural shine. Foods such as fish, nuts and eggs will give you a head start on healthy hair.
2. Give your hair the royal treatment. An invigorating scalp massage and deep-conditioning treatment about four weeks before your wedding not only feels good, but stimulates hair follicles and adds volume. 
3. Trim your tresses. Remember that once your hair gets split ends, no product can repair the damage, so get your hair trimmed routinely to keep it vibrant.
   

Face

Your face will be the center of attention on your wedding day—the walk down the aisle, the moment you turn to your groom in the ceremony, the photos in the wedding album.

To achieve healthy, glowing skin, Cindy Ajay, owner of Blue Sky Day Spa in Sacramento, gives this advice:

1. Start a skin care routine about six months before the big day.
2. Get a facial every four weeks to clear up any problem spots and slough off old skin cells. 
3. Don’t get a facial too close to the wedding day. Facials often cause redness, rash or irritations, especially for first-timers, people with sensitive skin or acne, or those trying a new skin product. Most experts warn against getting a facial within 10 days of the wedding day.
4. Much of the effect of good facials or peels can be lost if the bride doesn’t keep up a healthy skin regimen at home. Check with salons for a line of high-quality home care products and tailor those products to your particular skin type (dry, oily or combination).
5. Acne or rashes need special care from a dermatologist.
6. Stay hydrated! Drinking plenty of water, especially the day before and the day of your wedding, will make your face look dewy and radiant.
7. Dark circles and puffiness under the eyes is a common affliction for brides-to-be, as late nights take their toll. The skin around the eyes is particularly sensitive, so use a water-soluble makeup remover for eyes, and be gentle. Nightly applications of eye cream and a cool compress once or twice a week will keep puffiness at bay. Also, get adequate sleep.
8. Steer clear of salty foods the week before your wedding. These foods can cause water retention and swelling around the eyes.
9. When you pucker up at the end of the ceremony, your lips should be in the best possible shape. A vitamin E stick, sold at drug stores or health food stores, smoothes cracks and creases. To exfoliate lips once a week, wet a toothbrush with warm water and brush lips gently. And protect your kisser with sunscreen.
   

Types of Facials

1. European facial—a standard treatment for relatively healthy skin.
2. Deep pore cleansing facial—for acne, whiteheads and blackheads. 
3. Glycolic acid peel—a series of six treatments given once a week peel off the skin’s topical layer, smoothing acne scars, lines or wrinkles, and revealing a fresh face. Be sure to wear sunscreen after an acid peel. 
4. Multivitamin power treatment—geared toward older brides, this exfoliation facial is milder than a glycolic. The vitamin mask helps erase premature signs of aging, and tones and texturizes skin.
   

Makeup

You don’t want to look like a clown on your wedding day; you want to look like you. These tips will help you put your best face forward.

1. Experiment with a good makeup line. A test run of makeup will ensure it’s right for your skin type and that it doesn’t cause your face to break out.
2. Get the inside scoop. Most beauty salons will train a bride on makeup application, so she can do her own on the wedding day. 
3. Or hire a professional. Arrange to have makeup professionally applied the morning of the event, or have a makeup artist come to your home or wedding site. (Many brides get makeup applied with their bridesmaids.)
4. Moisture first, application second. Apply a moisturizer before putting on makeup—it helps hold makeup in place. Find a good cream foundation that covers beautifully and smooths flaws in your skin.
5. Conceal dark circles. A concealer for dark circles under the eyes will help you look rested. 
6. Use waterproof mascara. No one wants raccoon eyes on their wedding day, so use a waterproof mascara that won’t smudge or smear, even if you cry. 
7. Keep it natural. In general, more natural-looking makeup will give you a fresh and timeless look for photos.
8. Choose a bright lip color. Pale or muted brown tones can make you look washed out in photos, especially if you’re wearing white. You can wear a neutral hue as a base, with a pink or rose color on top, or choose a darker lipstick as a base and apply a lighter sheer pink on top to give you a lift.
9. Use a bronzing powder. To make skin more luminous and even out skin tone, use a bronzing powder on your chest and neck. Don’t apply foundation to your chest area—it can stain your dress. 
10. Wear sunscreen. If you’re going to be outdoors, wear sunscreen, so you don’t turn too pink.

Body

While your face may be in the spotlight, don’t forget the rest of your body.

1. The backless dress. Brides wearing backless dresses should get a “back facial” for smooth shoulders and back, free of acne, whiteheads and blackheads.
2. The healthy tan. For a healthy tanned look, don’t turn to tanning beds or booths. Instead, Ajay, owner of Blue Sky Day Spa, recommends getting skin buffed, bronzed and exfoliated, then applying a self-tanning moisturizing cream two days before the wedding. Skin will be tan and fresh without the unnatural, orange side effects.
3. Below the collar bone. If your gown will show off some décolleté, treat this region—below the collarbone and above the chest—like an extension of your face, except the skin is thinner, more fragile and has fewer oil glands. Keep it supple and smooth by exfoliating with a gentle face scrub every other day, applying a light daily moisturizer and using sunscreen when heading out in a low-cut blouse.

Waxing Tips

Waxing should be done at least two days before the wedding, because it can cause swelling, redness or irritation, especially on fair-skinned people.

1. For a bikini wax, hair growth needs to be at least a quarter of an inch for waxing to work best. 
2. Don’t drink caffeine just before a wax, and don’t schedule a wax during your menstrual period—both heighten pain.
   

Consider getting professional waxing at a salon to remove unwanted hair from:

• upper lip
• eyebrows 
• bikini line
• underarms  

Hands

When he slips the ring on your finger and holds your hand for the first dance, you’ll be glad you included your hands in your beauty routine.

1. Get regular manicures. To achieve soft, smooth hands, consider getting regular manicures that include hand massages, moisturizers and paraffin treatments.
2. Use lotion. Don’t forget regular moisturizing at home in between treatments to keep hands irresistibly touchable.

Nails

Natural nails, not fake, are the way to go these days. To show off your best natural nails:

1. Start getting manicures and pedicures about two months before your wedding day. This strengthens natural nail beds and helps grow healthy nails.
2. Nurture nails with manicures and pedicures about every three to four weeks, which will prevent fungus, cracking or damage. 
3. Don’t wait until a couple of days before the wedding to get your first manicure or pedicure—it might cause irritation or swelling.

Legs and Feet

Well-treated feet are less likely to blister in uncomfortable wedding day shoes as you dance the night away. For soft feet, use this tough love routine in the months leading up to the wedding.

1. Exfoliate. Use a pumice stone or foot rasp daily to scrub away dry, rough skin on the feet. Feet should be damp, but not sopping wet, as exfoliation doesn’t work on completely saturated skin.
2. Moisturize. Slather a thick moisturizer on your feet and slip on a pair of socks just before bedtime to moisturize overnight.
   

For legs, shave only after skin has been softened with warm water, and use a moisturizing shave cream. Apply a rich moisturizer while legs are still damp from the shower.

Massage

Take time to decompress. The stress of planning and preparing for a wedding can cause:

• neck and back strain
• facial breakouts 
• sleeplessness 
• headaches
  

If you’re not feeling at the top of your game, it can show in your appearance.

Many salons offer special packages for the bride-to-be, including:

• full- or partial-body massage
• hot stone massage 
• body wraps 
• pedicures and manicures, with a relaxing lunch
  

Grooming the Groom

Don’t forget the man on your arm when planning to look your best on your day. Men are increasingly getting skin and hair treatments and massages before the wedding. Ajay says it’s not uncommon for a groom and his buddies to meet at a spa for facials, waxing, massages and hair styling.