Now in the peak of wedding season, many couples’ wedding dates are fast approaching. Whilst you may have got all the elements ticked off your wedding planning list, make sure you factor in plenty of time for the bridal prep!
At Mirabella Weddings, not only do we ensure your wedding is planned to perfection, but we’re also on hand for support and advice throughout the process. We want to make sure you can fully relax and enjoy the build-up to the day. Use our checklist below to make sure you’ve got all your bridal prep covered. The bulk of the hard work is done – now’s your time to be well and truly pampered!
Hair
Aim to get your hair cut and coloured around two weeks before the wedding, to allow it time to ‘settle’. Ensure your hair length is consistent with how you had it at your hair trial, so that there are no issues on the day itself with replicating your chosen style. Use a luxurious mask or treatment in the weeks running up to your wedding to ensure your hair is in top condition.
Diet
Every bride wants clear skin on their wedding day, so make sure you’re having a vitamin-packed diet in the few months leading up to your wedding. This will help you feel better inside and out. Combined with drinking plenty of water (this is key!), this will help you achieve that glowing complexion and help to fight off any last-minute breakouts.
Try and include lots of proteins and healthy fats, from nuts and oily fish, to give you strong, healthy hair and nails.
Avoid any last-minute crash diets – as much as you want to fit in your wedding dress, there’s also nothing worse than it looking too big. Try and eat consistently in the few weeks before your wedding, so that your weight can be maintained after your final fitting.
Sleep
No bride, or groom, wants big bags under their eyes on their wedding day. It’s of course common to be stressed or nervous in the build-up to your wedding day but sleep is so important to ensure you’re feeling your best and can fully enjoy yourself.
Try and avoid screens for at least an hour or ideally two before bed and make sure you leave your phone outside of the bedroom. If you’re into it, try and get into the habit of practicing mindfulness as this can really help you relax before bed.
Try lighting a scented candle and using some relaxing pillow mist spray. We particularly love Molton Brown’s Ylang Ylang range – the scent is delicious and oh-so-relaxing. After a relaxing bath or shower, use their body lotion for soft, smooth skin and settle into bed with a good book and the matching scented candle lit. Too often we say we don’t have time for these things – but if you avoid falling into the trap of turning on the TV, it’s not so hard to get into a routine.
Exercise
Exercise is one of the easiest ways to make yourself feel better and help you to de-stress before your wedding. Try and get a balance of higher intensity cardio to burn off any tension, with something more relaxing like either yoga or pilates to help you switch off. A quick walk around the block at lunch or after dinner can also really help – even if you are pressed for time.
London brides – if you’re after a fun but full body workout, my personal favourites are Kobox or F45, or for something a little more relaxing but still hard-working, try the barre classes at Blok.
Wax
Ok, so this bit isn’t a fun or relaxing part of bridal prep … but it’s pretty high on most bride’s final prep regimes! Try and book it in the morning, so that you can go and get your nails done and have a more enjoyable treat afterwards.
Spa
Nothing beats a good massage or a facial to help you relax, so try and find a couple of spare hours and squeeze in a quick trip to a spa or salon for some serious me-time. For the ultimate luxury indulgence, try Cowshed. Whilst a facial can help to increase blood flow and improve the brightness of your skin, make sure you have it at least 7-10 days before your wedding to allow time for any potential breakouts to clear before your wedding. Similarly with a massage – if you’re wearing a backless wedding dress!
Nails
Aim to get your nails done the day before our wedding, to reduce the risks of chips and avoid any regrowth. Opt for a gel-based mani and pedi to ensure it maintains its shine and to reduce the risk of chipping. For subtle yet modern nails, try DryBy London. They do seriously stylish nails (and also great blow dries!). They recently launched their new bridal range, in collaborate with Alex Steinherr – and it’s safe to say it’s anything but your typical ‘bridal’. This new range features a subtle nude colour polish, with different variations of on-trend metallic gold nail art, ranging from subtle stripes to seriously chic tiny clusters of gold stars.
Fragrance
Choosing the right fragrance is such an important decision. Smell can be so evocative, and by choosing a fragrance that you can wear again in the future, you know that that scent will immediately take you back to memories of your wedding day.
For a productive yet indulgent afternoon, try the Jo Malone ‘Scent Your Wedding’ experience. This is a half an hour appointment with one of their consultants, helping you to find the perfect fragrance for you. Not only do you get a personalised service, you get a number of little sweet treats, glasses of bubbly and a relaxing luxury hand and arm massage. What’s not to love?! This was definitely one of my favourite bridal prep experiences in the build-up to my own wedding and thoroughly recommended!
Lastly… Enjoy Yourself!
There’s so much pressure on brides to look their best on their big day, but what’s most important is that you feel your best. Take the time to look after yourself in the build-up and listen to what your body needs. If that’s a slice of cake, or a few glasses of bubbly, then so be it! This is the time to enjoy yourself and look forward to the best day of your lives! And if there’s anything we can do to lighten the load, let us know.
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