10 Top Tips

For The Bride

1. Starting six months prior to your wedding day, have a facial once a month to ensure a radiant complexion.
2. Adopt a healthy eating and regular exercise regime. Also, remember to drink lots of water and herbal teas.
3. If you are spray tanning for your wedding, trial the product or professional service first to be certain you are going to like the end result. A bad spray tan can look tragic, whereas a good one looks fabulous.
4. Do not neglect your hands and feet. Frequent manicures and pedicures are a must. Clean your engagement ring and any other jewellery you will be wearing.
5. Check your wedding gown fits perfectly prior to it leaving the store. Ensure all beading is sewn on securely, zips work and, if needs be, somewhere for you to hang your train so you are free to dance the night away. Another pearl of wisdom is to also try on your gown with the undergarments you intend to wear on your wedding day to ensure they fit perfectly under your dress.
6. If you are wearing a strapless gown, take your bra off at least three hours before the photographer’s arrival on your wedding day. Bra strap marks stay embedded in the skin for a long time and look unsightly in photographs.
7. Delegate a trouble-shooter with good people and organisational skills to oversee and deal with any unexpected hitches on the day (touch wood). You do not need the added stress.
8. Confirm flowers, hair and make-up artists at least a month before your big day.
9. While getting ready do not forget to eat. Pack straws and organise bite-size portions of food to be available so eating and drinking will not spoil your make-up.
10. The beauty preparations before the wedding ceremony and celebrations are a very important part of your day. Enjoy all the pampering and attention. Have some Rescue Remedy (available from all good health food shops) on hand in case you need to calm nervous butterflies. Make sure you have a compact and lipstick for touch-ups.

For The Groom

1. For those final touches, be careful not to choose an aftershave that is overpowering.
2. Once you have selected the colour and style of your suits, you and your groomsmen can make an evening of getting measured up. Remember to do this about three months prior to the wedding to guarantee you get what you want.
3. If purchasing your suit ensure there is sufficient time for any necessary alterations to be done. Similarly, any accessories that need to be purchased such as shoes, socks, shirts and ties should be done so at least two months beforehand. Be sure to have your shirt professionally pressed.
4. If hiring a suit, choose a hire company you feel can offer you expert advice and a wide range of styles, as well as fitting rooms to try them on – ensuring the correct cut and fit for you and your groomsmen.
5. Try on your actual hire suit at least two days prior to the wedding to check the colours, sizes and quality of the garments. If you have changed size for any reason, this allows time for adjustments, as well as time to fix any minor faults such as a missing button or a loose thread.
6. To look your best, organise a haircut and/or beard trim one week prior to the wedding for a more natural appearance. Also, treat yourself to a manicure so your hands look nice for your new wedding ring.
7. If possible, shave early in the morning of your wedding day to ensure any irritation settles prior to the wedding.
8. Do not organise your bachelor party for the night before the ceremony – you may need your “beauty sleep”. Instead, plan some group activity, such as golf, with your groomsmen as a way to relax before on the morning of your wedding
9. Similarly, it will be a long day so do not be tempted to start celebrating before the ceremony.
10. To ensure you have a stress free day, delegate any last minute tasks to a reliable friend

Planning

1. Don’t drink too much alcohol on the day – it's a long day and you will be making speeches, dancing the bridal waltz, and doing a number of other things where you may need your wits about you.
2. Plan early.
3. Map out a timetable of everything you need to do, and stick to it.
4. Get everything in writing. This includes quotes, booking confirmations, descriptions of goods ordered and lists of services booked.
5. Keep everything together so nothing gets lost or forgotten.
6. If the planning is getting on top of you both, take time out. Take a mini holiday away from the stress of it all, and remember all the reasons why you’re getting married.
7. Be careful on your hen’s or buck’s night - it’s a special night for you and your friends, but don’t forget the reason you’re there
8. Expect some wedding day nerves, they’re normal for both of you. Wedding day nerves are similar to those you may get before doing a presentation or a speech - something that makes your heart race and your hands shake. The trick lies in managing the nerves, and recognising that they are simply your body’s way of preparing for something special. Take a warm bath, a long walk, or even treat yourself to a massage to help you relax and calm your nerves.
9. Groom’s should plan a surprise for their bride on entering the wedding night suite. It could be a bed covered in roses, a bottle of champagne and two glasses next to a bubble bath, or some beautiful lingerie.
10. Re-confirm everything to ensure there will be no hiccups on the day