*~*~Official '08 Wedding Day Prep Page~*~* (starts long!)

So I've read a lot about what girls plan to do to prep for the big day, so I figured i'd share some of the things i've learned along the way and plan on doing, and maybe you can all share yours??? You never know what you'll learn!!!! **Beauty/Hair related**


Tanning.....
Not sure if i'm going to delve into this for the big day. I managed 4 tanning salons on LI so it gave me enough experience to know that I will look like a tangerine.....However.....I am a HUGE fan of Brazil Bronze in Great Neck. **If** I do this, I plan on doing it 2 days before the wedding so that it has time to fade to a more normal looking tone.
Be aware that spray tans CAN fade if you sweat, which is why i'm not even sure if i'll be doing this. I plan on dancing a lot so idk if I really want the rims of my gown turning orange.


Skin....

I got the Bare Minerals night powder. Not 100% sure of the name, but it was about $60 and I love it. I put this on every night before bed and it works on acne and skin tone (color blotches, etc).

I go for a pedicure every 2 weeks and switch it up every other time with a Spa Pedicure. To keep my skin soft inbetween, i mix lotion with a drop of massage oil, rub it in before putting my socks on. It works great but you can't use too much oil. Just a drop works great.
I also apply the lotion and oil to my elbows and knees...anywhere you get really dry skin is a good idea.

I am also a HUGE FAN of B&BW exfoliating scrub (the one that is never on sale until this week!! woo hoo!!) I use that every single day on my arms and legs especially in the winter.

When I went for my hair trial, I spoke to my Hair Colorist (Erica from Lumara who I love!!) and she suggested a L'Oreal Deep Conditioning Mask. I only got it this week but after the first use my hair was pretty silky. I have very damaged hair from a recent bad idea of perming my hair (don't ask) so we'll see how this works. So far, so good!
She also suggested not washing hair everyday. She said every other is the best bet.


The best tip of all.....water. water water water!! It helps everything!!! :)

Tips....

To remove stains from dyed shoes (good for Bridesmaids to know if they are getting dyed shoes)....I heard nail polish remover works, or scrubbing with baking soda and peroxide. I have never tried this but I heard it works.

Anyone else doing something a little different for the next few months in preperation?? Hope this helps someone!

Thanks!! Very thoughtful!!!! Mary MOB

going for a facial every 4 weeks, and infact just got home from my facial. I have had problems with my skin this past year with breakouts, went to derms did all that but nothing was really working. I heard of this lady who specializes in problematic skin so decided to use her, and let me tell you that she is amazing, what a HUGE difference. I mentioned her before on here and another LIW'er started going to her, and has had great results too. Its painful though lol, the extracting part that is, and the worst is when they extract every single blackhead from your nose...but yeah i basically get poked with a needle non stop in my face for a while. the other parts are ok though, masks, high frequency treatment and stuff like that. But it makes such a huge difference with how my skin looks. Not only does it help with my breakouts but just how my skin looks in general, it gave my skin life, before it was looking kinda dull.

somebody messed up my eyebrows a while ago so trying to get them even again, same lady who is doing my facials is doing it and today it came out PERFECT i am so happy.

I go tanning and the bed i use is great, gives me a great tan. Doesn't look fake and when i tell people they are surprised so i will definitely tan for the wedding, but not going overboard of course just kind of that nice natural looking glow haha.

The Loreal professional expert shampoo and conditioner is great, i think they only sell this one in salons but makes a difference. Although ill have so many extensions in my hair so i am not too worried about this, but my big decision is whether i'll have red or blonde for the wedding and i keep going back and forth but i have to decide SOON bc if i want blonde then i need to start going back to blonde to get the right color by the wedding

above i said i am get facials but they're facials and treatments for problematic skin. BUt she also gives me a couple of things to put on my face such as: organic spot treatment serum, instead of regular cover up she gave me a dermatologists foundation to use instead so i use that now for make up which is great, glycolic peel cream, benzolyl cleanser, and camphor mask.

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Posted by Espo22

going for a facial every 4 weeks, and infact just got home from my facial. I have had problems with my skin this past year with breakouts, went to derms did all that but nothing was really working. I heard of this lady who specializes in problematic skin so decided to use her, and let me tell you that she is amazing, what a HUGE difference. I mentioned her before on here and another LIW'er started going to her, and has had great results too. Its painful though lol, the extracting part that is, and the worst is when they extract every single blackhead from your nose...but yeah i basically get poked with a needle non stop in my face for a while. the other parts are ok though, masks, high frequency treatment and stuff like that. But it makes such a huge difference with how my skin looks. Not only does it help with my breakouts but just how my skin looks in general, it gave my skin life, before it was looking kinda dull.

somebody messed up my eyebrows a while ago so trying to get them even again, same lady who is doing my facials is doing it and today it came out PERFECT i am so happy.

I go tanning and the bed i use is great, gives me a great tan. Doesn't look fake and when i tell people they are surprised so i will definitely tan for the wedding, but not going overboard of course just kind of that nice natural looking glow haha.

The Loreal professional expert shampoo and conditioner is great, i think they only sell this one in salons but makes a difference. Although ill have so many extensions in my hair so i am not too worried about this, but my big decision is whether i'll have red or blonde for the wedding and i keep going back and forth but i have to decide SOON bc if i want blonde then i need to start going back to blonde to get the right color by the wedding

above i said i am get facials but they're facials and treatments for problematic skin. BUt she also gives me a couple of things to put on my face such as: organic spot treatment serum, instead of regular cover up she gave me a dermatologists foundation to use instead so i use that now for make up which is great, glycolic peel cream, benzolyl cleanser, and camphor mask.

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nice. I hate facials....sooo painful sometimes!!! haha I was going to start going maybe next month, but I have to find a place in Jersey

What tanning bed do you use?? You never looked orange to me in pics, maybe you're on to something i don't know about?? It could just be my complexion though...I have light olive skin (italian) and even when i tan in the sun I brown quickly.

I'm not sure what color i'm going with for my hair either. Right now I have a dark chocolate brown base with bright bright red low lights and blonde high lights. Thats def. too much for wedding day. I'm not sure if I want to go with a brownish red (auburn?) or Blonde highlights with no red....decisions decisions...

Unfortunately I am a budget bride so I will:

Use crest white strips for at least 18 days (from costco)
Go tanning for very short spurts in a stand up bed (my dress is backless and I cant risk wierd lines)
For about 3-4 times about 1-2 weeks before the big day.

Get one facial about 3-4 weeks before (get those nasty blackheads out)
Wash/exfoliate/moisturize regularly
Obviously exercise with focus on toning in arms and back
hmmmmm that is all I can think of

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Posted by 040508Bride

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nice. I hate facials....sooo painful sometimes!!! haha I was going to start going maybe next month, but I have to find a place in Jersey

What tanning bed do you use?? You never looked orange to me in pics, maybe you're on to something i don't know about?? It could just be my complexion though...I have light olive skin (italian) and even when i tan in the sun I brown quickly.

I'm not sure what color i'm going with for my hair either. Right now I have a dark chocolate brown base with bright bright red low lights and blonde high lights. Thats def. too much for wedding day. I'm not sure if I want to go with a brownish red (auburn?) or Blonde highlights with no red....decisions decisions...

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oh god it can be so painful, at one point i was like OMG i cant take it anymore hahaha.

no big secret or anything but i do the diamond bed at beach bum and use either denim and diamonds lotion or iced cream...you get tangerine after just one tan?

i know its hard, i like the red but in pics its a bit too much and not really the wedding look and wonder how ill feel about it like 20 years from now haha

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Posted by winter wed

Unfortunately I am a budget bride so I will:

Use crest white strips for at least 18 days (from costco)
Go tanning for very short spurts in a stand up bed (my dress is backless and I cant risk wierd lines)
For about 3-4 times about 1-2 weeks before the big day.

Get one facial about 3-4 weeks before (get those nasty blackheads out)
Wash/exfoliate/moisturize regularly
Obviously exercise with focus on toning in arms and back
hmmmmm that is all I can think of

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trust me after i paid for my facial today i was like i kept saying ugh i shouldn't be spending this money...but i have been breaking out constantly and badly for a little while now and i cant take the risk of having a real bad breakout at the wedding so i dont spend any money or as little as possible to put it towards this...and this time i took longer than 4 weeks in between bc i needed to save the money first bc of other wedding expenses

ditto on the facials - once a month...

I also plan on using Crest white strips.

I got Invisalign in June and have 10 weeks left.

I started taking Biotin (my nails are weak).

Agreed on the water part!

No idea about tanning. Maybe I will, maybe I won't.

I started using philosophy Shear Splendor but I think it makes my already-fine hair limp. I'll be switching back to Pureology.

I looked up Beach Bum and there is actually one across the street from me (i must be blind) so i'll head over there and transfer my old membership over....yay! I find their beds don't make me Orangey but who knows how they keep up with them out here in NJ. I'll investigate.

I want to get my teeth bleached but i'm affraid! Everytime i've tried strips my gums bleed!!!! idk what to do!!


as for the hair issue--im going back and forth bc of the same thing. I'll try to take a pic of my color now and post it later. I think this is way too trendy. Same thing for all red. I love when my hair is red, but I think i'd be better off doing the brown with caramel high lights because it's softer and more timeless. I just don't want to look at my hair and be like what th ehell was i thinking?!?! ya know?? When i go red...i'm RED.....soooooo idk

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Posted by 040508Bride
I want to get my teeth bleached but i'm affraid! Everytime i've tried strips my gums bleed!!!! idk what to do!!

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My teeth get sensitive from whitening. My dentist recommended Listerine Whitening Rinse. IIt unfortunately takes about 16 weeks to go into effect but maybe you'll notice a difference anyway!

yeah my teeth are pretty white to begin with so i don't need like crazy whitening.....maybe ill get that tomorrow or something and see how it works! Thanks!

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Posted by Espo22

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Posted by 040508Bride

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nice. I hate facials....sooo painful sometimes!!! haha I was going to start going maybe next month, but I have to find a place in Jersey

What tanning bed do you use?? You never looked orange to me in pics, maybe you're on to something i don't know about?? It could just be my complexion though...I have light olive skin (italian) and even when i tan in the sun I brown quickly.

I'm not sure what color i'm going with for my hair either. Right now I have a dark chocolate brown base with bright bright red low lights and blonde high lights. Thats def. too much for wedding day. I'm not sure if I want to go with a brownish red (auburn?) or Blonde highlights with no red....decisions decisions...

---

oh god it can be so painful, at one point i was like OMG i cant take it anymore hahaha.

no big secret or anything but i do the diamond bed at beach bum and use either denim and diamonds lotion or iced cream...you get tangerine after just one tan?

i know its hard, i like the red but in pics its a bit too much and not really the wedding look and wonder how ill feel about it like 20 years from now haha

---

As NICE as the red is, if you ask me or any of us to vote (which we are all so used to doing for each other lol) I'd say go blonde for your wedding. You were blonde for a lot longer and you had your trial with the blonde and KNOW it looks like you. I don't know, I hear ya on the, 'Wonder how I'll feel about it in 20 years'.....it's a hard choice!

For my wedding I plan on tanning in a bed 3 times a week for about a month before the wedding.

My skin, like a few of you said has been horrible for the past few months. I started using Arbonne and the results have been amazing!!! I know I sound like a commercial, but this stuff is great!

I've been thinking about dying my hair a few shades darker for the wedding. I know I already have dark hair, but I just love that shiney black hair with a great tan.

Of course I'll have my nails and toes done for the wedding. I already do that now.

Oh and the dreaded full body wax!!! Legs, bikini and underarms! It sux but I don't want to deal with shaving for the honeymoon! I think that is about it

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Posted by 040508Bride

I looked up Beach Bum and there is actually one across the street from me (i must be blind) so i'll head over there and transfer my old membership over....yay! I find their beds don't make me Orangey but who knows how they keep up with them out here in NJ. I'll investigate.

I want to get my teeth bleached but i'm affraid! Everytime i've tried strips my gums bleed!!!! idk what to do!!


as for the hair issue--im going back and forth bc of the same thing. I'll try to take a pic of my color now and post it later. I think this is way too trendy. Same thing for all red. I love when my hair is red, but I think i'd be better off doing the brown with caramel high lights because it's softer and more timeless. I just don't want to look at my hair and be like what th ehell was i thinking?!?! ya know?? When i go red...i'm RED.....soooooo idk

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yeah theres beach bums everywhere and i am sure that in NJ they have the same beds so don't worry.

Yeah thats how i feel with the red, especially the red i have hahahaha. Brown with caramel highlights sounds real pretty, definitely post a pic.

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Posted by MrsDtoBe

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Posted by Espo22

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Posted by 040508Bride

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nice. I hate facials....sooo painful sometimes!!! haha I was going to start going maybe next month, but I have to find a place in Jersey

What tanning bed do you use?? You never looked orange to me in pics, maybe you're on to something i don't know about?? It could just be my complexion though...I have light olive skin (italian) and even when i tan in the sun I brown quickly.

I'm not sure what color i'm going with for my hair either. Right now I have a dark chocolate brown base with bright bright red low lights and blonde high lights. Thats def. too much for wedding day. I'm not sure if I want to go with a brownish red (auburn?) or Blonde highlights with no red....decisions decisions...

---

oh god it can be so painful, at one point i was like OMG i cant take it anymore hahaha.

no big secret or anything but i do the diamond bed at beach bum and use either denim and diamonds lotion or iced cream...you get tangerine after just one tan?

i know its hard, i like the red but in pics its a bit too much and not really the wedding look and wonder how ill feel about it like 20 years from now haha

---

As NICE as the red is, if you ask me or any of us to vote (which we are all so used to doing for each other lol) I'd say go blonde for your wedding. You were blonde for a lot longer and you had your trial with the blonde and KNOW it looks like you. I don't know, I hear ya on the, 'Wonder how I'll feel about it in 20 years'.....it's a hard choice!

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well now i did a different red, not as bright as before hahahaha more of a natural looking color, like a cooperish brown...I thought i'd definitely do blonde for the wedding, had no intentions at all to do red but with FH keep telling me how much he wants me to keep the red it confuses me haha

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Posted by Espo22

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Posted by MrsDtoBe

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Posted by Espo22

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Posted by 040508Bride

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nice. I hate facials....sooo painful sometimes!!! haha I was going to start going maybe next month, but I have to find a place in Jersey

What tanning bed do you use?? You never looked orange to me in pics, maybe you're on to something i don't know about?? It could just be my complexion though...I have light olive skin (italian) and even when i tan in the sun I brown quickly.

I'm not sure what color i'm going with for my hair either. Right now I have a dark chocolate brown base with bright bright red low lights and blonde high lights. Thats def. too much for wedding day. I'm not sure if I want to go with a brownish red (auburn?) or Blonde highlights with no red....decisions decisions...

---

oh god it can be so painful, at one point i was like OMG i cant take it anymore hahaha.

no big secret or anything but i do the diamond bed at beach bum and use either denim and diamonds lotion or iced cream...you get tangerine after just one tan?

i know its hard, i like the red but in pics its a bit too much and not really the wedding look and wonder how ill feel about it like 20 years from now haha

---

As NICE as the red is, if you ask me or any of us to vote (which we are all so used to doing for each other lol) I'd say go blonde for your wedding. You were blonde for a lot longer and you had your trial with the blonde and KNOW it looks like you. I don't know, I hear ya on the, 'Wonder how I'll feel about it in 20 years'.....it's a hard choice!

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well now i did a different red, not as bright as before hahahaha more of a natural looking color, like a cooperish brown...I thought i'd definitely do blonde for the wedding, had no intentions at all to do red but with FH keep telling me how much he wants me to keep the red it confuses me haha

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i'm gonna give you my opinion bc i know you care so much lol....i love the blonde on you, it's so pretty!! I love red too and it looks great on you but i think for your wedding you should go back to blonde. i'm searching for a pic now with my current color....

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Posted by 040508Bride

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Posted by Espo22

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Posted by MrsDtoBe

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Posted by Espo22

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Posted by 040508Bride

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nice. I hate facials....sooo painful sometimes!!! haha I was going to start going maybe next month, but I have to find a place in Jersey

What tanning bed do you use?? You never looked orange to me in pics, maybe you're on to something i don't know about?? It could just be my complexion though...I have light olive skin (italian) and even when i tan in the sun I brown quickly.

I'm not sure what color i'm going with for my hair either. Right now I have a dark chocolate brown base with bright bright red low lights and blonde high lights. Thats def. too much for wedding day. I'm not sure if I want to go with a brownish red (auburn?) or Blonde highlights with no red....decisions decisions...

---

oh god it can be so painful, at one point i was like OMG i cant take it anymore hahaha.

no big secret or anything but i do the diamond bed at beach bum and use either denim and diamonds lotion or iced cream...you get tangerine after just one tan?

i know its hard, i like the red but in pics its a bit too much and not really the wedding look and wonder how ill feel about it like 20 years from now haha

---

As NICE as the red is, if you ask me or any of us to vote (which we are all so used to doing for each other lol) I'd say go blonde for your wedding. You were blonde for a lot longer and you had your trial with the blonde and KNOW it looks like you. I don't know, I hear ya on the, 'Wonder how I'll feel about it in 20 years'.....it's a hard choice!

---

well now i did a different red, not as bright as before hahahaha more of a natural looking color, like a cooperish brown...I thought i'd definitely do blonde for the wedding, had no intentions at all to do red but with FH keep telling me how much he wants me to keep the red it confuses me haha

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i'm gonna give you my opinion bc i know you care so much lol....i love the blonde on you, it's so pretty!! I love red too and it looks great on you but i think for your wedding you should go back to blonde. i'm searching for a pic now with my current color....

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yeah don't worry i can take honesty. Thats what i say, for a bridal look i always pictured blonde, i mean its important for me to like the look i have but i keep thinking that i want FH to be like WOW and i know he feels WOW about me with red hair, even blonde obviously hahaha but ah he'll just have to get over that. My big thing is how my red hair comes out in pics, its too in your face you know. I am most likely going to blonde, its how i always pictured myself, he just has to make it difficult for me . But thank you for being honest, i prefer when people are

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Posted by LuvMyAlfonse

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Posted by 040508Bride
I want to get my teeth bleached but i'm affraid! Everytime i've tried strips my gums bleed!!!! idk what to do!!

---

My teeth get sensitive from whitening. My dentist recommended Listerine Whitening Rinse. IIt unfortunately takes about 16 weeks to go into effect but maybe you'll notice a difference anyway!

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That stuff works well but I have always gotten this gross film in my mouth about 10-15 minutes after. My sister uses it and doesn't have the problem.

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Posted by Espo22

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Posted by 040508Bride

I looked up Beach Bum and there is actually one across the street from me (i must be blind) so i'll head over there and transfer my old membership over....yay! I find their beds don't make me Orangey but who knows how they keep up with them out here in NJ. I'll investigate.

I want to get my teeth bleached but i'm affraid! Everytime i've tried strips my gums bleed!!!! idk what to do!!


as for the hair issue--im going back and forth bc of the same thing. I'll try to take a pic of my color now and post it later. I think this is way too trendy. Same thing for all red. I love when my hair is red, but I think i'd be better off doing the brown with caramel high lights because it's softer and more timeless. I just don't want to look at my hair and be like what th ehell was i thinking?!?! ya know?? When i go red...i'm RED.....soooooo idk

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yeah theres beach bums everywhere and i am sure that in NJ they have the same beds so don't worry.

Yeah thats how i feel with the red, especially the red i have hahahaha. Brown with caramel highlights sounds real pretty, definitely post a pic.

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Yes, tons of beach bums in NJ for all the NJ girls. My sister works at the one by her school.