Bride Magazine's countdown tips for a beautiful you on your wedding day
by Liz Re

Six months before

- Start a good skin-care regime. Consult a beautician to find out what products suit your skin type. Most importantly, invest in a quality moisturiser with sunscreen.
- If you're thinking about changing your haircut or colour, now is the time to start experimenting. Consult your hairstylist to find an achievable look and make sure to tell them when you plan to get married, so they know what time frame they're working with.
- Start a stress-relief regime. Try regular facials and massages - reward yourself for all your hard work - or go to a weekly yoga class; it will improve your posture, alleviate stress and tone your muscles.

Four months before

- Start discussing ideas with your hairstylist. Take along magazine clippings of styles you like and start trying them.
- Research potential make-up artists and book in for some trials. Be sure to take a swatch of your gown fabric so you can match the colour tones. Take a photo of each look and document the names of colours used, so you have references for when you compare them.
- Decide on and book your hairdresser and make-up artist for the big day. Put all the details in writing and give them each a copy of your day's schedule.
- Experiment with spray tans. Find a method you like (booth or by hand) and chose a shade that will suit you. Remember, you want it to look natural. Go back to your dressmaker and try on your gown to make sure the tan looks good with it. Ask for your designer's opinion.

One - two months before

- Have your final hair trial. Make sure you take any headpieces.
- Have your final make-up trial. Make sure you have chosen a colour palette and a look you are happy with.
- Have your eyebrows professionally shaped. Angular brows will give definition to a round face and round brows will give softness to an angular face.
- Have a facial. If your budget is too stretched to afford one, you can do it yourself with a purifying face mask.
- That beautiful skin and perfect make-up will be wasted if you flash a yellow smile as you're walking down the aisle. Get your teeth whitened professionally so by your wedding day, they will look more natural.

Two weeks before

- Have a final haircut or trim and touch up your hair colour. Stick with your current look though; now is not the time to experiment with the latest style off the catwalk.
- You should be regularly exfoliating and moisturising your body by this stage. Concentrate on elbows, feet, knees and hands.
- Have a final facial. There will still be enough time for any breakouts to settle down. However, a good facial shouldn't cause breakouts if only the best products are used.

One week before

- Avoid salty foods, caffeine and alcohol because they will dehydrate your body and undo all your good work.
- Now is the time to de-fuzz. If you are wearing a bias-cut gown, then consider full-body waxing. Otherwise, the usual - bikini, legs, underarms, eyebrows - should suffice.
- Get a massage to help alleviate last-minute stress. If you're short for time or money, then ask your fiancé to give your neck and shoulders the once-over.
- Give your hair a deep conditioning treatment.

One day before

- Get a spa manicure and pedicure. Any earlier and you risk suffering chipped polish.
- Pack an emergency beauty kit with waterproof mascara, powder compact, eyeliner and lipstick. Get your mum or one of your bridesmaids to look after it for you.
- Exfoliate your face gently with a product you know and love (now is not the time to find out you have an allergic reaction to a different brand).
- If you are having trouble sleeping, have some camomile or valerian tea before bed. It will calm your nerves and send you off to sleep, naturally.

On the day

- If you can get up early enough, do a session of yoga. This will dispel any nervous tension you might be holding onto. At the very least, get up five minutes early and sit in quiet meditation, giving yourself a moment to reflect on what this day means to you.
- Eat breakfast! You have a big day ahead. If you don't load up on energy you might not make it down the aisle at all.
- Use a light moisturiser with a sunscreen in it. Anything too heavy will prevent your make-up from lasting.
- Lastly, remember your groom loves you for you, so be confident in the knowledge that you are beautiful to him and that is all that matters.