Glow! A Bride's Head-To-Toe Beauty Guide

Maria LaPiana

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Every bride is beautiful on her wedding day . . . but how is it exactly that all brides seem to glow? They say it’s because a bride, being so crazy in love on her day of days, quite simply radiates happiness.

Not willing to risk it? We hear you.

Sure, you’re mad about your man and you’ve circled the date on the calendar in gold, but let’s face it: Your hairstyle needs work, your skin hasn’t shone since grade school, and your butt could stand a little firming before you slink into that gown.

What can you do to tip the odds in favor of looking jaw-droppingly gorgeous on the big day? Quite a bit, as it happens. Exactly how much you primp—and how soon you start—is up to you, but we recommend you pen a wedding wish list that includes everything you can (want, should, must) do from now until then to enhance your looks—and guarantee that your glow quotient goes through the roof.

BODY BEAUTIFUL

There are precious few “10’s” out there (thank heavens), but this is the time to inch as close to perfection as you can. Yes, ladies, it’s time to get “bride buff,” and there are lots of ways to do it.

For starters, fitness classes abound. Just ask around and you’re sure to find a class that suits you—from Spin to Zumba to Pilates—at a nearby gym. Choose from low-impact classes to intensive “boot camps” that last a few weeks (but show no mercy). For a more tailored workout, hire a personal trainer. Most fitness centers have trainers on staff; some will even come to your home. A personal trainer can help you focus on specific areas of concern, often including diet and lifestyle advice in the program they prescribe.

Prefer to go it alone? The Healthy Bride’s Boot Camp Workout DVD, at $21.95, is an affordable way to get fit on your own time. It features four 45-minute workouts, including cardio, abs and push-ups and stretching—plus weight training designed for the style of your dress. Bridal Bootcamp by Cynthia M. Conde (Running Press/Perseus; $14.95) is a fitness and nutrition guide created especially for women, with a focus on looking amazing on your wedding day. It includes six-month, three-month and four-week programs.

Finally (as if it needs to be said), no matter which route to fitness you take, don’t forget to eat right and stay hydrated!

CROWNING GLORY

There’s no better time to give your hair a good, long look (call in girlfriends for an honest opinion)—assess your color, length, texture and style—and decide, with the help of a professional you trust, how to make it better. If you’re planning to grow your hair, start as soon as possible, scheduling regular appointments for trims of no more than an eighth of an inch at a time. Making a color change or adding highlights? Try out the new look well in advance, but have it done no more than two weeks ahead to avoid visible regrowth.

A consultation and trial hair appointment is mandatory for bridal hair styling at the Parisian Salon and Day Spa in Cromwell (860/632-2144; parisiandayspa.com). Stylists there specialize in the updo, says owner Patricia Barbaro, but getting it right takes time. “We recommend that brides bring in pictures from magazines—ones they like and ones they don’t,” she says. They should wear something that duplicates the neckline and shoulder design of their dress, and definitely bring in their headpiece (the veil is optional). “Designing a hairstyle without a headpiece is like trying to make a flower arrangement without a base,” says Barbaro.

At Parisian, updo styles start at $90, and are priced according to the length and thickness of your hair, as well as the intricacy of the style. Blow-dry styles start at $35; add more for flat-ironing or curling.