Getting the Perfect Wedding Day Tan

It may be snowing and blowing outside, but that doesn't mean you have to look as pale as an ice queen on your special day. You can have the tan you want for your wedding photos (and build up a base so you don't burn on your tropical honeymoon) before the big day with a bit of planning and some careful forethought. Although some people prize a fair complexion, you certainly don't want to resemble the corpse bride on your wedding day, and the cool tones of winter can definitely give you a bluish pallor if you don't do something to correct your lack of pigment. However, you'll also want to avoid the burnt toast look of the New Jersey tanning mom. So here are just a few tips to ensure that you look perfectly, naturally tan on your special day.


The first thing to consider is just how much of a tan you want. You should have enough color that your skin doesn't blend in with your dress, but not so much that you look like you've been out working your homestead in the hot sun for the last few weeks. This means that you'll have to tan in moderation, and you should definitely start the process well ahead of time so that you can color correct before you have to walk down the aisle, especially if you're unfamiliar with tanning salons and you don't quite know how your skin will react. If what you're going for is a natural glow, you likely won't need more than a couple of sessions to perfect it, and then it's just a matter of maintaining until your wedding day. What you definitely don't want is to go in for your first session the day before you say "I do" and end up walking down the aisle looking like a boiled lobster.



Of course, you might not be keen on the UV rays that come with the tanning process. Luckily, there are other options that will let you control the level of tan you achieve without going under a single lamp. If you want to save some money, there are all kinds of home tanning products you can try. The trick is to use them frequently for at least several weeks leading up to the wedding so that you can work out all the kinks. The most important thing to remember with this process is the importance of exfoliation since it will help to prevent uneven application. However, it's also a good idea to go with a light touch; it's always easier to build up a tan than tone it down.

But if you'd rather go for professional application rather than rely on your own judgment and OTC products, find a spray-tan salon to visit. Again, you should start going for sessions well ahead of your wedding date so that you can compare various levels of tan to choose the one that's right for you. But this method will allow you to get a flawless, all-over tan without spending any time absorbing potentially harmful UV rays. You might think the planning is done after you book the venue, buy the dress, and send out custom wedding invitations. But your tan is not something you should leave until the last minute, especially if you want to have perfect, gorgeous, glowing skin when you head for the altar.

(Guest Post by Carol)