Your East Anglian Wedding - Aug/Sep 2019 (Issue 38)

 P lanning a wedding can be pretty hectic, particularly if you’re working to a tight timetable. It’s easy to get lost in a flurry of colour swatches, to-do lists, spreadsheets and appointments and forget one of the most important things – you; not forgetting your other half of course! To enjoy the journey and de-stress the planning process as much as possible, try to let go of the reins and share some of the tasks with eager friends and family – you know they’ll love it! Sleepless nights, stress and anxiety are barriers to becoming the relaxed, radiant bride of your dreams. So tip one (and this one’s from us) grab a red pen and at the top of your schedule insert in big, bold letters, ‘me-time’. BRIDAL BEAUTIFUL Tips and tricks for looking and feeling your big-day best Skin deep Forward planning is vital when it comes to achieving that fresh, bridal glow so it’s best to establish a regular skin care routine to suit you as soon as you can. PLANNING AHEAD One of the key priorities on the road to looking and feeling your bridal best, is not leaving things to the last minute. Some things aren’t a quick fix so it pays to put in the groundwork early to get the best results. A good starting point is to focus on the style and look you’re after. Do your research, scour wedding magazines, visit your local wedding fairs and start putting together a moodboard of inspiration; your suppliers will love you for it as it makes their job so much easier if they can share your vision. Having your colours analysed from the get go can help lay the foundation stones for choosing not only the right gown, but everything from your make-up and the bridesmaids’ dresses, to the groom and groomsmen’s attire, flowers and more. Great for creating a coordinated effect to complement your look, it can avoid costly mistakes too. So is marrying in white the way to realising every girl’s dream? Not necessarily, according to House of Colour Cambridge consultant Erica Dawe. She says “Pure white might be traditional, but doesn’t suit everyone.  You need to know whether your skin has warm or cool undertones and whether it suits brighter or more muted hues.” Visit houseofcolour.co.uk/ericadawe THE DOS & DON’TS ❤ Use a good cleanser and a serum to give your complexion an extra boost. ❤ For a smoother, radiant feel, exfoliate once a week to get rid of dead skin cells. ❤ Moisturise with a hydrating cream twice a day and use products with SPF to protect against sun damage. ❤ Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated ❤ Get your beauty sleep and eat well. We know it’s tempting to snack and comfort eat when you’re under pressure, but too much chocolate and fast food isn’t kind to your skin. ❤ If you do have a breakout, don’t pick! You’ll only make things worse and it can cause hard-to-cover dry, flaky patches or even scarring. leeleeportrait.com ERICA’S TOP TIPS ❤ Know your style, dress your shape and always wear your ‘wow’ colours. ❤ Consider your own individual look. A boatneck on one bride may be a disaster on another and although lace has been big this year, it doesn’t work for everyone. ❤ Stick to cuts, lengths and fabrics that celebrate you, your shape and personality. ❤ Knowing your best colours will help you choose the ideal palette for your wedding make-up, particularly lipstick, eyeshadow and blusher, the right shade for your hair and whether gold or silver works better with your skin tone. ❤ For a really stylish look, try using different hues of the same colour for your bridesmaids’ dresses. For example, if your bridesmaids are in green, one may look great in jade, another might glow in emerald, or shine in mint.The effect can be really dramatic and beautiful. LOOKING YOUR BEST 85