Wedding Day Fashion and Beauty Mistakes to Avoid, According to a Top Wedding Planner
Your wedding day will be the most photographed day of your life, so it’s only natural that you would want to make sure your bridal look is on point. With so many fashion and beauty trends happening every season, it’s easy to get caught up in the glam or want to try something new for the big day. But take it from us — you don’t want to look back at your photos and not recognize yourself. There are countless pitfalls and easily avoidable sartorial mistakes to trip you up come time to say “I do.” So we talked to a wedding planner of over 10 years, Margo Fischer from The Bright Occasions, to get the scoop on the worst fashion and makeup mistakes you can make. From bad tan lines to dresses that don’t fit, Margo has seen it all (and then some)! Before you walk down the aisle, read on to find out what major snafus can happen, and Margo’s top tips on how to avoid them.
1. Not Using Waterproof Mascara: Even if you’re convinced you won’t cry on the big day, it’s always a good idea to have a backup plan in place. “Weddings are emotional days, and even if you aren’t expecting to cry, you may shed a few tears at some point. Do yourself a favor and use waterproof mascara to avoid having streaks run down your face,” said Margo. Additionally, consider keeping a fabric handkerchief on standby for simple touchups in between tears. (Photo via Jennifer Polixenni Brankin/Getty)
2. Not Testing Your Wedding Day Hairstylist: Surprisingly, many brides forgo a wedding hair and makeup run-through in order to save time or cut costs, but that might not be the best plan in the long run, according to Margo. “Doing a hair and makeup trial is always so important before the wedding day. There are many advantages, but one of the biggest advantages is saving time. You will not have the time to re-do your hair on your wedding day. I suggest a trial within the last couple of months, while your hair is around the same length it will be on the wedding day.” (Photo via Randy Brooke/Getty)
3. Not Wearing a Button-Up While Getting Glam: “There is a reason that hair and make-up artists suggest wearing a robe or button-up while getting hair and makeup done, and that is because it can easily be removed without smudging your makeup or messing up your hair,” says Margo. It’s especially important if you’re getting your hair and makeup done at a salon, since you won’t have someone at the wedding venue to do touch-ups. (Photo via Michael Adamucci/Getty)
4. Tanning Flubs: Though many brides hit the tanning salon before the big day, Margo suggests otherwise. “Avoiding tanning before your wedding day is the best course of action — because if you have tan lines or a bad spray tan, they are hard to reverse and will be in all of your photos. There’s no turning back from that,” says Margo. If you’re definitely going to get a spray tan, do a trial well in advance of the day so you have time to get your skin back to normal in case there are any mistakes. And if you plan on being in the sun, wear a strapless bathing suit to avoid weird tan lines. (Photo via Andrew H.Walker/Getty)
5. Wearing Heels That Are Too High or Too Uncomfortable: Figure out what your feet can handle prior to the wedding. Far too often, brides will choose style over comfort, and that’s never a good idea. “You will be on your feet during most of your wedding day, so having comfortable shoes is a must. You do not want to be unable to walk down the aisle or share in your first dance because of uncomfortable shoes!” warns Margo. We advise investing in a chic pair of bridal wedges or keeping a pair of simple satin flats on standby. (Photo via Sebastian Reuter/Getty)
6. Wearing a Makeup Look Completely Different from Your Normal Routine: We’ve all seen that episode of Girls where Marnie had insane makeup on her wedding day. Don’t let that be you! Your wedding day is not the time to try unicorn eyes or heavy contouring if it isn’t part of your normal style strategy. “Whether you wear a lot of makeup or no makeup on a daily basis, for the wedding day you shouldn’t go with a look that is dramatically different from your normal routine,” explains Margo. After all, you want your S.O. to recognize you walking down the aisle. Margo suggests “talking with your makeup artist about enhancing your typical routine and makeup look versus going with a look that is a total departure from the norm.”
7. Ordering a Dress in a Size Too Small: You may have lofty goals of dropping a dress size or two before the wedding (trust us — you’re perfect just the way you are!), but you should still order a dress in your current size. If you do lose the weight, good for you for accomplishing a goal. You will most likely have several fittings with the seamstress to make alterations to your size — so keep it realistic. Not losing the weight that you planned on makes it much harder to fit your dress in the long run. “Unfortunately, I have seen someone order a dress too small, and to get the situation fixed they had to order extra fabric and have additional alterations done on the dress,” says Margo. (Photo via Randy Brooke/Getty)
8. Getting Full Extensions or a Weave Close to The Wedding Day: Your wedding day is a great moment to take your look up a realistic notch — and this can, of course, include getting a little enhancement in the hair department. But if you want a bit of fullness or added length, try to schedule your appointment a few days before your wedding, rather than the day of. A full weave or heavy extensions can require tight cornrows and stress on the scalp, leaving you with a bit of a headache and discomfort if the process is new to your beauty routine. Give your new tresses and scalp time to get to know each other so that you can relax and have fun on your wedding day. No matter what, you will look beautiful. (Photo by Lennart Preiss/Getty)
