Congrats!! You popped the question. The countdown has begun for the big day and it will come faster than you can imagine. You and your soon-to-be will be the star of the show so a little planning and preparation goes a long way to looking your best! That said, here are some things you can start doing now to get yourself looking your best on the biggest day of your life.
From the time you pop the question (or even before if you’re feeling ambitious) – up your water intake. Drinking about a gallon of water everyday can help your skin stay hydrated. This aids in getting rid of dry, flaky areas and will ensure a youthful glow. This is probably the most important thing you can do and you can start doing it, like now!
One Year from the “Big Day” – You’re going to be smiling a lot on your wedding day. If you’re a coffee drinker, smoker, love red wine or just have built-up discoloration on your teeth, consult with your dentist about whitening options. Thinking about this a year in advance allows you to talk to your doctor at your next cleaning and won’t require a separate appointment. They could recommend a professional whitening or even an ADA-approved toothpaste that you can start using ASAP so you can have pearly whites in just a few months.
Six Months Out – Clear skin is a must. Try out a new skincare routine if you aren’t happy with yours. Skin care products take about a month of consistent use before your body adjusts to them. Starting to experiment 6 months before your big day gives you plenty of time to try new products and find the perfect routine for you; staying proactive about your skincare should be high on your list. This could mean trying new moisturizers, serums or even starting a facial routine far in advance. Try to stay away from trying new products less than 2 weeks before the wedding, to avoid surprise breakouts.
Three Months to Your Wedding – Good hair, don’t care. Figure out your desired hairstyle. Yes we’re serious, 3 months in advance. You may want to grow out your hair or experience with a new cut and style, so this is a great thing to start thinking about early. Especially, if you aren’t sure, 3 months will allot you time to play with different styles, let it grow out or try something new. Plus, if you were to try a new hairstyle every month, it’s a fun way to count down to the wedding day!
Six Weeks Out (It’s starting to get real!) – A month and a half before your big day, try to figure out exactly what you want to do with your facial hair. Just like your hair, this will give you time to try different styles and decide how long you will need to let your facial grow if you’re not going clean shaven. The most important part of this is having high quality shaving products to ensure you have a close, smooth shave. Plus, being diligent about changing out your razor in the weeks leading up to your wedding can help you avoid nicks and scarring. During this time try to figure out how long you can go from a clean shave to the length of facial hair you desire. For example, if you want a bit of stubble, maybe you need to shave 3 days before the wedding and for a more full beard, about 2 weeks.
Thirty Days from the Wedding – Manly mani and powerful pedi? If you’ve never enjoyed the luxury of getting a manicure or a pedicure, now’s the time to try. Many men have never experienced a professional taking care of their hands and feet, and that’s a shame because there’s even salons that are dedicated to servicing men. Going for a trial mani or pedi is a great way to decide if this is something you enjoy enough to do right before your wedding as a form of relaxation and self-care. Plus, you may be surprised by how clean and soft your hands feel after.
The Week Of (Don’t Panic…) – There’s a few simple things you can do the days leading up to your wedding and the day of to ensure you look and feel your best. First, if you want to get a manicure or pedicure (again) feel free to do it a few days before. Doing it the day of is a great way to relax, but going to the salon in the days leading up to the wedding can be just as nice to break up the planning. You will still have soft, beautiful hands the day of the ceremony. Trimming your facial hair is another thing to think about again the days leading up to the big day! At this point you’ve decided exactly when you want to shave and the style of facial hair you’re going for. Finally, other small details like grooming your eyebrows and tackling any dark circles under your eyes will ensure you look your best and feel confident!
Now, for the best part…have fun. Enjoy every minute of the Big Day…it’s a #gamechanger