Wedding Glamour from Head to Toe

With her gorgeous gown, elegant accessories, sleek coiffure and glowing visage, the bride is the quintessential icon of a wedding. But modern women also want their look to reflect their individuality. If that pressure has you in panic, take comfort. These beauty guidelines will get you feeling both chic and unique. Dress for Success You typically need to order a gown from a traditional wedding salon about six months in advance, so start shopping around early, visiting the go-to boutiques and shops in your city. If you’re in a rush, hit up places like David’s Bridal where you can buy off the rack and walk out the door, advises Rachael Leonard, fashion director for Brides magazine. J. Crew and BHLDN, Anthropologie’s bridal line, also are good, quick resources. However, if you have ample time, you can often get amazing deals on designer dresses by checking out flash-sale sites like TheAisleNewYork.com or RueLaLa.com, or attending a Brides Against Breast Cancer event. (Note: wedding dress prices can range anywhere from $500 to $10,000 or more.) Another possibility - if you need flexibility with the timeline, payment options and design elements - is having a custom gown created for you, notes Deedee Vicory, owner of bridal alteration studio The Wedding Seamstress and bridal boutique D’Lola Couture in Arvada, Colo. Or, for a truly cost-effective way to wear something unique and meaningful, Vicory suggests having your dressmaker redesign a beloved vintage wedding gown into a new style that feels contemporary. Regardless, before you settle on a dress source, it’s helpful to think about details like the formality of your event - for example, if you’re having a church wedding, you should probably skip that backless number. That said, keep an open mind - you might be the avidly anti-strapless type, but it turns out this popular style is especially flattering for your body type. Looking for some fashion-forward leads? The latest trends in short dresses are a great ‘60s trapeze look and a short-in-the-front/floor-length-in-the-back hemline, which can really showcase a fabulous shoe, says Leonard. She’s also seeing color on the bridal runways, including pale peach, a dark lilac and for the more gothic bride, black or a black-and-nude look. (Vicory says that red and green are the most common requests for color in custom gowns.) Other unconventional trends include low-draped and sheer backs, and front or side slits - just be sure to avoid ankle straps, as they can make legs look shorter and thicker. “We’re also starting to see an increase in brides who want sleeves for coverage,” says Vicory, “and lace is becoming popular again, which I would say is a direct result of the royal wedding.” Sugar on Top Shortly after you order your dress, you’ll want to settle on your shoes - you should bring them to your first fitting, as they may affect the alterations. It’s possible to push purchasing a wrap and/or clutch to the last minute, but you’ll ideally want to decide on any hair accessories (a veil, fascinator, hat, crown or clip) and jewelry a few months prior, as they may impact your hair and makeup choices. You want jewelry to complement your gown, not compete with it. If the dress is a showstopper, stick to simple drop earrings and a bold bangle or a striking cocktail ring. But if the dress is simple, a chunky, colorful necklace might be the perfect foil. For headwear, Gina Ludwig, owner of Hair Comes the Bride (which sells all manner of bridal accessories, as well as employs hair and makeup artists across the country), is seeing two trends. First, vintage-inspired birdcage veils and combs, pins or tiaras in antique silver, typically with rhinestones and/or pearls. “Just make sure you don’t overdo it with vintage hair, makeup and accessories,” she warns. “You want to combine vintage elements with a modern touch.” The second trend she’s seeing is delicate faux flowers - a lovely addition to the softer, more “undone” trend in bridal hairstyles right now, Ludwig says. Practice Makes Pretty To nab your preferred makeup artist and hair stylist, schedule at least five months out. Just keep in mind that if your wedding is on a Saturday during peak wedding season (late spring through early fall), you should probably plan even farther ahead, if possible, says Anni Bruno, owner of NYC Faces in New York, who regularly is booked for weddings a year in advance. You’ll also want to set up consultations/trials - your style preferences may change as you get closer to the big day, so shoot for four to six weeks out. The price for hair and makeup varies drastically based on the vendor’s location and experience, but, in general, you can expect to pay $25 to $150 for a trial and $50 to $400 for the day-of service. You’ll save money going to a beauty school or department store, or doing it yourself, but remember: wedding pictures last a lifetime. If you’ve opted for trials, Ludwig recommends bringing images from magazines to illustrate design ideas you like (or don’t like). And because your style should jibe with the overall tone of the wedding, it also can be helpful to bring pictures of your dress, bridesmaids’ dresses, flowers, location, etc. For the makeup trial, Bruno advises wearing a white T-shirt to simulate what your face will look like with your gown, or asking the artist to wrap a white towel around your neck. Arrive with a clean, well-hydrated and exfoliated face to ensure that the makeup sits more evenly on the skin. For the hair trial, Ludwig also likes brides to show up with clean, dry hair. “It’s easy for the stylist to ‘dirty up’ hair with product, but if hair is too dirty or oily, it’s very hard to style,” Ludwig says. The best look for you depends on your coloring, facial features, haircut and personality, but right now Bruno is loving shimmery peach/bronze shadows (especially on blue eyes or for summer soirées), paired with bronzed skin, peachy cheeks and glossy lips, and also retro looks - matte eye shadows with a strong cat eye and maybe even a classic 1940s Hollywood-style red lip. No matter what style you prefer, she highly advises prepping your “canvas” with airbrush makeup. “It goes on as a superfine mist, so there’s no streaking, and it makes skin look flawless. The silicone-based formula lasts for hours, so you don’t need to worry about touchups.” For hair, Ludwig is currently a fan of the classic styles of the ‘20s, ‘40s and even ‘50s, as well as softer, easy, deconstructed styles, which she feels are more flattering on most brides. “I think it’s important for guests to notice how gorgeous a bride looks, not how gorgeous her hair and makeup looks.”