The Fantasy: There you are, gliding down the aisle with a glowing complexion and perfectly styled hair. Your gown hugs every svelte curve after months of saintly eating habits and near-daily gym sessions. Oh, the serenity! But the reality for many brides can involve breakouts and split ends, sore muscles and mood swings. Fear not: Beauty peace of mind is attainable, even in the midst of wedding planning.—Jill Schuck
Dress by Claire Pettibone. Platinum solitare ring (seen throughout) by Lazare. Iron-and-brass sleigh bed from Charles P. Rogers. Bedding by Sferra Brothers
FITNESS
When schedules are stretched to the limit (sound familiar, brides?), fitness is all too often the first to be sacrificed. Too bad, since exercise can do wonders in managing stress and keeping energy levels
up, says L.A. trainer Ashley Borden. The same way you arrange meetings with wedding vendors, so should you schedule time to exercise. Borden recommends penciling fitness right into your wedding planner and keeping a progress journal. "Write down when you worked out and what you did," says Borden. As you continue training, seeing what you’ve already done will make you feel fantastic
Tips:
- Look beyond the classic relaxers like yoga and Pilates. Higher energy- and calorie-burning activities like hiking or Rollerblading will also give you calming "me time," which is so necessary in the months leading up to your big day.
- At the gym, focusing on complicated moves in classes like kickboxing or aerobics will help keep your mind off wedding planning annoyances.
- Plan exercise with not one but two workout buddies. "I always do this," says Borden. "If one flakes out, I can rely on the other and won’t end up just blowing it off altogether."
NUTRITION
Your eating habits can affect the way you feel and how well you deal with anything life throws at you—even a seating-chart disaster. "Eating well doesn’t have to be boring, and can actually help you function better in everyday life," says Santa Monica, CA–based nutritionist Matt Mahowald. That means setting up healthy habits months before the big day, not as a drastic measure in the last six weeks. Mahowald recommends eating a small meal or snack every three hours to avoid the low-blood-sugar dips that make you want to hide in bed with Ben & Jerry or seriously vent to your fiancé.
Tips:
- Eat breakfast within 30 minutes of waking. Mahowald likes oatmeal or bran flakes, paired with protein like eggs or yogurt.
- Keep your body humming with two snacks a day. Try an apple with peanut butter or a cup of berries with a few almonds.
- Eat a light supper to get a better night’s rest, limiting yourself to protein and veggies. Fish and turkey both contain calming tryptophan, which will help you sleep.
- Don’t skip a meal if you veer off track (or after a calorie-rich tasting with the caterer). "Starving yourself will only make you more stressed, emotional and irritable," says Mahowald.
HAIR
Endless experimenting with updos vs. down in the months leading up to the wedding can take a toll on hair, as can radical color shifts, says celeb stylist Ken Pavés. "Subtle changes are great, but you never want to look back at your photos and think you look dated," he says. To avoid day-of stress, Pavés suggests you stay within your comfort zone when it comes to hair-styles. "If you’re an organic type of girl, having an elaborate J.Lo updo will make you feel awkward." Find ways to make your own style special, but don’t try a look you’d normally never wear.
Tips:
- Don’t wash hair every day, and use a mild shampoo (avoid clarifying formulas, which can be harsh and affect color). Rinsing daily will help remove any product buildup, and concentrating conditioner on the ends will keep hair healthy without weighing it down.
- Try a deep-conditioning mask every two weeks to add extra shine and softness. Pavés particularly loves Kérastase Nutritive Aqua-Oleum because it seals the cuticle and is ideal for all hair types.
- Even if you’re growing hair out, get regular trims (every six to eight weeks) to remove split ends and help keep your cut’s shape. "You’ll lose very little length and have healthier hair," says Pavés.
SKIN
Ironic but true: "Even the ‘happy’ stress of wedding planning can trigger skin problems," says NYC dermatologist Amy Wechsler, M.D. "Recognize that it’s going to happen, but know that beating yourself up will only make things worse." If your skin is flaring up, this is the time to enlist a dermatologist to help fine-tune your regimen and address any concerns. A prescription topical retinoid like Retin-A can work wonders on acne or fine lines; a series of microdermabrasion peels can improve skin texture and lessen the appearance of pores. And just knowing there’s an expert to call upon will help you stay calm. "I always make room in my schedule for my brides," says Dr. Wechsler.
Tips:
- Maintaining a regular skin-care routine and product consistency is key. While it’s tempting to stock up on an arsenal of new skin cleansers and creams, know that it’s a recipe for an irritated complexion.
- Wash your face with your hands, which are less harsh on skin than a washcloth. Dr. Wechsler likes fragrance-free cleansers from Cetaphil, Purpose and Dove. The idea is to gently remove dirt, oil and makeup—going for "squeaky clean" means you’re stripping skin of its natural oils.
- Even with the best care, zits happen, so keep your derm on speed dial. She can give you a cortisone injection that will take down a cyst in 48 hours.
