1. Eat Right!
   Do not binge on all the wedding festivity sample food. And don't forget to eat. It's not uncommon to get so caught up in the wedding planning that you forget a meal here and there. However, skipping meals is unhealthy and can lead to the binge eating that will cause you to gain weight. To avoid this, pack light snacks to keep on hand throughout the day. Carrots and celery sticks, apples, grapes, string cheese and peanut butter on crackers all make great nutritious snacks.
    
2. Join a Gym or Start Walking
   You want to be in the best shape for your special day...so splurge a little and join a gym or hire a personal trainer and get to work! If you can't afford to join a gym, grab a friend and start walking, jogging or swimming on a regular basis.
    
3. Drink Lots of Water
   Start drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day. Yes, it sounds like a lot, but it's worth it. Water flushes toxins out of your system. This will give you clearer skin and make you feel healthier. In addition, water helps you feel full, so you are liable to eat less!
    
4. Get Regular Facials
   General skin exfoliation, provided by good facials, removes dead skin cells from your face and makes your skin glow. Choose a salon and start getting facials about every 5 weeks from now until the wedding day.
    
5. Stress Free Weekends
   Set aside some weekends, in advance, where you don't have to do any wedding planning at all. Spend that weekend reading a book, having lunch with friends, lying on the beach... whatever it takes to keep you in a stress free environment. It won't hurt to take 48 hours away from planning your wedding. We promise. It will actually help you look and feel better for the wedding day.

You never know what kind of problem might pop up on your wedding day. It is a good idea to create an emergency kit so you're prepared for those unexpected emergencies. You can use any kind of overnight bag, paper bag, basket, or a really big purse for your emergency kit. The completed kit can be left in the bride’s dressing/changing room for easy access at the wedding site and can be brought over to the reception site by the mother of the bride, a bridesmaid, or family member. Here is a list of Items we recommend for your emergency kit:

Health and Hygiene

• Antacid/upset stomach aid
• Pain reliever, such as aspirin. Tylenol®, or Advil®
• Antihistamine or cold remedy
• Any prescription medications you’re on
• Band-Aids® Equalactin (or similar product) to ease nervous stomach (irritable bowel)
• Breath mints or hard candy to ease a dry, scratchy throat and their scent is better than the medicinal scent of cough drops.
• Smelling salts in case someone passes out
• Feminine hygiene products
• Toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss
• Sunscreen (if activities will be outdoors)
• Eye drops
• Wet wipes or hand sanitizer
• Facial tissues
• Deodorant
• Bottled Water
• Snacks (crackers, cheese, fruit)

Here are a few more items to pack in your emergency bride kit:

Beauty/Grooming

• Small bottle of foundation or powder for last minute touch ups
• Hair spray, barrettes and/or bobby pins and ponytail holders
• Brush, comb or pick
• Hand mirror
• Hand lotion
• Perfume
• Nail polish and remover
• Small hand towel
• Cotton Swabs
• Curling iron
• Scissors
• Mini manicure set (file, clippers, tweezers, etc.)

Attire

• Clear nail polish for runs in hose; nail polish remover
• Earring backs
• Emergency buttons
• Flat shoes, flip flops or ballet slippers
• Iron
• Extra pantyhose
• Safety pins
• Hem tape or masking tape (for last-minute ripped hems)
• Static cling and/or wrinkle out spray
• Small sewing kit, including thread that matches the wedding dress and wedding party clothes
• Lint brush

Miscellaneous

• Extra copies of directions to the reception
• Phone numbers of all service providers
• Small flashlight
• Cell phone or spare change for payphone

Getting married can be one of the most stressful times in your life. Here are a few ways to relieve stress and make your special day special:

1. Be Organized. Buy a date book and a notebook or folder during the early planning stages. Set a schedule and deadlines. By scheduling things out, you will not be left with a lot of last minute details just before your wedding. Keep all your planning information in the notebook so it is all in one spot.
2. Share responsibilities with your partner. Make joint decisions and stick with them. Don’t let forceful friends and relatives change your mind, after all, this is your day. If you come to an agreement with your partner on something and then turn around and do something else, this can cause stress on the relationship.
3. Set realistic goals.  Don't let arrangements for your wedding blow your budget. Set an affordable budget and stick with it. You don’t want to still be paying off the loan you took out for your wedding when your children begin college
4. Delegate, delegate, delegate. Don’t try to do everything yourself. Let your maid/matron of honor, bridesmaids, mother, fiancé, etc. take care of some of the minor details. When people ask to help, take them up on their offer.
5. Stay Healthy. Get plenty of exercise, eat right and laugh. Aerobic exercise is a great way to relieve stress. Also, get plenty of sleep. Sleep can help with your mood, energy and focus. Humor is a great way to relieve stress. See the humor in situations, learn to laugh at yourself, and don’t take everything so seriously.
6. Take a break from all the wedding planning. Spend a weekend pampering yourself and relaxing. Go to a spa or just stay home and read a good book or watch movies.
7. Don’t stress over the small stuff.  Most of the time the small stuff is just that, small stuff. Your guests probably won’t notice anyway.
8. Don’t expect perfection. The higher your expectations, the bigger the disappointment if something doesn’t go right. Be prepared for unexpected problems and don't freak out if they do happen.
9. Don’t try to please everyone. Remember, it is your wedding, not your mother’s or future mother-in-law’s wedding.
10. Avoid people who may make your stress level go up. There are always some people, relatives or friends, that know how to "push your buttons". When you are feeling very stressed be sure to stay away from or limit you time with these people.

When choosing your wedding day hairstyle. keep in mind that it should reflect your personality and style. Coloring your hair can add flattering touches to your overall look, especially in photos. Have your hair cut and colored at least two weeks before the wedding to avoid looking like you just got it cut and colored. You can wear your hair up, down, or just choose the best styles you like from a book.

If your hair is long and you wear it pulled back most of the time then an elegant ‘updo would be a good look. You can put knots and rolls into your hairstyle for an added flair. If you wear your long hair down most of the time then try wearing some of it up away from your face and leave the rest to cascade around your shoulders. Let a few tendrils escape to float around your face. These tendrils can be curled for a more romantic look or just left natural.

If your hair is medium length it can be curled and dressed up with a sparkly headband, tiara or jeweled hair pins. Some strands can also be tucked behind the ears and secured with a decorative hair comb or clip to hold it back.

If you have short hair don’t worry because there is still a lot you can do with your hair. Use a curling iron to give your hair some fullness in the crown area and back. Sweep the hair off to the side and save the curls for the back area.

It is also important for the style you choose to hold up through the ceremony and reception. But be careful not to use too much hair spray because it can make your hair look stiff and unnatural. Ask your hairstylist for advice and discuss your hairstyle before the wedding. it is a good idea to have several practice sessions with your hairstylist before the wedding so that you can choose the right hairstyle.

Your wedding day will be one of the most important days of your life and you want to look your best. Many brides spend so much time choosing their dress, shoes and hairstyle that they tend to forget the importance of their wedding day make-up. Applying make-up for your special day can be tricky because you don't want to overdo it, yet at the same time you don't want to look too ordinary. Here are a few tips to create that perfect wedding day look:

1. Make sure your make-up is properly applied to enhance your appearance, especially for your wedding photos. Too much make-up, the wrong make-up, or improperly applied make-up can have the opposite effect. Heavy eyeliner or false eyelashes can cast unwanted shadows over the eyes and cheeks. No make-up can give you a washed out appearance, especially if you are fair skinned.
2. Consider hiring a professional make-up artist to do the make-up for the entire bridal party. If you decide to do your own make-up, the best advice is to practice until you achieve the look you want. It is not necessary to buy expensive products. Use your regular make-up or consult a professional salesperson at a department store to find products that best suit your skin and features, and how to apply them.
3. Have a make-up rehearsal prior to your wedding day.  The last thing you want on your wedding day is to find out that the make-up you were planning on using doesn't look very good.  Then you would have to scramble around trying to find make-up that does work.  Trying your make-up out ahead of time also gives you the opportunity to try out several looks and get advice from family and friends.
4. You want to achieve a clean, natural look for your wedding day. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to know your skin type. It is important to use the right foundation for your skin type and color. If you have oily skin, choose a water- based matte foundation that will not add unwanted oil to your skin. If you have dry skin, a fluid foundation can enhance your skin with its added oils.  The foundation you choose should blend with your natual skin tone. Once the foundation has been applied, check the color in natural sunlight. Other lighting types may affect your appearance. You will know you have a good match when the foundation on your jaw line matches your neck.
5. To get your make-up to last throughout your wedding day and look good in photos, it is important to use powder. The powder will not only ‘set’ the make-up giving it a longer, lasting effect, but it also helps in reducing unwanted shine. You may have to periodically reapply powder throughout the day to achieve this.
6. Your wedding makes for a very emotional day, so everything you put on your face should be water- or smudge-proof, especially your mascara. It is a good idea to use a new tube of mascara on your wedding day because older mascara has a tendency to clump.
7. Apply concealer with a sponge to cover any blemishes and to hide any dark circles under your eyes.
8. Use a lip liner pencil to draw a natural lip line, which will help prevent lipstick from running.  Be sure to blend it into your lips with a cotton swab and cover with matching lipstick.  Apply a small dollop of lip gloss to the center of your lips to make them appear fuller.
9. Try not to get too much sun before your wedding.  You don't want to be burnt or peeling on the big day.
10. Stick to a classic or neutral look.  Try to avoid make-up trends, as they will soon look dated in your wedding photos.

Your big day has arrived and you are all set to walk down the aisle when you find yourself in a pickle. Your hair is done, your make-up looks awesome and you are wearing your dream wedding gown. But then you look down and discover there is a make-up stain on your gown or you have broken a nail. But don’t worry; here are a few quick fixes that will bring a smile back to your face:

Stain Removal:

• Make-Up Stain- Whatever you do, don’t rub it! Press a dab of Club Soda on the spot, then sprinkle salt on top to soak up the moisture. Let it dry. If a hint of the stain remains, touch up with white chalk or talcum powder.
  
  
• Ink Stain- Apply a touch of hair spray to a cotton swab and rub lightly over the stain. This should remove the stain completely.
  
  
• OiI Stain- Sprinkle some talcum powder on the spot. The powder will absorb the oil. Wait 15 minutes for the moisture to absorb, and then dust powder off with a clean white towel. Repeat if necessary.
  
  
• Blood Stain- Apply a little of your own saliva on the spot and then gently rub it. The acids will break down the stain. This works best when the blood has not yet dried.

Facial Fixes:

• Puffy Eyes- Apply cold, wet tea bags. This will help tighten the swollen tissue. For puffiness under the eyes, try a small dap of Preparation H. This will shrink the swollen tissue.
  
  
• Red Blemishes- Cover any red blemish with a concealer that is as close to your skin tone as possible.  If the blemish is dark, dab on a concealer with a small brush and then set with matching powder.  If necessary, add a second layer of each.  For the dark blemishes, make sure the concealer is slighlyt lighter than your natural skin tone.
  
  
• Oily Face- Come prepared with an emergency kit containing blotting tissues or handkerchief, loose powder, or powder puff to remove excess oil from your face.

Broken Nail:

• Apply a drop of fast-bonding glue to the nail break, and position a tiny bit of unused mesh paper from a tea bag on top. Then add another drop of glue. When it is dry, file the paper down until you can’t see or feel the edges, then top with a third and final drop of glue.