One of the most important things you can do to guarantee that your wedding day is a success is to arrive looking and feeling like the best version of yourself. The days of planning and preparing will fly by and, before you know it, the big day is almost upon you. It’s moments like these where you’ll wonder when was the last time you had a thought that didn’t involve your wedding. We all know how stressful and intense this day can be, but if you’re in need of a little friendly help, we’ve collected 10 things every bride should do to prepare for her wedding day.

1. Give yourself some time for pampering

There’s no denying that high amounts of stress can take it’s toll on you, both physically and mentally. For me, it typically means lots of breakouts, snacking on sugary treats and preferring to be left alone. If you find yourself sinking under the pressure of your big day, treat yourself to a blissful spa session to evaporate any negativity. You might also want to think about taking the time to relax at the spa a week before your wedding day to keep up the momentum of feeling invigorated and refreshed. You’ve worked for months to get to the point, so allow yourself to have the reward you deserve.

2. Snacking 

With all the fuss and anxiety that surrounds the actual day, make sure that you pack snacks to keep you going throughout the day. As much as you’d like to get the show on the road as soon as you wake up, having a filling and healthy breakfast should also be on the day’s itinerary. High fibre breakfasts like oats and yoghurt are your best bet here, as they’ll keep going throughout the day. Having a wedding during the summer time is beautiful but can become dangerous if the bride doesn’t keep up her strength as the day and heat will be non-stop, bringing me to the next point.

Do not leave your house or hotel room that morning without a bottle of water. Dehydration and fainting are extremely prominent in the summer time, especially if you’re wearing a dress that weighs more than you do. While you’re taking photos, try to at least take a quick sip in between snaps. Being hydrated will help you appear fresh in your photos.

3. Designate a bathroom buddy

Remember that scene in 27 Dresses where Jane helps her friend pee by holding up her dress? That’s not just in the movies. If your dress does have multiple layers of fabric or petticoats, you’re going to need someone to help you use the bathroom when you need to. For a maid of honour, this bit may fall under her job description, but of course, choosing your bathroom buddy is entirely up to you. It could even be your mother who’ll tell you that she’s already ‘seen it all before’. Just make sure you tell them before the actual day, so when the time comes, they’re not staring back at you, wide-eyed.

4. Invest in some comfy, nude undies

Wanting to look sexy and beautiful on your wedding day is a given for any bride, however, when you take into account that you’ll be wearing this outfit for a very long time, you’re going to need some comfortable underwear. Temporarily, suppress the urge to break out your most alluring and sexy underwear and instead opt for something more practical to get you the through the day with ease. Something stretchy and seamless may also come in handy too, especially if you’re dress is form-fitting or straight.

5. Think about your best features

Wearing makeup is of course all about artistic expression and creativity, but it’s also the chance for you to enhance your best and favourite features. Now, I don’t need to tell you to search high and low over on Pinterest for makeup inspiration, but what you should consider is what facial feature you’d like to enhance through your makeup. Maybe you’d like to showcase your plump lips with a daring lipstick shade, or open up your eyes with dazzling, shimmer shadows, but the choice is yours alone.

6. Nails and skin prep

If you bite your nails and often neglect your daily skin care routine, take note. When it comes to caring for your nails and skin, exceptional results cannot be achieved the week before. This aspect of bridal preparation should begin at least a month in advance. Even the best nail technician cannot do much if your nails are short, with the skin peeled off and you definitely don’t want that pimple scene from My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding to become your reality. Get your skin into an effective skin routine beforehand and drink plenty of water to avoid any skin mishaps.

7. Tan your skin for that summer glow

Every bride wants to look her best on her wedding day, and often the best way to get your skin to have that healthy glow is a tan. We’re not suggesting you go out and risk skin cancer to look good, but consider using fake tan so that your dress and eyes really stand out. Make sure to exfoliate well and then apply a well recommended quality fake tan like the Sunescape range. You don’t want to be orange for your wedding day, so this combination will ensure the perfect tan that will have you glowing through your big day. If you’re a bit hesitant about applying fake tan, enlist a friend and look at the tips that has on their website. Make sure to try fake tan at least two days before the wedding, just in case.

8. Plan your bachelorette party

Okay, I’m absolutely not going to tell you to keep your bachelorette party on the DL, but what I am going to tell you is to have it at least a month before your wedding. That amount of alcohol and dancing requires a steady recovery period. Use the night to blow off steam and no matter what happens, have a fantastic time, so much so that your maid of honour will be using it the night as hilarious content when the times comes for her to deliver her speech.

9. Say no to dieting

Every bride always worries about whether or not they’ll be able to fit into their dress. It’s natural to stress about this, as you’ve only got one outfit and it needs to fit. However, this doesn’t mean you drop everything in terms of your current diet and fitness regime and go crazy. If you are looking to drop a couple of kilos before your wedding day, gradually begin the process by cutting out foods you know you don’t need. In terms of the gym, slightly intensify your workout, but not to the point where you feel like death when it’s over. It is possible to get in a good sweat sesh without nearly killing yourself. Your body will thank you for going easy, as crash dieting and vigorous exercise can potentially cause a lot of damage to your organs.

10. The beautiful magic of waterproof

Any makeup fanatic will tell you that waterproof mascara is possibly one of the most tedious things to remove, however, when you take into account about how emotional weddings can be, it might not be such a bad idea. You may have to spend a little extra time when it comes to removing your makeup, but when you’re finally able to take a look at all the photos, you’ll know that it was worth it.

11. Thank you, thank you, thank you

Yes, the day is all about you but it’s important to not forget the colossal amount of people that likely played a massive part in making sure everything went to plan. Take the time to let the people close to you know that the day would not have been possible without them, and I don’t just mean during your speech. Personally, pull them aside and let them know how thankful you truly are for their company and help.  They’ll see how grateful and courteous you are and it’ll warm their hearts.