Its one day in your life that you are the centre of attention and will likely be photographed more than at any other time in your life unless, of course, you are a model. Your hairstyle and makeup are the finishing touches to your overall look and need as much consideration as your dress. It’s important to see the whole as a picture, each element complementing the other.

Hair

Your hair should be styled to stay in keeping with the dress you have purchased. A raised style is well suited to a classic gown and high neckline and immediately implies more formality. A folksy, casual gown combined with a large hat demand an equally casual look and are well suited to long flowing hair. Keep in mind the entire look. If you are wearing a tiara or dominant headpiece on top of an elaborate hairstyle, you may end up looking like an ice cream Sunday.

Begin with a framework not the exact hairstyle.

It is crucial that your face, the centre-point, be seen clearly. Start with your normal style and try some variations: up in curls or a sweep, tied back off the face, or hanging free. The proportions of your head and the length of your hair are going to dictate which looks best. Consider how much neck you want to show, the gowns overall silhouette, its bodice and the neckline and shoulder style in particular.

If you have long hair and expect to wear it up for your wedding, it is advisable to wear it in a similar style when you are selecting your dress to get a better picture of the final look. Keeping your hairstyle similar to what you wear day-to-day should mean you only need a cut and some styling so that it looks fresh. Bring a picture of the dress with you to the hairstylist, they can better suggest what they think will work. A stylist is going to want to know the lines of the dress, the height of the neckline and the length of the sleeves. If you have the hair length, wearing it up safeguards against unpredictable weather, humid or damp weather can take the curl out of normally straight hair or introduce too much curl into hair that is naturally wavy.

If you plan to change the colour or length of your hair, allow a few extra weeks so you have time to get used to it and are certain it is for you. If unsure, do not do anything radical. It can be useful to do a trial run – have your hair styled as you expect to appear on the wedding day and then go home and try on the dress, headwear and jewelry. If possible, take a few pictures, which you can study later to get a more objective idea of how you look. Ask your maid of honor or other confidant for their opinion. Short hair can gain fullness with a hairpiece but needs a lot of attention to be convincing. If it does not match your natural hair colour exactly, a subtle colour change may be required. It will take extra time and increase your costs so ask in advance before you decide on this option.

The finishing touch for your hair is a tiara or flowers, but never both. The tiara is well suited to the formality of a raised hairstyle and is easily pinned into the folds of hair to keep it in place. Some tiaras are oval-shaped and sit on the head, which makes them easier to keep in place if you do not have a lot of hair to attach it to.

If you are choosing flowers you can choose live or artificial. If it’s the latter, they should be convincing. The same flowers can be worn in the bridesmaids hair, usually less prominently. Long-lasting flowers such as Baby’s Breath are popular and can be combined with artificial flowers for an ornate, summery look. Flowers need to be subtle, no extravagant blooms to make you look like a Polynesian princess, understated is better. If you are not wearing a veil, consider twining ribbons and flowers into a braid. The hairstylist will talk with the florist to determine the best option and may ask to see samples beforehand.

Although you are striving for some conformity in the wedding party, the bridesmaids are not a bunch of little dolls to be carefully arranged so allow room for some individuality in the way they look. If the bridesmaids are agreeable, everyone can wear the same hairstyle, which will lend a beautiful symmetry to the look of the bridal party. If you are taking this approach, book everyone into the same shop so the final treatments, such as glitter in the hair, are the same.

The stylist has no time to be experimenting on the morning of the wedding. It’s reserved for finishing your look, not getting started at it. Expect to have at least a couple of appointments beforehand so you get to know what they can do and any big changes are already made. It’s also an insurance policy for you if it turns out that they can’t do what you want, you still have some time to look for an alternative.

Make-up

The bride’s face will be a focal point of many pictures so when you plan your look, keep in mind what the camera sees. Most professionals suggest that you strive for a soft, intimate look especially avoiding dark eye colours that give a raccoon look. You can always start with a softer look and touch it up as the day progresses developing a dramatic look for the evening.

The trend in cosmetics is towards a more natural look so it is less an attempt to hide flaws, as it is to highlight features. Although it is a special occasion, there is such a thing as too much makeup. Preparation commonly starts a few weeks in advance of the wedding with a facial, which can resolve minor skin problems. If you choose to have your makeup professionally applied, do a trial run before the wedding day. You can confirm that it is the look you want or experiment when there is still time. For small intimate gatherings, aim for a natural, casual look – if the wedding is a gala event, you may choose to go with a more dramatic effect.

Keep in mind that you will be heavily photographed on this day and that studio and flash lighting can be severe. Take a few sample photos simulating these conditions when you do your trial run and study the pictures. Be aware that the results may be different with black and white or colour film. If you are unsure ask your photographer for suggestions.

When it comes to deciding on professional makeup application for your wedding day it should be all or none. If the bride is not choosing to have her makeup done professionally, neither should the bridesmaids. Otherwise, some are likely to standout visually from the others.

Hands

You are going to be sporting a pair of very beautiful rings, you and your new husband. It is not the time to show off your nail biting habit, or the hangnail you got while renovating your new apartment. We have all seen the pictures, the two hands clasped in a gentle pose, newly wedded. In fact, it’s probably one of the few times, if not the only, which we have our hands publicly photographed. A professional nail technician will give you tips on keeping your nails looking long and full, and your hands soft and smooth.

The bride’s nails should remain close to natural, using either a lacquer with almost no colour or a very delicate shade of pink. Within every cosmetic line there are products in an appropriate shade. If you are going for a more unconventional look, you may want to try something a little more outstanding, but be certain it matches your overall look.

Here’s how the business side works

If all of the women in the wedding party are being prepared at the same shop, it requires several stylists. You’ll need to book your date several weeks in advance, especially during the busy summer months if the salon does a lot of brides. Once you have worked out what’s required, the salon is able to estimate the cost if that’s a concern. Payment is expected when service is delivered with each bridesmaid paying for her own.

Expect to pay about $50 – $120 for the hair preparation and about $25 – $75 for makeup application. Prices can vary considerably for these services especially in cities so ask for a quote in advance if you have any concern about price.

If both services are being offered through the same shop, be sure that they do both well. It’s not standard treatment that you are expecting and will likely be paying a premium so expect more than average results.

Suggestions

• A few trips to the tanning salon can add some “colour” so you don’t look pale on the wedding day – unless that’s the look you are after. Just don’t overdo it. A dark tan is great in your bikini but may create too much contrast between you and your dress.
• You can get a quick and subtle “tanned” look with just a couple of trips to the salon or try the latest airbrush method that “sprays” it on.
• Carry a small emergency kit including a comb and brush, lipstick and nail colour, nail glue for false nails, face powder and mascara.
• If the ceremony and/or reception is held outdoors, and skin is exposed, remember to wear sunscreen. Strapless gowns can expose a lot of skin that is not use to the sun.
• If your hair is hard to control, consider getting a perm or your hair relaxed if you have too much curl. In either case, do it a few days ahead to give it time to settle in.
• If you are wearing your hair down and it is straight, consider having some curl introduced to give it body and fullness.
• If you choose a very trendy hairstyle it may look dated when you see your pictures a few years from now. Aim for a “classic” look that is modern but not on the edge of style.
• If you don’t want the formality of a raised hairstyle, consider pulling up the sides or a tied-back style that will simplify attachment of the headpiece and veil.
• If your hair colour is very fair, consider having some darker tones added to give it depth and keep you from looking too pale in photos.