Let’s face it – it can be hard to keep track of everything you want to do to make yourself look fabulous for your big day while also planning a jaw-dropping event. Enter Heidi Nazarudin, a Santa Monica-based professional beauty and lifestyle blogger, with some tips to keep you on track and looking your best from proposal to wedding day. Nazarudin knows a few things about keeping organized and prepared, as she is the president and co-founder of the newly launched The Blogger Babes – a one-of-a-kind association and resource for professional women bloggers worldwide, where they can get tips and knowledge to help them become successful bloggers. Not content to stop there, she can now add writer to her list of accomplishments as her first e-book, Blogger Babes Blogging Manual; Intro to Blogging, was published last month and she’s got another her second e-book, The Blogger Babes Manual, in the works to release later this month.
Her tips:
Whether it happened during a flash mob, on the screen at a game, or on the classic fairy tale one knee, becoming engaged is one of the most exciting times in a woman’s life. However, it can also be a stressful whirlwind, so say “I do” to these simple tips.
As soon as the engagement is official:
- Get a manicure ASAP because everyone will want to see your ring.
- Take care of your skin and get it ready for the big day: drink tons of water, get regular facials and consider consulting a dermatologist about supplements, peels, etc.
- Be careful with your tanning regime be it in the sun or in the spray-booth. You’ll want to avoid unflattering tan lines that might show in your dress.
- Start your dieting/exercise plan immediately.
- Enjoy being engaged. I know it’s hard not to buy all those wedding magazines you’ve eyed, but spend at least some time enjoying this step in the journey.
Bachelorette party: there will be photos (on Facebook and every other social media platform) so look amazing and don’t embarrass yourself:
- The ubiquitous tiara is optional but sparkle and shimmer in makeup is not. This is your night to shine, so do it literally.
- It can be awkward getting in and out of a limo in a dress. Consider switching it up and wearing a jumper, or a sparkly top and shorts to avoid wardrobe malfunctions.
- A high ponytail will look great all night long (and will also work with the tiara. Who are you kidding, you’ll wear one).
- Use a wristlet for your phone, ID, credit card, lipstick and carry a $20 bill in case of emergencies. You don’t want to worry about losing a purse in the madness.
- Call your fiancé at some point to remind him that he’s the most important person (and only man) in your life.
Rehearsal dinner:
- Stay away from salty or bloating foods.
- Don’t drink too much alcohol. I cannot stress this enough. Sure you want to celebrate but you do not want to feel awful or hung-over on your wedding day.
- Long lasting lipstick is needed because you’ll be eating, drinking, and kissing long-lost relatives hello. Similarly, remember waterproof mascara because you’re sure to tear up during some toasts.
- Set the tone with your dress. Whatever you choose make it slightly more dressed-up than you would normally wear to that venue, so that you are still the standout whether you’re at a beachside BBQ or an upscale restaurant.
- Consider an updo, especially if outdoors so it’s not in your face; and a hat so you aren’t sunburned for your big day.
Wedding day:
- Think blushing bride with focus on you, not the makeup. You want to recognize yourself in your photos. Years from now you don’t want your kids pointing to your wedding portrait and saying, “who did daddy marry there?”
- Clip on extensions are a great idea in your hair because they add oomph but you can take them out before the honeymoon.
- You don’t want to be mistaken for the wedding cake. A tall, slender bride can get away with almost any dress, a curvy bride might lean toward a sweetheart neckline with ruching, while a petite bride needs to avoid being overwhelmed by too much fabric. Be careful of strapless which is less forgiving if a bride gains or loses weight between fittings. You might not love the corset style but you can worry less about last-minute alterations.
- Your bouquet should compliment you and the dress. Think proportions: bigger for tall bride, smaller for petite bride.
- You want to be classically fashionable. You don’t want to look at photos years from now and think “ugh – that had to be the one year that hip padding was in?!?!”
Above all, remember, if at the end of the day you’re married to the man you love, then everything went perfectly!
We couldn’t agree more! Check out her lovely blog here, and download her book at BloggerBabes.com.