Between fittings, guest lists and buffet tasting, most couples already have a bridal checklist with reams of tasks to keep track of. And like the proverbial Hydra, with each task you knock off, two more seem to take it’s place. Inspite of the thoroughness with the way a bridal checklist is created (and re-created), there’s some things that always seem to be evade it. We called in the experts to tell us what they are.
1. Do a makeup trial with your jewellery
Every bride has a specific vision for her wedding makeup. Dewy, but not oily. Sculpted, but natural. To ensure the best outcome, makeup artist and entrepreneur Namrata Soni recommends testing the entire look because “once the mathapatti, nath and dupatta come in, the overall effect may be different from what you want”, she says.
2. Take your skincare beyond the face
Skincare doesn’t end at the jawline, dermatologist Dr Jaishree Sharad reminds us, especially as “HD photography and modern bridal outfits make tan lines, back pigmentation, chest acne and dry hands highly visible”. Identify the neglected parts of your body, whether that’s your scalp or your toes, and show them some love.
3. Figure out your eyebrow shape
One week, it’s feathered brows. Next, it’s skinny arches. “Brides sometimes copy trends that don’t suit their personality or features,” says Soni. To find the right brow shape, try brow mapping—the three- point technique that shows you where your brow should start, peak and end, based on your facial structure.
4. Protect your skin barrier from yourself
According to Sharad, a major mistake is treating your skin like a science experiment right before your wedding. Overdoing treatments like peels, scrubs, retinoids and facials can weaken the skin barrier, leading to irritation, dehydration, acne flare-ups and makeup that refuses to cooperate. “A calm, hydrated barrier photographs better and tolerates makeup longer,” she explains.
5. Focus on better digestion, not detoxes
Bridal diets that insist on juice cleanses and tiny sal ads? They usually leave you bloated, exhausted and craving a chocolate cupcake. “The most underrated thing a bride can do is fix her gut before the wedding,” shares nutritionist Rashi Chowdhary. “It shows on the face in a way that no facial or supplement can replicate. Your skin clears, puffiness reduces and the body looks and feels lighter.”
6. Be ‘wedding-ready’ before measurements are taken
Whether your goal is to feel stronger, leaner, curvier or simply more comfortable in your clothes, give yourself enough time to get there and “be in that shape by the time your measurements are taken to avoid last-minute stress and alterations”, says stylist Anaita Shroff Adajania. That’s really the date you’re working towards. After that, it’s just figuring out how to stay in maintenance mode.
7. Prepare your nervous system
A bride will remember to match the welcome easel to the table runners, but forget about her own mental health and well-being. “Chronic stress before the wedding can show up as bloating, acne, fatigue, constipation, painful periods, poor sleep and even hair fall,” explains Chowdhary. So find ways to unwind, whether that’s journalling or sweating through your T-shirt at a Zumba class.
