Health and Beauty
On your wedding day you will want to look and feel your most radiant ever. Enhance the glow of your love through a healthy lifestyle and some professional advice.
Be Good to Yourself
The most beautiful bride is one whose glow comes from within. To ensure that you are at your luminous best, there are simple and effective steps you can take, which are really no more than common-sense good habits that you should establish anyway, just because you'll feel better for it.
Remember to eat well, drink lots of water, exercise regularly and get plenty of sleep (during the same hours each night ... don't get into a habit of staying up late one night and going to bed early the next to "catch up"). If you are beginning a new exercise, diet, or vitamin routine, start well in advance of your wedding date.
Not allowing enough time to see results before the wedding will only cause you to feel disappointed and frustrated. For advice on health and fitness regimens, we recommend that you consult with a professional at a reputable health club or nutrition center, or contact your personal physician.
You also should remember to take time out. During the planning stages of your wedding you will be under substantially more stress than usual. Setting aside time for yourself each day will help you wind down and give you a retreat from the wedding whirlwind. Work out at a health club, take a walk, relax in a bubble bath or read a good book. You'll be both rested and rejuvenated and ready to tackle that wedding with renewed energy and enthusiasm.
Fabulous Fantastic You!
Once you've decided on a wedding date, you'll need to give a ring ... to your makeup artist and your hairdresser! For the most important event of your life, you don't want to take a chance that your stylists will not be available to you. Be sure to contact both professionals early on to schedule consultations and subsequent appointments.
Considering not using a makeup artist? Think again. With a day full of events that will be captured in photographs and videos, you'll want to make sure that your makeup is applied just right for the lighting, and to keep you looking beautiful throughout the celebration.
As you confer with your hairstylist, discuss exactly what look you're trying to achieve. Then start working toward that end. This is where early planning is important. If your hair is damaged or you have color issues, plenty of lead time is critical to getting your crowning glory looking glorious again.
And if you'd like the more romantic appeal of a longer style, there's (literally) no time like the present to get those tresses growing. You might think of it in terms of "Today is the first day of the rest of your hair."
Just For The Ladies . . .
Traditionally held on the day before the wedding, the bridal luncheon is an opportune time to get together with your bridesmaids and celebrate and thank them for their help, not to mention their friendship. While this timing is still a popular choice, many brides opt to hold their luncheons, or some other type of get-together, a few weeks prior to the big day perhaps after the final dress fitting, or at a time when everyone will be in town.
The bride generally hosts the luncheon, but it's not unusual for the bridal party to host it for her. Not up for a luncheon? Check out these ideas:
• For music lovers, enjoy a night out at a concert.
• Great plays and musicals are often staged in Fresno. how about dinner and a show?
• Plan a day at the spa for manicures, pedicures, massages and/or facials.
• Have a slumber party like in the good ol' days, with movies and munchies.
• Go on a gallery crawl, or visit a museum, finishing up with a meal on the town.
• For the outdoorsy type, a camping trip or hike is a wonderful option!
Regardless of what you decide to do, the bridal party get-together is a great time to present your attendants with presents, again thanking them for all they've done. And be sure to save room for cake as you may want to include the pull-out ribbons with charms that will foretell your maids' future . an old but cherished tradition.
You glow, girl!
A visit to a spa can be an especially delightful treat during the days leading up to your wedding. Not only is it a great way for the bride-to-be to de-stress, but can also give you the chance to spend some enjoyable time with the mother-of-the-bride (who could probably use a little de-stressing of her own). Or you might consider making a "spa day" a part of your bachelorette party or bridesmaids luncheon some establishments will even arrange for catering so you and your friends can indulge yourselves without having to worry about traveling from place to place.
New treatments and services are constantly being created; check out some of these indulgent ideas that sound too tempting to pass up:
• Choose from a variety of facials including express, eye treatments, oxygen, relaxation, or custom. And for the groom, there are even gentlemen's facials available!
• Manicures and pedicures, of course, are standard and soooo soothing. Put your hands in the hands of the professionals and just sit back as they work their magic on your tips and tootsies.
• A body treatment could be just the thing for you . or almost anyone! Relax and enjoy as the spa specialist treats you with your choice of .
• Seaweed treatment promotes sweating and detoxifying and activates blood circulation.
• Herbal Wrap imparts a healthy appearance and is especially soothing for dry or sensitive skin.
• Hot Oil Wrap aromatic oils help to rehydrate and revitalize the skin and the psyche.
• Body Polish hot pressurized water combined with massage will make you tingle all over.
No matter which one (or many) you choose, when you're good to yourself, you're sure to enjoy the experience. And you'll come away glowing like a bride!