It's your wedding day and you want to look your best! All eyes will be on you and you will have hundreds of photos to look back on after the wedding day. Some couples may start a new exercising routine, other's may eat a bit more healthy, and some couples may hire makeup and hair vendors for their big day. Some couples may consider tanning before their wedding. We all know the dangers of tanning and the risk of skin cancer and the tanning lotions and creams have chemicals that aren't the best for your body so I won't preach to you about that.
I am a huge supporter or not tanning before your wedding! You really don't look as pale as you think you look and your photos will be natural and beautiful! Not tanning will help make your skin tone look natural and fresh. Excessive tanning, dieting, or extreme measures are not necessary! You fell in love with each other for who you are and not how you look.
With those caveats aside, here are some things to consider if you do choose to tan before your wedding day.
Self Tanner
Although self tanner is easy and cheap because you can pick it up at any drugstore or big box store, it's not always the best. Using self tanner for your wedding is a pretty big don't. Unless you are an avid user of self tanners, I would recommend skipping them. Self tanner is harder to apply evenly and ends up making you look more orange than the other tanning methods. You don't want to look blotchy or orange on your wedding day! Self tanners are also known to rub off on your clothing so you will want to keep this in mind with your wedding outfit. If you do choose to use self tanner, make sure you exfoliate beforehand and keep your kin well moisturized for best results. Test out your self tanner well before your wedding to make sure it will not cause an allergic reaction.
Spray Tans
There are several varieties of spray tans out there. Some that you get at a tanning salon in a booth like the Mystic Tan and others that are airbrushed on you by a person. Spray tans are always a better option that using self tanner because they get applied a lot more evenly and do not look as orange. If you are unfamiliar with using spray tans then you will want to do some research so you know how to stand in the machine to achieve the best results. Just like if you were using a self tanner, get a test spray tan well in advance of your wedding to make sure it will not cause an allergic reaction. Spray tans are known to cause some spotting as they fade so you will want to get one well in advance of your wedding so you can gauge the best time to get it before your wedding to limit spotting. Just like a self tanner, spray tans can rub off on your clothing so you will want to test that out as well.
Tanning Beds
Like I mentioned above, tanning beds are linked to skin cancer so please use these sparingly if you choose to do so. My recommendation is to talk to the tanning specialist at your salon. Get their recommendation on the bed and length of time you should stay in per exposure. Always, always, wear your eye protection and don't stay in for longer than you need. If your skin feels hot, go ahead and get out, you won't want to burn! Since tanning beds are more like natural sun exposure, you will receive a more natural tan and there will not be a risk of it rubbing off on your clothing.
Tanning In The Sun
As I said above, tanning in the sun is linked to skin cancer to please keep this in mind. To lessen your risk of cancer, wear sunglasses and use sunscreen. You will still achieve a tan with sunscreen but you will be a bit more shielded from the harmful affects of UVA and UVB rays. Tanning in the sun will provide you with the most natural looking tan.
Don't Forget About Tan Lines!!!!
Regardless of if you choose to tan or not, you will want to keep tan lines in mind. You won't want to show up on your wedding day with a tan line that shows with your wedding outfit. To limit your tan lines, invest in a bathing suit that follows the same cut of your wedding dress or attire. If you are going out to a park, an outdoor festival or concert, or doing outdoor activity, you can develop tan lines here too so keep this in mind with your wedding attire.
