Want to look glowing and healthy on your friend's big day? Skip the sunbeds and instead try a fake tan - you'll get the same bronzed look without the risk. If you're a tanning newbie, here are our top tips for nailing your wedding fake tan...
Discuss with the bride
If you want a healthy glow on the wedding day, but you’re not usually a fake tan wearer, then it may be a good idea to discuss your plans with the bride first. Although the bride can’t dictate whether or not you tan, she may have a preference, so it’s always worth chatting to her first.
Do your tan prep
Whether you’re opting for a professional spray tan or you’re doing it yourself, prep is vital to ensure that your tan looks good and lasts. Exfoliate daily for a week leading up to the tan, concentrating on particularly dry areas such as your elbows and knees, and follow up with a rich moisturiser. Plan for hair removal, too - you should leave at least 24 hours between shaving or waxing and applying fake tan, to avoid the tan settling in pores.
Think about your dress and hair
Bear in mind the cut of your dress and how you plan to have your hair on the day. If you’re wearing an updo, you’ll have to be sure the back of your neck is properly tanned, and you’ll want to take into account any low-back or plunge neckline gowns.
Have a trial
Whether professional or DIY, it’s always a good idea to have a trial run with your tan so you can see how it will develop, and make any colour changes if necessary. Just before the hen do is a great time to trial your tan.
Time it right
Timing is crucial when it comes to your tan. Whatever you do, don’t do your fake tanning the day or night before the wedding, as you’ll still be dark from the guide colour, and you may transfer onto your dress. Instead, you may want to tan two or three days in advance, so that your tan looks natural and glowing rather than orange.
Don’t forget your makeup
If you’re doing your own makeup for the wedding, remember that you may need to get your foundation in a shade darker for the big day - the last thing you want is to nail your tan, only to end up with a strangely pale face in the photos!
Don’t go with instant
No matter if you go with a professional spray tan, at-home tan or a gradual tanner lotion, we recommend that the only thing you don’t pick up is an instant tanner. You may think that it’s easier to use a wash-off formula in case of mistakes, but on the day, the tan will run and transfer if there’s rain or if you work up a sweat on the dance floor.
Looking for more bridesmaid advice? Check out our Wedding Party Advice section!