You’ve booked the venue, ordered the cake and sent out the invites, now it’s time to get gorgeous for the biggest day of your life and we have all the body, beauty and hair secrets you need to know right here.

Get The Body

First things first, there’s nothing like the date of your own wedding coming up to spur you into toning up and perhaps losing a few pounds. However, getting your dream wedding day body is probably going to take the longest of all your beauty preparations, so be sure to allow enough time.

How long should I give myself to lose weight before my wedding? How long is a piece of string? Diet plans can last anything between a fortnight for a quick loss of a few pounds, up to a whole lifetime for those who struggle with their weight. This question really depends on how much you wish to lose. A realistic weight loss following a healthy eating plan is 1 to 2lbs per week, so if you have a stone to lose allow anything from 7 to 14 weeks to reach your goal.

How many calories should I be eating to lose weight? Put simply, a pound of fat is equal to 3,500 calories. If the average woman eats 2,000 calories a day, to lose a pound she would need to cut down 500 calories to a total of 1,500 calories a day to lose a pound a week. If you want to lose weight a little faster than this you could cut your intake to 1,200 calories a day, but going any lower than this is dangerous and will only leaving you feeling tired, irritable and even more stressed out then you probably already are.

I start off well, but then lose motivation. How can I keep up the good work? Healthy eating can become difficult once the initial willpower and enthusiasm starts to fade. However, there are several ways of staying motivated, these could include; sticking a photo of yourself at your biggest on the fridge next to a picture of your ideal wedding body or keeping a weight diary so you can monitor your weight loss and be inspired by your weekly progress. If you are really struggling to do it on your own, why not get a friend or your partner on side, or even join a weight loss club? You’ll be re-motivated and spurred on by the other members, plus each club has its own approach to losing weight, so no matter how hard you find dieting, there is sure to be one which suits you.

How can I tone up fast, especially my ‘bingo wings’?Simple, a lot of hard work and determination! Unfortunately, exercise is one of those things you either love or hate, but if you want the wedding body of your dreams, then you’re going to have to sweat for it. In a bid to get fit and tone up, your local gym will offer a fantastic choice of equipment, from cross-trainers and treadmills, to free-weights and toning tables. Some larger gyms may even offer a swimming pool and tennis or squash courts, giving you the option of a varied workout with each new visit. Many gyms will also provide personal trainers who can work with you to create a unique exercise programme tailored to suit you and your lifestyle. So, if you can only spare half an hour per session, they will ensure you’re carrying out the most effective exercises in that time.

I’m happy with my weight but my skin’s lacking lustre, how can I look radiant by my wedding day?We can all watch what we eat in order to feel and look healthier, however, some things can only be achieved from a bottle, and this is where your local salon or spa comes in. You can find an array of treatments on offer, from massages that detox and smooth your skin, to body wraps encouraging cellulite or inch reduction. One of the fastest and cheapest ways to hide flaws and create a healthy glow in time for your big day is to enhance your natural skin tone with a fake tan. Most salons offer spray tans these days, although if it’s your first time do have a trial to make sure you know the shade which suits you best.

Get The Face

Whether it’s acne, wrinkles, stained teeth or the inability to apply make-up well, every woman worries about the appearance of her face, especially on her wedding day. However, with so many affordable beauty treatments around today, there’s no reason why you can’t look a million dollars in time for your big day.

As a teenager I suffered with acne, how can I lessen the appearance of my scars?If you suffer with acne scarring, age spots, skin blemishes or even sun-damaged skin, microdermabrasion can help to treat any one of these conditions. The treatment uses a system that exfoliates the skin with a jet of crystals which move across the surface of the skin through a sealed tube, while dead skin cells and scarred tissue are vacuumed away. The depth of the peel is variable and the vacuum pressure of the treatment will be customised to your skin type - which should be discussed with your beautician at a prior consultation. The process usually takes about half an hour per session and the results promise a glowing and smoother complexion.

I’ve tried a number of anti-wrinkle creams to no avail - I’m tempted to try botox but is it safe? Botox is a safe and simple procedure. Using a controlled amount of Botulinum Toxin (A), a series of small quick injections is administered to the affected area, taking effect within 2-14 days. The treatment will then last 3-6 months. Botox works by weakening the delicate muscles under the skin which contract when we smile, laugh or frown. After the treatment, skin will remain smooth and unwrinkled, while untreated facial muscles contract normally, allowing your facial expression to be unaffected on your wedding day.

I’d like my teeth whitened in time for my wedding day, do home-kits work? Although home teeth whitening kits are pretty cheap, unfortunately you will never get the same kind of results from these as you would from a professional dentist. Tooth whitening provided by your dentist is the safest and fastest way to a whiter, brighter smile. There are a few options available, including wearing a dental tray for an hour a day or overnight, however, the most popular is laser whitening, as it usually only takes an hour and dramatically whitens your teeth up to nine shades lighter. The treatment is totally painless, but some patients may find they experience sensitivity the following day.

Should I hire a make-up artist for my big day? It is of course your own personal decision, but it’s a very important day and shouldn’t be compromised. A make-up artist will make sure that you are looking your absolute best. You have surely spent plenty of time, money and thought on the dress, cars and venue, so don’t forget about yourself. A make-up artist knows all the secrets to creating a look that won’t smudge, crease or melt all day long and can give you guidance on shades which will compliment your skin tone, leaving you looking radiant in all your wedding photos. It’s important to have a trial first though, to experiment with colours and ensure you are happy with its staying power.

Get The Hair

Finding the perfect ‘do’ is high on every bride’s list of priorities, after all your hair will be one of the many focal points of the day and captured forevermore on film! So whether you’re wearing it in a classic chignon or down in Rapunzel-style cascading curls, Your Wedding has all your hair questions answered.

How do I choose which style to go for? What you would like to achieve with your hair and what is actually possible are two very different things. So if you have short hair, don’t take a picture of a bride with long locks to the salon and expect to come out looking the same unless you are prepared to spend out on extensions. Similarly, an intricate up ‘do’ can be just as tricky to keep in place with very long, thick hair, so you may have to be willing to have it cut shorter, or at least have some of the weight taken out by introducing some layers. Other factors to consider when choosing your hairdo could be the style of your dress, and of course your face shape. Your stylist will know best, so book a consultation for their professional advice.

How many consultations should I have with my hairdresser before my wedding day? To play it safe, have at least one or two practices with your hairdresser a couple of months in advance of your wedding. These sessions are perfect for finding out what you do and do not like, giving you plenty of time to change your mind if you’re not too sure. If your bridemaids are also having their hair styled, make sure they have a practise as well, so that you can make sure everyone is pleased with the looks that have been chosen.

Hair accessories – when to use them and when not? From flowers to feathers, gems to gorgeous grips, the abundance of hair accessories can leave you spoilt for choice. Most of the fun comes from experimenting with different looks, but remember, less is by far more when it comes to creating a classy look. When choosing what to dress your hair with, be realistic – having fine flyaway hair could allow you to dress your hair with several small pretty flowers, while thicker hair would suit just one larger statement flower. If you want to push the boundaries, look at intricate slides with feather or diamante details or a bespoke tiara.

I want to look sophisticated and chic, what’s your advice? For a chic look, which oozes sophistication, search out celebrity styles that have hit the red carpet. From Jennifer Lopez to Scarlett Johansson, the latest premier hairdo’s can be a great indication of what’s in style now. For old-school glamour, look no further than style icon, Audrey Hepburn. Her sleek pleats and buns can give the real ‘Wow!’ factor. Go for it with your hair and get support from your stylist in making the right wedding hair choice.

Hairs to a great wedding day!

Words by Maria Clift