Every bride wants to look her best on her wedding day. It's only natural to want your husband-to-be to think "Wow!" when he sees you walk down the aisle.
And, let's not forget, your wedding day will be captured for posterity in your photos, so it's more important than ever to look your best - all day long.
A professional photographer should know all the tricks of the trade to make you look great in the photos. For details of photographers in your local area, see our Supplier Directory.
Lighting is essential for flattering photographs. Pictures taken in bright midday sun can create harsh black shadows and a bleached-out wedding dress so it's often better to wait for an overcast moment or to move to a shaded area.
Angles are also important if you're to look your best. Instead of standing with your shoulders square to the camera, turn your body by 30 to 40 degrees - you'll look half a stone lighter.
Try the supermodel trick of tilting your face at a 45-degree angle to make your face appear slimmer.
MAKE-UP TIPS
- To look your best we think you should aim for a more polished version of your everyday look. It's a careful balancing act - looking natural without appearing washed out.
- You'll probably experience some last-minute nerves on the morning of your wedding, so it's worth thinking about having a steadier hand apply your make-up. Hire a professional make-up artist or ask a trusted friend.
- Ask a professional to come to your house and have at least one trial run before the day.
- Avoid going for a dramatic new image on your wedding day. Stick to a more natural effect, so that you'll look like yourself - just a slightly more glamorous version.
- Try to define your features as much as possible, but avoid the hard lines of eye pencils and liquid liners.
- Pinky-brown lipsticks whiten teeth whereas orange or red can make them look yellow. If you have very pale skin, a cherry red lipstick can look harsh. Steer clear of overly pale or pearly lipstick.
- If you're having black-and-white photographs take extra care with your make-up. Dark red lipstick and heavy-handed blusher will look even darker in black-and-white photos, while pastel colours can fade out completely.
- Make sure you invest in a good waterproof mascara - just in case you get a bit tearful.
- Pluck your eyebrows and wax your legs at least four days before the wedding so any redness has time to calm down.
- Be wary of too much fussiness around your face. Make sure that your veil, jewellery, headdress and neckline complement one another to avoid a cluttered look.
- Treat yourself to a professional manicure. Your hands are likely to be the focus of many pictures - and everyone will want to have a look at your ring.
- Remember to spare a few moments to freshen up your make-up throughout the day.
