1. Bridal Beauty: 21 Great Beauty Tips

1. Waterproof It
   Choose a mascara that's waterproof; it lasts longer and withstands tears. If you really don't like its look or feel, use one coat of regular mascara, then follow it up with a light coat of waterproof mascara.

2. On the Line
   Charcoal, navy, or mahogany are your best options for eyeliner. Black or brown may look too severe, especially if your wedding will be held during the daytime and/or outdoors.

3. Lighten Up
   Use a white shadow as a highlighter on your brow bone if you have light skin; a warmer light peach or vanilla shade will suit deeper complexions.

4. Give Them Shape
   Do contour your eyes, but avoid using color that's too dense (it can detract from your eyes themselves).

5. Shade Your Brows
   Define your brows with a pencil or shadow that matches your hair colour.

6. Get the Red Out
   Pop an eye drop if your eyes look red or tired, but stick with a brand you've used before to avoid unwelcome surprises (irritation or worse!).

   Bonus Tip: If your veil needs to be removed after the ceremony, make sure your hairdresser shows your mom or maid of honor how to do it without mussing your 'do.

7. Sweet Cheeks
   Don't forget your blush! A pop of colour on your cheeks is like an instant facelift. For fairer skin, a pink tone will work; those deeper skin tones can choose a rosier hue.

8. Zap a Zit
   If you have a blemish or breakout just before the big day, keep your hands away from your face -- the spot will heal more neatly if you leave it alone. In the case of a sudden monstrous pimple, see your dermatologist and ask for a cortisone injection that will shrink it instantly.

9. Blend, Blend, Blend
   Blend well all over, especially at the corners of your eyes, since cameras pick up visible makeup lines.

10. Get a Good View
    For your makeup application, natural light is best. If possible, set up an application table near a window. If there's no natural light available, use a super-bright lamp -- halogens work best.

11. Sit Up
    If you're getting ready at a hotel, ask for a high bar stool so you can be on eye level with your makeup artist. If you can't get a stool, simply prop yourself up on pillows.

12. Even It Out
    Use bronzing powder on your chest and neck if you need to even out your skin tone -- it will make your skin more luminous and ensure that your face doesn't look too different from your body.

13. Watch That Gown
    Don't, however, use foundation on your décolletage -- it can stain your dress.

14. Carry Protection
    Use a moisturizer that includes an SPF, especially if you are getting married outdoors! You may be getting more sun than you think you are, and you will definitely look pinker in pictures.

15. Brighten Up
    Choose a lip colour that's a bit bright. Pale nude or brown lip hues can make you appear washed out in photos, particularly since you'll be wearing white. If you normally wear a neutral hue, wear it as your base with a pink or rose colour on top. If you normally wear dark lipstick, use that as your base and apply a lighter sheer pink on top to give you a lift.

16. Keep It With You
    Even if you mix various lip colours when applying your makeup, be sure to have one great lipstick to carry with you for touch-ups.

17. Greet 'Em With a Grin
    You can have the softest lips and the perfect lipstick, but if your teeth are yellow you won't want to flash a smile. There are lots of safe, reliable over-the-counter teeth-whitening systems, which all whiten teeth by a few shades.

18. Prepare the Area
    When having your hair styled, a low counter with a mirror -- like a vanity table -- will work best. Check to see that your chair has a low back, so your stylist will have easy access to your head. And make sure there are electrical outlets nearby for appliances such as hair dryers, curling irons, and electric rollers. For extra insurance, bring a few extension cords.

19. Turn On the Heat
    If your wedding is early, or if time is of the essence, plug in your rollers, curling iron, or straightening iron before your stylist arrives to save time.

20. Refresh Your Tresses
    Give your hair a spa day! Have a professional scalp massage (which not only feels good, but stimulates the hair follicles and adds body) and deep conditioning treatment the week before your wedding.

2. Shopping 101: Gown-Buying Checklist

You spent your lifetime dreaming about your wedding gown, so shopping for it is sure to be an exhilarating, exciting and yes, overwhelming experience. When should you start? Where should you go? What happens once you're there? Well, your worrying is over. From ordering to altering, here's everything you need to know.

When to Begin
Two words: Shop early. Nine to twelve months before the wedding is ideal, since it's best to have about six months to spare for fittings. Why? Unless you buy a ready-to-wear gown or a sample, wedding gowns are custom-made (and any beading are likely hand-sewn). Then, once the gown arrives, it must be altered -- usually several times -- to fit you perfectly. That said, many companies can turn a gown around quickly. If you have less than six months, it's not impossible, just get started pronto. One tip: Go simple. As a rule, the less complicated the gown, the less time it takes to make and fit.

If you have lots of time, you can hit every salon, shop 'til you drop, and agonize over your gown decision. Most important, be decisive!

9 to 12 Months Before

• Start envisioning yourself in your wedding gown. Think about your everyday style. Now write down six adjectives that best describe how you want to look and feel (summery, sweet, elegant, royal, sexy, sophisticated, demure, over-the-top, to name a few).
• Choose the time of day and formality of your wedding before you set foot in a store.
• Start learning the ins and outs of wedding gowns. Get the lingo down and determine which design elements will complement your body.
• Hone in on a specific style.
• Now get some paper and a pencil and put into words what you absolutely do not want in a gown (for example, short sleeves, a full skirt, or beading).
• Determine your gown budget -- a good guideline is to spend 10% of your overall wedding budget.

8 Months Before

• Find two or three salons that suit you. Check to see which salons carry the designers you like. Submit e-mails and make appointments, allowing at least one hour at each salon. Use your calendar to keep track of the salons, addresses, dates, and times.
• Decide who to bring and invite them along. Limit your entourage to no more than three oglers at once.
• Get your gear ready. Many salons provide some of the essentials listed below, but they may not fit properly:
  • A strapless bra or bustier
  • Control-top panty hose (gowns go on more smoothly, especially the often-too-small sample sizes)
  • A slip if you plan to try on sheaths or slip dresses
  • Shoes with approximately the same heel height you plan to wear on your wedding day
  • Tissues for when your mom sees you in your first gown
• As you shop take careful notes on the dresses and the designers you like and write down descriptions of the gowns with prices.
• A few words on sizing: Wedding gowns can run small. The store will measure your bust, waist, and hips, consult the individual manufacturer's sizing chart, and order the size that matches your largest measurement (it's much easier and less expensive to take in a dress than to let it out).

7 Months Before

• Narrow down your gown choices and go for a second (or third or fourth!) salon visit. You can return as many times as you like. No matter how indecisive you think you are, you probably won't come close to being the most neurotic bride they've ever helped. Also, make at least one trip on your own (so you can ponder your options without others' opinions colouring your thoughts).
• At the salon, ask if the gown has coordinating accessories (veil or shawl) and try them on, too. Don't feel pressured to order anything: You still have time to look elsewhere for accessories.

6 Months Before

• Order your gown. Make sure the following contract points are in writing on your receipt:
  • designer name
  • style number or name
  • size or measurements the salon is sending to the manufacturer
  • approximate delivery date
  • how many fittings are included in the price (if any)
  • how much money you still owe for the gown
  • amount of your deposit and that it's marked paid

5 Months Before

• Call the salon to confirm the delivery date.
• Decide what accessories -- shoes, lingerie, jewellery, headwear, wrap, gloves, outerwear, and bag -- you need (or want!) and shop for them. For ideas, check out The Knot Accessory Search.
• If you plan to lose weight before your wedding, do so before your fittings begin. Once fittings are underway, try to maintain your weight. (Better yet, forget about the diet -- obviously he thinks you look great just the way you are.)

6 Weeks Before (or once your gown has arrived)

• Have your first fitting. Invite an honest, sharp-eyed friend or family member to come along. Bring your accessories, too, so you can see the whole look.

4 to 5 Weeks Before

• Have your second fitting. Make sure that:
• The hem of a full-length gown skims the tops of the toes of your shoes
• You can move comfortably
• The gown stays in place as you move
• There is no obvious wrinkling, bunching, or pulling
• Continue to schedule fittings until you are completely satisfied.
• Bring your maid of honour to your final fitting to learn about the gown. Does it need bustling? Ask the salesperson to teach her how to do it. Does it have complicated straps or buttons? Make sure she knows how to work them. Also, find out how to banish last-minute wrinkles. Should you use an iron? On what setting? Is steaming a better option? And what if you spill something on the gown? Are there certain products you should or shouldn't use?

3 Weeks Before

• Schedule a day and time to pick up your gown from the salon. We suggest you try it on one last time, no matter what the salon says, especially if it's been a while since your last fitting. We all know stress affects our appetites, and if you suddenly don't fit into your gown you need time to adjust it, or your diet.
• Pick up your gown!

3. Fashion Hints

Your Gown: An Anatomy Lesson
Are you up on all of the parts of your gown? Study up with our lesson in dresses 101.
Over the years, the wedding dress has become an iconic piece of clothing, one associated with joy, union, celebration and hope. For many women, the price of a bridal gown also constitutes their single largest clothing expenditure. And yet, few brides actually know what goes into the gowns they choose to wear.

Like many things in life, a bridal gown is only as grand as the sum of its parts. Every version -- no matter what its shape or size -- is the result of several dynamics working together to enhance the wearer in a specific way and to create unique vision. For instance, the inherent sex appeal of a sheath can be downplayed with the addition of flirty floral embroideries, or highlighted with a halter neckline and sexy slit skirt. A big tulle ball gown can celebrate its princess appeal with lots of lace, a Basque waistline, and tea-length hem, or it can be made to look more modern with a dropped waist and strapless or asymmetrical neckline.

Did you know...
Dresses were generally floor length until World War I. Then, in the late 1920s, they rose to knee length, before dropping to the calf in the '30s. By the time the mini was introduced in the mid '60s, skirt length had become largely a matter of personal choice.
Before you start shopping, take a moment to consider the following 12 gown elements, each of which must not only be right on its own, but must also work with the others to form a perfect union.

Silhouette
Silhouette refers to the overall shape of a gown. It's the most essential element to assess, because a gown's shape is its bedrock -- and it's what sets the mood for your entire look. The fitted bodice and full bell-shaped skirt of the ball gown, for example, channels a Cinderella spirit, making it the perfect selection for the princess bride. The empire, on the other hand, is a softer style that evokes a period feel with its high, feminine waistline. More form-fitting styles like the sheath up the ante on wedding dress sex appeal, and are a sleek and stylish option for the modern bride.

Neckline
The neckline is very important for two reasons: Not only is it the part of the dress people notice first, but it's also the one that sets off the face. If a bride's face is a portrait, then her neckline is its frame. Some necklines -- the bateau, jewel and mandarin -- are designed to sit high on the neck and offer coverage. While others -- the portrait, sweetheart, one-shoulder -- are defined by what they leave bare. The right neckline can add character to a gown, show off an accessory, or highlight a unique figure feature -- be it a long, graceful neck, daring décolletage, or a strong set of shoulders.

Waistline
Technically, the waistline of the wedding dress is the horizontal seam that joins the bodice and skirt. Along with the neckline and sleeves, the waistline works to add signature style to a particular silhouette. It's also the element responsible for bringing shape and balance to the gown. For example, the elongated V-shape of a Basque waist is the perfect compliment to a full ball gown, while a natural waist on an A-line dress will highlight the gentle curve of the design. The waistlines also dictate how a dress works on your figure. Dropped waists, which came to prominence during the flapper era, help create the illusion of a longer torso, while high empire-style waists are favoured for their slimming properties.

Sleeves
Wedding dress sleeves can add extra interest to a bodice and provide balance for a skirt. Once closely linked to season, the selection of sleeve style is now largely a matter of how much -- or how little -- skin the wearer is willing to show. Long-sleeved styles include Juliet (as in Romeo and…), a dramatic fitted sleeve with a short puff at the shoulder; bell, which is narrow at the armhole, then open at the wrist; and gauntlet, which is characterized by a by a generous pouf at the shoulder and a detachable glove-like piece that tapers to a fitted point near the wrist. On the other end of the spectrum are alluring super-spare styles like tiny cap sleeves that just cover the top of the arm, and spaghetti straps, favoured for their sexy, lingerie-like sensibility.

Hemline
The hemline of a wedding gown refers to its length -- an element that's changed drastically throughout history. Dresses were generally floor length until World War I. Then, in the late 1920s, they rose to knee length, before dropping to the calf in the '30s. By the time the mini was introduced in the mid '60s, skirt length had become largely a matter of personal choice. The length of your dress can be used to dictate the formality of your wedding, however. Generally speaking, the longer the dress, the more formal the affair.
Floor-length gowns are considered the most formal. Gowns that fall anywhere from mid-calf to ankle are considered semi-formal. And a gown that's knee-length or shorter is said to be an informal, though today the minidress is considered a chic option for the unconventional sophisticate or second-time bride.

Fabric & Finish
Style, cut, texture, drapery, and season are all important factors in determining the best fabric for a wedding gown. The same dress style can look and feel quite different in a different fabric, since each material is designed to produce a distinct effect. Some fabrics cling to the body, while others stand away. Some are cherished for their crispness, others for being light as air. Silk -- a natural fibre that exudes an innate quality of refinement -- is undoubtedly the most sought after wedding dress material, owing to its resiliency, elasticity, and strength. Among the most popular gown fabrics: satin, a densely-woven silk notable for its super-lustrous gloss; duchesse satin, a blend of silk and rayon that is lighter and more affordable than pure silk satin; charmeuse, a lightweight silk satin with a more subdued luster; and shantung, a low-sheen textured silk characterized by a rough, nubby quality. Then there are the gauzier, textured silks like chiffon, tulle, and organza -- all used in multiple layers for gown skirts since they are transparent, but lightweight.

Lace
Subtle yet strong, and rich with history, lace is the perfect parallel for the bride herself. It covers while it reveals, and adds a touch of centuries-gone-by grace while remaining utterly current. A bride who wears it pays tribute to a time-honoured tradition. Lace-making -- which involves looping, braiding, and interlacing cotton, silk, nylon, and other types of thread to form a pattern -- developed from embroidery in the 15th century; by the Victorian era, few brides would marry without a touch of frilly thread work somewhere on their gown. Today, lace is so widely used in wedding gowns, it's almost become synonymous with them. Heralded for its inherent romance, intricacy, and graphic detail, lace comes in hundreds of weaves and shades, from the bold decoration of Alencon, guipure, and ribbon, to the delicate finery of schiffli and Chantilly.

Embellishment
Embellishment is like icing on a cake; done right, it adds glamour and individuality to a gown. Throughout history, brides have taken to embellishing their wedding dresses. Queen Victoria added fresh orange blossoms to her otherwise pure ensemble back in 1840, and throughout the 18th and 19th centuries it was widely believed that the more elaborately trimmed a woman's gown, the wealthier she was. Today, it's the quality - not necessarily the quantity - of the embellishment that counts. Elaborate beading and embroideries are used to add richness and texture to plain fabric. Small, iridescent sequins and gems are sewn on to add light and give dresses their decorative twinkle. And layers of fringe, crystal droplets, and colourful beading that spill down the gown are all favoured flourishes for adding movement.

Skirt Details
The skirt is where much of a gown's personality can be found -- a few well-placed details can make the difference between a gown that's average and one that's out of this world. They can add length and volume, romance and depth. Consider the bustle-back, the most popular of all skirt details. Characterized by yards of fabric that extend over the back of the skirt, "bustling" consists of gathering up all the material, then looping and securing it with a few discreet buttons or hooks. The end result? Swathes of fabric that add fullness and fun. Other skirt details -- strategically placed slits or pleats -- can up a gown's sex appeal, while still others -- delicate flounces, dramatic drapes -- can make it more poetic.

Bodice Details
In addition to embellishments like beads and embroidery, wedding gown bodices can be constructed with decorative details that add romance and individuality. The flip side of an unadorned tank-style gown may reveal a seductive corset-laced back; a high round neckline can be punctuated with a keyhole cut-out; a strapless bodice gets a boost from a crystal-encrusted crumb catcher. Their purposes may be different, but fine points like these all have one thing in common: they make a lasting impression.

Train
More than any other element of the wedding dress, the bridal train has the ability to transform. It's the elongated back portion of the gown that lies on the floor and trails out behind the bride as she walks, giving her a majestic appearance. Trains date from the Middle Ages, when length worn at court indicated rank. Today, gowns with long chapel and cathedral trains are considered the most formal, lending themselves to bustling following the ceremony. Watteau and court trains, which spill from the shoulders and fall to the floor or hem, are less formal. And the detachable train -- which can be any length -- is generally attached to the gown via buttons or hooks, then later removed to reveal a less imposing look.

Colour
There's no other tradition as synonymous with marriage as the white wedding gown. As the old English proverb goes "Married in white, you have chosen all right." Though increasingly, designers are using other shades for weddings, ranging from metallic platinum and gold to soft rose and lavender to pale blue. And more and more gowns are being designed with colour in the details -- everything from azure crystal beads and pink bands of satin, to golden lace and garnet embroideries. Still, there's no denying that white is the most popular colour for wedding wear, and the one most steeped in tradition. There's stark white, the brightest, crispest white which you can achieve with synthetic fabrics; natural white, a shade off stark white achieved with natural fibres like silk, and flattering to most skin tones; ivory, great for fairer skin brides; and champagne, a white with pink undertones that looks stunning on a dark complexion.