Dorset Brides: wedding hair and make-up

There are two rules to looking good on your wedding day: start early and stick at it.

The larger department stores often offer free beauty consultations, where you can discuss any skin problems and find out which of the good-quality skin-care preparations will suit your skin.

Regular cleansing, toning and moisturising will keep you blemish-free and looking healthy.

If you opt for doing your own make-up on the day, make sure you buy any new cosmetics early on and practice.

Image: Colin Payne photography

If you fancy a new look for the wedding a make-up lesson from a beauty salon is a great way to pick up a few new ideas and techniques.

Alternatively, if you think your hands will be shaking too much on the big day, or you just like the idea of some last-minute pampering, book a beautician to come to the house. Just make sure you fit in a practice session beforehand.

Don't forget that your hands will become the focus of attention when showing off your newly-acquired wedding ring.

So it’s worth having a professional manicure the day before the wedding.

You may have decided to lose a few pounds before your wedding day, but don't set unrealistic targets. Chances are, you'll lose weight anyway, rushing around doing all that organising.

Having that perfect wedding day haircut is seen by many as the crowning glory of any bridal ensemble, so it’s important you get it right.

When you have a trial, take a picture to see how the style works. Hairdressers charge according to the amount of work they can do in a certain amount of time, so remember to ask about this too.

Think about how you want to look: Do you want to look like you do now, or do you fancy yourself as a princess or a film star?

Whether your hair is natural or you've been experimenting with colour for years, an approaching wedding day is likely to send you into a panic about what colour your hair should be.

Many brides' first reaction is to “go natural” but going back to your natural hair colour is not necessarily the right move.

Finding the right hair colour for you is something that you should start discussing with your hairdresser as early in your wedding planning as possible.

It’s important to consult with the professionals to get the right shade for your skin tone. Steer away from bold colours though, which may date in your photos.

Some people have a second colour in their eyes (flecks of gold for example). If you match this colour with highlights in your hair your eyes will look amazing. Looking at your skin tone will also help you to choose the right hair colour. If your hair is jet black and you can't add colour to it, don't worry, as shiny, glossy hair looks equally great.