Before you get hitched...

A  big part of weddings in India is getting the bride ready and making her look stunning. Other than your essentials, it is important for you to have a dependable team around you — in bridesmaids, makeup artists and designers.

A wedding is, after all, a stressful affair, even though it is a happy time. The three basics of outfit, jewellery and makeup coupled with meticulous planning form the pillars of a fabulous bridal avatar. So, here are some tips that you can take up to ensure that you look stunning before you reach the altar and say ‘I do’:

Outfit

Start by investing in a good outfit; look for a designer whose ideas sync with your personality. Brides tend to lose weight around their weddings. So, ensure that a round of fitting is done at least a week to ten days prior to the wedding.

Cheat sheet: Have a seamstress close by and a boxful of safety pins for the last minute nips and tucks. It is also a good idea to have a stylist at hand who can drape the dupatta or veil in a fashion that best hides the awkward spots.

Jewellery

Jewellery plays a huge role in helping accessorise the look differently. For the sangeet ceremony or the cocktail party, a beautiful pair of cocktail earrings or a modern looking neckpiece works just fine. One can add accessories to the hair as well. As for the wedding, a traditional neckpiece with a maang tikka or a maang patti works best. Jhumars are a great option for brides who want to give their look a different twist.

Long vintage neckpieces are also really in and look fabulous. Finally, for the reception, you can go for a fusion look depending on which outfit you choose.

Cheat sheet: If you have too many choices or not enough of one look, choose to go with one piece only. It accessories the outfit and can be accentuated with more drama added with makeup.

Makeup

Makeup is the one factor that can make or break your look. If done well, all the elements sync well together and if it’s not, the focus will be on a face that is not well done. Remember, your pictures from the wedding will last forever. So, trying to save money on a makeup artist is the biggest blunder you can make. When you look at the portfolio of the makeup artist, look for elegance and versatility in their makeup.

The whole idea of makeup is that the layers on your face should look natural, and each element of your face needs to be highlighted keeping your look, attire and personality in mind.

Cheat sheet: If you are tired or just don’t feel like doing too much after a long week of preparations, go with the nude/natural look for the eyes and spruce up your lip colour. You can never go wrong with that.

Bottom line

You need to feel comfortable with who you going to be working with. The other person needs to understand your requirements and guide you accordingly. Choosing the right person to help you out ensures less stress. Have a bridesmaid who can handle and coordinate with everyone. If you don’t have a bridesmaid, hire someone from the wedding planner’s side who can do all the coordination for you.

Pack outfits for each occasion separately into bags as that saves a lot of time if you have to commute from your hotel to the artist’s studio. Also, try getting power naps now and then. And enjoy your wedding!