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Tanning for your Wedding Day? Think again!

To Tan or Not Tan…

If you are naturally a bronzed goddess then perhaps this is not an issue for you. Yet you may want to continue reading just in case you’re wanting that extra bronze glow for your wedding day.

Do you get your tan the natural way? In a tanning booth? Or have you opted for more health conscious options like spray on tans and bronzing makeups?

Temporary tanning requires planning. You’ll want it to be fresh for your wedding day.  If you are using a tanning booth please do not overdo it. All photographers are using digital cameras now and too much red in your skin will stand out!

Many brides who are naturally pale feel they should tan because the dress is pale or white. Should this be the case? Maybe, but I would suggest you ask a professional (make up or photographer) opinion before you do it. The color of the dress, even white, can have warm or cool tones in it which compliment your skin tone and will not make you look washed out. And a tan gone wrong cannot be hidden the day of your wedding.

If you plan to take a beach trip or lay outside to tan, be conscious of tan lines. A good makeup artist can minimize them but the makeup may come off on the dress. And yes, the photos can be retouched in Photoshop but you can’t Photoshop you walking down the aisle … in your gorgeous dress, beautiful hair, flawless makeup and tan lines (which will spoil the whole effect).

Finally the color of the face, neck and ALL visible skin should match. If you meet with a makeup artist for a consultation in advance but you’re going to be a different color the next time they see you, let them know.

As with all things related to the ” big day” a bit of advance planning will go a long way to a happy ending.

Source: Penny Sadler, Makeup Artist
SW.com Partner

Photo: Penny Sadler with Melrose Place actress Laura Leighton. Penny was hired to do her makeup during the Melrose Place media tour in Dallas last fall.

2 Comments on “Tanning for your Wedding Day? Think again!”

• DanaMUA March 15th, 2010 4:23 pm

  As a fellow makeup artist, I beg of ALL BRIDES… PLEASE do NOT go tanning.
  Not only will you be a completely different color than you were for your bridal trial makeup, but the TEXTURE of your skin will be different. I have touched brides ten years younger than me who have drier skin than their peri-menopausal mothers… all because they insisted upon pre-wedding tanning sessions. That leaves your artist with no choice but to change the original plan – instead using heavy anti-aging moisturizer to calm the skin, a different primer made for mature skin, and applying full coverage anti-aging foundation hoping that it doesn’t accentuate your little dry flakes and fine lines.

• Keith March 15th, 2010 2:31 pm

  This makes so much sense!! Thanks for posting, never thought of it like this at all. I will share this with my clients!!

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