Journal · Bridal beauty
Wedding beauty timeline: 5 things not to do before your big day
Your wedding day is one of the biggest days of your life, and being the centre of attention can tempt you to try every new beauty trick. However, the weeks before the wedding are the worst time to experiment. Here are five things to avoid, plus a simple wedding beauty timeline, so you look and feel your best on the day.
By Corrie Elle, founder and lead makeup artist · Updated October 2026 · 6 min read
Photo: Christophe Viseux
The short version
- Avoid new treatments, products and DIY experiments in the 4 to 6 weeks before the wedding.
- Skip last-minute tanning beds and spray tans; your makeup artist can add a bronzed glow instead.
- Save chemical peels, microdermabrasion and new skincare for well before or after the wedding.
- Book salon colour rather than DIY, and groom your brows 3 to 5 days before the day.
1. Don’t hit the tanning bed or a last-minute spray tan
Resist the urge to embrace your inner sun goddess. Tanning beds or a spray tan close to your wedding day could leave you with an undesirable tone that you didn’t plan for.
In addition, spray tans, despite what some advertise, can rub off on your clothing or, worse, your wedding dress. Instead, leave it to a skilled makeup artist to give you a bronzed, glowing look that photographs beautifully.
2. Skip chemical peels and skin treatments
If you saw the Sex and the City episode where Samantha gets a chemical peel, I need not say more! Chemical peels, microdermabrasion and other skin rejuvenation treatments can have great results.
However, they can also leave skin shedding for weeks or red and painful, like a sunburn. These clinical treatments have their place and time, but the weeks before your wedding are not that time. If you’d like them, plan them months ahead with your skin professional.
3. Don’t switch to brand-new skincare
Stick to what you know. Skincare contains many ingredients, even natural or botanical lines, and our skin seems to have its own personality, so it can clash with some of them.
As a result, switching products can leave you with irritation, excess oil or dryness, or even an allergic reaction. If you do want to change your routine, start at least two to three months before the wedding. For a gentle routine that works, see my winter skin care routine.
Corrie’s tip
Weddings are expensive, so it’s tempting to cut corners. Beauty is the one place where saving a little can cost a lot more later.
4. Don’t colour your hair yourself
If you normally go to a salon for colour, please resist the urge to save money by doing it yourself. What seemed like a money-saving effort could leave you with a bigger bill to fix a colour gone wrong.
Instead, book your final colour appointment about one to two weeks before the wedding, so it looks fresh but has time to settle.
5. Don’t leave your brows to the last minute
Eyebrows frame the face, yet they’re often forgotten. Somehow, they seem to jump from perfectly groomed to unruly with no warning at all.
So, have your brows groomed 3 to 5 days before the wedding. That way, any redness or swelling has time to calm down before your makeup. For more on framing your eyes, read my eye makeup tips.
Your wedding beauty timeline
Trying new products and procedures can be fun, but it always comes with some risk. This simple timeline keeps you picture-perfect.
01
3 to 6 months before
First, book your hair and makeup artist, then start any new skincare and plan professional skin treatments with your skin professional.
02
6 to 8 weeks before
Next, book your bridal trial with your accessories, and settle your hair colour and cut plans.
03
4 to 6 weeks before
Then stop experimenting. No new products, peels or treatments from this point onwards.
04
1 to 2 weeks before
After that, have your final hair colour and trim, and keep your skincare routine exactly the same.
05
3 to 5 days before
Finally, groom your brows, hydrate well and rest, so your skin is calm and ready. Then pack your bridal emergency kit.
Wedding beauty timeline: your questions
For more bridal beauty tips, follow us on Instagram.
Should I get a spray tan before my wedding?
Not right before. A last-minute spray tan can look uneven or rub off on your dress. Instead, let your makeup artist add a warm, bronzed glow on the day.
When should I stop trying new beauty products before my wedding?
About 4 to 6 weeks before. From then on, stick to the products and treatments your skin already knows.
When should I get my eyebrows done before the wedding?
Ideally 3 to 5 days before, so any redness or swelling has time to settle.
When should I colour my hair before my wedding?
Around one to two weeks before, at the salon you trust. That way, the colour looks fresh without any last-minute surprises.
Planning your wedding beauty timeline? Let’s start with your trial.
Share your date and venue. We’ll book your trial at the right time and check availability in Toronto, the GTA and Ottawa.