Beautiful Bride - how to manage your make up for your big day

It's just as important as your dress and how you wear your hair, but planning your make up is so easily overlooked.  Here are my top tips for making sure you look your best on your special day:

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Planning to do your make up yourself, a la the Duchess of Cambridge or Victoria Bracken, is fine, provided you known what you're doing.  I rarely wear make up myself, so I for one would be clueless!  However, if you're confident with a powder brush, save yourself a few pennies and create your wedding look.  If you know someone else who's good with the paint, why not ask them to do it?  It's a great way of allowing someone to be a part of your special day without having to make them a bridesmaid or a reader.

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Eyes are always the trickiest part to do.  It's your eyes that people will be immediately drawn to when looking at your photos.  I advise brides to try and go lighter with the eye make-up, both in colour and quantity, simply because dark make up will look more smudgy and untidy if it starts to fade.  The last thing you want is look like you've got a black eye on your big day!  And let's not forget the most important wedding day make up rule of all: WATERPROOF MASCARA!

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I always advocate getting a professional in.  Not only does it take the pressure off you, or someone in your wedding party, it also gives you a feeling of being pampered.  Hairdressers are good for recommendations.  If not, ask around.  Twitter and Facebook are great places to look for independent make up artists who are local.

Remember your nails too.  The other part of your outfit people will want to see is your ring.  It's really worth having a manicure, and that goes for the groom too!  Even just a good clean and light varnish will pay dividends.

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If all else fails on the day, toddle off to your nearest Boots and ask one of the counter girls to make you up.  It's free!

Trouble's a Brewin' - How to keep your tricky best man from ruining the Big Day

He's your best mate, you've known him forever and he's a laugh a minute.  That is what the groom sees when he looks at the best man.  What the bride sees might be something entirely different.

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Theorectically, the best man is to the groom what the chief bridesmaid is to the bride.  He helps him get ready, carries back up supplies for emergencies and is generally the first rock of support on the big day.  In reality, we all know that best men are liable to play pranks and make embarrassment for you and other people.

 

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How can you mitigate as many problems as possible?  This starts with the choice of best man.  Pick someone who knows both of you really well.  This way, if he wants to play jokes, he'll know how far he can push things without getting anyone upset.  After all, sometimes the jokes can add the high spirits of the day.

 

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You also want someone who can act and look the part.  There's no point in picking someone who is uncomfortable in a suit or nervous looking after crowds.  A best man needs to be a people person; someone who can recall information on demand and be a help to other guests.  Whether this be giving directions to from the church to the reception or knowing where the toilets are.

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In truth, I cannot recall the last wedding I attended where there was just one best man.  Often the groom has more than one brother, or a friend from years ago and one from recent times, and he cannot choose between the two.  This was typified in the Friends episode where Ross can't choose between Chandler and Joey for his wedding to Emily.

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The other important job a best man often has to carry out is the best man's speech.  Whilst the main point of the speech is to poke playful fun at the groom, it's good if he (the best man) knows where to draw the line.  Experience in public speaking never hurts either, although it isn't essential.  If talking in front of an audience of dozens is not something the best man has ever experienced before, it is advisable to have at least one practice run.  This is true for all those planning to give a speech on the day.

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Worst comes to the worst, your best man would have a long way to go before he creates the same level of chaos as at this one.  Good luck!