WEDDING-DAY APPEARANCE Ways to shape up

Getting your look "right" for your wedding day is a concern for many brides as they get ready to walk down the aisle. Here are some quick dos and don'ts any bride can use to get gorgeous:
SHAPE UP YOUR SKIN
Do: If there are major skin imperfection issues that you want to address, such as acne, scars or dark spots, consider booking an appointment with a dermatologist at least six months before your wedding. Swear off sun worshipping, drink water obsessively and find time to add some relaxation techniques, like yoga or meditation, to your regime. When stress levels rise, so does your level of blemish-inducing cortisol, so take time to relax -- for the sake of your skin, if not your sanity.
Don't: Try not to wait until the last few days before the wedding to try out a salon facial or an at-home mask, especially if you've never had one before. Your skin might develop an unsightly reaction to products or treatments it may be unfamiliar with.
PREPARE YOUR HAIR
Do: Consult a professional stylist if you'd like to try a new color or start growing out your hair for an updo. Start experimenting about five months beforehand. If you're wearing it up, don't do it too tightly -- many brides complain of achy scalps.
Don't: Try not to traumatize your tresses. If you color, perm or treat your hair, have the final process done at least two weeks before the wedding. Ditto for your final trimming. Surprisingly, experts recommend you don't wash your hair on the morning of the wedding; most updos can be styled more easily if the hair has been washed the day before rather than the day of the wedding.
ASSESS YOUR MAKEUP
Do: Know your everyday makeup style. Your wedding is not the time to try something trendy. Plan on doing your makeup as if you were going to a black tie affair, even if you're having a daytime event. Schedule a consultation with a professional about three to four months before your wedding for advice and trial runs.
Don't: Avoid glamming it up if the gown and hair are simple and understated. Makeup should correspond with your overall look. When choosing a lipstick color, remember that the most flattering shades are ones that bear some resemblance to your natural lips: nudes, roses, and soft browns.
THE PICTURE OF PERFECTION
Do: Ask one of your maids to keep a powder compact handy for quick touch-ups on the actual wedding day. Flash photography inevitably can make your skin look shiny.
Don't: Stay away from makeup with glittery or pearlized finishes -- a matte finish stays put longer and will photograph better. Plus, too much glimmer and shimmer can interfere with flash from a camera. Beware of too-dark lipstick, too, that may make you look ghoulish.
ENHANCE YOUR SMILE
Do: Worried your pearlies aren't so white? Switch to a whitening toothpaste or an over-the-counter whitening program, or make an appointment with your dentist for a little tooth-whitening. To create the illusion of whiter teeth in your photographs, dab a bit of Vaseline on your teeth to help keep them lipstick-free, and hold your chin up to the light during picture taking.
Don't: Coffee, tea, tobacco and red wine are no-nos in the weeks leading up to your wedding.