Source: pinterest

I got a spot on my wedding day: 7 bridal emergencies - and how to fix them

Months have built to this one day, and no matter how organised you are, the final countdown to your wedding rarely goes entirely to plan. Here are 7 of the most common mishaps - and how to solve them

Source: pinterest

The week before your wedding is a strange mix of excitement, adrenaline and absolute chaos. One minute you’re sipping champagne with your best friends; the next you’re Googling ‘can stress cause a chin breakout?’ at 1am.


No matter how organised you are, there’s always the potential for a few last-minute surprises to appear uninvited: a spot, bloating, a fake tan disaster or a sudden cold sore. And somehow, they always seem to arrive at the worst possible moment.


Here are seven of the most common worries OWN brides shared with us before the big day - and the expert-approved advice that helped.

I got a spot!

As tempting as it may be, do not pick it. According to Nicki Ewing from Fern Skin Clinic, squeezing it will only increase redness and inflammation.


“Apply ice for five to 10 minutes, followed by a small amount of salicylic acid, then use a hydrocolloid patch for a few hours,” she advises. “Finish with makeup, using a green concealer to neutralise redness.”

My period just started

If you’re prone to cramps, bloating or heavy periods, you may want to consider period delay tablets such as Norethisterone. This prescription-only medication can delay your period for a week or more when taken correctly. 

 

Female health expert Dr Shirin Lakhani explains: “Norethisterone contains synthetic progesterone, which helps delay your period by preventing the shedding of the uterine lining.” 

 

She recommends starting the tablets three days before your period is due, taking one tablet three times a day for up to 17 days. As always, speak to a medical professional beforehand to figure out the safest and most appropriate option for you. 

My face is puffy

Whether it’s too many margaritas the night before or simply a lack of sleep, waking up puffy on your wedding morning is more common than you think. 

 

For an instant reset, try Kate Moss’ famously icy de-puffing trick: submerge your face into a bowl filled with ice, water and cucumber slices. The cold constricts blood vessels, helping reduce swelling while tightening and refreshing the skin. 

 

As the model herself once said: "It tightens everything, making you look and feel instantly awake." A little extra? Maybe. But it works. 

For an instant reset, try Kate Moss’ famously icy de-puffing trick: submerge your face into a bowl filled with ice, water and cucumber slices

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I just got a mark on my dress

First: breathe. You’ll need a calm head and a steady hand for this one. The OWN Studio’s senior seamstress Willow says, “do not rub the stain as this will only push it deeper into the fibres. Instead you want to blot using a clean white cloth or napkin. 

 

“Use a bar of Dove soap with a fresh piece of cloth dampened with cold water and continue to blot the stain. This should help lift it. Next, try to spread out the wet area using circular motions, this is key to blurring out the wet edges so that you are not left with a clear patch where you have been working. 

 

“Have some makeup remover wipes on hand for the day as these can be effective at removing makeup marks. Just make sure to use the same circular motions to feather out the mark.”  

A fake tan disaster

First of all: never apply fake tan the night before your wedding unless you’re extremely confident in your routine.

 

But if disaster does strike, try the ‘oil and soak’ method. Soak in a warm bath filled with baby oil, olive oil, or coconut oil for 30-60 minutes to help break down the DHA (tanning agent) in the tan. Gentle exfoliation afterwards can also help lift patchy areas more evenly.


Most importantly, avoid panic-applying more tan on top - and speak to your makeup artist, if you’re having one. A bit of expertly-applied bronzer can go a long way. 

My hair and makeup doesn't feel right

One of the biggest mistakes brides make is staying quiet because they don’t want to offend their glam team. Be honest and speak up early and give feedback as the look develops rather than waiting until the end. 
 

It’s also worth noting that looks do translate differently on camera so sometimes you might feel too “done” but actually it photographers really well because your face make up has more depth than usual. You want to feel like yourself - but it’s definitely a balance.


Either way you should definitely build far more time into the schedule than you think you’ll need, so there’s time to tweak or re-do elements if necessary.

It’s the humidity!

You’ve checked the weather forecast for the weekend and it’s looking spicy. If sweat patches are your concern, don’t worry. Many OWN brides swear by this clinical-strength deodorant, which has been specifically engineered to help control excessive sweat while remaining invisible under clothing.


A cooling facial mist, blotting papers and a small powder compact are also all great to have to hand when humidity strikes.

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