We all know that the real no-no at a wedding is trying to outdo the bride, but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring your best guest. The secret to being a good wedding guest is planning ahead to leave you free to enjoy the glory of the day.
Skin. First, never have a face the day before or on the day of the wedding. If there is a reaction, you need time to act but you can completely skip a professional facial by preparing your skin a few days before. Beauty of Joseon has a brightening and moisturizing facial called the Ground Rice & Honey Mask by Beauty of Joseon, which combines a complex of Korean rice wine and rice powder with honey and kaolin. It will smooth your skin, clean your pores and create a perfect silky and watery canvas for your make-up to follow. I love Joseon Dynasty Beauty Cream as a great moisturizer that locks in hydration for soft and supple skin.
Repair. I have medium to healthy skin so I prefer a light touch of my foundation and the Beauty of Joseon Daily Tinted SPF fits the bill perfectly, especially if you have a summer wedding to attend. I would recommend the tube mascara if you think you might have tears of joy during the event because it doesn’t leave lashes as easily as regular formulas. Making lipstick last all day is an impossible task – drinks and oils from food will make quick work of wearing it off your lips so the one thing you need to have in your bag is your lipstick.
The hair. Raised and full-faced hats always look good and ‘done’. The GHD heated brush is perfect for work and you can easily make it at home. I suggest washing with a detox shampoo to really make sure your strands are as clean as they can be because this will contribute to shine when dry. Follow with a light moisturizing masque to the ends of your hair before brushing and drying. When your hair is almost dry in your usual style, that’s the time to pick up the GHD Rise Hot Brush to build body, wave if you like, and volume. I got lift and more or less curl the first time around although the second time was better, if I’m honest. So, practice a little before you need your hair to be perfect for the wedding and on the day, you’ll know exactly what you’re doing. You can use a hold hair spray afterwards and I would advise you to do so, especially if you have fine hair, to keep the wave and bounce going throughout the day.
A dress. Tempting as it is to go super-glam, you need to be, first and foremost, comfortable. High stilettos are for experienced heel wearers only – new shoes a day are an absolute no-no! You can go pastel, you can be bright, you can be dark but if the bride is wearing white, you shouldn’t be. Many wedding invitations ask guests to wear a color theme and if so, you have nothing to do but enter, but if not, make sure you choose a dress that is as consistent as possible by avoiding silk or linen, it won’t make you too hot (you can add layers but it’s hard to remove them) and that gives you a lot of room to dance.
Being a wedding guest is fun – everything happens and there’s no responsibility! But, make sure you prepare in advance with the contents of your bag. Triple check that your phone is switched to silent, carry tissues, your lipstick and toe gel strips in case your shoes rub so you can hit the floor without wincing.
