The wedding checklist

Start getting clean-ups at least two to three months in advance. Do it once every three weeks. Look out for a hygienic place or insist on using your own products. You can also try a few home remedies. Wash your face with hot water and mild soap before sleeping and apply a good moisturiser the next morning. Steam your face once a week and clean it with some mild soap or cleansing milk. On the final day, have a paraffin facial done. It leaves your skin fresh and glowing. Go in for a manicure and pedicure early if it’s for the first time. "See that the blunt instruments are sterilised as they might pass on some infection," says Dr Rekha Sheth, skin specialist and cosmetologist. Waxing and bleaching should be tried out well in advance.

Waxing of the whole body is catching up with men too. Insist on using disposable cloth or paper strips. "A razor is the best option for private parts. Waxing is not the right option," says Sheth. Since weddings are not an everyday affair, go ahead and pamper yourself with a body massage. Try out a deodorant on the underarms and not on the chest, since absorption in this area is two to three times more than the rest of the body.

Anti-perspirants are a must for men, unless you want the bride to faint every time you lift your arms.

Men should avoid shaving creams that have lime and menthol as it tends to make your skin dull and dark. And don’t forget to snip away the nostril hair. Fine hair on the ears can be removed permanently with thermolysis — a process which takes approximately four months. Another way out is with scissors. For the final preparations start two to three days before the D-day. Finally, sleep well and eat on time to beat the pre-marriage blues.

And when it comes to contraception also remember to check with a dermatologist before starting those tablets. Most women go for an oral contraception, which might not agree with their skin. And the timing is such that pimples decide to break out exactly on your D-day.

Make-up

Sit with the beautician for a trial and take along your bridal attire. The make-up should gel with the clothes you wear. Go in for light make-up, especially if the functions are during the day. "A right base is an absolute must for good make-up," says Ratna Lama, beautician at the Iz Skin and Hair Clinic. Try not to use liquid foundation as they tend to spoil your make-up. Scars and pimples can be hidden with a thick base.

Choose the base in accordance with the tone of the skin. The wrong base can end up giving you a chalky, pancake look. Ratna always uses a mixture of orange and brown, which she believes goes with fair as well as dark skin.

Pay more attention to your eyes and lips. If you are dark, go in for earthy, brown shades. Don’t apply eyeliner on the lower eye lid, it will draw attention to the dark circles. Even otherwise liner should be applied only above the eyes. You can accentuate the lower part of the eyes with a pencil to give it a natural look. Whether dove-shaped, large or small, you can draw your eyes to a perfect shape with the help of correct eye shadows and the shape of the eyebrows. Stay-ons can be applied over the lipstick to keep it intact. Outline your lips with a lip liner as this will reduce the chances of lipstick spreading. Another alternative is to powder the lips after the initial coat and apply a fresh coat over it. Most Indian weddings have the couple sweating before the holy fire. Besides, most brides end up crying during bidaai. So to be on the safe side use panstick and waterproof cosmetics to keep the make-up from running.

Hair

Treating dry hair, conditioning, checking for hair loss and getting the right hair cut — all this has to be pre-planned. "The styling depends entirely on the personality and the clothes that you wear," says Nalini, of Nalini & Yasmin. For a traditional look, you can pile up your hair, but if the hair is very short you can curl it. Contrary to popular belief, mehendi makes your hair dry. So if you are looking for that slight tint, go in for light colouring or streaking. But let the hair stylist have the last word.

Jewellery

Poonam Soni specialises in jewellery for trousseaus and many brides trust her with jewellry for all the occasions. This year she is using temple designs and flat-cut diamonds. Says Poonam, "A touch of the West can make it more wearable. It depends on the personality, some brides can not carry off the fully Indian look." Poonam says you must choose jewellery with care. "It will last you a lifetime," she says. Mr Nagarkar of TBZ, Zaveri Bazaar, says that bridal sets in plain gold are always in vogue. And long necklaces are preferred over chokers.

Accessories

Rina Shah’s company Rinaldi has come out with a special trousseau collection. Feet in particular need careful attention as brides and grooms often have to stand a lot. Most brides opt for shoes in silver, gold or bronze and the men opt for fabric shoes. "I would recommend peshwaris with a thick sole rather than murjaris as they tend to hurt," says Rina. For the women, stilettoes are a no-no, as they are difficult to balance on. If you want a slim heel opt for a platform or the wedge. "All my shoes are double cushioned to make sure that the soles do not tire," she says.

Clothes

Krishna Mehta receives orders from five grooms a week. "Most men opt for a sherwani," she says, though more daring men wear a long coat with a dhoti. As for colour, men go for cream and beiges in tussar and jamevar fabrics. Embroidery is not necessary as you can use fancy buttons. Or you can cheat. "I make embroidered buttons that look as good as the real thing," says Krishna. Radhika Naik has just set-up her own shop in Colaba, just in time for the wedding season. She has designed for many society brides previously, including Shalini Hinduja and Komal Chabbria. "The classic colour for brides is burgundy or wine but people are opting for pink now. One bride I am designing for has gone in for mint," says she. She recommends a lengha over a sari as it has area to engineer the work.

The final word

This comes from those who have been brides before. Mohini married Rohit Narang of the Ambassador group in January this year. She says that a wedding takes at least six months of planning and it is best to start a year ahead. "Get a diary, write down what needs to be done and who is doing what," says Mohini. If you are having a wedding in peak season then remember to book halls in advance as otherwise you may have nowhere to have the wedding. "Plan your clothes as early as possible as designers get very busy in the wedding season and some brides only get their clothes on the day of the wedding," she says. And before the wedding, just relax. "Pamper yourself with facials and massages and sleep. Do not get tense or you will be sick during your own wedding functions," says Mohini.