If you're contemplating what in the world to do with your hair and make-up for your upcoming Outer Banks wedding or wondering when to schedule those pre-wedding-day-madness spa treatments, I think you'll enjoy this excerpt of beauty and spa tips offered by local pros from Molly Harrison's OuterBanksWeddingGuide.com article 'The Ultimate Retreat: Spa Parties'...  

Deborah Hess of Deborah's Make-Up, Inc. specializes in make-up that makes the skin look flawless and natural. "I try to capture the essence of the person," says Hess. She recommends brides choose a classic look for their make-up and that they meet with their make-up artist for a trial run at least once before their wedding day. In addition, Hess suggests that brides use oil-free products and less moisturizer to combat shine and humidity.

Stacey Rister, Spa Director of Diva's Day Spa & Salon in Southern Shores, does not recommend getting a massage the day of the wedding. A massage eliminates toxins and slightly dehydrates the body so that you need to drink a lot of water, and she says you may end up feeling bloated or tired. She recommends a massage a day or two before the wedding, and says to limit the wedding-day treatments to hair, makeup, manicures and pedicures.

Elizabeth Dodd of Eden Day Spa in Duck and Corolla recommends that a bride have a practice run on her hair and makeup well before the wedding day. Use the same stylists for both the practice run and the real thing, so there are no surprises. "On the day of the wedding, if the bride knows exactly how her hair and makeup are going to look, she feels so much more relaxed," says Dodd.

Mark Amoriello, Spa Director at The Sanderling Spa, recommends that brides stick to elegant, classic and simple with their hair and makeup. "You don't want to look back at your photos five years from now and not recognize yourself," he says. Amoriello also reminds brides to relax and enjoy the day, and to trust the professionals to make sure that everything is going to work out well.

Holly Scott Harrington, Spa Director of Spa Koru in Avon on Hatteras Island, recommends getting a facial a few days before the wedding to achieve that beautiful wedding-day glow. Holly also says that men tend to be shy about getting a spa service, however, they love getting a couple's massage with their future bride. At Spa Koru, the men like to use the gym to de-stress while the women go for other pampering treatments.


BluePeacockPhotography.com

Still searching for a local salon or spa for your wedding day hair and makeup?  Click here to see a list of Outer Banks Wedding Association Beauty & Spa vendors.