You have many things on your mind while planning a wedding, but don’t forget to say thank you to the bridesmaids who have stood by your side through it all! A small (or large!) bridesmaid gift will let her know how much you appreciate all her loving help and support.

Choose something special that she will treasure throughout her life. It doesn’t have to be expensive, just something thoughtful that you think she’ll like. It’s best to buy the same gift for everyone, but you can personalize it by engraving their names on it, or choosing different colors for each gal. Make sure to order them in advance, so that you can present it on the wedding day itself!

Some Gift Ideas to Get You Started!

A handbag or clutch makes a perfect gift for the bridesmaid to carry her personal belonging during the wedding. Each bridesmaid can be given her favorite color bag with her initials on it. Click here for lots of bridesmaids bags, totes, and clutches!

Beach wedding? Destination wedding? Bridesmaids who love the great outdoors? Give them a gift that will be useful on many more happy outings. Personalized totes and picnic blankets are just the thing to keep them smiling!

Beautiful silver jewelry, such as cuffs, charm bracelets, pins, or necklaces.  Click here for sterling silver bridesmaids gifts!

A personalized compact mirror is stylish and useful, adding a touch of glamor to her daily beauty routine…and her makeup touch-ups throughout the day. Click here for compact mirror gifts!

Capture the moment with pretty photo frame with a picture of you and your bridesmaid in it. This will always remind her of your friendship and good times shared. Click here for bridesmaid photo frames and albums!

A spa or aromatherapy kit will help the bridesmaid to relax after all the hectic days and late nights you’ve spent together. If you can afford it, you could even give the bridesmaid a gift certificate to a spa.

For a girly gift, a nice perfume is a sweet option. Here is a gorgeous perfume bottles for her dressing table!  For something more sassy, how about a girls-night-out flask?

Get creative!! At American Bridal, you can buy unique gifts such as pink flasks for the girls who like to party, Sushi-for-two gift sets, tool belts for the fix-it type, rhinestone belts for the gal who likes bling, aprons, jewelry boxes, tank tops, mugs, hair clips, and so much more!

The bride can present the gifts at the wedding rehearsal, on the wedding day itself,  or plan a fabulous girls night out for all the bridesmaids (you can involve their spouses/partners too, if you like).

Remember, it’s not the gifts that matter most to your bridesmaids, but the appreciation you are showing them. Give them a card with a heartfelt letter to let them know how special they are!

In the weeks and months leading up to the wedding…

Plan your procedures ahead- it’s easy to get caught up in the craziness of tastings, fittings and appointments and forget to schedule facial treatments until the last minute. Don’t be tempted to get cosmetic lasering or chemical peels within 10 days to a month of the event, depending on the exact type of laser or peel. Even something as simple as a facial should be given a solid week for skin to normalize, especially if any extractions will be performed. Call well ahead of time and discuss this with the technician.

Practice good skin health- stay hydrated and eat healthfully leading up to the event. Don’t try new skincare products, or anything that may irritate your skin. Anticipate your skin’s history, and treat it accordingly depending on changes your skin may experience in the climate or weather that’s expected at the venue.

For the big day…

Start with a good base- be sure that your foundation is the right color and formulation for your skin. You may feel like you should use a heavy cream or stick foundation since you’re being photographed, but heavier formulas will look caked on and are more likely leave a line of demarcation around the neck and hairline that’s tougher to blend away. Just stick with the liquid or powder that works for you, and be sure it’s properly matched to your color. No one wants to look washed out, but it can also age you a bit if your base is too dark for you. Color correcting concealers, like green or yellow for redness, and peach or yellow for undereye circles are a much better choice than simply layering on more makeup. Remember that redness will be easily picked up in photographs so take care to balance that out, and stay away from more pink based foundations.

Avoid the shiny look- glitter will reflect too much on camera, and shouldn’t be worn to a nice event like a wedding anyway. Radiance-enhancing or shimmery foundations make faces look too slick and shiny for photos, so if you must, only keep the sheen on cheekbones and the cupid’s bow for highlighting purposes. Always finish the t-zone with powder, which is especially important to balance any highlighting applied. If you know you’re more oily, pop pressed powder in your bag so that you stay shine free.

The eyes have it- keep in mind that darker eyeshadows and heavy liner make eyes look smaller. A matte or pearl shadow formula will be universally flattering and especially in warm, earthy tones. To keep eyes looking big and bright, highlight the inner corners and brow bone with an off-white, light pink or pale gold shadow or crayon. The older you are, the more important it is to stay fast to the no shimmer rule, as it tends to bring attention to fine lines. Black eyeliner can also look too harsh for older women (same goes for liquid liner) and fair blondes are more suited for eyeliner and mascara in the brown tones. Don’t forget to make sure brows are properly framing the face- everyone looks better and younger with defined brows. Fill the arches with powder or if using a pencil, blend with a brush. Brow color and size are important considerations here, so don’t forget to use a light hand and blend.

Consider your venue and lighting- do take the time to stop and think about if the event/ photos will be taking place indoors or out, and at what time of day. Indoor photos will be taken with flash, so it’s important to use powder to combat shine and to also be sure foundation is matched well. If outdoors, soften makeup a bit as it can easily look too heavy or harsh. Also adjust your makeup look for more formal locations, and later times in the evening. When considering these factors, you will want to use more color and definition over simply adding more makeup.

Keeping these ideas in mind, remember its always most important to look like yourself and feel comfortable on your wedding day. These techniques will help ensure you look flawless both in person and in photographs for years to come.

Content provided by Sarah Logan on behalf of ASI, which is an aesthetics school offering classes in waxing, facial treatments, cosmetic laser training, and medical aesthetics

feature image from Bridal Wave: Beauty, Hair, Makeup

Marry Me in Colorado features many couples doing just that. If they’re not saying their vows under a chilly snowfall, at the least they’re brave enough to be taking artistic pictures in the cold, white stuff! And you gotta love the beautiful cover-ups some brides are wearing. Here are some great shots!

Ya, you gotta be crazy not to be all bundled up!!

OK, they are crazy!

A little less extreme but no less romantic, these photos from Once Wed of a rainy day wedding are amazing!  These photos are from Braedon Photography, of an adorable couple who were married in an old rustic barn on a not-so-sunny California day.

Gaping tourist in the background, toting an “I LOVE NY” bags, for one thing!

Kristin Simonetta, pictured below, was originally planning a golf-course-clubhouse wedding in Jacksonville, her fiance’s hometown. But a city-girl at heart, Kristin just wasn’t excited and ended up moving the wedding to NYC, tying the knot in Central Park, with a view of Manhattan’s skyline. Before the wedding, they shot engagement pictures in Soho, on the Brooklyn Bridge, in Times Square, and walking down Fifth Avenue:

That’s what gong me thinking about city brides and all the wonderful options for urban photography. Here’s a chic Paris bride… “I think I’ll just run across the street and grab a cup of coffee…”

The good thing about the city is, there’s always a nice high wall to climb…

Forgot your tennis shoes?? No worries, you can just comfy up in front of the wall…

Yup, any old wall will do!

Dingy downtown office buildings–and puddles–add a pair of lovebirds for instant romance:

For a really interesting, colorful backdrop, try graffiti!

More walls, and a traffic-stopping pose too, if you please….

And sometimes, it’s not about the view, it’s about the angle!

Go ahead, now you can really give those construction workers something to hoot at!

Don’t forget a night-time city, all lit up… gorgeous, glamorous, and all-grown-up!

I absolutely love this photo! Rainy days PLUS big cities make for AWESOME wedding pictures!

And if it’s a big city, how will you get there? For the bride on a budget, there’s always the bus…

…or the subway…

…or a taxi cab!

Face: “Know your face,” says Michael Waring, who photographed this story. “Look at celeb photos for reference. They all know their angles and whether they look best smiling with or without their teeth showing.” There’s nothing wrong with taking a few shots in the weeks before your wedding for practice.

Hair: “Add a little bit of wave to your hair. It adds softness and always looks good in pictures,” says NYC stylist Ted Gibson. “And the simpler the style, the better.”

Arms: “Don’t press your arms against your body—even slim arms will appear heavy in pictures,” says Waring. Placing a hand on your hip helps define your arm and the shape of your body in a flattering way.

Legs: Putting your weight more on one leg than the other will keep you from looking too stiff.

Posture: “You don’t have to be standing in every picture,” Waring reminds us. “Sit, lounge, dance…Just be aware of your posture throughout—you don’t want to look schlumpy.”

Lips: Beware of the blah factor, and ditch your beige lipstick. Yes, it looks fab for everyday, but it will wash you out in photos. (Drinking through a straw helps keep lipstick on longer!)

Nails: A soft, close-to-skin-toned nail polish shade will make fingers look longer; a touch of shimmer adds a festive appeal. Bonus points: Shimmer or sparkle-shot formulas are tougher and longer lasting than creams.

Chin up: Pushing your tongue against the roof of your mouth helps make the area under your chin firm up and your neck look longer, says Waring: “It’s a classic model trick.”

Wear colors that compliment your coloring. Not all whites are created equal! Pick a dress in a shade that looks good against your skin and hair tone.

Determine your best angle. One good way to do this is experiment with a digital camera, in various poses. It will very quickly become obvious which angles are most flattering for you, and you can then use that angle as much as possible in the future. Do not face squarely into the camera with weight evenly distributed on both feet, unless you want pictures that look stiff and unnatural. Rather, angle your body slightly to one side, whether  you are standing or sitting. If you are standing, rest your weight on one foot.

Get rid of the double chin. To hide a double chin, lean slightly toward the camera, and tilt your head down a bit. Try to position yourself so that the camera is a little above your eye level. You can also put one hand under your chin as though you’re resting your head on your hand, without actually putting weight on it.

Heads up! Don’t look directly at the camera, always look slightly above it. (Some suggest looking slightly to the side.)

Don’t blink! To avoid blinking, have the photographer count to three. Blink as he counts two, so your eyes will be open on three!

Listen to your mother and don’t slouch! Good posture can dramatically improve your appearance in pictures. Sitting or standing up straight will make you look more alert and attractive. Breath normally, while drawing your stomach in and relaxing your shoulders. This is something you might want to practice in advance, especially if you don’t have naturally good posture.

Relax! Many people look funny in photos because they freeze into fixed smiles or odd facial expressions. If you start feeling nervous, take a deep breath, and exhale naturally, relaxing your arms and shoulders. Don’t hold your breath. If you see the camera following you, don’t panic and try to strike a pose. Just keep doing what you’re doing let the camera capture the moment!

Think happy thoughts! Nothing looks better than a genuine, happy smile. Think of someone who makes you happy (on your wedding day that shouldn’t be too difficult!), or imagine something really funny. Don’t be afraid to laugh a bit! To avoid a stiff, unnatural smile, try to time it so that you don’t have to hold it for too long.

If you don’t like your smile or your teeth, adopt a Mona Lisa expression. Try a more subdued, closed-mouth smile. Regardless of how you choose to smile, try to convey a happy, relaxed air. A serious or melancholy look comes off as grim, not mysterious.

Smile with your eyes. Nothing projects happiness and beauty like eyes that sparkle and shine. To achieve this effect, think about having a crush or being in love. Chances are, on your wedding day you are unconsciously doing this already!

And now with your mouth. Smile using your top row of teeth; a smile with both rows of teeth can easily look fake. You might try a teeth-whitener for a more dazzling smile. Keep your tongue behind your teeth.

Keep the shine down. You want to be matte, so avoid the shine in the ever-troublesome t-zone – the top of your nose and your forehead. Bring along some face powder for touch-ups, especially on a warm day.

Keep your arms in. Try to keep all body parts as close to your torso as possible, as anything protruding directly at the camera will seem huge in the photo.  Some women hold their arms just a couple inches away from their body to minimize the flabby upper arm look.

Down with the flowers: When posing with a bouquet, do not bend your elbows at 45 degree angles. Keep your arms long, otherwise the flowers will hide the pretty bodice of your dress and make you look shorter than you are.

Sources: WikiHow, eHow

Picture: divavillage