Hello everyone!

From flashy Jet Wings on my flight back from Mangalore to Bangalore last week to pre-bridal packages in salons all around me to "tag your bestie who is getting married this year" posts being circulated on social media, for the past few weeks I have only been noticing everything that has the word "bridal" in it. As strange as it may seem, have you ever noticed that the instant the word "bridal" is prefixed to any service, one could end up making a ton of money out of it? Well, guys, with so much money being spent or carelessly thrown on weddings, as a bride-to-be let me tell you all that the pressure is real!

It's exciting and annoying when the whole world is constantly reminding you that you're "next". With literally 10 days left for the wedding functions to begin, here I am with another one of my posts about bridal tips. These are tips that I have followed/intend to follow and learnt the hard way, but I wish there was a crash course on how to look fabulous on your wedding day without caring about what "others" are gonna say, be stress free and attain pre-bridal nirvana. I think I am actually gonna look for it! Pahaha! In the meanwhile, let me share my experiences with you.

Eat clean, train dirty

I have been asked time and again if I have been "dieting" for the wedding and if I have started going to the gym because of the wedding. And surprisingly, most people actually do start taking diet and fitness seriously just a few months before they get married. After all, it's all about looking good for the photos, right? But if that's how it's perceived, then I guess I have been dieting all my life! I have been sweating my soul out at Zumba classes for over 2 years now and have tried several other fitness activities all my life. My food intake is always limited to hardly a bowl of rice with some veggies and I never binge eat (except for chocolates :D). I like to stay fit and have the option of being able to wear just about any outfit and rock it! It has got nothing to do with the wedding. But for those of you who haven't as much as even seen the door of a gym or felt the need to cut down on those carbs, here are a couple of last minute pointers.

• For those of you who want to start focusing on your fitness 3-6 months before the wedding, I think you should start working out immediately so that you don't have to starve yourself or lift extra weights later. And God forbid, if you end up breaking something you don't want your arm to be in a cast during the wedding, do you? 
• For the rest of you, it's not too late! You just gotta eat right, not be lethargic for the rest of the week and stay healthy. Eat a lot of fruits, drink a lot of green tea and other things that will help you improve your metabolism. Try squeezing in some light exercises, ab crunches or even long walks in nearby parks.

Love is in the hair

It's an impossible task for me to grow my hair long enough for a thick, long braid. My hair grows real slow and shabby! After putting a lot of thought into it, I decided to not go with the traditional, heavy South Indian bridal braid adorned with a kilogram of flowers and just stick to a cute lil bun instead. Sometimes it's better to stick to things you know will suit you best than try and get into something new at this point of time.

• Always ensure that your hair is washed and blow dried for all wedding functions and keep your scalp clean and dandruff-free before the big day.
• Do not try a new haircut just before your wedding! Do keep a gap of at least 2-3 weeks if you decide to get a haircut. 
• Spend a good amount of time researching different hairstyles on the internet and explain to your stylist well in advance as to what you're looking for. 
• Pamper yourself with a session of hair spa a couple of weeks before the wedding.
• If nothing works, just get a nice blow out and you'll look fabulous!

But first, skin care

When it comes to skin care, I am an absolute dud. But over the past few years I have learnt the importance of CTM, removal of make-up before going to bed (or even just make-up :p) and also how it is absolutely necessary to use primers before applying any product on to my skin. It doesn't make sense to go to skin clinics when you're a few days away from tying the knot, invest a bomb in derma peeling and what not and then deal with crazy side effects. Don't try anything crazy just before the wedding!

• If you have sensitive skin, now is not the time to experiment with new products. Stick to the ones that have always worked for you.
• Do make sure you keep yourself hydrated and your skin clean, healthy and happy. 
• Get yourself a basic fruit or glow facial that will help clean your skin a few days before the wedding.
• Every once in a while, apply a sandalwood or multani mitti face pack. 
• If you have the tendency of getting tanned instantly, then do not forget your sunscreen every time you step out. 
• Prep your skin well in advance in order to handle those crazy layers of make-up on the big day!

Too glam to give a damn

Planning your outfits for the wedding months before your day is one of the most quintessential things for a bride-to-be. If you have more than one stakeholder in the wedding trousseau department, then you should be prepared to calmly take everybody's opinion and try to meet them halfway. Since I am not a big fan of unwanted criticism, I actually haven't shared any of the pictures of my bridal outfits with anyone other than my family! For those of you who still haven't figured out your outfits or make-up, here are some tips.

• Set aside a budget for your clothes and make-up and find them accordingly. If you believe that there is no need to empty your pockets for a designer lehenga, then try designing one on your own. Pick up pieces of fabric and put together a look!
• A tailor plays a very important role in your wedding. Make sure to give him at least 3 trial products to work on. Also, always start with the tailor chores at least 3-4  months prior to the d-day so that if anything goes wrong (like it did with me), you have enough time to fix it.
• Make-up trials are supremely important! I could have handled make-up on my own, but eye shadow is a bit of a challenge for me. So finding someone with great eye make-up skills was key for me. Figure out what part of make-up is of utmost importance to you and find that person who can do it for you.
• Watch wedding make-up tutorials on YouTube whenever you can so that you know how to guide your beautician if needed.

I dream in jewellery

Gold shopping is an important part of Hindu weddings. Being born in a traditional South Indian brahmin family, it was kind of impossible to get out of this. Once again, there was no point trying to find something ecstatic or unique because it would mean more effort and time. I stuck to traditional temple jewellery and some elegant pieces here and there.

• Gold shopping is inevitable. Once you're done buying your Kanchipuram sarees and designer lehengas, find jewellery that will complement your outfits. I mean, if you wear temple jewellery with your pastel, silver sequined lehenga, it's going to look like a complete disaster. So, choose appropriately.
• If you don't want to spend too much on actual gold, then you can always mix and match with 1 gm gold that probably has more variety and is cheaper.
• Do not, I repeat, DO NOT forget to buy bangles in all colors possible.

Shoes speak louder than words

Although 90% of the focus is on your outfit, jewellery and make-up, we usually tend to take the footwear part of it for granted. When it comes to Indian wedding footwear, there's only one rule. And that's COMFORT! I am usually very comfortable in wedges and that's what I picked up to complete my wedding look book.

• Buy a pair of golden heels for sure. They practically go with everything!
• Comfort comes first. Try to avoid stilettos or anything that's not going to be helpful while you spend long hours standing.
• Get frequent foot massages and manicures to make them feet sparkle!

What else?

Do not leave anything for the last minute. Always have a list of things you need to achieve by at least 3-4 days before the wedding so that you're not panicking at the last moment!

• Get a big suitcase or a duffel bag and dump it with all the things that you might need for your wedding day so that everything is in one place.
• Make an actual list of everything you would need and ensure that you have it all in place.
• Make another list for things you need to do a day or night before the wedding, like purchase flowers, wash your hair, getting your eyebrows done etc.
• Keep plenty of safety pins around for your disposal.
• Bindis of all colors, sizes and shapes are a mandatory addition to your kit.
• Practice smiling and smile hard :D