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* Top 20 Wedding Dos and Don’ts Countdown *

Wedding season is here. Glamour Magazine just ran a show on the Style Network about the top twenty Dos and Don’ts for brides, grooms, wedding parties, and guests. Here we’ve listed those things and added a little to them. Enjoy!

20. Brides: DON’T make your bridesmaids spend a lot of money on a dress they hate. It’s just mean to make your very best friends shell out a ton of cash on a dress that may be the most hideous thing they have ever set eyes on. Not only will they never wear it again, but they’ll hate the fact that they have to wear it at all and my resent you in the end. If you want a dress that is out of everyone’s budget or that no one else likes, be a good bride and buy the dresses for them.

19. Brides: DON’T go over the top with hair and makeup. We don’t think you want to look scary on your wedding day! Trying some new “look” you’d never wear on a normal day or even to a special event definitely shouldn’t be worn on your wedding day. Your guests will look at you and think, “Whose wedding are we at?” Go for a look that’s timeless and classic, not just trendy and chic at the time. You want to look back at pictures and not think “Oh my goodness, I can’t believe I wore my hair like that.”

18. Brides: DO test-drive your hairstyle. You don’t want to leave your hair to the last second. Meet with your stylist along with any items you want in your hair (like your veil and other head pieces) long before the big day and figure out exactly what you want to look like. Take pictures of the finished look so you and your stylist can have something to look back on.

17. Brides: DON’T feel like you need to wear a huge veil just because you can. We know, you’re finally the bride! But that doesn’t mean you should hide in a veil that makes you look like the Abominable Snowman. Get a veil that compliments your dress. A large princess ball gown needs a simpler veil. Something too big will make you look cluttered! If you simply must have a huge veil, pick a simpler, form-fitting dress. The look will work much better.

16. Brides: DON’T make your bridesmaids look like a parade of look-alikes. You want a look that’s simple, elegant, and classic. Glamour says to think of it like a fashion show, where everyone looks their best. And looking her best for one girl is totally different than another. Bridesmaids’ dresses are more about color and tones and fabrics than a particular style of dress. Cookie cutter dresses are out. If you want happy and comfortable ‘maids, let them pick their own dresses (within your guidelines) or at least have a say in what they wear.

15. Brides: DON’T go broke on your wedding dress. You want to buy the best dress that you can afford, but that doesn’t mean spending 50 percent of your wedding budget on a single dress. In fact, you probably shouldn’t exceed ten percent of your total budget. Look on eBay or pick through sample sales. Or, spend your money on a personal trainer, so that no matter what dress you’re wearing, you’ll look fabulous in it.

14. Brides: DO be yourself with your wedding dress. Just because you’re a bride doesn’t mean you have to wear a big, white, princess dress. Though lots of ladies dream of that dress, it’s definitely not for everyone. If you want a short dress, wear it! If you want a pink or purple or red dress, wear it! Wear a dress that fits your body and style tastes. Be true to yourself.

13. Grooms: DON’T rent your tux, just buy it! As the people from Glamour put it, it’s one of the most important days of your life, don’t wear another man’s pants. They really do have a good point there! When you rent a tux or suit, chances are those same pair of pants have been worn thirty times already. Formal can be affordable! Look into purchasing your tux, or buying a really nice, tailored-just-to-you suit. Not only will you look like a million bucks, but you’ll have a great suit or tux that you want wear over and over again.

12. Grooms: DO let your guys put a bit of their own personality in their ensemble. When you go to pick out your groomsmen’s and ushers’ ensemble for “the big day,” pick something that the fellows would feel good about wearing. Let them spice their ensembles up a bit by letting them wear their own cuff links, tie, or shoes. There is no need to let them go over the top, but letting them be their selves is a must.

11. Guests: DO give some thought to your outfit. This is not the time for the mini skirt and mega platform shoes. In regards to your outfit, be a little on the conservative side. The attention should be on the couple, not on you. After all, it is their wedding day. If you have an outfit that you’re questioning, call up the bride and ask her what she thinks! And just remember, sequins are not for daytime.

10. Brides: DON’T feel like you need to wear a tiara just because it’s your wedding day. You simply don’t need to wear one. Once upon a time, tiaras represented hope, magic, glamour, and wealth. But now, wearing a glitzy tiara with a huge, elaborate dress might just be a little too much. If a tiara is a must for you, consider a more discrete or understated look. Remember that more is not always better. Again, make sure that your whole look works together.

9. Wedding Party: DON’T get crazy with tanning or fake baking. Hello! Fair skinned brides can be gorgeous! In fact, it’s kind of a misnomer that because you’re wearing white or ivory, your skin will be washed out. Wearing those colors and tone will in fact enhance your skin’s natural beauty. If getting a few shades darker is a must, try spray tanning an bronzers. And remember to always do a test run, and never get it done on the day of or before the big day. You want to look like a bride (or pretty bridesmaids), not like a pumpkin.

8. Brides: DON’T make the ‘maids wear the same hairstyle. Just as with dresses, the same style on everyone is simply not flattering on everyone! If forced the wear the same hairstyle, girls will be girls and there is no doubt that they will compare themselves to each other. Work with your bridesmaids’ individual styles. And remember, they are not there to compete with you, so let them feel their best!

7. Brides: DON’T be too trendy when it comes to your gown, hair, accessories, and the rest of your look. The trick is to go timeless! We all love to be fashionable, but something that’s simply trendy won’t look all that great in the years to come. You know what we mean. Think back to the 80’s brides. Just plain scary! If you choose a dress that’s elegant and works with your body, you can’t go wrong. Enjoy the time you spend looking! A tip from WeddingBee: When looking for “The Dress”, start with the cheapest ones and work your way up. That way, you might just fall in love with a dress that’s only 500 bucks rather than having your heart set on one that’s $5,000.

6. Guests: Don’t wear white to a wedding. Would you like it if you spent a small fortune on a dress you’ll wear one time, then someone shows up on your special day wearing something similar? We didn’t think so. It’s the bride’s turn to wear “the dress” so let her wear white. A Wedding Fanatic tip: Sometimes a couple might want you to wear white (think: simple beach chic nuptials), but if this is the case, it will be noted on the invitation or included in other information that you’ll receive.

5. Guests: DO know that you can wear black to a wedding. A while back, it was considered kind of morbid to wear black to a wedding, but today, it’s a perfect color to wear. It’s slimming and looks good on most everyone. Some brides today are even choosing black for their bridesmaids’ dresses.

4. Groom: DON’T not get your haircut the day before the wedding. Getting your hair cut the day before or the day of your wedding is just not a good idea. You should do this one to two weeks earlier. And just like we tell the brides, don’t do anything that looks drastically different than your normal self! You want to look like a cleaned up and dressed up version of yourself, not someone else. Brides, it will do you good to talk with your groom in advance and make sure he doesn’t wait to the last second to get his hair cut!

Brides: DON’T get a facial the day before your wedding. You need time for your face and body to get back to normal after you’ve had a facial. If you have one done the day before, you’re likely to have red blotches all over your face. And that’s just something you don’t want in those wedding pictures!

3. Brides: DO consider comfort for your wedding dress and accessories. While a little pain won’t kill you, you don’t want a dress you can breathe or move in, or a train that you have to drag around during your whole reception. While there is no need to wear something that is just plain ugly for the sake of comfort, you do want to take it into consideration. One thing you DO want to take comfort seriously with is your shoes. Don’t get a pair you can’t walk in or make your feet hurt as soon as you put them on. And idea we like: get a fancy pair for the ceremony and your first few dances. Then when you’re ready to get your groove on, slip on some comfy yet cute ballet look-alike slippers. For the crafty bride: dress them up with some ribbons and embellishments for something you can wear around the house later on.

2. Brides: DON’T drink too much! Do we really need to spell this one out? There are few things worse than looking your absolute best, but then stumbling about and slurring your words. It just isn’t pretty. A Wedding Fanatic tip: drinking a lot of alcohol the day before your wedding could leave your face a little flushed and red. If you can, encourage your wedding party to take it easy on the drinks the night before.

1. Brides and Grooms: DO just be yourself. Like some of the other points have said, you want to be the best version of yourself on your wedding day. You don’t need to compete with other couples and try to “out-wed” them. You want to look your personal best and treat your guests to an even that reflects you as a couple, not just the trends of the day. You can’t go wrong being yourself!

And always remember, your wedding day isn’t the end! While it does mean no more wedding planning, it also means the beginning of your new life together. Enjoy the planning, the wedding, and most of all, the rest of your lives.