You’ve said YES to that special someone—now it’s time to say yes to the dress, jewelry, makeup, hair, and flowers! Choosing your bridal look is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make: all eyes (and cameras) will be on you, so you’ll naturally want to look your very best, head to toe.
San Diego is a top wedding destination and we’re fortunate to have many amazing small businesses to support you on your special day. The team at Restore SD Plastic Surgery has rounded up our favorites, but first, we’ll answer a few common questions about planning your ideal bridal aesthetic.
What do I need to do before planning my bridal look?
The first step in your wedding planning process should be selecting an event date and a venue. This will set the tone for all aesthetic decisions. For example, the look you’d choose for beach nuptials in the spring would likely be quite different from the one you’d choose for a ballroom reception in the fall.
We recommend doing research by looking through magazines, websites, or social media to discover what appeals to you. Then create a few “mood boards” to guide as you visualize the bigger picture and theme of your event. While everyone is bound to have an opinion on your look, remember that at the end of day, it’s YOUR decision and you should choose what makes you feel the most comfortable and confident.
When should I start planning for my bridal look?
Looking radiant and picture-perfect on your special day takes a lot of work and planning. To help you avoid any last-minute beauty fiascos, it’s important to be mindful of your timeline. In general, the sooner the better, so you have one less thing to worry about.
If you’re getting married in peak season, know that bridal services can book up 12 to 18 months ahead of time, so if one of these components is particularly important to your “dream look” then make a commitment as soon as you can.
- The Dress: Most designer dresses take approximately four to six months to order, followed by one to three months for tailoring and alterations. We suggest shopping at a wedding boutique beginning 9-12 months in advance of your nuptials to allow for a stress-free search and necessary dress fittings leading up to the big day.
- Hair & Makeup: It is recommended to book your “glam squad” six to ten months in advance of the wedding date. It’s also a good idea to have a trial run/rehearsal of your look 1-3 months prior so you’ll be able to plan any necessary haircuts or coloring before your wedding date.
- Bridal Bouquet: The best time to begin thinking about bridal flowers is after you’ve chosen your gown and venue, as this will allow you to choose a bouquet that harmonizes with the wedding’s mood and motifs. It is recommended that you book a florist 6 to 9 months in advance—but the most popular San Diego wedding florists fill their schedules 12 to 18 months ahead of time, so if you have your heart set on a certain look, book as soon as you can.
- Aesthetic Skin Treatments: Schedule a consultation with a reputable medical spa at least 1 year in advance of your wedding date. With the advice of a qualified plastic surgeon and medical aesthetician, you’ll be able to plan just the right treatments and timing to meet your appearance goals. Beyond the results you want to achieve, and the particulars of your skin and anatomy, they’ll consider your lifestyle, availability for treatments, budget, and even the time of year you’re getting married (and honeymooning!).
Where in San Diego can I find my perfect bridal look?
While it may be tempting to DIY, shop online, or head to a big-box chain store for your bridal needs, we encourage you to work with a locally-owned boutique, vendor or service provider—the heart and soul of our community.
You’ll not only be styled to perfection with the most unique selections and talented experts, but you’re also more likely to enjoy a more personalized experience. These local businesses are professionals that truly care more about you and your wedding! They know looking absolutely gorgeous on your big day matters, and will take great pride in helping you do so. Reserve an appointment today with any of these fabulous San Diego small businesses to see the magic they can create for you!
San Diego wedding dress shopping
Finding your perfect dress can be stressful and overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. The perfect gown to suit your style, body, and personality awaits at these high-end bridal boutiques, where you’re guaranteed to find a timeless style to help you shine not only on the big day, but for years to come.
San Diego wedding dress alterations
To fit perfectly, all gowns require some alterations. The most common alterations include hemming to adjust the length, adding a bustle or other detailing, adjusting the straps or sleeves, and either taking the dress in, or out, for the closest possible fit. The following professional seamstresses and tailors have proven experience with wedding dress alterations.
San Diego bridal jewelry & accessories
With the right necklaces, earrings, and ring to complement your wedding dress, you’ll have a stunning ensemble for your special day. Your wedding jewelry should act as an accent to your wedding dress and highlight it in scale, adding color and contrast, while also being unique and personal to you. These established and trusted jeweler specializes in quality pieces that will make you shine!
San Diego bridal hair & makeup
The season and time of day of your celebration can help inform your bridal hair and makeup. Your venue and color palette can also inspire which hues would look best. Consult the following beauty professionals to help find what will best flatter your skin type, as well as your hair length, color and texture.
San Diego bridal bouquets
Before you start talking to florists, take some time to figure out what you like, including flowers, arrangement styles, and other details. Although color and floral varieties are what brides tend to think of first, you’ll want to consider other aspects of the bouquet, including its size, shape, fragrance, and finishing accents such as ribbons—and a superb florist can help ensure that the scale and style of your bouquet is in tune with your overall appearance. The decisions you make will set the tone for other flowers as well, including the blooms for the wedding party and venue.
San Diego aesthetic procedures for bridal parties
Whether you’re a bride, a bridesmaid, or the mother of the bride or groom, San Diego’s RestoreSD Plastic Surgery has many options to help you put your best foot, face, and body forward for your wedding. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Katerina Gallus and her team of aesthetic experts provide a full selection of rejuvenating non-surgical treatments and cosmetic procedures that will transform you into the blushing, beaming bride you deserve to be.
Here is a round-up of our most popular pre-wedding skin treatments, including peels, laser resurfacing, microneedling, injectable dermal fillers, laser hair removal and custom facials. You can also consider a surgical procedure such as liposuction, breast augmentation, body tightening and lifting, or facelift.
In sum, at RestoreSD we can improve virtually any aspect of your appearance you wish to tune up. And what better time to look your most beautiful than your wedding day? Board certified San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Gallus is ready to meet with you one-on-one and help you come up with a custom plan specifically designed to achieve your appearance goals. To set up your personal consultation and learn how our fantastic team of medical professionals can help you, call our practice at (858) 224-2281 or reach out to us online today.
