The Ultimate Wedding Beauty And Grooming Timeline: 1 Month Out

Congratulations on your engagement! We understand how exciting this period of time is, but we also know how stressful it can be. That’s why we’ve put together the ultimate wedding beauty and grooming timeline to get you and your S.O. looking and feeling your best for the big day. From the surgeries to consider a year (or more!) before you walk down the aisle to the last minute treatments you can enjoy in the final weeks and everything in between, allow us to be your guide to wedding beauty and grooming.

There are approximately 30 more days until you utter the words ‘I do!’ You may be in the final countdown to your big day (i.e. when you can put wedding planning behind you forever), but there are still a few more beauty and grooming tips you may want to consider. In our previous wedding beauty timelines, we covered the larger, time-consuming cosmetic surgeries (think: rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, liposuction) and multi-session procedures (i.e. laser hair removal and non-surgical body contouring), as well as some less invasive skincare treatments (read: chemical peels, microneedling, etc.) and the all-important hair and makeup trials.

With a month to go until your wedding day, now is the time to head to your board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon’s office for Botox® and filler (if you’re interested, of course!). It is also a chance to undergo the last of your minimally invasive, complexion-perfecting skincare treatments that provide more of a boost than your average facial.

Neurotoxin Injections

Like any cosmetic procedure, neurotoxin injections like Botox®, Dysport®, Jeuveau®, and Xeomin® are not necessary. But they have become an increasingly popular addition to skincare routines for brides- and grooms-to-be. So-called ‘Botox Parties’ have become a part of the bachelor and bachelorette weekend festivities for some wedding parties ahead of the big day.

For the uninitiated, Botox® and the like are an injectable form of botulinum toxin type A that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the temporary improvement of moderate to severe glabellar (a.k.a. frown) lines, horizontal forehead lines, and crow’s feet. As we mentioned in previous timelines, first-time neurotoxin patients should sit down for a consultation with a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon to ensure you share a similar aesthetic and to confirm the wrinkle reducer is the right treatment option for your concerns.

If you’ve never had a Botox® injection before, one month before your wedding is not the time to start. Unlike dermal fillers (more on that below!), there is no way to reverse the procedure. New patients should begin injections at least three to six months prior walking down the aisle to give the neurotoxin plenty of time to wear off. But, if you have a standing quarterly Botox® appointment with your derm, four weeks before the big day is the ideal time for a touch up.

There’s a reason they call Botox® a ‘lunchtime procedure.’ The injections themselves last all of 15 minutes — and that includes post-op icing. While the appointment might be quick, the results require patience. Neurotoxins take three to five days to kick in, with full results at the two-week mark. At that point, you’ll still have two weeks to go until your wedding to get comfortable with your skin and facial expressions. Most patients enjoy the wrinkle reducing benefits for three to four months (i.e. well after you return from your honeymoon).

Dermal Filler

Not to be confused with neurotoxins, soft tissue fillers made of hyaluronic acid (HA), calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA), and polylactic acid (PLA), to name a few, are injected into the skin to fill out wrinkles and add or restore volume. Popular uses include plumping up the lips, erasing smile lines, smoothing under-eye bags, defining the cheekbones, and filling out the temples.

In our one-year and six-month timelines, we talked about giving dermal fillers and neurotoxin injections a test run. The benefit of starting early is that you have ample time to find a board certified provider that understands your aesthetic goals. And, since HA fillers like Juvederm®, Belotero®, and Restylane® can be dissolved with an enzyme called hyaluronidase, starting in advance allows you time to correct or remove any results you are unhappy with.

But, for long-time filler fans, a final appointment the month before the wedding is the perfect time for a touch up. You will have enough time to heal from any bruising or swelling that the injections might cause. Depending on the type, filler can last anywhere from six months to two years or more.

Professional Skincare Treatments

Consider this the last call for professional skincare services. While we don’t recommend trying anything for the first time at this point in the process, patients who began a multi-session chemical peel, laser, microneedling, or facial regimen should be nearing the end of their treatment plan.

As we discussed in our six-month timeline, light chemical peels and non-ablative laser treatments are good options for those looking to correct hyperpigmentation (think: acne scars, sun damage, and dark spots), smooth fine lines and wrinkles, and improve radiance. Similarly, microneedling with add-ons like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) works wonders for brides and grooms looking to improve skin tone and texture, while boosting collagen production.

If you have been following an at-home skincare routine, be sure to keep on top of it. Now is certainly not the time to switch things up, but sticking to what works will ensure your skin is in tip-top shape when you walk down the aisle. If a pesky pimple or stress-related breakout pops up in the lead up to the big day, consult with your dermatologist or aesthetician before undertaking any DIY extractions or product cocktails.

The Takeaway

At one month out, bridal beauty and grooming is all about the skin. Four weeks is the ideal moment to go in for any final Botox® and/or dermal filler touch ups, and it is also a good time to wrap up any minimally invasive, complexion-perfecting treatments. At this point, you are almost done with beauty prep, but there are a few more treatments to schedule the week of your wedding day. In the final installment of our series, we will cover everything from spray tans to last-minute hair removal, so you look absolutely flawless walking down the aisle and in those ever-lasting wedding photos!