HECK YES TO SPRAY TANS

If you asked me my opinion on spray tans - I vote YES everyone in the bridal party should get a spray tan. Especially if your bridal party colors are light or pastel shades!

Spray tans are like body makeup. They can hide imperfections on the body and can help your skin look absolutely incredible in professional photos. They are simply magical.

Professional photos can also tend to wash out your natural color, so depending on the intensity of your spray tan and your photographer's edits, your spray tan can actually make your skin tone look normal in photos after edits.

Additionally, tans can allow for a deeper contoured makeup look. So if you love the look of deep, bronzey contours, I would HIGHLY recommend a spray tan.

If you choose to tan for your wedding, I recommend doing a trial spray tan for your makeup trial. The tan can dramatically change your makeup results, depending on the intensity of the tan. I have to intensify all product shades used from eyeshadows, complexion products to lip products. Your makeup will look different with a tan vs. with no tan. It can be shocking doing a makeup trial with no tan, and when it comes to the big day, your makeup looks different because you are up to 4 shades darker!

Spray tans come in a variety of shades and colors, so not all of them are super intense! It is common for my clients to get a light spray tan to give the skin a little warmth for photos, but they don't appear to have sprayed. You can even self tan at home. I have always had great results with St. Moriz or St. Tropez. Both of these brands offer a variety of shades, application styles, and development durations.

If you are not familiar with spray tans but are considering tanning for your wedding, I highly encourage you to test out a few tans and skin prep processes prior to your makeup trial and wedding day. I recommend finding a spray tan option where you are hand-sprayed and not booth-sprayed, but of course if by hand is not available, a booth will do (just listen closely for the instructions)!

For my wedding, I got hand-sprayed by Bronzed by Design in Columbia, MO. They do a fabulous job and even powder you after the spray so it is dry! Right after my spray, I did look really dark, but this is normal! So don't freak out!

In my professional photos my tan looks lighter than it did in real life and very natural. I am so happy I tanned for my wedding and I encouraged everyone in my group to tan as-well!