Two weeks today, I'll be getting ready to marry Kieran in Mauritius.
I've spent the last few months helping Ashford and Kent brides plan their skin around their wedding countdown. Now it's my turn, and I'll be honest: knowing all the theory doesn't stop the nerves. So I thought I'd share my own diary, partly to keep myself accountable, and partly because I think it's useful to see what a skin practitioner actually does when it's her own big day.
Welcome to the first proper Novauria Bride diary entry.
A second wedding, done our way
This is my second wedding, and it feels completely different to the first. I'm a mum of two, I run a business from my studio here in Park Farm, and life is busy in the best way. This time I'm not chasing perfect. I want to look like me, just well rested (ha!) and happy.
The morning of 1 November will begin with a Hindu blessing, honouring Kieran's Mauritian family. It means so much to both of us, and I want to feel present for every minute of it, not worrying about my skin.
What I did months ago (the bit that matters most)
Here's the truth I tell every bride: the real work happens months before, not weeks.
My plan started the back end of summer, with treatments spaced out so my skin had plenty of time to settle and respond in between. That's exactly why The Bridal Edit packages run from 8 weeks to 12 months. Skin works on its own timeline, and you can't rush it.
What I'm doing now, two weeks out
At this stage, it's all about calm, hydrated, happy skin. Nothing dramatic.
Keeping my routine boring. Same cleanser, same serums, same moisturiser I know my skin loves. My faves, tropic juicy greens serum, topic cleanser and tropic moisturiser.
SPF every single day. Mauritius sun is no joke, and I'm already treating SPF as non-negotiable here in Kent so the habit is locked in.
Hydration, inside and out. More water, a richer moisturiser at night, and a hydrating mask once or twice a week.
Sleep (or trying to). With two kids and a wedding to pack for, this is the hardest one. But skin really does show tiredness, so early nights are on the list.
A gentle facial close to flying. Nothing active, just something calming and hydrating.
What I'm NOT doing
This is the list brides need most.
No new products. Two weeks before a wedding is not the time to test a new serum, however good the reviews are.
No strong peels or anything with downtime. Any treatment that might leave skin red, flaky or sensitive needs to happen much earlier in the countdown.
No first-time treatments. If you've never had something before, now isn't the moment to find out how your skin reacts.
No picking! I say this with love, to myself as much as anyone.
Prepping for a destination wedding
Getting married abroad adds a few extra things to think about.
Long flights are dehydrating, so I'll be packing a hydrating sheet mask, a good moisturiser and lip balm in my hand luggage. Heat and humidity also change how skin behaves, so I'll be keeping things light in the day and saving richer products for the evening.
I'm also planning to arrive a few days early [CHECK: confirm travel dates], so my skin (and my body clock) can settle before the big morning. If you're planning a destination wedding, I'd really recommend building in that buffer.
The one rule I'm giving every bride
Trust the plan you made months ago, and don't panic-book anything in the final fortnight.
It's so tempting to want one last treatment "just in case". But the brides who look most like themselves on the day are the ones who started early and kept things simple at the end. I'm following my own advice, nerves and all.
Coming up
I'll share more of the countdown over the next couple of weeks, and I promise a proper honest round-up when we're home, including how my skin coped with the travel, the heat and a very emotional day.
If you're planning your own 2027 wedding in Ashford, Kent or further afield, now is a lovely time to start your skin countdown. You can book a bridal consultation through the website, or DM me "GLOW" on Instagram and we'll have a chat about what your skin needs.
Liz x