To tan or not to tan

Bonjour. Well I'm in two minds too - I'm very pale with dark hair normally but I always look better with a wee bit of a tan in photos. I'd recommend Sudo or Xen Tan if you were going down that route. St Tropez never worked for me personally - just made me smell funny. One of those gradual tanning moisturisers might be an idea?

I like the pale look but I also like the tanned look - I think you'll look awesome no matter what! x

I think a slight tan would look better in the photos but if you are going the fake route I would definitely have a few trial runs. My experience with fake tan is not good.... I even had a £55 spray tan once and it was awful.

I think I may have to use the dreaded sunbeds before my day.

I'm with Moony on that one - trial runs are a must. My first spray tan wasn't too successful but the second one worked out well as she used a stronger concentration of product.

Moony I'd try another brand before you go down the sunbed route - a case of trial and error. And £55 is quite steep! x

I think a little bit of colour always makes us look better. I wouldn't go overboard though cos if you are naturally pale then you don't want to look like Jordan on your wedding day IYKWIM????

I was thinking about just doing the gradual tan stuff for the week on the run up to my wedding but might do a trial run of the fake tan in a salon beforehand. I'm a bit concerned about getting fake tan marks on my dress though!!!!

Thanks ladies, was thinking just a hint of colour, i normally have a few sunbed sessions, but have thought about knocking them on the head because of all the dangers of them, i've never gone silly though and had loads.

Thought it also would be good just to have that bit of colour when we go on honeymoon i really dont like flashin the flesh and being whitish blue!!!! But equally don't want to be dark and look daft on wedding day whilst everyone else is pale.

Think i might have a few trial runs of spray tan, don't know if i trust myself with self tanning products!!!!! But this might sound stupid now but what do you do when you have a spray tan? do you get your kit off and someone sprays you or is it like ross in friends? soz for being thick!!!

I've tried loads. My mom uses a really good one, I can't remember what it's called tho. But even that goes streaky with me. I tried the gradual tans but they look awful too. And I cannot stand the smell of some of them, OH actually tried to make me sleep on the floor last time I fake tanned myself lol

Ive got a lovely tan at the moment from holiday, i wish it would stay for 12 months :-(

I had 3 or 4 sunbed sessions in the lead up to the wedding. I won't be using them again and it was more to control any acne that decided to flare up but also to even out some tan marks. Definitely don't overdo it as your h2b will presumably still be pale!

I wore a strapless bra and knickers for my spray tan but some ladies who my mate spray tans merely wear a smile. Depends how comfortable you are in the nuddy really and the cut of your wedding dress.

The one I had is where you stand in a cubicle and the therapist sprays you all over (you have to do lots of different poses/ positions so that they can cover everything). I didn't enjoy the experience as I hate being less than fully dressed in front of people!

Moony have you tried Xen Tan? I haven't myself but it smells lush! x

No I have never heard of it... will have to try that! Is it pricey??

If you feel uncomfortable stripping off infront of people you could try the spray tan where you stand in a booth on your own (like Ross from friends) lol but again, my expereince of this was rubbish too. But it's good for my cousin, she swears by it!

Moony I've just looked and Xen Tan is about £25 on the official website but I'm sure you could get it cheaper.

Not sure if I'd do the person-free booth one. I would end up like Ross knowing my luck! Hilarious episode!

Thanks Spangles I'll definitely have to try that once my holiday tan has worn off a bit.

When I tried the person free booth one I stripped off and put the creams on that they tell you to, only to discover I had ran out of cream before finishing, and still had my whole leg to do. Was too embarassed to stick my head round the door and shout for assistance so I just went ahead with the spray tan, which is probably why I ended up looking like a streaky oopma loompa!

Gillsy i never even thought about fake tan marks!!!! i can imagine the top of my dress under arm pit ending up looking dreadful.

Might give the couple that spangles recommended a try, but am thinking maybe just stick with a couple sunbed sessions just enough to take the glare off the whiteness and make me feel better, i had a bit of a tan when i 1st tried dress on and it looked great, but definatly dont want to end up looking like Jordan especially cus i have long dark hair!!!

All these wedding decisions driving me caaarrraaaazzzzyyyy!!!! xxx

Hahaha hilarious Moonster! So were you brown all over with one pasty leg??

TAN! ?

I personally think I look better with a bit of colour about me as I am naturally very pale! But, like the others said, it is very important not to go overboard as it can go from enhancing your look to making you look like an oompa loompa! ?

One of my favourites when I have money is to go and get a Fake Bake. It is great as it works with your natural colour so won't turn you very dark if you're pale. Some people don't like it as they don't think it's enough but for me it's just right and a great one for beginners!

Hi, I know most people don't rate sunbeds, but I had a few sessions in a sun shower in March and my tan was very natural, I have yet to find a fake tan that looks natural !! I will probably go on it again before my wedding in August if we don't have any sunshine!!

bridetobehaha?

Well i went to work straight after and my uniform was trousers (it was ina hospital) but when I got changed into my lovely white floaty skirt which i thought would enhance my beautiful tan that had developed during my time at work, my colleague asked me what the hell I had spilt down my leg. the leg which hadnt got cream on looked awful... all strreaky and blobby. But then as the tan faded it was all awful, it faded in patches and I had to book the rest of the week off as holiday as I couldn't go out in public looking like that!

ST TROPEZ spray tan...go for it! i got married on a Sunday, had one (first one ever) on the Thurs, was orange that day, then on the Friday was quite dark but not orange, then on the Sat & Sun was a nice bronzed colour, no strap marks (but be careful what you do wear as straps can rub it off) but it was one of the best choices i made particularly as im usually quite pale. It cost £20 too so may become a nice hobby for me!

I had a spray tan once and looked tango'd! My belly looked weird! I've got 8 days in Turkey before my wedding so hopefully that should help me not look so pale! x