Your wedding day is one of the most photographed days of your life, and flawless skin doesn't happen overnight. The biggest mistake brides make is waiting until the last minute to start their skincare journey. Many professional treatments require multiple sessions spaced weeks apart, and some need recovery time that could leave you red or peeling if timed poorly. Starting early gives your skin time to heal, regenerate, and truly glow from the inside out.
At Lavish Beauty Laser Med Spa in Calgary, we've helped hundreds of brides achieve their dream wedding-day skin. Here is the exact timeline we recommend to every bride who walks through our doors.
12 Months Before: Start Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is the treatment that requires the longest lead time. For smooth, hair-free skin on your wedding day, you'll need 6 to 8 sessions spaced every 4 to 6 weeks apart. That means starting a full year in advance is ideal.
Most brides focus on the underarms, upper lip, bikini area, and full legs. Because the laser targets hair during its active growth phase, sessions must be spaced out to catch each cycle. Rushing this process simply does not work.
Starting at the 12-month mark gives you plenty of buffer for any extra sessions and ensures you are completely smooth well before dress fittings and honeymoon packing begin.
6 Months Before: Begin a Microneedling Series
If you have acne scars, uneven texture, enlarged pores, or fine lines, microneedling is a game-changer. This treatment uses tiny needles to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin, triggering your body's natural collagen production.
We recommend a series of 3 to 4 sessions spaced about 4 weeks apart. You will notice progressive improvement after each session as collagen continues to rebuild over the following weeks. Starting 6 months out gives your skin ample time to show full results.
Expect mild redness for 24 to 48 hours after each session. By the time your wedding arrives, your skin will be noticeably smoother, firmer, and more even-toned.
3 Months Before: Green Peel Classic for Deep Resurfacing
The Green Peel Classic is an intensive herbal peeling treatment that triggers significant skin renewal. It is ideal for brides dealing with stubborn hyperpigmentation, acne scarring, sun damage, or dull skin that hasn't responded to gentler treatments.
This treatment requires approximately 5 days of recovery during which your skin will visibly peel and renew. The results are dramatic: fresh, luminous skin that looks years younger.
Scheduling this 3 months before your wedding gives your skin time to fully heal and reveal its best results while leaving room for follow-up treatments if needed.
2 Months Before: Laser Genesis for Redness and Rosacea
If you struggle with redness, rosacea, visible veins, or an uneven skin tone, Laser Genesis is the ideal treatment at this stage. This gentle laser heats the upper dermis to stimulate collagen regrowth and reduce diffuse redness.
We recommend 2 to 3 sessions spaced 2 to 3 weeks apart. The treatment is comfortable, often described as a warm sensation on the skin, and requires absolutely no downtime.
By your wedding day, your skin tone will be visibly more even, and you will need far less concealer and colour-correcting makeup to achieve a flawless base.
1 Month Before: HydraFacial for Deep Cleansing and Glow
One month out is the perfect time for a HydraFacial. This treatment deeply cleanses, exfoliates, extracts impurities, and infuses the skin with hydrating serums packed with hyaluronic acid and antioxidants.
The HydraFacial is gentle enough that there is zero downtime, yet powerful enough to deliver immediately visible results. It is also an excellent way to prep your skin for the final stretch before your wedding.
This is also a great time to do a trial run with your makeup artist so they can see your skin at its best and plan your wedding-day look accordingly.
1 Week Before: Express Facial for Wedding-Day Glow
In the final week before your wedding, an express facial or a light HydraFacial will give your skin one last boost of radiance. This session focuses on hydration, brightening, and ensuring your skin is perfectly prepped for makeup application.
Stick to treatments your skin is already familiar with at this stage. Now is not the time to try anything new. A gentle, hydrating facial will leave your skin plump, dewy, and camera-ready without any risk of a reaction.
2 to 3 Days Before: Final Threading and Waxing Touch-Ups
Schedule your eyebrow threading, upper lip waxing, or any last-minute hair removal 2 to 3 days before your wedding day. This gives any minor redness time to subside completely.
Avoid doing this the day of the wedding, as even a small amount of irritation or redness can show up in close-up photographs. A 2-to-3-day buffer ensures your skin is perfectly calm while still looking clean and polished.
Treatments to Avoid Close to Your Wedding
Just as important as knowing what to do is knowing what not to do in the weeks leading up to your big day. Avoid these in the final 2 to 4 weeks:
- • Aggressive chemical peels — Deep peels can cause unpredictable peeling, redness, and sensitivity that may not resolve in time
- • New skincare products — Introducing retinols, acids, or unfamiliar serums can trigger breakouts or allergic reactions
- • Injectable fillers — Dermal fillers can cause bruising and swelling that takes 1 to 2 weeks to settle, and results may need adjusting
- • Aggressive laser treatments — Any treatment with significant downtime should be completed well before the final month
- • At-home dermaplaning or microneedling devices — These can cause micro-tears and infections if not done professionally
The golden rule: if you have not tried a treatment before, do not try it for the first time close to your wedding. Always do a test session months in advance.
Bridal Party Treatments
Your wedding-day glow doesn't have to be yours alone. At Lavish Beauty, we love welcoming entire bridal parties for group skincare sessions. It makes for a wonderful bonding experience and ensures everyone looks their best in your photos.
- • Mother of the Bride — Laser Genesis and HydraFacials work beautifully for mature skin, reducing redness and restoring radiance
- • Bridesmaids — Group HydraFacial bookings are our most popular bridal party treatment, perfect for a pre-wedding pampering day
- • Flower Girls — We offer gentle express facials suitable for younger skin so everyone feels included
Contact us to arrange group bookings. We can accommodate bridal parties of all sizes and customize treatments for each member's unique skin concerns.
Lavish Beauty Bridal Packages
We understand that planning a wedding is overwhelming, which is why Lavish Beauty Laser Med Spa offers dedicated bridal packages designed to take the guesswork out of your skincare prep. Our bridal packages include:
- • A personalized skin assessment and custom treatment plan
- • Bundled pricing on multi-session treatments like laser hair removal and microneedling
- • Priority scheduling to fit your timeline
- • A complimentary pre-wedding glow facial in the week before your big day
- • Special rates for bridal party group bookings
Call us at (403) 815-0150 or book a free bridal consultation to get started. The earlier you begin, the more we can do for your skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I start my bridal skincare routine?
Ideally, 12 months before your wedding is the best time to start. This gives you enough time for treatments like laser hair removal that require multiple sessions over many months. However, even starting 3 to 6 months out allows us to create a meaningful treatment plan that will make a visible difference on your wedding day.
What if I have sensitive skin that reacts to new treatments?
This is exactly why starting early is so important. We always recommend doing a test session of any new treatment well in advance so we can see how your skin responds. If you experience a reaction, we have plenty of time to adjust your plan and find alternatives that work perfectly for your skin type.
Can I get Botox or fillers before my wedding?
Yes, but timing is critical. Botox should be done at least 2 to 3 weeks before your wedding to allow it to fully settle and for any bruising to resolve. Dermal fillers need even more time, ideally 4 to 6 weeks before, as swelling and potential bruising can take longer to subside. Always do a trial session months in advance if it is your first time.
Do you offer bridal consultations at Lavish Beauty?
Absolutely. We offer complimentary bridal skin consultations where we assess your skin, discuss your goals and wedding timeline, and build a customized treatment plan just for you. Call us at (403) 815-0150 or book online to schedule your consultation at our NE Calgary location.
Start Your Bridal Skincare Journey
Book your complimentary bridal skin consultation at Lavish Beauty Laser Med Spa in Calgary. The sooner you start, the more radiant you'll be on your big day.
Call (403) 815-0150Book Free Consultation