Summer is a beautiful time of year to get married, but the season can definitely wreak havoc on your natural beauty thanks to the heat and humidity. Luckily, there are steps you can take before you say "I do" to fix all of these blunders, so you look and feel your absolute best on the big day.

Melting Makeup

Whether you like it or not, you're going to sweat on your wedding day. On top of this, cameras often make your face look incredibly shiny, which isn’t helped by the heat of a summer wedding. To fix this, Vivi Mintara, a professional makeup artist and the CEO of Eye Makeup Lab, recommends that the bride use a finishing powder to reduce any shiny spots on the face and to stop the risk of foundation separating on the skin. Be sure to focus on the under-eyes and the forehead.

Forgetting Blotting Papers

These can be lifesavers if your face gets too shiny throughout the event. Don’t forget to pack them in your emergency wedding day kit.

Dehydrated Skin

It’s essential to stay hydrated—especially during the summer months—for health reasons, including making sure your skin has that special glow. With that in mind, drink at least four to six glasses of water a day for a few weeks before your wedding day. “Your body will eventually get used to the water intake and your skin will be at its prime for the big day!” explains Alyssia Chang of Prevail Beauty.

Waxing Too Close to the Wedding

Both men and women often like to wax certain areas ahead of their wedding. But even if you’ve waxed before with no issues, it’s not a wise idea to do it too close to the big day. You don’t want to risk red, blotchy, or irritated skin. Instead, do it a few days beforehand so that if there is a reaction, it will be gone before the walk down the aisle.

Skipping Sunscreen

The importance of SPF goes beyond the beach. If any or all of your wedding will be spent outdoors, make sure you use non-greasy sunscreen on your face and body before walking out the door. The last thing you want is to end the day with a nasty burn.

Over Tanning

Sure you want a sun-kissed glow before your special day, but tread carefully. There's a fine line between looking like you’ve spent the day at the beach and turning into a full-blown Oompa Loompa. If you want to self-tan, always start out slow and make sure you finish a few days before the wedding. This way, if you do go overboard, your skin has some time to get back to normal.

Frizzy Hair

If you have hair that tends to frizz in the heat and humidity, an updo is probably your best bet. But it’s still crucial to take care of your hair in the months leading up to the wedding. One major mistake is going too long without a trim in an effort to grow out your hair for an updo, which can lead to breakage and split ends in an uneven manner, says Ghanima Abdullah of The Right Hairstyles. It’s best to see your stylist every six weeks to keep your hair healthy.

Washing Your Hair on the Big Day

You might feel in the summer months an urge to wash your hair every day. But Abdullah explained that your hair actually needs a little grip and a little oil in order for the stylists to get it into that updo you want, so it’s best to skip the hair washing that morning.

Hero photo courtesy of Heather Kincaid Photographer