You’ve put so much time, effort, and money into preparing for the wedding of your dreams. Don’t let a messy, fake-looking tan ruin the look you’ve been dreaming about since you were little. Here, we’re detailing all the reasons why you may want to forgo spray tanning for your wedding and opt for a gorgeous and gradual glow from Whish Coconut Self Tanner. We’ll also give you tips and tricks to prep your tan for the big day—including products to use and a tanning timeline to follow for an optimal bronze. And if you were thinking about skimping when it comes to your tan, just remember this: wedding photos last a lifetime, so even more reason to make sure your tan is top notch for your nuptials! Gradual Self Tanner Allows You to Be in Control of Your Color, Not Your Wedding Spray Tan Technician If you were thinking about spray tanning for your wedding, you might want to reconsider—here’s why. Spray tans almost always create a drastic change in skin color—especially when most of us are coming out of winter hibernation and haven’t had a tan since last summer. Thanks to higher concentrations of dihydroxyacetone (DHA), the main ingredient in spray tanning lotion and self tanning products, spray tanning for your wedding or any other time, may deposit too much DHA on dead skin cells on the surface of your body—causing intense color development over the course of several hours. If you’re like most people planning a wedding, you’re probably a little stressed out. Go with a tried and true option like gradual self tanner instead of tricky spray tanning. For your wedding, you can decide when and how often you’d like to apply self tanner for a more controlled approached. With spray tanning for a wedding, you have to make a decision on what level color you want (usually level 1,2, or 3). This comes with the risk of going too light and not achieving the color you really wanted for your special day, or going way too dark and not getting that natural look you so desired. For the above reasons, we simply adore Whish Coconut Milk + Verbena Self Tanner Lotion because in just a short amount of time after applying the product, you will start to see your new tan develop. It’s always natural looking, streak-free, radiantly hydrating, and perfect for all skin tones. But the best part about this gradual tanner? It’s buildable, meaning you can re-apply as many times as you want to achieve a deeper tan. Can You Say Awkward? Get ready to undress to your (disposable) skivvies if you’re spray tanning for your wedding because when you get a spray tan you get up close and personal with your tanning technician right away! With Whish Self Tanner, you can apply the product in the privacy of your own home—not in front of someone you just met. Also, get ready to strike some seriously funny poses because when you go in for your spray tan, your technician will have you doing the robot to get every nook and cranny bronzed. We say save those moves for the dance floor and just go with gradual tanning before the wedding. And just in case, this entire situation wasn’t awkward enough, you’ll stink (thanks, spray tanning mist!). If you’re considering spray tanning for your wedding, get ready to deal with that undeniable fake tan smell. But with Whish Self Tanner, you don’t have to worry about a foul scent, because the fragrance is unlike any other self tanner on the market today. It’s fresh, light, and super delicious! Convenience Spray tans require you to let the product dry anywhere from 7 to 8 hours (overnight is even better) to allow the DHA to fully take to the top layer of skin cells. The problem with this method is that you can’t get wet. Like, at all. That means don’t shower, don’t swim, don’t water your yard, wash your car, and certainly don’t sweat if you want your spray tan for your wedding to stay on after application. By now, you’re probably thinking what we’re thinking: what a buzz kill! Even worse? The DHA from a spray tan will look like it’s dripping off your skin and it’ll get on your clothes and sheets until you shower it off—yet another reason to not rely on spray tanning for your wedding. Whish Self Tanner, on the other hand, isn’t messy, goes on streak free, and offers buildable color. We recommend wearing a pair of latex gloves to spare your hands or just rinse them a few times as you apply the product to your body (more on application later). How Long Will Your Tan Last? A spray tan lasts anywhere from five to 10 days and it often depends on a few factors like how deep the color is, the condition of your skin (are you dry, oily?) and how often you moisturize. With that said, spray tanning for your wedding becomes yet another thing to plan accordingly to make sure your big day goes off without a hitch. But, if you want a stress-free tanning process, then go with our self tanning product. Color starts developing in just a short time after the initial application, giving you time to decide if you like that color or want to go darker. As with all products with DHA, they wear off as your skin cells shed from your body, which is typically every five to 10 days. So, if you’re spray tanning for your wedding, you have one shot to get the color you like and after those five to 10 days, it’ll start shedding off. But with Whish Self Tanner, you can continually apply to re-intensify your tan as long as your heart desires—hello honeymoon! Skip Spray Tanning for Your Wedding and Achieve the Perfect Gradual Tan With This Tanning Timeline and Products for Your Big Day Don’t fuss with the logistics surrounding when to get a spray tan before your wedding and focus on prepping your bod for the best gradual self tanner you’ve ever used! Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3… One month before your wedding day, prep your skin for the first application of Whish Self Tanner by showering and exfoliating with our Coconut Milk + Verbena Exfoliating Body Wash. This alpha hydroxy body wash smooths out rough patches by gently sloughing off dead skin. Pay special attention to elbows, wrists, knuckles, knees, and ankles, where self tanner tends to gather, as this skin can be thicker and drier. Shave or wax before you apply Whish Self Tanner to ensure the most gorgeous tan. If you’re suffering from ingrowns, take care of those beforehand too. Try applying our Flawless Post Wax & Shave Ingrown Hair Serum to your underarms, legs, or bikini line to prevent irritating ingrowns. If you need extra treatment for rough feet, try applying our Coconut Milk + Verbena Exfoliating Foot Mask. This product can be left on overnight to smooth dry, calloused heels. Next, grab your gloves because it’s time to self tan! Starting with your legs, apply a small amount of Whish Self Tanner to your hands and rub into legs – saving the residual product in your hands for feet and ankles last. Next, move up to your torso, behind, neck, and back (you might need some assistance with reaching this area). Avoid your elbows, wrists, and the back of your hands until you’ve used the majority of the product across your arms. Lastly, apply a dime-size amount to your face and blend upwards into the hairline for a natural look. Now sit back and watch your tan develop and start moisturizing morning and night. Re-Apply Three weeks away from your wedding, go ahead and re-apply self tanner. You’re now entering ‘maintenance mode.’ The beautiful thing about gradual tanner (unlike spray tanning for your wedding) is that you can still lightly shave, get your hair done, bathe, and sweat without the worry of your tan washing off. Make sure to keep going strong with your moisturizing! Almost There You’re just two weeks away and you know what that means! Yep! Re-apply, by now you’ll have an idea of how long your tan will last before skin starts shedding, so the key is to stay one step ahead! Keep lotioning up morning and night. The Final Countdown The week before your wedding, go ahead and give your bod a little exfoliation (especially if you’ve noticed your tan building up on certain areas like the wrists, knees, or ankles). After exfoliating, re-apply tanner to fine-tune your color and don’t forget to keep up with the moisturizer or body oil. Today’s the Day! On your wedding day, focus on moisturizing your skin so your gorgeous tan can show itself off! If you need a little color correction or just want some added sheen, apply our Coconut Milk + Verbena CC Body Cream. This product isn’t a self tanner, but provides instant bronzing and shimmer, while concealing imperfections. This stuff is the icing on the cake and offers just the right amount of shade and shine. There are so many reasons to skip spray tanning for your wedding and go with Whish all-natural self tanner instead. See the incredible difference for yourself. From all of us at Whish, congratulations on your wedding day!