Though we live in a world obsessed with beauty, many women (including me) don’t regularly wear make-up. There are as many reasons for not wearing make-up as there are for wearing it: A lack of time. A career that doesn’t lend itself to the wearing of cosmetics. Sensitive skin. Or (and this describes me very well) sheer laziness combined with a work-at-home job. My mom also never taught me how to apply the dang stuff.

This cosmetic innocence, however, can be a problem on one’s wedding day. Many a woman who might otherwise eschew make-up will readily slather it on when she is to be the center of attention. Unfortunately, this can lead to brides that are less blushing and more Tammy Faye. These brides can do one of two things: They can hire an expensive professional. Or they can read everything they can about make-up and do a few test runs before the wedding.

Guess which solution I prefer?

Now, when I think bridal beauty, I think simplicity. I think most brides look their best when they have used natural colors of cosmetics to highlight their innate prettiness. It’s a stereotype, but one I can appreciate: the dewy, rose-cheeked, pink-lipped blushing bride.

So, when considering wedding day make-up, whether in the morning or the evening, think deep colors (for a touch of drama) and natural shades. If you’ve never worn foundation, concealer, or powder, consider giving it a try – ask a department store make-up counter consultant to help you find the right hue and to teach you what to do with it.

Eyeliner: A light brown eyeliner, gently smoothed upward toward the temple looks striking but doesn’t scream, “Made up!” Practice makes perfect.

Eye shadow: Pastels will look pretty but stick to sheer mattes, because overly shimmery shadows can look shiny in photos. Two or more shades artfully blended can look just as subtly beautiful as a single color. Experiment. A lot. Before the wedding.

Blush: Glittery blushes can make you look shiny (i.e. oily) in photos. Cream blush set with translucent powder typically looks the most natural and tends to last throughout the day. Blush, however, can be tricky. And if you have naturally ruddy cheeks like I do, you might want to forgo it altogether.

Lipstick: I used to doubt the truth of those adverts for 8-hour lipsticks. Then I bought a tube of Revlon Colorstay Overtime. They are not kidding when they say it won’t kiss off. Try colors that are close to your normal lip color.

Mascara: Whether you go for black or brown, use a waterproof formula. You should be able to cry without worrying about raccoon eyes. If you have long, dark lashes, try clear.

There is no rule saying you must buy a make-up case worth of new products for your wedding day. I guess there is also no rule saying you have to wear make-up at all on your wedding day. But if you’re going to, play around with it in the weeks before the big day to find a look you like. See how your make-up looks when paired with your gown. If you need more help, books like Makeup Makeovers: Stunning Looks for the Entire Bridal Party offer cosmetic hints and tips. And DVDs like The Perfect Wedding Series: The Beautiful Bride will demonstrate wedding make-up application in easy-to-follow steps.

The most excellent Manolo pointed out a caption contest being held over at Dlisted. Unfortunately, the contest is now closed, but I would definitely recommend that you go check out the more than 260 captions that Dlisted readers thought up to describe the keg-standin’ bride above. My particular favorite:

Something old
Something new
Something borrowed
Something brewed.

That makes me giggle every time I read it.

I’d like to offer a hearty hip-hip-hooray to Prince Charles and Camilla, who celebrated their first anniversary yesterday at the Scottish estate where they spent their honeymoon.

In a low-key celebration of their first 12 months together, the couple have taken a romantic break to the place where they spent their honeymoon, the royal family’s remote Scottish retreat of Balmoral.

Charles, 57, wearing a Balmoral tweed kilt, and Camilla, 58, in a matching tweed jacket and skirt and red beret, were greeted by around 20 well-wishers, down on the hundreds who welcomed the newly-weds after their wedding last year.

That sounds lovely…but what does the future hold for Charles and Camilla?

Although Britons seem to have accepted Charles’ long-term mistress as his wife, there appears to be a long way to go to persuade them she could one day be “Queen Camilla”.

A recent survey in The Times suggested 56 percent of people would prefer her to take the title “Princess Consort” instead.

Only time will tell…but, for Phyllis, here is another look at Camilla and her beau on their wedding day. Though the cream silk chiffon short dress hemmed with vertical rows of appliqued woven disks and coat with herringbone embroidery she wore for the ceremony were nice, I rather prefer the blue coat and chiffon gown by Antonia Robinson and Anna Valentine she wore for the blessing ceremony that followed the civil vows.

As I’m always on the lookout for something quirky, I thought I’d feature some fun gifts and favors that are sure to delight groomsmen, wedding guests, and bridesmaids.

The “Most Valuable Groomsmen” Wedding Team Bat is sure to be a hit (ha ha) with the menfolk. This isn’t some cheesy mini-bat but rather a pro-sized, ready-to-use baseball bat engraved with a thank you message. Also available for ringbearers.

If your wedding is on a 110 in the shade kind of day, you may want to pass out these sandalwood fans at the ceremony rather than waiting for the reception.

Bridesmaids unhappy with your choice of dresses? Let them take out their frustrations on these bridesmaid dress cookies. They’ll feel tons better after biting into a few bodices.

The other day, reader Kourtney asked about preserving her fabulous silk wedding dress. Reader La BellaDonna quickly offered some wonderful and furthermore practical advice (don’t I have the most fantastic readership ever?) which included a link to a list of companies that supply acid free paper. I thought everyone should have a chance to read her advice, particularly because silk can be a rather temperamental fabric.

Now, there are a boatload of preservation kits out there, of the “do it yourself” variety and the “have someone else do it for you” variety. I think I’d prefer the latter. But how to find a competent pro to handle what is likely the most important and meaningful garment you’ll ever own?

The easiest way to find a company that will treat your dress right is to ask your seamstress or just a seamstress. Or contact the International Fabricare Institute. They know what they’re talking about. Consider making arrangements before the wedding, so you can get your gown cleaned and on its way to being preserved lickety-split. Even if you’re using a home preservation kit, however,

Waiting until after the honeymoon to take protective precautions for your wedding gown is waiting too long, according to 1800bride2b. Stains that you may not even see, such as from perspiration, will immediately begin to take their toll on the delicate fabric. Ideally, you should make arrangements to have your gown professionally dry cleaned as soon as possible after your wedding day. Have the gown taken to a reputable cleaner who will also inspect zippers and buttons that may need to be repaired or tightened. You should make a special note for the cleaners about any spots or stains, particularly on the train, that may need special attention.

What then? Do you fold or hang? As La BellaDonna notes, hanging puts pressure on the gown and can loosen or even tear fabric over time. Folded gowns should be refolded along different lines a few times a year to prevent tears due to stresses in the fabric. Acid free tissues and boxes are a MUST because all wood and forms of wood pulp secrete acids that can stain and damage fabrics. Plastics are also a no-no.

Your wedding gown needs air to circulate through the fibers or it will eventually start to rot. For this reason, you should not wrap your gown in plastic for a long period of time. Also, some plastics produce textile-destroying hydrochloric acid when in contact with moisture for long periods of time.

Once you’ve lovingly and carefully packaged your gown (or had someone else do it for you), it should be stored somewhere it won’t be exposed to extreme shifts in temperature or humidity. That means no basements, no hot and dry attics, and no laundry rooms. Too much moisture in the air can cause mold and mildew to grow in places they are not welcome – i.e. on your gown. Light can cause the fabric of your gown to become discolored and even disintegrate!

If you truly want to preserve your dress for decades and decades, take all the precautions you can. I have experiences the pain of improper dress storage first hand. I once had a beautiful baby blue ballgown that developed inexplicable baby pink spots and little holes because of my carelessness. Don’t let this happen to you.

Think choosing a wedding gown is one of the easier parts of planning a wedding? Think again. I found a checklist that makes shopping for the perfect gown into a multi-step, rocket science-like affair. If you have lots of time, it says, you should hit every salon, shop ’til you drop, and agonize over your gown decision. Yet you should still be decisive!

If you’re destined for the alter, nine to twelve months before the big day, you should:

Start envisioning yourself in your wedding gown. Think about your everyday style. Now write down six adjectives that best describe how you want to look and feel (summery, sweet, elegant, royal, sexy, sophisticated, demure, over-the-top, to name a few).

Now get some paper and a pencil (again) and put into words what you absolutely do not want in a gown (for example, short sleeves, a full skirt, or beading).

Eight months before the wedding, you should:

Get your gear ready. Many salons provide some of the essentials listed below, but they may not fit properly: A strapless bra or bustier Control-top panty hose (gowns go on more smoothly, especially the often-too-small sample sizes) A slip if you plan to try on sheaths or slip dresses Shoes with approximately the same heel height you plan to wear on your wedding day Tissues for when your mom sees you in your first gown (this is good advice)

Seven months before, you should:

Narrow down your gown choices and go for a second (or third or fourth!) salon visit. You can return as many times as you like. No matter how indecisive you think you are, you probably won’t come close to being the most neurotic bride they’ve ever helped (are you sure??). Also, make at least one trip on your own (so you can ponder your options without others’ opinions coloring your thoughts).

At the six month mark, you ought to:

Order your gown. And make sure the following contract points are in writing on your receipt: designer name style number or name size or measurements the salon is sending to the manufacturer approximate delivery date how many fittings are included in the price (if any) how much money you still owe for the gown amount of your deposit and that it’s marked paid

When the five month mark rolls around, you should:

Lose weight before your fittings begin. Once fittings are underway, try to maintain your weight. (Better yet, forget about the diet — obviously he thinks you look great just the way you are.) (Yeah!)

Six weeks before the wedding, you should:

Have your first fitting. Invite an honest, sharp-eyed friend or family member to come along. Bring your accessories, too, so you can see the whole look. And then continue to schedule fittings until you are completely satisfied.

Then, at your leisure:

Bring your maid of honor to your final fitting to learn about the gown. Does it need bustling? Ask the salesperson to teach her how to do it. Does it have complicated straps or buttons? Make sure she knows how to work them. Also, find out how to banish last-minute wrinkles. Should you use an iron? On what setting? Is steaming a better option? And what if you spill something on the gown? Are there certain products you should or shouldn’t use? (Don’t be scared, be prepared!)

Even though all these steps are about making brides look their best, the whole thing sounds like a huge hassle involving driving around town over and over again. Um, much like many of the other aspects of wedding planning

So, if having to make oodles and oodles of decisions regarding the wedding and the reception is driving you batty, I invite you to take a look at this link, which may help you remember the beauty of having the freedom to choose.

As I’m usually apt to feature wedding gowns that are fairly reasonably priced (or at least of average price, insofar as anything proceeded by the word ‘wedding’ can be average), I thought I’d show you something nice and a bit more expensive. I looked at EBAY and some of the designer web sites, but while high-price gowns are easy to find, high-price gowns that are in some way distinctive are apparently in short supply. How many variations on strapless, princessy gowns can there possibly be? Answer: A lot.

So instead, here we have a Carmen Marc Valvo piece valued at $3,480 that looks rather like a nightgown. This ivory accordion-pleated style polyester gown features silver beading and sequins on a (very) sheer V neckline that looks like it is in danger of slipping below the model’s “vital zones.” For this reason, I doubt this empire-waist gown would work on a bustier bride.

Though the gown itself is quite pretty, I am tempted to ask the model if she’s forgotten to put on her overgown.