Like any bride, I wanted to look and feel my absolute best on my wedding day. Andrew proposed to me in April after eight months of dating, and we quickly set a wedding date just six months out. Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of finding “the one” and getting married. After the heartache I experienced in a past relationship, meeting Andrew and getting engaged truly felt like a dream come true.

As the big day approached, I became more intentional about my wedding prep — hitting the gym more regularly, cutting out alcohol, drinking more water, taking collagen, and more. But along with the lifestyle changes, I also had a long list of beauty treatments I wanted to explore. In this blog post, I’m excited to share the full rundown of my wedding beauty prep!

Before I dive in, I want to acknowledge that none of these treatments were necessary, and I don’t believe any bride needs to go all out like this. Some of these services were things I’d done before, while others had been on my wish list — and what better excuse to try them than my wedding? I also want to be transparent and share that I partnered with all of these businesses, so I didn’t pay out of pocket for the treatments. While it does take some effort on my part, it’s a wonderful way to support local businesses and give you all the inside scoop on services you might be curious about for your own special events.

Karma Aesthetics | Micro-needling, Chemical Peel, & Oxygen Facial

One of the key parts of my wedding beauty prep was working with Karma Aesthetics & Wellness. They created a customized four-step treatment plan tailored to my skin goals, which included PRP SkinPen Microneedling, a chemical peel, traditional microneedling (without plasma), and an ultra-hydrating oxygen facial. Each step left my skin feeling smoother, brighter, and more radiant leading up to the big day. I also visited Karma for Botox and a brow lamination — both of which gave me that polished, fresh look I was hoping for. The team at Karma is incredibly knowledgeable and welcoming, and I’m so grateful to have had them as part of my bridal beauty journey.

PRP SkinPen Microneedling

PRP SkinPen Microneedling was one of the most impactful treatments I did. Using my own plasma, drawn from a quick blood draw, they applied it topically after microneedling to help boost collagen production and speed up healing. The plasma is rich in growth factors, which helped my skin heal faster than I expected — I had minimal redness and was glowing within a couple of days. It was the perfect treatment to refresh and rejuvenate my skin before the wedding!

Day 2 Vs. Day 3 After SkinPen PRP

Chemical Peel

The chemical peel was one treatment I had never tried before, and to be honest, it was the most intense part of my beauty prep. Karma Aesthetics applied about three layers during the session, stopping once my skin began to “frost” — which is the point you shouldn’t go past. While the benefits were absolutely worth it (smoother texture, faded dark spots, and a brighter overall complexion), the process was a little rough for me. The itching lasted for about three days, and the peeling continued for a full week. It definitely required some patience, but once my skin fully healed, the results were amazing!

Day 2 Vs. Day 3 After Chemical Peel

Microneedling

For the third step, we did another round of microneedling — this time without the plasma — but went much deeper than the PRP session. I had felt like the first treatment was a bit too surface-level, so we really targeted texture and deeper imperfections this time around. The healing process was definitely more intense, with increased redness and sensitivity, but it paid off in the long run. Throughout all of these treatments, I used the Hydrinity Active Mist and RA serum, which made a huge difference in calming my skin and speeding up recovery — truly worth every drop!

Day 2 Vs. Day 5 After Microneedling

Oxygen Facial

The final step in my treatment plan was the oxygen facial, and it was by far the most relaxing! This treatment delivered a boost of hydration, plumped up my skin, and gave me an instant glow — all with zero downtime. It was the perfect finishing touch leading up to the wedding, especially after the more intense treatments, and left my skin looking fresh, dewy, and camera-ready.

Bonita Aesthetics | Lip Filler

Another step in my wedding beauty prep was visiting Bonita Aesthetics for a lip filler touch-up, since it had been about three years since my last treatment. Jordane was incredibly kind, patient, and knowledgeable — she took the time to really listen to what I wanted and made sure I felt completely comfortable throughout the process. I absolutely love the results; my lips look refreshed and subtly enhanced, without feeling overdone. If you appreciate a more natural look when it comes to filler and Botox, I highly recommend seeing Jordane!

Before & After

The Pretty House Beauty Lounge | Lip Blushing

I finally decided to try lip blushing at The Pretty House Beauty Lounge, and I’m so glad I did! Lip blushing is a form of semi-permanent makeup that enhances the natural color and shape of your lips, and it was something I’d been considering for years. My lips naturally lack pigment, especially along the vermillion line, so I often relied on lip liner to define them — but I really wanted a more effortless, low-maintenance option. The healing process was definitely a bit rough, with noticeable swelling for the first day or two and some peeling afterward, but the results were 100% worth it. Bri, the owner and one of the permanent makeup artists, is incredibly skilled and took so much care in choosing a color that would look soft and natural on me. She made the whole process feel comfortable and personalized. The Pretty House also offers a wide range of other beauty services, and I can’t recommend them enough!

Elevate Grace | Hair Makeover

One of the most special parts of my wedding prep was getting my hair done at Elevate Grace. This was my first time visiting her new solo salon location at The Dale Beauty Spa in Scottsdale. It felt like a full-circle moment — she first started doing my hair when I was still pregnant with Sage, just before Andrew moved down here, and now here we were, getting my hair ready for my wedding day. She is truly the sweetest and someone I fully trust with both my cut and color. Whether I’m going for something subtle or a little more bold, she always nails it and makes me feel so confident walking out of the salon. I couldn’t have imagined anyone else getting my hair wedding-ready!

The Now Massage | Lymphatic Drainage Massage

To wind down in the final stretch before the wedding, I treated myself to a relaxing massage at The NOW Massage in Chandler — and it was exactly what I needed. The space itself is absolutely beautiful, with a modern, boho aesthetic and these chic, tent-like treatment rooms that make the entire experience feel extra special. I had the massage therapist focus on the tension in my back, which had definitely built up from all the wedding stress, and for the second half of the session, we incorporated gua sha for lymphatic drainage — something I’d been curious about for a while. It was the perfect mix of therapeutic and calming, and such a great way to slow down and be present before the big day.

My wedding beauty prep was truly a journey, from the tailored treatments at Karma Aesthetics & Wellness to refreshing my lips with Jordane at Bonita Aesthetics and getting lip blushing with Bri at The Pretty House Beauty Lounge. Elevate Grace perfected my hair, bringing years of special moments full circle, and The NOW Massage helped me relax and unwind before the big day. Each step made me feel more confident and radiant, and I hope my experience inspires you—whether for your wedding or just some self-care.