Wedding Spray Tan Tips

Hi! Kathryn here again talking about all things spray tan!

Since I specialize in wedding spray tans, I am often asked by my brides when to get a spray tan before their wedding. If they can wear makeup after a spray tan. And how to coordinate with their bridal makeup artist.

When you are getting married you have lots of reasons to look and feel your best. If you have a special occasion coming up such as your engagement photos, bachelorette party, or your wedding day and you are feeling a teensy bit pale, your best option is a spray tan. This lets you warm up your skin tone without overdoing it on the makeup and bronzer.

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Benefits of a Spray Tan Before Your Wedding

A spray tan will give you that perfect sun-kissed glow but it also:

• Makes your eyes and teeth appear brighter.
• Smooths your skin tone allowing your makeup artist to pick the best foundation.
• Helps your skin to look more youthful. The skin will appear softer and smoother and the color difference between your neck and face will be easier to blend.

All of this leads to looking amazing in your wedding photos!

When To Get A Spray Tan Before Your Wedding

If you are planning to get a spray tan for your wedding, schedule your bridal trial tan 2 days before your makeup trial so that your bridal makeup artist can match your foundation.

This gives you a complete look so that you are confident with all your color choices on your big day. This also allows you to feel comfortable with the whole spray tan process and you can practice the sunless tanning rules before your wedding day.

Getting your spray tan 2 days before your wedding allows the color to settle into the skin and it will make your day of wedding makeup go even smoother by having the correct foundation already picked out.

Here is my perfect schedule for when my brides should get their spray tans:

Friday weddings get your spray tan on Wednesday.

Saturday weddings get your spray tan on Thursday.

Sunday weddings get your spray tan on Friday.

Wedding Makeup After Your Spray Tan

The bridal makeup artists that I work with in Toledo, Ohio really love it when their brides come to visit me for their wedding spray tan. An expertly applied spray tan is the secret to smoothing out skin tones and creating an even palate before the wedding makeup.

Coordinate your bridal trial spray tan 2 days before your wedding makeup trial. This gives you the complete look and a good baseline in case you want to make any changes before the big day.

How To Do Makeup After A Spray Tan

Here are my top tips for wearing makeup after your spray tan:

Immediately after you have gotten your spray tan you have to let it develop for the recommended amount of time. During this time its best if you don’t put anything on your skin. But if you would like to wear a little makeup, don’t use any liquid foundations.  A powder mineral foundation, eyes, and lips are just fine.  Just remember you will NOT be washing your face before bed likely so make sure whatever you apply you are comfortable sleeping in.

How To Match Foundation After Spray Tan

Don’t get a spray tan then immediately go to get your foundation matched. This will leave streaks in your face and the makeup will be matched to the bronzer in the spray tan solution and not to your actual skin color after the spray tan has set in.

You also don’t want to get a spray tan and then use a super pale foundation that you were using on your previously ghostly face.

Once your spray tan has developed fully and you have showered the bronzer off, you can go and have your foundation matched by a professional makeup artist. This makes sure that your foundation matches your new TAN skin.

Keep your foundation lightweight.  A heavy matte foundation is going to look dull on your new bronzy skin.  Go with a BB Cream or a sheer transfer-resistant formula. Switching up your makeup to a light cream bronzer, and blush, eye shadows, and a dewy lip will complete the look.

Skin Care Tips Before Your Spray Tan

Your skin care can be the make it or break it for your spray tan! Things to keep in mind to make your glowing skin go that extra mile.

Before your spray tan exfoliate gently the night before your appointment.  If you can sneak a second exfoliating session in the week before your spray tan appointment even better!

Come to your appointment with clean dry skin.

Have all other beauty services done BEFORE your spray tan appointment.

Skin Care Tips After Your Spray Tan

After your spray tan is applied make sure to listen to the instructions you are given by your spray tan artist and do not allow yourself to use any skin care products with any kind of Salicylic Acid, Hydrogen Peroxide, or Alpha Hydroxy Acids as these ingredients can cause your sunless tan to fade prematurely or become uneven.

If you are looking for spray tan friendly body products and skincare for before your wedding spray tan then you might want to read my blog on what to wash with before and after your spray tan and look at my page on spray tan safe skincare products.

Conclusion

Having a spray tan from an experienced spray tan artist followed up with your professionally applied makeup is going to really make the difference in your wedding photos! Investing in your wedding beauty is going to show.  You are the star of the show and you should get to feel like it.  If you are contemplating a spray tan for your wedding or special occasion I 100% say do it!

Pro Tip: Don’t forget your lips! It is important to remember when you have a spray tan to wear a bit more color on your lips and stay away from nude lipstick. This is important for photos as you do not want your lips to fade into your skin color. Also, a pop of lip color will make your teeth appear even whiter!

There are other spray tan rules that you do want to stick to for a perfect outcome, but under your special occasion makeup, your tan will make you feel so much better giving you that extra oomph of confidence. Bonus Points for white teeth, bright eyes, and smooth skin….and perfect pictures!

Wedding Spray Tan Perrysburg, Ohio

If you are a bride in the Toledo area and are looking for your wedding spray tan artist, I would love to help! My spray tan studio is located in the town center of Levis Commons in Perrysburg, Ohio. Call or text with questions about my bridal spray tanning packages or to book your appointment 419-290-7027.

Photo Credits:

• Swatch Studios
• Lauren Mackenzie Photography

Hi, I’m Kathryn, the founder of SunSpray by Kathryn and a spray tan artist with 25+ years of real-world experience in the sunless tanning industry. I’ve spent decades perfecting the art of custom spray tanning — from everyday glow to advanced bridal and contour spray tanning — and for the last 7 years, I’ve worked directly in sunless product development and formulation, testing and refining professional products recommended by artists across the industry. I’m certified in spray tanning and have continuously trained in advanced techniques, and I bring both technical knowledge and hands-on experience into everything I teach and share. My goal is simple: to help clients feel confident in their skin and to support other artists with honest, experience-based education that actually works in the real world.