Whether the ceremony is scheduled for ten in the morning or five in the evening, there will be hustling and bustling before the big event. You and the bride will want to have your hair done and your makeup applied; the bridesmaids will arrive with excitement; and the men in your home will either flee or they'll hang around trying to be helpful, until you tell them it's time to get dressed for the ceremony. This is your moment to shine, Mom!

Hair Today

Depending on the length of her hair and the look she's going for, the bride may be able to do her own hair, or she may want a professional to handle the job for the ceremony. (It's advisable for most brides to leave their dos to someone who won't be a bundle of nerves on this particular day.) You'll probably want your hair done, too, so you'll either make an appointment for the same time as the bride (and perhaps the bridesmaids), or you might want to hire a stylist to come to the house. Obviously, the latter option is going to be more expensive.

Advise the bride to start working with her hairstylist at least four months before the wedding to try different hairdos. She should keep the style of her headpiece in mind, and she should take it along so the stylist can get a good idea of how the bride's hair needs to look. If the bride is going to the hair salon on the day of the wedding, she should absolutely bring her veil, and she should wear a shirt with buttons down the front, so that she won't ruin her hair in order to dress for her wedding.

You should keep the appearance of your dress in mind when choosing your own hairstyle for the wedding. If you're wearing a formal dress, have your hair done for the day. Nothing looks more peculiar than a head of casual hair atop a killer dress. If you took the time to find a gorgeous gown, complete your appearance with an appropriate hairstyle.

Put on a Happy Face

Makeup is sometimes an afterthought for brides and MOBs, and understandably so. After all, most women have a day-to-day makeup routine (which may include no makeup at all) that can vary according to the time of day or a particular event — but even so, most women have been dealing with makeup for many years. They don't see the need to bring in a cosmetologist for a wedding.

Maybe you know what looks best on you. Maybe you're almost a pro yourself. Just keep in mind that you and your daughter are going to be kissing people all day long; you're going to be rushing somewhere every minute of the day; you're going to be photographed over and over and over. However, this is a very special occasion. Go ahead and treat yourself to a professional beauty workup.

Start looking for a makeup artist several months before the wedding. If you don't know of any, ask your hairdresser if she can recommend someone. It's important for you to find someone who will get a sense of who you are — you don't want to end up looking like a showgirl if you're the more conservative type (or vice versa). You can also hit the cosmetics departments in the mall for free makeovers; if you like the products, buy them. If they don't look right on you at home, go back and ask how to apply them. Don't be pressured into buying products that aren't flattering, though, or that you know you won't use.