The spray tan timeline that avoids the orange-in-photos disaster

Spray tans need time to settle and develop into their final shade, which is exactly what a lot of brides don't give them, booking one the day before the wedding and ending up with a color that reads far darker in photos than it looked in the mirror that evening.

The timeline that works

• Exfoliate and moisturize daily for a week before your appointment
• Book the tan two to three days before the wedding, not the night before
• Do a full trial spray tan a few weeks earlier to confirm the shade and check for streaking
• Avoid deodorant, makeup, and tight clothing immediately after application

Why two to three days, not one

Spray tans continue to develop and settle into skin for 24 to 48 hours after application. A tan applied the day before will still be developing on the wedding morning itself, which is exactly when you don't want any surprises.