Why Your Fake Tan Matters More Than You Think on Your Wedding Day
When you’re planning your wedding, your focus is usually on the dress, the venue, the flowers, and (hopefully!) booking a great photographer. But there’s one small detail that can have a surprisingly big impact on your wedding photos: your fake tan.
Done well, a fake tan can give you a healthy glow and enhance your bridal look. Done poorly, it can lead to mismatched skin tones, an orange or patchy appearance, and (perhaps worst of all) make your groom look extremely pale by comparison.
Today, I’m diving deep into the realities of fake tan and wedding photography — and sharing what you need to know to look your best in your photos!
Keep It Natural, Keep It Beautiful
How Fake Tan Can Affect Wedding Photos
1. Uneven or Patchy Skin Tones
Poorly applied fake tan can result in uneven colour across your body. Ankles, elbows, wrists, and knuckles are especially tricky areas. In high-resolution wedding photos, every little detail is magnified — so patchy or streaky tan becomes much more noticeable.
Tip: Always have your tan professionally applied for your wedding, even if you usually do your tan yourself.
2. Orange or Overly Dark Skin Tones
Certain fake tan products can develop an unnatural orange tone, especially on fair skin. Others may come out too dark or muddy looking, depending on your natural undertone and the product formula.
Professional photographers edit for lighting, contrast, and tone — but they generally do not (and cannot) “repaint” skin tones. If the base tone is too orange or too dark, it’s extremely difficult to fix without making the photo look fake.
3. The Tanned Bride and the Pale Groom Problem
One of the most common (and most noticeable) fake tan issues in wedding photography is when the bride is beautifully bronzed… and the groom is left looking ghostly pale standing beside her.
When there’s a strong contrast between the couple’s skin tones, it’s very obvious in close-up portraits and ceremony shots. The groom can look washed out, almost blue-toned, compared to the warm, tanned bride. This difference can even throw off the overall colour balance of the photo.
Very often, when this contrast appears in wedding photos, people might mistakenly think it’s a problem with the photography or the editing. However, it’s important to understand that no amount of editing can fully balance two dramatically different skin tones without making the images look unnatural.
Tip: If you plan to get a fake tan, talk to your groom about getting a light, natural spray tan too — just enough to avoid that big contrast. It doesn’t need to be dark — just enough to warm up his natural skin tone.
I’m not saying don’t get a tan if you want that lovely bridal glow — just think twice about how strong the tan needs to be, especially if your groom is naturally quite pale. A little coordination goes a long way for your final photos!
4. Difficulties in Colour Correction and Editing
As a professional photographer, I can make general tweaks to colour tones across a photo. However, if one person’s skin is extremely tanned and the other’s is very pale, it’s hard to find a “middle ground” that looks natural for both.
Trying to “correct” a bad tan in post-production often leads to unnatural looking skin, loss of texture, or a “plastic” appearance — which no one wants in their wedding photos!
5. Tan Transfer on the Dress
Another thing to consider: fake tan can rub off onto your wedding dress, especially around the underarms, neckline, and inside of the gown. Stains can be very hard to remove, and may show in close-up shots or detail photos.
How to Make Sure Your Fake Tan Looks Perfect in Wedding Photos
1. Have a Professional Trial
Book a professional spray tan artist well in advance of your wedding. Have a trial tan done at least a month before the big day, ideally before your hair and makeup trial. This way you’ll see how the tan looks with your full bridal look.
Test how the tan wears over a few days. Does it stay even? Does it develop too dark? Does it photograph well in natural light? These are all important things to know beforehand!
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2. Choose the Right Shade
Ask your tanning specialist for a “bridal natural glow” or “medium bronze” look rather than a dark tan. Aim for a shade that’s about 1-2 shades darker than your natural skin tone — not more.
Natural is always better in wedding photography.
3. Prep Your Skin Properly
Flawless fake tan starts with great skin prep. A few tips:
- Exfoliate your whole body 24-48 hours before your appointment
- Shave or wax at least 24 hours before tanning
- Moisturise dry areas (like elbows, knees, ankles) well
4. Encourage the Groom to Get a Light Tan Too
If you’re going for a tan, talk to your groom about getting one as well! It doesn’t need to be dramatic — even a very light spray tan can make a big difference in balancing your skin tones in photos.
A professional salon can do a very natural tan for men that doesn’t look “fake” or “orange.” Most grooms are surprised how much better and healthier they look in photos after a light tanning session.
5. Book Your Tan well in advance
Your tan will look its best on day 2 or 3 — after it’s fully developed, but before it starts to fade. Avoid tanning the night before or the morning of the wedding, as it may still be developing or transferring onto your dress.
Common Fake Tan Mistakes to Avoid for Your Wedding
Using a New Product Right Before the Big Day
Don’t experiment with new tanning products a few days before your wedding! Always trial months ahead.
Choosing a Tan That’s Too Dark
Remember, your wedding day is not the time for a “holiday tan.” Softer, lighter tans always photograph better and age better in albums.
Forgetting Hands, Feet, and Neck
Your hands and feet will be in lots of detail shots (think rings, bouquet, dancing photos). Make sure your tan is even and natural-looking on these areas too.
Final Thoughts: Keep It Natural, Keep It Beautiful
Your wedding photos are memories that will last a lifetime. A perfect fake tan can enhance your bridal glow, but a rushed or uneven tan can leave you disappointed with how you look in your images.
Keep it simple: choose a soft, natural tone, test it well in advance, and encourage your groom to match your glow just a little bit. Your future selves (and your wedding album!) will thank you.
If you have any questions about how your beauty prep can impact your wedding photos, don’t hesitate to reach out — I’m always happy to offer advice to help you get the wedding gallery of your dreams!
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