To tan or not to tan....

skeppler1

So I am pretty fair skinned and I don't want to look too ghostly next to my husband to be so I have been thinking of tanning before our wedding in August.  I have never done a spray tan and only did booth tans back in high school.  Not sure which route to take to have it look the most natural.  I don't want any tan lines for my strapless dress. I live in Farmers Branch and not sure where the best place would be to go.  Also when I should start so I look my best.
Anyone have any suggestions?

juliebug1997

I have done the spray tan a couple of times and I liked it.  A few things to consider:

--don't go too dark because you would have to scrub really hard with a pumice.
--wear clothes you don't care about when you leave because you will be "tacky" for a while. 

Some girls have done an airbrush tan and have really liked it but I don't know the cost comparison between the two.

jenngb

I have tried the spray tan and liked it. You have time to go ahead and try a spray tan now and see how you like it. You may want to try with the lighter shade first and then go from there. I used a place in Carrollton close to Lewisville. A lot of places have special buy 2 get 2 free!
Where are you having your reception? I LOVE the picture with all pink lighting.

FebDallasBride

I MysticTan quite often, and love it. Honestly, if you go by a Palm Beach Tan, try out the "glow" option - it doesn't look fake, but gives a nice healthy like color to you. That's what I do instead of going for the light which makes me orange.

Be sure to scrub good before spray tanning - I do a sugar scrub on my body and shave my legs about an hour before I go in.

professorscience

I am very fair-skinned as well.  Fortunately, my husband is too, (but after he worked in Saudi Arabia for three months, he looked pretty dark).  I did a spray tan just to sort of even up (I have a major farmer's tan) and it looked great.  I got a groupon to Planet Beach in Uptown and used that.  I would check stuff like Living Social and Groupon -- just be careful, they sell those spaces fast.  They were really nice and worked me in because I called and cried that my wedding was only a few days away.

fallbride1109

I did a spray tan for my wedding (since I had done several before) but I usually recommend airbrushing (where a person sprays you) over spray tanning.  Either way, you will want to have a trial before the wedding to make sure you like the color (and if you do a spray tan, they do take practice).  I got the lightest color and it did cover my tan lines--but I had been letting them fade for a few months prior.  The easiest way to avoid tan lines is to stay out of the sun so I recommend staying out of the sun as much as possible this summer until your wedding (and using sunscreen and a cover up when you are in the sun). A spray tan will not cover heavy tan lines and still look natural.

I would never recommend a tanning bed to anyone anytime.

winechic25

I did an airbrush tan and used some Groupons at a place in Southlake called Smart Bronze. Like everyone has said, I bought enough that I could use a few times to figure out if I liked it, and how many days before the wedding I needed to do it. And I loved it. But, like Stephie haid, I was extremely cautious in the sun all summer. I bought a bathing suit top that went straight across and wore tons of sunscreen on my chest even when I was just out and about since I wear so many v-necks. Good luck!

skeppler1

I am getting married at the Piazza in the Village in Colleyville. Thanks for all the info, I will definately try it out first.  Another question, will it rub off on my dress at all and how long do they usually last?

professorscience

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_tan-not-tan?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:fcc6b020-390d-4e3d-9469-cb808dd49cabPost:29cbd8dc-fdc4-409a-bb4d-2fbcc5cdc9a6">Re: To tan or not to tan....</a>:
[QUOTE]I am getting married at the Piazza in the Village in Colleyville. Thanks for all the info, I will definately try it out first.  Another question, will it rub off on my dress at all and how long do they usually last?
Posted by skeppler1[/QUOTE]

I think the time they last varies depending on where you go.  Mine lasted two weeks.

If you do it enough in advance, it shouldn't rub off on your dress.  Just don't schedule your appointment for the day of or the day before.

fallbride1109

Mine never last more than a week, if that.  I got mine done the Thursday before my Saturday wedding.  Another good reason for a trial.

slaketahoebride

Mine always starts to look spotted after a week or so. Definitely do a trial!

Hannah0320

I'm getting married there too!!!:) Such a beautiful chapel!!

christie051690

If you exfoliate and shave before you it'll last longer. I'm super fair skinned & I use a combination of the base & high level beds at palm beach tan & my tan is awesome! The ppl there really know what they're talking about, they get trained so much its amazing! If you tell them you have no idea they're def willing to help! They told me the VersaSpa (spray tan) is best for lighter skin...I get it & have them chose which level is the best regarding color & bronze. Just make sure you're prepared with your shower before hand, wear loose clothing, and make sure you're dried off before you leave!! The "moisture lock" option is good for helping it last, your spray tan will wear off & looks kinda scaley eventually but this prolongs it! I would go with the girl above, if you're getting married Sat, do it Thursday evening, don't shower after shower on Friday to get the excess off (your water will be brown)...& shave & shower again on Saturday! It'll look perfect & won't rub off on your dress (even if it does it'll only be at like tight sweaty places & will wash off!) But I don't use my loofa after spray tans cus it scrubs off the color. Go to Palm Beach Tan in Carrollton on Trinity Mills and Marsh, it'll cost about $40 & they have specials all the time, buy 3 for the price of 2, that way you can experiment!!

pumpkin32311

My FI does real estate for a large tanning chain in DFW and has worked for them for 10 years. I have also worked for them and STRONGLY recommend doing a trial before the wedding. I can give you the break down of the different types, levels, and preparation techniques. Also how many tiimes to do it and average time each one lasts. It is kind of overwhelming at first becuase there are so many combos, but if you want I would be happy to go over the specifics with you! Just PM me! 

skeppler1

The chapel is AMAZING!!....
Thanks girls, I am definitely looking into a trial run....don'ot need anything to go wrong that I can help

FebDallasBride

Speaking of tanning, there was a groupon (Ft Worth) for spray tanning in Southlake.

Jen6862

I did an airbrush tan and loved it. You need to do it at least 48 hours before your wedding. Too early and you will look orange, too late and you will be splotchy.

It will slightly rub off on the inside of the dress anywhere it is tight, but mine came out when I dry cleaned the dress. It did not show up on the outside at all.

I recommend doing a trial 48 hours before your make-up trial. That way your make-up artist can plan for you to be tan.