The most common bridal tan mistake isn't the color. It's the clock.

A spray tan needs 8 hours to develop and another 12 to settle. If you sit in the booth at 9am and walk down the aisle at 4pm, you are still developing. That's how you get patchy photos and a different color in the ceremony vs the reception.

The schedule that actually works

• 7–10 days out: trial tan. Same product, same artist, same skin. This is where we find your shade — not on the day.

• 24 hours out: the real tan. Done by late afternoon the day before. You sleep in it. You shower once in the morning. Then makeup, dress, photos.

• Morning of: nothing. No "quick touch-up." No self-tanner on your face. You will streak it.

If your wedding is outdoor and you're a sweater, we go a half-shade deeper on the trial and keep the event tan identical. Heat lifts color. Planning for that is the job.

That's the whole system. Timing first, shade second.