Nope. This is not an advice post or me trying to wax lyrical about my experience as a bride…..it’s about your Pearly Whites.

*Cheryl, Cameron and Jessica – flashing their enviable pearls.

Yup that’s right TEETH.

Those essential eating implements that along with your luscious lips create what can be the perfect W-day smile.

Only thing is, there’s a lot of folks out there who don’t look after them, don’t know how to and are even afraid to actually visit the dentist.

Now personally I’ve never been afraid to visit he who wears a lab coat and wields a big scary looking drill, not in the slightest.

And why I hear you ask?

Because he’s my Dad.

Yup that’s right – Daddio is a tooth expert.

And as a result ever since I was just a wee girl I have been OBSESSED with having a perfect set.

Here lies the problem then. Because ironically I was not blessed with anything like Hollywood knashers -I suffered from a small jaw and subsequent over-crowding.

As it happens I don’t think to have lovely teeth you have to necessarily have perfectly straight teeth, a little cross-over here…. a little gap there….. can look cute and kooky. And more importantly look like YOU, I’m certainly not about to get on my soapbox and recommend we all should look like identikit versions of the cast from The Hills.

What I do think is important though is that your teeth are clean, well looked after, not discoloured and you are confident enough to flash them to the world come the Big Day.

General Maintenance

1) Invest in a decent toothbrush and clean for 2 minutes twice a day EVERY day. I use an electric version – (Philips Sonicare) that produces a deep clean and actually times the 120 seconds for you. Every dentist worth his salt will tell you electric is best. Well worth the investment.

2) Floss. This drives me mad – why don’t people floss?! Urgh. There is no other way to remove those tiny morsels of left over cake/biscuit/chinese take-away than to use the appropriate flossing action. EVERY DAY PEOPLE. I use the Oral B satin tape as it has a nice minty aroma.

3) Avoiding the nasties. I’m not going to drone on about the obvious here but just in case anyone has forgotten:

Smoking – Kills. Makes your skin wrinkly and your teeth yellow. Why on earth would you bother?

Red Wine/Coffee/Tea – Should be consumed in moderation as lends a distinctive grey tinge to your grin.

Fruit Juice – Again in moderation, the acidity erodes the delicate enamel and causes that weird “see through” not-so-good look.

Excessive sugar – I don’t really think I have to explain. Remember the milk tooth in a glass of cola trick at high school? Yup – it dissolved it. Bleugh.

Bleaching

I like white teeth. It’s as simple as that. They make you look younger, healthier and prettier. Fact.

Not saying we should all aim for a Simon Cowell-esque bright blue glow but as the majority would agree, brighter + whiter = better.

There are two main methods for bleaching, laser and trays.

I prefer the latter as does my Dad and pretty much all of his colleagues, the results seem to be more uniform, last longer and have less sensitivity related side effects.

Laser is still effective of course and certainly the option if you are looking for 24 hour results.

Trays are essentially plastic moulds of your teeth that are fitted by your dentist, you then wear them filled with a peroxide gel from 2 – 4 weeks preferably overnight. More common is the 16% strength version gel that gives quicker results however for sensitive souls ( including yours truly) you can also request a 10% which is far gentler.

If you are considering pearlier whites please PLEASE consult a qualified dental practitioner and ask for recommendations.

Straightening

Ok so here’s the deal. You can have all sorts of veneers to mask an unsightly smile – a lot of celebville certainly do. However they are costly and can be incredibly high maintenance. They also are not guaranteed to last forever and can lead to gum recession. You also have to really investigate the options and what/which dentist will work for you. I have witnessed several horrendous tombstone numbers and I wondered if the individuals in question actually looked better before. Quite possibly I’m betting.

However a great option if:

a) You can afford it and b) the idea of braces fills you with dread.

Which brings me onto of course exactly that – braces.

My wisdom teeth grew through at 19. As a result by the time I was 21 I was the owner of an unattractive shade of too-much-builders-tea off-white wonky ( and not in an endearing way) smile. I was unhappy. I didn’t dare laugh in photo’s. Bottom line? – I wanted them fixed.

My Dad is a dentist not an orthodontist so braces from him were not an option, instead I was sent away to a qualified straightening specialist and 18 months and 2 train tracks later I was the proud owner of some near-perfect teeth.

Afterwards I used bleaching trays for 2-3 weeks to make them extra sparkly.

Only thing is I didn’t wear my retainers properly. ( I know I know – after all that I was a complete div) and after I was engaged ( and became fanatical about my soon-to-be-bridal appearance) noticed that they were not as straight as they once were. I wanted to be a super smiley bride but I didn’t want a mouth full of metal at 27 years of age to achieve it, as I imagine none of you gorgeous lot would either.

So what to do?

Well I went to visit recommended orthodontist Alan Coley-Smith who presented various non-Ugly-Betty type options.

Firstly Invisalign which works on you wearing almost invisible moulds every day for at least 20 hours that get changed every fortnight – they gradually straighten teeth without looking unsightly during the process. Apparently Cheryl Cole ( or is it Tweedy now?) used this method for her own X-Factor worthy pearls.

Secondly “lingual” braces which are essentially quite similar to the more common type of metal bracket appliance but is fitted to the back of your teeth thus preventing you or anyone else being able to actually see it. Genius.

I took the second option – I just knew I wouldn’t have the willpower to not remove the invisalign if I could for any “special occasion” or “fancy dinner” so solely for that reason it was ruled out.

I wore lingual braces for 12 months and had them removed 6 months before the wedding. I now wear a permanent fine wired retainer on both my upper and lower jaw. I honestly forget it’s even there.

I must point out that neither method is cheap – expect to pay from £3000 to £6000 dependent on length/degree of treatment. What I will say though is it must be viewed as an investment. If you look after them well your teeth should last forever. I’m not sure about any of you but I have absolutely NO intention of becoming a gummy granny

I guess what the point of this post is, is not be afraid. Dentist’s aren’t scary. Honestly.

And no amount of super sexy lip gloss or catwalk-worthy hair or knock-’em dead dress is going to take away from the fact that you don’t feel confident cheshire cat-ing it in your wedding photo’s.

It’s supposed to be the happiest day of your life right?

Big Smiley Happy Love

Charlotte xxx

P.S I realise this became rather epic. Please feel free to comment if you have any queries on my own personal experience with braces/bleaching…..

… Sunscreen would be it.

Remember that song? It might not have been Novello quality music, but he sure had a point. We all love the Sun. Particularly when it shines in the UK, like it has a lot recently. But nobody like wrinkles. And thats getting off lightly, there’s still Skin Cancer to dodge.

Charlotte has already said her piece on being Sun Safe, but you know what, it can’t be said enough. We’ve both had nasty experiences with Sun damage and even Skin Cancer, Charlotte having a Melanoma herself, and me losing my Dad to the horrible disease at 13. He was 46 and that could be you. The sun is not lovely, it is harsh and damaging and ruins your skin. So listen up people. We’re not into scaremongering, but sometimes a little shock is what you need to wake up to the truth and I make no apologies for this post potentially being it.

Lecture over, we’re here to share our favourite sunscreens for your holidays/honeymoon this summer. In fact you should be rocking some SPF every sunny day here in the UK. Why do people think it’s ok to wear none because it’s England and end up like a lobster? Plus, remember ladies, no-one wants strap marks in their lovely strapless dress come W-day!

My own personal rules are nothing less than factor 25. That means you are protected in the sun for 25 x longer than you would be wearing no sunscreen. So if you would burn in 5 minutes flat, you’re looking at a maximum of 2 hours in the sun. And after that, it doesn’t start again if you re-apply. Thats ’seek shade’ time, I’m afraid.

If I’m going away somewhere hot I might start with Factor 35 or 40 for the first few days and wean down. But… never less than 25!

And if I’m in the UK? Yup… you guessed it, NEVER LESS THAN 25!

More rules? Stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm. Have a siesta with your intended, read a book in the shade or have a leisurely lunch. Just don’t lie there like an idiot sizzling.

Before we get onto our top picks I should add, that whilst Charlotte’s skin tone is more the pale and interesting variety, I am not the burn-fast type, being quite olive skinned and turning a very golden brown in the sun. I don’t choose these high Spfs to prevent me burning alone, but to protect myself and my skin for the future.

Rebecca’s Top Sunscreen Picks

1. Ambre Solaire SPF 30 a light weight milk formula which rubs in easily and smells lush. £11.99 for 200ml and currently BOGOF in Boots!

3. Clinique Sun Protection Face cream SPF 30 £15.00 for 50ml I use this for bog standard, on the beach with no make-up. Also available in oil-free format.

Charlotte’s Top Sunscreen picks

1. For the Face, No.7 SPF 50 face with skin brightening complex which protects against hyper-pigmentation (dark spots) and the dreaded wrinkles! £10.50 for 50ml.

3. L’Oreal Solar Expertise SPF 25 – light formulas and lovely smells, plus they absorb pretty well and avoid the white-and-shiny look. £10.77 for 150mls.

So there you have it, no excuse not to stay sun safe this year on honeymoon, on the beach, and most importantly AT HOME! All of the above top picks are available from your local Boots.

And now after sharing my favourites I have a plea for the Rock My Wedding readership. Does anyone have a sun cream to recommend that doesn’t stain white clothes yellow? I love wearing white in the summer (and lets face it, it’s nigh on essential when you’re the bride/newlywed , ) but I hate sun cream leaving marks on my clothes.

Any tips would be much appreciated!

Yours Truly,

Rebecca
xoxo

So… as we all have now seen Charlotte’s Cool Britannia Birthday Party, you also will have seen my choice of lipstick… Racy Red.

I’ve never worn a Red lip before, although often admired it on others and I have in the past worn a bright Fuschia as an alternative, but I thought, after Jenny’s fabulous tutorial on Pip Up Sexy make-up I’d try and make a bit of a siren of myself . Of course the beauty finds didn’t stop there and I now have a few bits and pieces to share with you….

Disclaimer: RMW accepts no responsibility for the impact on your wallet!

Giving it some Lip

As an only occasional wearer of lipstick I tend to veer towards the more expensive brands as a treat and I actually started looking for this little beauty in the airport lounge before skiing with Charlotte. We found a particularly fetching pillar box red from YSL which was what I was looking for but it just wasn’t quite right and the consensus was that it needed to be matt to look modern.

After putting my thinking cap on, the Lipstick Queen range, by Poppy King sprang to mind. Lipstick Queen is stocked at Space NK, so off I trotted to get me some siren style.

Poppy has had one particularly genius idea amongst a treasure trove of lip products… (If you are a fan of lipstick, in whatever shade, and haven’t checked out her range yet, you definitely should!) Her range of lipsticks come in two formulas, either matt or glossy, both with exactly the same shades making them super wearable, even if you’re a bit scared to go full on, all out red. Aptly named ‘Sinners’ and with an unheard of 90% pigment, the matt shades are fierce, but if you want to keep it light and sweet try the Saints line with only 10% pigment and a shiny finish. Needless to say, I bought Red Sinner…

Also amongst the range are Chinatown Gloss pencils shown above, Pop art and Illusion glosses for fun colour and fuller lips, Shine Glosses for full on Studio 57 style super super gloss effect and the Butterfly Ball range with blue pigment to make your teeth appear whiter.

Orgasm gets bigger…

Everybody has heard about the cult beauty product from Nars, the original The Multiple shade, Orgasm. A multi-use highlighter stick intended to give you that certain ‘Oh My!’ flush, the subtle peachy-pink shade with shimmer became a beauty phenomenon not just due to the product but also the controversial name.

And it would appear that all those steamy nights lead to a whole Orgasm family…

Aside from the original Multiple stick, there has for a while been a blusher, gloss and nail varnish, but this month sees the launch of the Orgasm Illuminator (£21.00). Use it how you like, mixed with foundation, under your foundation or just on your favourite bits as a highlighter, I’m thinking Orgasm is one honeymoon essential no Bride can be without!

Pump those Lashes

I don’t know if I’m getting older *sigh*, or just not on top of my game in the mascara stakes but I do dwell on my lashes. For a while now I’ve been considering trying some of the new lash serums that claim to promote extra lash growth, thickness and length. So while I was in Space NK trying out my lipsticks I was very curious about the new lash product tempting me by the till…

And the product in question? Enormous Lash by Beauty Society. At a hefty £75.00 it’s not a cheap option but compares favourably to quality lash extensions and if it lives up to the hype, could be a product worth the investment for W-day. It claims to give results in 40-60 days but some see improvements at only 21, so it’s not too late to try this serum…..apply like a liquid liner at night, along the lash line.

A less expensive option also at Space NK is the Lipocils Eyelash conditioning gel by Talika. Claiming to be a wonder product for eye lashes, it’s a more budget friendly £20.00 and I think for that price might be something I would be willing to try.

And for those budget beauties amongst you L’Oreal have brought out a lash serum too that might be worth a try. I have to admit to purchasing this but I’m very bad at using it regularly so don’t really feel I can give an honest review… can you?

Have you used any of these products or fancy making an investment now you have seen them? Drop us a comment – I’d love to hear if the lash serums are worth it!

Yours Truly,

Rebecca
xoxo

I’m not sure about you guys but I was so focused on my wedding in the months leading up to the Big Day that my “minimoon” wardrobe took a total back seat. Consequently I then spent the last few weeks of the run up (when I should of been relaxing and being pampered) doing last minute panic shopping and stressing that I had spent so much time worrying how I was going to look hot for one day…..that I had failed to invest in looking hot for the whole of the following week.

Dramarama.

I wanted to look bride sexy on W-day – But I wanted to look equally as bond girl beach sexy too darn it.

And where do you go to get the most figure flattering and diverse range of swimwear?

Why Figleaves of course……

And my favourite brand for bikini perfection?

Seafolly.

Because it rocks.

Period.

The Mandalay Bikini with a bust enhancing halter top and leg lengthening hipster string tie briefs.

The Stardust Bikini with padded twist bandeau for minimal tan lines and a strip of glittery silver for oh-so-glamorous types.

The Goddess bikini….Um with a name like do I need to actually say anything? Ok one thing -Ursula Andress eat your heart out Pet.

All available from Seafolly at Figleaves.

And if you don’t fancy bearing your midriff but still want to retain pool side cool then look no further than a figure flattering, sophisticated and striking one piece in black:

The Bora Bora halter neck swimsuit with moulded foam cups ( super shape enhancing) and a good rear coverage, from O Beach.

The Goddess swimsuit by Seafolly. Much like the bikini in its ultimate gorgeousness only with very fashion forward Asymetric strap detail.

The Hollywood by Vitamin A, divine on smaller chested ladies and comes with removable pads and tummy flattening ruching.

All available at www.figleaves.com as before.

Please let us know what you have in mind for your Sex Bomb just-turned-wife self….

Big Bond Girl Bikini Love

Charlotte xxx

Now if you have not already seen this to-die-for it’s so darn sexy vintage boudoir shoot with Kat Williams from Rock n Roll Bride then you are in for a real treat.

Photographed by the extraordinarily talented Julia Boggio these images are some of the most unique, kitsch and down right super cool I have ever seen.

Seriously.

Be prepared.

For EXTREME rock n roll hotness……

How much do you love?

How much do you want one?

We so blo*dy do!!!

For the rest of the images go take a look at Kat’s blog here and to go book your sexy session and for further details just visit www.juliaboggiostudios.com and select “Vintage Boudoir”

Go on, you know you want to.

Big Boudoir Love

Charlotte xxx

P.s Come back later to find out how you can recreate the perfect 50’s pin up make-up……

No this is not some clever ambiguous title.

I am infact talking about boobs…..because lets face it folks, as far as W-day goes it’s not just what dress that matters it’s how well that dress FITS YOU.

The first thing I noticed when I booked my first appointment with Quello in Kenilworth ( which would eventually become the boutique of the “one”)…was the abundance of “thank you” cards from ecstatic brides.

Many of said brides also sent pictures of themselves in their gowns on their Big Day, all had completely different shapes and heights and there were many style of dress between them.

And do you know what? They all fitted like a glove.

Every single last one.

I don’t know about you but I have heard ( and witnessed) some absolute horror stories where frankly I could have wept for these gorgeous lovely brides….

1) An amazing silky fishtail that was ignored because a huge cleavage spillage ( I’m talking nips and everything here people) was constantly taking centre stage.

2) A huge satin extravaganza where the corset was so tight not only could the poor love not breathe but her 34 D’s were made to look like an odd shaped shelf.

3) And finally a frothy cinderella dream where the corset was so loose there was absolutely zero support and not only did it look well…..too big……but her chicken fillets were also on show for most of the day.

No Really.

They were.

In all the photo’s and everything.

You see it doesn’t matter how darn beautiful your gown is, if it doesn’t flatter your curves and in particular the bust area it’s going to feel uncomfortable all day.

And who wants to feel uncomfortable on what will be one of the biggest days of your life?

Make sure whoever is responsible for your alterations that they fit it to PERFECTION. Don’t take any boll*x about them being too busy or you being able to“slim into it”. This is your big moment ladies, the most hotter than hot you are ever likely to feel so make the most of it and MAKE IT FIT.

I was the biggest Bridezilla nightmare when it came to achieving the perfect cleavage on W-day. I wanted enough to be feminine and sexy but not so much I looked like I may as well have donned a skimpy white bikini and got wed a la Pamela Anderson.

And not once did the girls at Quello moan, or tell me I couldn’t have what I wanted. To the point where they ended up cutting up my beloved La Senza nude bra and sewing it INTO the actual dress so I could achieve the look I was after.

( Erm which was me in my beloved La Senza bra in a dress where you were not supposed to actually wear a bra)

No mean feat.

And as a little extra bit of asset enhancement here are the products that the RMW Team rate:

( oh except Adam obviously )

From left:

Clarins Bust Lifting Gel – not sure how it works but it does and it smells DIVINE.
Soap and Glory Glowtion – for an all over shimmer to subtly highlight your décolleté
MAC Mineralize Skin Finish – In a variety of pearly shades to add shading and contour in all the right places.

Unsurprisingly Mr Contra and Mr O’Shea were most interested when we announced we were writing this post…..

Men eh?

Please tell us all of your asset enhancing tricks and any fabulous bra’s that we should be investing in!

Big ‘D’ Love

Charlotte xxx