Pale Bride Advice/Reassurance Required!

tlchimera

Hi guys,

I just wondered if any of you had any miraculous ideas to help me feel less self-conscious?

I am very, very pale. I have a condition which means I feel very ill exposed to sunlight, so purposely choose not to tan/spend time outdoors so that I am well enough to function!

I noticed when I was trying on wedding dresses (ivory) that all my veins looked incredibly blue and were very visible. I never wear light colours so I wasn't aware that the blue of my veins would be the brightest colour of my entire ensemble! I have them across my neck and breasts and on the flabbier bits of my upper arms. I feel very self-conscious about them now I've noticed them - I don't want people to notice them rather than my dress (which is certainly how I reacted!)

I don't like fake tan and it's not something I want to wear, as I want to look like I do normally (just prettier!) rather than somebody completely different. Does anybody have any ideas of a way to tone down the colour of my veins? (Yes, as I type this I realise what a ridiculous question it is.) Would airbrush make up work? Will my veil disguise it a bit?

Equally I don't really like little shrugs or boleros, and when I've tried dresses with high necks or sleeves they really haven't suited me (which I was devastated over - I really wanted a dress with sleeves originally!)

I really don't know what to do. It has made me feel very down about myself and put me off going dress shopping, because I know when I look at myself in the mirror they'll be the first thing I see because they're now in my head. Thank you for any help you can give.

fed_up_and_stressed

Have you thought about using a concealer type product something like dermablend ?

Something like this perhaps http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rio-Camouflage-Tattoo-Concealer-Make-up/dp/B000R567W8

tlchimera

fed_up_and_stressed wrote: »

Have you thought about using a concealer type product something like dermablend ?

Would that work? If so that's excellent, thank you!

74jax

I am really pale, not the nice English white, Pugh no, but red and blue and grey... Seriously I am...

Hubby is the outdoors type and always brown.

At out wedding there's a photo of me, hubby and our moh, they both look stunning, I just look washed out.

But it's me, I didn't mind, I couldn't fake it as too pale,

You can play with photos afterwards if you want, make up wise if sick to pale and not try to colour you up.

Mrs_Soup

Would a different colour dress eg proper white rather than ivory work better for you, or a coloured dress - I wore red for my wedding, nothing to say it has to be a pale colour if that doesn't suit you.

fed_up_and_stressed

tlchimera wrote: »

Would that work? If so that's excellent, thank you!

Some of that type of stuff works on tattoos /birth marks/scar tissue so it should cover your veins easily.

tlchimera

Mrs_Soup wrote: »

Would a different colour dress eg proper white rather than ivory work better for you, or a coloured dress - I wore red for my wedding, nothing to say it has to be a pale colour if that doesn't suit you.

I was quite tempted by a coloured dress but both OH and my mother were very much against it. Having tried dresses on, I generally like the pale colours. I tried on Amalfi by Ian Stuart which has a gorgeous platinum bodice, but sadly it's far above my budget!

Thank you very much for all the ideas and advice, guys. (74jax, we seem to have a shared heritage - blue, red and grey describes me absolutely - and don't forget generally translucent!)

Si_Clist

Speaking as a retired professional wedding photographer, I'd advise you to speak to your photographer about your concerns. Two main reasons: one is that to a large extent he or she can, at the time of taking the pictures, minimise the effect you're concerned about and also minimise your time in the sun.

The other thing is that if you're thinking of covering up/reducing the effect by makeup, it's almost inevitable that it's going to wear off here and there as the day goes on, so it's possible that more than the usual degree of skill with Photoshop will be called for.

ATEOTD though, it's all a balance between you as you are (and as your bloke loves you), and you as you'd perhaps sometimes prefer to be ...

Bean83

I'm another pale bride who has been pondering this problem! I have used fake tan in the past but, like you, I don't want to randomly turn up on my wedding day looking a totally different colour!


I wonder if you could try one of the gradual tan moisturisers; they add just a tiny bit of colour and might just be enough without making you look too orange


I use this one and find it gives me just a hint of colour so I don't look so transparent in bright sunlight:
http://www.garnier.co.uk/body-care/beauty/garnier/bodysummer?gclid=COa_2e6Zkr8CFfMZtAodZToAaQ


You would just need to start using it a couple of days before the wedding to add a subtle glow.

minerva_windsong

fed_up_and_stressed wrote: »

Have you thought about using a concealer type product something like dermablend ?

Something like this perhaps http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rio-Camouflage-Tattoo-Concealer-Make-up/dp/B000R567W8

MAC Face and Body Foundation might work as well - it's not too heavy but very buildable in terms of coverage.


Otherwise, is it worth looking at different coloured dresses? You might find you look better in white rather than ivory, or a coloured dress as others suggested. Don't worry about what other people think - it's your wedding, if you'd feel more comfortable in a coloured dress then go for it!


I agree with not going for the fake tan unless you want to - I'm pale as well and always feel like it doesn't work on me, and gradual tan goes patchy. There is an E45 body lotion (I can't remember the name but it has a gold lid) that has a slight shimmer in it which might help though.


Finally, what are you doing for your make-up? If someone is doing it for you then mention it when you go for your trial; if you're doing it yourself it might be worth going to a counter and explaining your concerns. I went to Bobbi Brown for my wedding makeup lesson this week - they matched my skin perfectly and were really lovely so I'd definitely recommend them.

celticcurl

I'm extremely pale and have gone for a coloured but still pale dress. Try gold tones, pale green or pink tones. Also remember the lighting in the dress shop will be strong and unflattering. You will look different in real life.