Ask Martha: Wedding Beauty Advice & Etiquette

It's up to you to ask for adjustments during your meeting, and for best results with any wedding vendor or pro, always offer some direction first—whether they solicit your opinion or not. Going forward, you have two options: If you think she can create a look you’ll love once she has clear direction, offer to pay for a second trial. But if you feel it’s just not going to work out, now is when you should part ways.

Many flowers are good choices; for a coordinated look, select a bloom that appears in your bouquet or elsewhere at the wedding.

Smaller flowers work better for more elaborate looks; miniature spray roses, stephanotis, dendrobium orchids, individual hyacinth blossoms, and freesia are among the most popular choices. These are fairly hardy and resist bruising and wilting. For a simpler style, many brides choose just one large bloom. Peonies, Asiatic lilies (stamens removed), roses, and orchids, such as cymbidium, are lovely options.

Less is more. Your glasses create a natural focal point on your face, so you don't want to do something that will add other focal areas. Line top and lower lids with black waterproof gel liner and wear matching waterproof mascara; a smoky shadow is nice. Also, make sure your eyebrows are neat and shaped. Skip dark lips; they'll compete for attention. A medium lip and pretty cheek will complete the look. And don't forget to put powder over your foundation, so that there won't be a mark on your nose should you need to take your glasses off.

Even haircuts as short as two to three inches can accommodate a veil with the right styling. Skip tiaras designed to curve around upswept hair; the ones with comb styles that fit across the head are best.

Brooches, like combs, can be tucked into the hair on one side of the head for an asymmetrical look especially chic for short styles. Bobby pins with crystal or rhinestone embellishments, tiny decorative barrettes, and headbands also work well with short styles -- without any added effort. You may also want to consider the ethereal look of floating hair jewels, which are attached to the hair by magnets, Velcro, or snaps like those you'd find on a shirt.

For those who experience only mild, occasional redness, there are steps you can take to minimize the chances of it occurring on your wedding day. Start with a gentle and simple beauty regimen, says Leslie Baumann, M.D., professor of dermatology at the University of Miami and author of The Skin Type Solution (Bantam Dell; 2005). Use a mild cleanser and a fragrance-free moisturizer, and avoid scrubs as well as treatments with heat, both of which can aggravate sensitive skin.

Still confused on how to do your makeup or wear your hair on your big day? E-mail us your beauty conundrum. We're here to help.