White, Tan, or Orange???

I don't want to look ORANGE like Anne Hathaway in Bride Wars.

Controversial Topic

Tuesday!

Alright, here the topic of debate: Tanning!  Nothing like a sunny first day of summer break to bring out this topic.

What's skin and what's dress???

Believe it or not, I've NEVER been in a tanning bed.  Not once.  Sure, I lay out a lot in the summer (one of my favorite things about being a teacher!), but about October or so, I go into pasty mode... and stay that way until I've built up some of my summer tan (about June).

I didn't take this into consideration when I was picking a wedding date.  I'm at my whitest at the end of May.... and no, I do NOT want my skin to match my white wedding dress!


So, do I start fake baking this winter?  There's LOTS of skin cancer in my family, so I've tried to avoid it until now.  Also, it kinda grosses me out to think of laying where someone else's naked body has been.

Or try spray tanning?  I've read so many bride horror stories where the spray tan rubs off on the white wedding dress.  Yuck!  And I definitely don't want to look orange on my big day...  And I'd like a tan to last through my honeymoon.


Or just go with the pasty white that I naturally am?  I REALLY don't want to do this option.  My skin is just so blotchy and yuck-looking when it's not tanned.  I'm afraid I'll be really self-conscious about it if I don't do something.


So... any advice from people who know a little more about tanning beds or spray tanning than I do?

Hair DOs... and Hair DON'Ts

If you know me, you know I almost always wear my hair down.  It all goes back to picture day circa 1997.  I was in 8th grade.  We were scheduled to use some class (probably English) for pictures.  Unfortunately for me, that class fell right after P.E.  I didn't think it would be a big deal to just wear my hair in a ponytail since it was a little sweaty from PE.  Man, was I wrong...  I looked bald!  It was awful.  (I've since destroyed all evidence of this picture, otherwise I'd share).

So pretty much ever since then, I've hated the way I look with my hair up.  Maybe it's my weird shaped face, or my semi-Kuhn family nose.  Maybe it's the pale skin... For whatever reason, I just think I look better with hair on the sides of my face.

I'm thinking I want a look somewhat like this for the wedding... but with a veil in the back:

Summer 2010 at my co-worker, Sarah's wedding

I have such thin, fine hair that the only way to give me any kind of volume that lasts is to go somewhat curly.  I love the big flowing curls look.  Here's a few of the images I've saved as ones I really like:

I have two concerns about this type of hairstyle: 

1.  Most of these girls have hair MUCH longer than mine.  Although I still have a year to grow it out, I'm worried it won't be long enough to get make it look really good.  So I'm considering hair extensions.  No, not Kate Gosslin-style of the all-over, takes 50 hours straight to put in... but maybe just adding some length (and volume) under/mixed in with my normal hair.  Has anyone tried hair extensions before?  Do they look fake and hideous if you're not willing to spend a ton of money (over $100) on them?

2.  Sweat.  I sweat... a lot... no, I mean a LOT... and if the back of my neck gets wet, I'm worried it will ruin the hair style before the reception is even in full swing.  Maybe I will be able to do a quick semi-up-do or side pony after the ceremony before all the dancing starts?  I just think I look weird with my hair pulled back...

Oh, and did I mention that I totally and completely HATE the bump?  You know, that pushed-up blob of hair that makes you look sO ToTaLLy 80's... I'm avoiding that completely, but still want some volume. 

Any advice?