Let’s start with the obvious: despite what TikTok (or BrideTok) might suggest, you absolutely do not need to do anything beauty-wise before your wedding. No Botox. No filler. No laser, microneedling or HydraFacials – and definitely no sudden overhaul of your entire skincare routine. After all, this whole thing is already expensive as it is.

　　Getting married isn’t a reason to feel like your face needs “fixing” – you’re already you, and that’s the whole point. But if you do want to explore treatments before your big day – whether that’s a glow-boosting facial, a few subtle tweaks, or a full skin plan, it can feel surprisingly overwhelming knowing where to start.

　　As a bride myself (with just a few weeks to go, eeeek), I found myself asking all the same questions: when should you get Botox? How far in advance should filler be done? Are laser facials worth it? And which treatments actually give you that fresh, glowy, well-rested look, without leaving you swollen, spotty and stressed the week before?

　　From facials to weekly LED masks, I’m fully committed to my bridal glow-up. ©Emma Hawkins/ Closer So, in the name of brides-to-be everywhere (and my own sanity), I decided to find out.

　　I teamed up with Thérapie Clinic to create a clear, expert-led bridal beauty countdown – covering what to consider at 12 months, six months, three months, one month and even two weeks before the wedding.

　　They’re a great option for brides-to-be thanks to their nationwide clinics, medically trained practitioners, and structured treatment plans – including their Skin+ packages (which bundle treatments like HydraFacial, peels and microneedling together – starting from £318 for courses such as two HydraFacials and two peels) and their Botox subscription (from £45 per month, plus a one-off £99 sign-up fee, covering three treatments a year), which makes maintenance feel far less overwhelming.

　　And because I didn’t just want to talk about it, I wanted to actually try it, I also became the case study – undergoing treatments myself so I could share what it really feels like, what the downtime is like, and how it all fits into a real-life wedding countdown.

　　In the chair! Where Dr Verli mapped out my face to plan the most natural-looking results. ©Emma Hawkins/ Closer So, whether you’re a year out and super organised, or three months away wondering if you’ve left it all a bit late (hi, me), here’s what the experts recommend – and also what I learnt along the way.

　　12 months before: lay the groundwork If you’ve got a full year before your wedding, consider yourself lucky – this is when the real magic happens. “If you have a year, this is ideal. It gives you time to properly assess your skin, treat any underlying concerns, and build results slowly,” explains Eimear Tolan, Head of Skin Growth at Thérapie Clinic.

　　This is the stage for treatments that take time to show results, like microneedling or laser facials, which stimulate collagen and improve skin quality from within.

　　Think of this as your foundation phase, aka, the results you see closer to the wedding are built here. I didn’t start this early (of course), but if I had my time again, this is exactly when I’d begin.

　　Your teeth can also fall into this category. As a big tea and coffee-drinker, I decided to focus on whitening over winter and made a few small tweaks that had been bothering me for a while – such as fillings, repair work and composite bonding.

　　This made such a difference to my confidence, and now I know I’ll feel more confident smiling in photos on my wedding day, too. Such a great investment! Now, it’s just about maintenance – a good whitening toothpaste and keeping things fresh.

　　6 months before: consistency is key By the six-month mark, the focus shifts from starting treatments to maintaining them – this is where results really begin to build. “At this stage, it’s all about consistency and enhancing glow, luminosity and hydration,” says Eimear.

　　Treatments like HydraFacial come into their own here – think of them as your monthly skin MOT, keeping everything clear, hydrated and balanced. It’s also the point where many brides begin thinking about injectables, particularly if it’s their first time.

　　“Many brides begin to consider injectables at this stage, allowing plenty of time for results to settle and be adjusted if needed,” adds Shannon Garside, Head of Injectable Growth at Thérapie Clinic.

　　Looking back, this is probably when I should’ve started properly planning things, instead of assuming I had loads of time. Giving yourself this buffer means no rushed decisions, no panic appointments – and no regrets. Plus, if you decide you don’t like your filler, for example, you have time to dissolve. But in the right hands, this isn’t likely to happen.

　　3 months before: time to refine (my stage)

　　Subtle tweakments, but my face looks more lifted and my skin so much brighter. ©Emma Hawkins/ Closer This is where I came in. With just three months to go, I’ll be honest – I had that slight “have I left this too late?” panic. But according to the experts at Thérapie, this is still a really effective window.

　　“Three months out is still a very effective window to improve skin quality. At this stage, it’s less about starting anything too aggressive and more about refining and enhancing,” explains Eimear.

　　That pretty much sums up the approach we took. After my consultation with Dr Reisalla Verli at Thérapie’s Marylebone clinic, we created a plan that felt realistic, subtle and tailored to me – focusing on hydration (HydraFacial) and small, strategic tweaks with filler and Botox.

　　This was the moment it all started to feel real – like, okay, I actually need to make decisions now. But Dr Verli guided me through it, offering her expert advice every step of the way. It’s also where something like Thérapie’s Skin+ packages starts to make sense. Instead of booking treatments randomly, everything is structured into a plan – which, trust me, is a relief when youve got an entire wedding to plan. Eeeek!

　　My filler experience For context, I’m not new to filler, but last year I had everything dissolved after realising I’d gone a bit too far. It’s surprisingly easy to become “filler blind”, and once you notice it, you can’t unsee it. For example, I began to notice, that when I smiled, my cheeks looked strangely puffy , overfilled – something you might have heard about on social media or in the news, as pillow face.

　　The good news is, though slightly uncomfortable, filler can be dissolved just as easy as it’s injected. Then, as I did, you can stay natural, or start with a fresh canvas! That said, as Dr Verli advised me, you don’t want to keep dissolving and refilling again and again, as this can cause a loss of volume. But, if you need it, the option is there.

　　I didn’t even realise I’d gone too far, until I dissolved and started again. ©Emma Hawkins/ Closer In my case, this time when it came to my filler, I wanted the opposite than my approach before: subtle, natural, just a fresher version of me.

　　Dr Verli took a completely different approach, focusing on restoring volume where I’d naturally lost it, rather than simply adding more. The result was subtle but noticeable: I looked more awake, slightly lifted, and just generally fresher. Dare I say, younger?

　　We used a small amount in the lips (0.7ml), focusing on shape rather than size this time, especially around the cupid’s bow. Since going to Thérapie with my dissolve and refill journey, I’ve noticed they don’t just encourage more and more, they advise sensibly.

　　The results were beyond my expectations. One of those moments where I looked in the mirror and couldn’t quite put my finger on what had changed – but I just looked better.

　　What stood out most was the level of care. Everything was done slowly, thoughtfully, and with attention to detail. And the best part? No bruising, no swelling — I was back to normal almost immediately. So much so, although it was a weekend appointment, I could have gone into the office mid-week and nobody would have noticed my tweakments.

　　For context, filler typically starts from around £250 per ml, so it’s definitely something you want to plan rather than rush.

　　The unexpected hero: Masseter Botox One treatment I hadn’t planned on having was masseter Botox, but after discussing it during my consultation, we decided to go ahead. As well as helping with jaw clenching, it can also subtly slim the lower face.

　　And what do you know? Over the following weeks, I noticed my face slowly looked more sculpted – not dramatically different, just more refined. It takes a while to kick in, but when it did? Wow! At one point, someone even asked if I’d lost weight. I hadn’t – and I wasn’t mad about it. It’s also one of the more affordable tweakments, starting from around £129, which surprised me.

　　The result? Exactly what I wanted; fresher, more polished, but still completely me.

　　After dissolving, refilling (properly) and sorting my teeth, I feel fresher, not different. ©Emma Hawkins/ Closer When to get Botox and filler Timing is everything. “Botox is best done around four to six weeks before the wedding, while filler should be carried out slightly earlier to allow everything to fully settle,” notes Shannon. Botox takes time to kick in – and may need a top-up – while filler needs time to soften and settle.

　　For me, that meant:

　　• Filler: Eight weeks before

　　• Botox: Four weeks before

　　• Review: Two weeks later

　　Although I had to strategically plan my workouts around recovery days (you cannot exercise for 48 hours after these treatments), my treatments didn’t interfere with my day-to-day or bridal events, and spacing it out like this honestly took away so much stress. And all appointments were available to view and change on the Thérapie app.

　　What about laser facials? You’ve probably heard the term “laser season” – and yes, it’s real. “Laser treatments are best done earlier and ideally completed a few months before the wedding,” says Eimear.

　　Because skin becomes more sensitive to sunlight, these are usually done in autumn or winter. It’s the same principle as laser hair removal: both require planning and multiple sessions spaced out over time.

　　One month before: glow mode At this stage, it’s all about sticking with what you know, not experimenting. “This is not the time for major changes or trying anything new,” says Eimear.

　　For me, this meant a HydraFacial – and I finally understood the hype. My skin felt smoother, looked brighter, and had that healthy, lit-from-within glow from the moment I left, which lasted for days after.

　　My consultant Joanna told me brides sometimes come in the day before their wedding for this exact treatment, and honestly, I can see why. It’s the kind of instant result that makes you feel polished without looking like you’ve done anything. A red carpet fave!

　　Mid-HydraFacial – and yes, my skin already looked glowier. ©Emma Hawkins/ Closer That said, it’s worth knowing your skin first. HydraFacials can occasionally cause a short-term breakout as your skin clears itself out, so, like anything (lash lifts, spray tans, brow lamination), it’s always worth doing a trial before your big day. Luckily, my skin handled it well, so I’ll definitely be booking one in again the week before the wedding.

　　The final weeks: keep things calm Now I’m just weeks away from getting married, the focus has completely shifted. It’s less about doing more, and more about protecting what I’ve already done.

　　That means:

　　• No new treatments

　　• No new skincare

　　• No last-minute risks

　　Instead, I’m focusing on the basics: good sleep, hydration, gentle skincare, and keeping my routine consistent. Even my workouts have become more about feeling good than pushing myself too hard. Because at this point, it’s not about chasing perfection – it’s about showing up feeling like the best version of yourself, from the inside, out.

　　If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from this whole process, it’s this: you don’t need to change your face for your wedding. Regardless of social media pressure, you don’t need to suddenly become someone else.

　　What actually makes the difference is, giving yourself time, getting the right advice, and taking a considered, gradual approach As the Thérapie team tells me: “The most important thing is to look like yourself, just at your best.

　　And that’s exactly how I feel heading into my wedding. Glowy, confident… and still completely me.

　　Feeling bridal-ready! ©Emma Hawkins/ Closer For anyone considering treatments ahead of their wedding, Thérapie Clinic offers consultations nationwide with medically trained practitioners who can help build a plan that suits your timeline. With over 85 clinics across the UK, Ireland and the US, it’s also a convenient option no matter where you’re based. Their Skin+ packages are ideal if you want a more structured approach, while their Botox subscription (from £45 per month) makes maintenance feel far more manageable. You can explore treatments or book a consultation via their website or on their app – which, from experience, is the easiest place to start if you’re not quite sure what you need yet.

　　Emma Hawkins is a Life Style Writer for heat and Closer, where she dishes out the latest on fashion, beauty, health, travel – and even true crime. Beyond the desk, Emma’s heart beats for all things USA - cowboy boots, country music, wide-open roads, and hikes under big skies. She’s just as happy camping under the stars as she is getting fully glammed up for a night out.