Wedding Prep: Exactly When to Get Your Fillers, Tox, & Facials Before The Big Day
Let’s be honest — your wedding day is basically your red carpet moment, and glowing, flawless skin is the ultimate accessory. If you’re thinking about wedding skin prep, you’re already ahead of the game. At Catalyst MedSpa in Tacoma, WA, we’re all about helping you plan ahead so your skin is picture-perfect when you walk down the aisle. Whether it’s smoothing out fine lines, boosting hydration, or giving your complexion that radiant glow, timing is everything.
The trick? Understanding when to schedule each treatment so your skin looks naturally stunning (without any last-minute surprises). We’re breaking down the exact timeline to help you get your fillers, tox, and facials just right before your big day.
The Importance Of Planning Your Treatments For The Big Day
From microneedling to injectables, the world of aesthetic treatments is full of exciting options to enhance your natural beauty. But here’s the thing: not all treatments deliver instant results. Some need time to work their magic — think weeks or even months. Others give you that dewy glow just days later.
That’s why creating a personalized treatment schedule is so important. Planning ahead ensures that each procedure has time to fully settle or show off its benefits so that by the time your wedding rolls around, your skin is looking its absolute best — radiant, refreshed, and totally camera-ready.
Your Ideal Wedding Skin Prep Schedule
Every bride (and groom!) deserves to feel confident in their skin, and the best way to achieve that? A thoughtful, well-timed approach. Let’s walk through the perfect wedding skin prep schedule so you can plan like a pro.
6 Months Out
If you’re addressing skin laxity, tone, scarring and/or texture, or if you want to remove unwanted hair as part of your pre-wedding and pre-honeymoon dreams, you’ll need to start early. Morpheus8 (a powerful combination of microneedling and radio frequency) and Laser Hair Removal treatments should begin about 5-6 months out from your big day. This ensures that you can complete the series of treatments required for maximum results.
Many brides find our Gold Spa Membership an excellent value and an easy way to stay regular with treatments prior to their big event. This membership encompasses many of the services that brides, mothers of the brides, and mother-in-laws seek prior to the main event. The Gold Spa Membership offers discounts on Botox, skincare products, and Vitamin Booster shots to create a comprehensive portfolio to help you look your very best for the big day (and beyond).
6 months prior to the main event is also the perfect time to start or add a retinol to your skincare routine. We recommend SkinBetter Science Alpharet for safe, effective, and consistent results.
4 Months Out
Roughly four months before your big day is your window to begin transformative treatments that take time to show results. Maybe you’re considering Kybella for melting away a double chin or defining the jawline. Perhaps you’ve got your eye on Sculptra Facial Sculpting to restore facial volume gradually and get long-lasting skin rejuvenation. If so, this is the sweet spot. Both treatments stimulate collagen production and require multiple sessions spaced weeks apart.
If you are new to Botox and Dysport, 4 months out is the ideal time to have your first treatment. This allows our highly skilled nurse injector to create a customized formula and a result that suits your features and aesthetic goals perfectly.
2–3 Months Out
Microneedling and IPL Photofacial treatments ideally start here. These skin-revitalizing powerhouses tackle texture, sun damage, fine lines, and tone. Multiple sessions (typically 3-4) are recommended, spaced 4-6 weeks apart, making this the perfect time to begin.
This time frame is ideal to add an antioxidant to your skincare routine to ensure your treatment results are protected and your skin is able to take advantage of cellular turnover.
6–8 Weeks Out
Now’s the time to bring on the dermal fillers, especially if you’re looking to subtly enhance your lips, cheeks, or jawline. This timeframe gives you plenty of room for a touch-up, correction, or even to dissolve filler if needed (yes, that’s an option).
Lip fillers, in particular, often take a little longer to settle into their final shape, so this timing allows any initial swelling to fully subside for a naturally enhanced pout in time for your close-up.
1 Month Out
Still loving your Morpheus8 and microneedling results? Keep it going! One more treatment session of either at this point can boost your skin’s bounce, firmness, and glow. You’ll also be inching closer to that “wow” factor as the collagen boost continues to build.
A month out from the big event might just be the perfect time for you to add hydration and plumpness to your skin with Skinvive, an injectable moisturizer that creates a smooth glass-like appearance with minimal downtime.
3 Weeks Out
It’s Botox time again! Wrinkle-relaxing injectables like Botox and Dysport take 3–10 days to kick in fully, with peak results usually hitting around two weeks. So, three weeks out is your ideal window to smooth out fine lines on your forehead, around the eyes, and between your brows.
This is also your last chance to go deeper with skincare. A chemical peel (medium-depth) at this point gives your skin enough time to heal and reveal a bright, even-toned glow, just in time for your wedding week.
2 Weeks Out
Your wedding countdown is getting real, but there’s still time to give your skin a serious boost.
Now is the perfect time for lighter, gentle treatments like Hydraglow Facials, which deeply hydrate and exfoliate without downtime. Pair it with our Exfoliation Services for ultra-smooth skin. At Catalyst MedSpa, our exfoliation services include:
Dermaplaning for removing peach fuzz and dead skin
Vacuum-Assisted Hydro Exfoliation Facials (wet exfoliation) for deep cleansing and hydration
Diamond Exfoliation Facials (dry exfoliation) for smoothing and polishing the skin
This window gives your skin enough time to adjust if it gets a little sensitive post-treatment.
The Week Of
A week before your wedding, it’s time to put the final touches on your pre-wedding beauty routine. Schedule one last Hydraglow Facial or Dermaplaning session for smooth, glowing skin that makeup that goes on beautifully. Brides swear by dermaplaning for flawless foundation application.
Also, don’t forget about the little details! Our Add-On Services like brow tinting, lash tinting, and brow or nostril waxing can be done the week of for beautiful finishing touches that make all the difference.
Pre-Wedding Skin Care: What You Need To Know
Even with a solid professional plan, your at-home skincare game matters too, both for boosting your skin’s health as well as prepping for your skin rejuvenating treatments. Here’s what to keep in mind as the wedding nears:
DO:
Stick with a consistent, gentle skincare routine.
Use sunscreen daily to prevent damage and pigmentation.
Keep your skin hydrated with quality moisturizers and serums.
Get plenty of rest and drink lots of water.
DON’T:
Try new products or treatments too close to the big day — no surprises allowed!
Over-exfoliate or use harsh scrubs.
Forget to communicate any skin sensitivities with your provider.
Remember, your skin reflects how you treat it day-to-day, so don’t skimp on the basics!
Pre-Wedding Skin Prep in Tacoma, WA
With the right timeline and expert guidance, your skin can absolutely shine on your wedding day. Whether you’re saying “I do” in six months or just starting to plan your glow-up journey, Catalyst MedSpa is here to make sure every step is tailored just for you.
Contact us today to set up your personalized pre-wedding skin treatment plan — we can’t wait to help you glow down the aisle!