Ask the experts

Bridal Beauty Countdown: Phase 1

Bridal Blog Series

Our gorgeous nutritional expert – the wonderful Karen Cummings-Palmer – got married last year, and in a bid to help all future brides-to-be, has generously agreed to share the steps she took to boost her (already exquisite) {skin}, {hair} and {nails} ahead of the big day. If you’ve eight-to-ten weeks to go, it’s all about diet and {supplements} – so here’s an insight into what you should be taking…

{Cult Beauty} Every bride wants to look her very best on the big day – are there any food groups/specific things you’d recommend to help brides look lean and luminous when walking down the aisle?

{Karen Cummings-Palmer} When it comes to the ‘big day’ (and indeed, every other day) if a bride wants to look budding she must eat whole, unprocessed food – including lots of plants and greenery, alongside small amounts of good quality, lean protein.

I’ve said it {before} (and I’ll say it again); breakfast is the most important meal in terms of ‘beauty’ – without it, vital organs deprive those ‘less’ vital, of the nutrients required to keep skin glowing and hair healthy. Try a poached egg on a bed of asparagus or spinach (get those greens), and try to make time to enjoy it. You can also swap your mid-morning cappuccino for a matcha tea – whisk up with hot water, and sprinkle with a few shavings of pure dark chocolate for something that looks beautiful and seems indulgent, without being in the least bit naughty.

Dine early – c. 7pm – and eat good, complex carbohydrates such as sweet potato or quinoa. Healthy food needn’t be ‘worthy’ or flavourless; clever use of herbs and spices, coconut milk, Himalayan salt and even butter help keep things delicious, whilst staying nutritious.

Green Tea Cappuccino

{CB} We all know that skin is reflective of wellbeing – which supplements would you advise women to start taking at this stage pre-wedding?

{K C-P} We all have different needs but if you’re open to the idea of supplementing your diet (and skin) in some way, then now is the time to begin. I’m currently taking BeautyWorksWest’s {Youth} capsules daily, for their skin enhancing, bone-densifying and hormone-balancing properties, as well as a morning glass of Rejuvenated Ltd. {Collagen Shots} to keep my face feeling firm and looking plump. I’ll add extra things into the mix as W-Day creeps closer, but these two have dramatic cumulative benefit so its best to start sooner…

{CB} Are there any other dietary tweaks or changes, brides-to-be should implement?

{K C-P} Yes – avoid refined sugar (and refined carbohydrates) – they’re both ageing and inflaming (and if you manage to steer clear of them for weeks, you can wholeheartedly indulge when it comes to the wedding cake). Choose espresso over coffee if you have to have it – it’s less processed and higher in antioxidants – and everybody needs a little ritual to punctuate their hectic lifestyles (especially when wedding planning)! Choose your favourite cup and sit down to enjoy it – make it Instagram-able – we derive greater all-round satisfaction from things which look as good as they taste.

Drink plenty of water (tedious but essential for skin and wellbeing), and most women would do well to reduce the amount of dairy and wheat in their diet – switch cow’s milk for almond or rice (just make sure you read the label – you should see two ingredients max, and absolutely ZERO added sugar).

And we’re off! Karen will be keeping us up to speed with her pre-wedding countdown, so check back every fortnight for the latest instalment. If you too are getting married later this year, please keep in touch via twitter {@cultbeauty and @GuidetoGorgeous}, and if you have any questions you’d like Karen to answer, please let us know in the comments below.

And if you’re serious about getting wedding-ready but need support to keep you on the path to big-day gorgeousness, Karen will help you create a nutritional plan that fits in with your lifestyle – she’s a realist (no wacky juice cleanses) and a firm believer in moderation, so contact her via {www.karencummingspalmer.com}



Verity Douglas

Verity Douglas

Content Editor

Cult Beauty’s Content Editor and a Cult Beauty OG, Verity loves nothing more than the marriage of language and lip balm. A quintessential Libran, she’s a self-professed magpie for luxury ‘must-haves' and always pursuing the new and the niche — from the boujee-est skin care to cutting-edge tech. Balancing an urge to stop the clock with her desire to embrace the ageing process (and set a positive example for her daughter), Verity's a retinol obsessive and will gladly share her thoughts about the time-defying gadgets, masks and treatments worth the splurge...