Self tanner vs spray tan vs tanning bed vs stay pale......

My wedding is in September so I'm really worried about tan lines from summer. I plan to hire a professional to take care if the tan lines. I am worried about it rubbing off on my dress but I'd rather have that than tan lines.

I have had a spray tan by a machine and a person . I prefer the person. The machine never blends right!

Im planning on a tanning bed just so my skin doesn't look quite so purple. I dont want "tan", i just dont want to be paler than my dress.

I'm with @Laine - Fake Bake self tanner! I got so many compliments on it when I used it.

Apply at night, shower in the morning - dont scrub it. It transferred onto my sheets a little at night, but it washes out

I just wanted to add a photo. This was my "I just want to not match my dress" organic airbrush by a person tan two days after. Definitely am still pale but I don't blend with my dress lol

ETA face was with foundation on so arms/neck area is untouched

I tan really easily; a minor burn here and there when outside, but most of the time, I don't burn.

I prefer staying pale, though. I go for SPF 1,000,000 when I'm outside.

FH calls me his little ghostie.

I got a sample of airbrush tan at a bridal fair and it was awesome! It stayed on for about a week and didn't leave streaks or anything. You might be able to find a discount on Groupon.

My vote is to stay pale. If you've never messed around with spray tans, self tanner, etc. before then why risk it 11 days before your wedding? Even if it comes out great, if it's not a look you're used to seeing on yourself, you might not like it and feel like you look weird. I'm definitely a hard no on the tanning beds, they are so ridiculously bad for you. Aside from the skin cancer risks, they speed up aging. My youngest sister used to use tanning beds, and it's done serious damage to her skin. When we're out together people always think I'm the younger sister even though I'm almost 6 years older than her.

There is rub off the first day- so don't wear really nice clothes. You don't shower after either- have to let it soak in. But then any extra rub off comes off with your shower the next day. There are tips to make it last longer, etc. just talk to salon or visit their website and it should all be there!

I don't think you should try anything new so soon before your wedding. It's not worth the risk.

Also, NEVER tanning beds!! Seriously I think they should be illegal. I don't understand how people could risk their lives just for short term looks. Especially when long term looks are worsened. It doesn't compute.

I've done tanning beds (very sparingly like less then ten times in my life) and because of the prolonged/negative effects I dont think I would do it again.

I've gotten a spray tan done in a booth (not for a wedding) but I wouldn't do that again either. Comes on too unevenly and the chances of streaking are super high.

I've used Jergens but I always apply it unevenly and it comes out half assed. Nope.

I would definitely consider an air brush but I would do a trial run.

My date is in August so I was considering going to the beach a few times to build a tan naturally but I guess that doesn't help you. So basically I have no clue and I am no help lol. I am following this thread though!

#TeamPaleForce

I refuse to use tanning beds. I always carry a bottle of SPF and use parasols to hide from the sun. My FH likes to joke that I glance at the sun and burn. It's true.

My mom was the opposite of me, she was always obsessed with tanning. She used to make fun of how pale I was and convince me to tan. Now she has skin cancer and regrets everything.

Just say nooooooo to tanning beds. If you absolutely have to be tan, get a spray tan, but I always vote for your own natural skin!

Following! My weddings far enough away from summer that my summer tan will be faded by then. I wouldn't trust getting a spray tan for my wedding just because there's very little you can do once you get it if you don't like it and I've never personally seen somebody with one that looked natural. They've all looked orange to me so I'd be nervous. I'll either be my pastey self or do a tanning bed for about a month before the wedding just to keep my summer tan long enough for the wedding

Stay pale.

I had a spray tan for my senior prom and I loved it. It was just enough to make me not blindingly pale but still looked very natural. However my best friend at the time also got a spray tan from a different place and she looked like an oompa loompa...so like...all the worst jokes about orange spray tans came true for her.

If you want to be tan I would stay away from a bed or self tanners (beds aren't good for you and I've never seen someone use a self tanner and have it come out not streaky). I would get a trial spray tan like a month before the wedding so that if it isn't good it will fade before the big day. And if it is good you can go a week or so beforehand to have it redone!

Any spray tan will have the risk of transferring to your wedding dress. I'd skip it.

I used to get spray tans all the time. I preferred VersaSpa but I haven't had a spray tan in maybe 3 or 4 years. I had an airbrush tan applied by a technician one time and never did again because it turned orange. It was some Groupon deal so I'm sure it wasn't the best place but the experience ruined me ever doing it again.

I feel the popularity of fake tan skin is fading.

I'm just gonna say it again.

NO. TANNING. BEDS.

Choose your life over a dumb, fake tan.

I love love loved all of your comments! Thank you so much! I promise not to use a tanning bed and I am now leaning towards staying pale and joining #teampaleforce! Lol

Thanks all!

I'm staying pale.

I love the color I get from the Versa Spa spray tan- it's super natural, but I didn't get it for my wedding. If you have any cleavage, the spray can wear off prematurely between your boobs leaving white half-moons on each one, and I definitely didn't want that. I embraced my pastiness.