So You Woke Up on Your Wedding Day with a Zit ...

In the nights leading up to my wedding, I had a recurring nightmare that involved me waking the morning of with a massive breakout on my chin that would dominate every photo and catch the eye of every guest. Forget a sudden downpour or drunk best man, my subconscious felt a zit was the worst possible scenario.

Thankfully, I managed to stay blemish-free that day (although it did rain a bit and my mom got pretty tipsy, guess my subconscious dropped the ball there), but it was not without effort. If you're worried about a last-minute lurker, check out these tips and remember, even if you do break out, there's always Photoshop.

If you're acne prone: Find yourself to a dermatologist ASAP. Seriously, before you start dress shopping or sampling cake, get your skin on a program that'll help ensure it's clear by your wedding day. It can take months for products to fully work (and some trial and error to find the right regimen) so you want as much time as possible for your complexion to get in shape.

In addition to regular visits leading up to your wedding, schedule an appointment with your dermatologist for the day before your wedding if you can. If your skin is looking flawless you can cancel it, but if you've got a breakout (or just feel like one might be coming), your derm can give you a cortisone injection on the breakout site to zap it overnight.

If a derm visit isn't in the cards for you, do some trial and error to find a skin care regimen that works for you and stick with it. In the days leading up to your wedding you can apply spot treatment to areas you typically break out in (for me, it's my chin) as a preventative treatment, or use a clay mask to clean out the area. Just don't use any products you haven't tried before, now is not the time to learn you're allergic to lactic acid or apricot scrub.

Admittedly this is easier said than done, but try not to stress. Stress can cause breakouts (it messes with your hormones), so take some deep breaths if your family or the centerpiece arrangements are driving you nuts.

If all your prep work still results in a zit the morning of, keep calm, it's going to be OK. Apply a spot treatment immediately and reapply once or twice more during your morning primp time. As tempting as it may be (and I know it is), don't pop that pimple! It's much easier for you or your makeup artist to conceal an unpopped zit than a popped one (and messing with zits is bad, bacteria, scarring, etc., etc.).

Watch this video for tips on concealing a pimple if you're doing your own makeup, but if you've got a makeup artist, she should be up for the challenge.

One last piece of advice: Even though your breakout probably feels like Mount St. Helens on your face, most people won't even notice it (I swear). And they especially won't if you're smiling and having a great time, which you should be, it's your freaking wedding day!

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