It's the creme de la creme of beauty rites: a bride preparing for her wedding day when she wants to look her most beautiful, every inch.

Yes, a facial, body exfoliation, pedicure, waxing, and the perfect makeup are musts.

Question: What if her skin breaks out from all the stress and extra pampering? Answer: Skincare and makeup experts say the best beauty plan starts months before the big day.

"If the bride is trying frantically to put all this into the week before the wedding, she's not going to be very successful," says Kathryn Hamernik, global educator for Aveda, based in Minneapolis.

Hamernik, Maureen Fletcher of the Clarins Spa in Houston and Jinger Heath, founder of BeautiControl, also in Houston, all recommend a beauty strategy starting three months before the wedding. Allow enough time to have treatments and you'll have perfect skin on the wedding day, they say.

Hamernik likes to align body treatments with facials. "Massage is probably the only thing I would recommend the day before," she says. She suggests starting facials three months out and continuing to have them either once a week or twice a month until the wedding. Exfoliation treatments _ possibly combined with a light self-tanning treatment _ could begin one month out, followed by maintenance at home.

Waxing treatments for eyebrow, lips, legs, underarms and bikini areas should be done about six weeks before the wedding, especially if the bride has sensitive skin. "She should have waxings no sooner than three weeks before the wedding. If she's never done waxing, she should do a trial three months before," says Hamernik.

Consulting with a professional is vital. Don't attempt serious treatments unguided.

"Don't use any new products in the month before the wedding, and if you have any skin problems like breakouts or eczema, consult with a dermatologist two months out to get a regimen," says Dr. Bradford Katchen, a New York dermatologist.

Once you have your beauty plan in place and are working with a professional, maintenance at home is essential to assure optimum results, says Fletcher of Clarins. "We encourage the bride, a couple of months before the wedding, to buy a series of facials and body treatments, either once a week or once every two weeks." Facials require a good cleansing and toning regime at home.

These can be maintained with hydrating products as well as specific potions to soothe breakouts and deal with blackheads. Fletcher recommends using a body exfoliator three times a week at home. The bride also should moisturize her body daily, following soothing daily bath soaks.

To use self-tanners at home, test them at least a month ahead. Stop once you reach a level that looks natural, not heavy. "Stay clear of tanning beds," says Heath of BeautiControl.

The same goes for the bride's makeup. "We recommend a bride start cutting out pictures from magazines and schedule consultations with local makeup artists at least a month or two before," says B.J. Gillian, CoverGirl makeup artist who has worked with Janet Jackson and Sophia Loren, among others. Choosing makeup and hair styles that look natural, "pumped up" only slightly, is critical, she says.