YOU'VE got the ring, the date is set and the venue is booked. But with hundreds of things still to think about before your wedding, it's important to find time to prepare yourself as well.

Your skin, hair, nails and makeup are all things you have to consider before your big day and it's never too early to start.

When it comes to looking good on the day, the key is to keep it natural - after all, it's still you under there.

Vikki Berg, health and beauty editor of Brides Magazine, says: "Your groom is going to want you to look like you, so always aim to look like yourself but more beautiful and more radiant."

It's important to take time to look after yourself so that the stress of organising your wedding doesn't take its toll on your beauty. Vikki recommends massages, yoga, lots of water and a healthy diet as good ways of controlling stress and keeping you looking and feeling good.

* BEAUTY: Facials are a good way to ensure your skin stays radiant. Three facials in the six weeks before the wedding is plenty and leave a few days between your last facial and your wedding day.

If you can't afford professional facials, there are some great DIY facial products, says Vikki.

You should exfoliate once a week if you have normal skin and less often - every 10 days to a fortnight - if you have oily skin.

"So many brides come out in spots from the stress but you can combat that with a good skincare regime and spot product, drinking lots of water and your diet is really important, so watch what you eat," says Vikki.

* NAILS: Your nails are another important element that it's worth thinking about in advance. After all, as Vikki points out: "Everybody will want to see your ring."

Start thinking about your nails around three months before. Get regular manicures, which can be quite cheap at nailbars.

Vikki recommends Nailtique protein formulas, which strengthen and condition your nails. They are available at selected nail bars or on the internet.

But it's not the end of the world if you forget about your nails until the last minute. Just having a manicure for your wedding day will make them look much better than not having one at all.

* MAKEUP: If you have decided to have a professional makeup artist to do your wedding makeup, it's important to find someone well in advance as you will need to make sure they're available on the day and you will also want to discuss styles and have a trial run.

However, if you're doing it yourself, many makeup companies now offer at-counter services.

The key is to keep it simple. There's a few musts, such as waterproof mascara and powder to reduce shine but don't try anything drastically different from your normal style...and don't overdo it.

Vikki advises: "You don't want to look caked in makeup as it can be really ageing.

"You do need more for a wedding because of the photographs, so use more than you would for an ordinary day but you don't want to look like a drag queen."

Start with a base to give your makeup staying power. Eyeshadow lasts much longer if it's applied over a cream foundation, as does powder. But be sure to choose one that closely matches your skin tone.

Eyes, too, look more photogenic in neutral or subtle tones.

You're going to be kissing lots of guests so find a long-lasting lipstick that won't come off on everybody.

Or you could use a lipstick sealer such as Lipcote, which locks in the colour you're wearing and allows you to simply reapply a gloss when needed.

If you're going to experiment with new products, do it well in advance of your wedding - you don't want to come out in a rash just before your big day.