A wedding ceremony is like a well coordinated outfit – You have your perfect dress and a groom to compliment your eyes. You add a splash of colour with flowers, bridesmaids and the hot flush in your cheeks. However, as all ladies know very well, this ensemble would not be complete without the perfect matching accessory; a peachy-perfect kiss.

How to kissessorise your wedding

Luckily, in most cases women are either naturally gifted or thoroughly trained into having taste. Selecting a kiss, you see, is very much like finding the ultimate pair of shoes or brooch – not too difficult for most of us, but not something that should be taken too lightly. After all, even experts get it wrong once in a while! In order to walk away with a sweet-yet-sassy trimming, it’s best to consider a few simple rules.

Try before you buy

You wouldn’t wear an outfit without consulting the mirror first, so why walk into your wedding without knowing what your kiss is going to look like? The key word here is practice. Although it may bring up repressed memories of teenage first-kiss rehearsals, it can help you avoid an awkward situation. Imagine facing your groom, serene and beautiful in your perfect dress, only to discover that when the eyes of the entire congregation are upon you, he thinks it appropriate to whip out his best tongue tango techniques! A pre-smooch conversation will help solve all differences of opinion and assure that when you have an audience you’re both on the same page. Don’t forget to practice what you preach – a little less conversation, a little more action!

Less is more

Much like your alternative cousin’s belief that a metal spike through his nose helps to add a bewitching symmetry to his face, you must always remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. While you may see something as fitting, unless it is subtle it can – and most likely will – be perceived as bad taste. So while your honey might think a passionate snog best reflects your love for one another, chances are your conservative relatives won’t agree and they will never let you forget. If you want them to hold their tongues, you’re better off keeping yours close to home.

Act natural, look pretty

Even though the idea is to get swept up in the moment, be aware that you are being photographed – you are likely to want at least one picture of the kiss that sealed your vows. Although it isn’t the right time to imitate a sucker fish, a well timed and slightly extended performance can do wonders for your photo album. Be careful not to let your overwhelming sense of abandonment overpower your facial expressions. Keep in mind that despite the fact that your emotions are honest, sometimes it is best not to let your face reflect them all. Tension, embarrassment or bewilderment are particularly unflattering and can leave you looking like your new spouse feasted solely on garlic before your nuptials. For the sake of romance, try to relax – don’t squint, scrunch your nose or let your hands wander. Be soft, timid and seal it with a kiss.

A real-life study in kissology

“On my wedding day I thought everything went smoothly – I only became aware of how wrong I was when we met with our photographer. My husband Michael and I had discussed how we wanted our kiss to look. We agreed that it should be soft and subtle. As he put it “you don’t want to do slops in front of your mum.” One thing we didn’t discuss was whether we’d keep our eyes open or closed. I thought it was obvious. The result was a series of pictures in which Michael’s eyes are burrowing in a semi-cross-eyed gaze deep into my left cheek. Not quite the fairytale ending every girl dreams of, but it does add a certain flair to our album.” Natalie of Parramatta.