If you've seen the movie "Bride Wars," you're familiar with the hysterical scene where Kate Hudson's character switches out the color in her frenemy Anne Hathaway's spray tanning booth. What happens? Hathway's character steps out and realizes she's become Manhattan's first Oompa-Loompa.

Now that example certainly took bad spray tans to the extreme, but the truth is we've all had an awful spray tan at least once in our lives (or know someone who has). So here is the dilemma: You want to have a radiant glow on your wedding day, but you don't want to risk looking like the newest cast member of "Jersey Shore." What to do? Here are a few tips that cover all the basics on what to do pre-, during and post-spray tan. Follow these easy tips, and you'll have a bridal glow so natural-looking that not even the pros will be able to tell it's faux.

Take a hot shower to open up pores and use a body scrub to slough off dead skin cells. Be sure to shave as well to create a smooth surface. You can lightly moisturize the driest parts of your face, elbows, knees, etc., but don't slather on thick lotion -- that creates a barrier between your skin and the spray tan.

Here's the logic that you don't want to follow: "I want to be supertan for my wedding, so I should pick the darkest shade possible." Wrong. So wrong.

There are plenty of times to experiment with spray tan hues, but your wedding day isn't one of them. As a rule, select a shade that is two shades darker than your natural skin tone for a tan that is noticeable and natural.

Half the battle of getting a flawless spray tan is knowing what options are available. There are three major types of application: at-home products, spray tan booths and spray tan professionals.

The best at-home options are gradual self-tanning lotions and mists. Regardless of what version you're using, wait five to 10 minutes after you get out of the shower before applying and give yourself a full five minutes to dry. Be sure to start two weeks in advance of your wedding day, applying a new coat every day.

Here are the basics of maintenance:

1. Wear loose-fitting clothes and flip flops post-spray tan.
2. Don't come into contact with water for 12 hours.
3. Wait one to two days before shaving and stay away from scrubs and exfoliators. Plus, moisturize daily.
4. If you have white sheets, switch them out for a darker color the first night after your tan.

Now, should you end up with blotches or orange skin, don't panic. For small blotches and streaks, gently exfoliate with hot water and a body scrub. I recommend an at-home concoction of lemon juice and brown sugar; the acid from the lemon fades the tan and the brown sugar gently removes skin and moisturizes.