That really depends on what your skin color is before you start, and what you want your skin to look like on your wedding day.

I would say 8 hours before and shower before you go!! Anything less than 8 hours is going to ruin the tan or make you look uneven.

I would say at least 3 days in advance (depending on how dark you want to look). Don't worry about looking orange - since this product is more high end than the stuff you would find at a drug store, it will not make you look like an oompa loompa. I have VERY fair skin and I look noticeably darker after day one, however in my experience, the color doesn't show up in pictures too well.
After day 2, I am definitely tan, but when I really want to glow, I go with 3 uses.

At least one day prior so you can wash off the excess bronzer.

It's not a color building product, so the color you get is it. It will come off on your clothing if you sweat or get wet it will streak (that is the instant bronzer part). But once you shower it won't. Color you apply will only last a day or two tops at it's best. So here's my suggestion for you, shower and exfoliate the night before the wedding and apply the tanner before bed. You will wake up with a super dark awesome color tan. If you want that color and don't care if it may come off on clothes if you sweat, then don't shower it off. The suggestion is to shower it off, that gets rid of the tanner smell and that top bronzer that will streak off. It will still leave you with a golden tan, just not as dark. I would try it out on your skin before to see how you like the look of both colors ( with the bronzer still on and washed off) before the event you know what you want to do.

Have never used it before swimming. But even after 3 showers it still looks good. It just fades over time.

I'm not sure about chlorine but I've been in the tub and it only takes off the residue the first time you get wet. It doesn't leave streaks. I can say I got cleaning products drip down my hand it did take the color off where the cleaners touch my skin. So I would think chlorine will fade it but not leave you streaky. Hope this helps.

I don't think this will come off.
My experience...I'm really fair skinned. I don't tan at all so when we go on vacation I self tan every other day for two weeks straight (with st tropez mousse) just so I don't look so bad. In the seven days we were there (no re-applying) swimming in the ocean and the pool several times a day I can say no fading except from scrubbing in the shower with a body puff. Hope this helps!

Yes, because the chemical in all self tanners will naturally dry out your skin. As does chlorine, so you have a double drying effect. Just exfoliate as much as possible before applying, and lightly pat dry after swimming or you will have a brown towel and splotchy skin!

no

Does not turn orange. Nice color and if use the mitt it doesn't streak.

Here is the review I just posted- this will help you :)

I have used so many different sunless tanners- the biggest downside is having to stand there like a scare crow for about an hour while it dries... kind of time consuming. This one is great! This is my technique:

1. I make sure I exfoliate in the shower regularly and especially the day of. Brush your teeth before you do this if it is before bed so you don’t have to use water.
2. Apply lotion to all of my joints and places where I find it can build up (toes, ankles, knees, belly button, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, neck and face. Then I wait for a bit and apply more lotion to my ankles, knees, wrists, hands, neck and face.
3. Wear latex type gloves!!
4. Start with one leg and apply from bottom up (just a little on the top of the foot), other leg, torso, arms, then neck and face. Making sure to get every inch of skin (places comonly missed would be under arms or forarms, side of torso etc).
4. Remove gloves and apply a pump to back of hands and rub in to the back of your hands/wrists (avoid palms) with the backs of your hands.
5. Wait a few minutes and then apply lotion to your hands (palms and in between fingers especially) and face again to dilute mixture (dont put too much lotion on the back of hands though).
6. Stand there for a few minutes (5-10) and then dress in loose fitting clothing and do not do anything with water- then go to bed. (I find it doesnt seem to stain the sheets but maybe use darker sheets to be safe?). You will be really dark but dont worry that will wash off).
7. Rinse off excess (there is a dye in the moose to help you see where you have put it) the following morning about 8 hours later (I dont bother using soap as I usually shower in the afternoon and feel like it will last longer if I dont soap up right away).
8. Apply lotion daily to maintain tan- exfoliate (I use the exfoliating gloves) every other day to have it fade naturally.
9. Apply 2x a week for best results.

I am the whitest human being alive. And every tanning product I have purchased has either turned me orange or green. This one keeps me a healthy golden tan. I wouldn't stress about turning orange at all.

follow its instructions (e.g., exfolitate skin, dry skin (don't use any oiled bath products before application); use the mitt and rub lightly into skin; let dry (doesn't take very long)... beautiful! Do again the next day!!!

Use latex gloves, easy to massage into the skin without getting any on your hands.

Start with the legs, then work your way up. One - two pumps for each arm and throughly massage into the skin. Make sure the product is soaked into your skin, blotting could occur if you don't blend. It is really easy to use. Give it a try !

Good Luck

I use it on my face all the time. The best is to use it at night, then do your cleansing routine in the morning, and it looks SO NATURAL and amazing!

I use this on my face while doing my entire body yes.

Some things to note- wash and exfoliate your face the day of.
put lotion on your face before and about 10 minutes after application so it is not unnaturally dark.

Absolutely, i use it on my face with every application. Just be careful about the amount of product you use and be sure to spread it evenly around your face, ears, chin, hairline, and neck.

I use it on my face all the time. Just watch the eyebrows.

You can use this on your face - it is safe. However, if you have freckles or sun spots, this may make them a bit darker. It's completely pointless to use a spot corrector/fader at the same time as a tanner.

Also, if you wash your face more often or more vigorously than your body, the tan may fade faster from your face.

I would definitely recommend. It would turn you orange and it is safe.

No but if you rub off with a towel a lot of course it well fade bc youre rubbing your body off!

Mine wouldn't fade in that short of time even after swimming.

yes

you need to leave it on at least 4 hours prior to exercise or exposure to water. The bronze tint will wash off, but the tan will stay.

I always wear gloves or it will really destroy your hands. I like vinyl, no powder gloves.

gloves are better

You need to wash it off immediately after application.. If any residue, a small amount of nail polish remover will do the trick !

When reading the instructions, you are supposed to have the mit that St Tropez sells for $6 on their site for application. I used latex gloves and they worked fine. The great thing about St Tropez is that the only places that will look patchy are the areas you missed. I don't recommend using just your hands because it dries faster than most self tanners.

GLOVES GLOVES GLOVES!!!..by all means. Or you will have brown hands than will not come clean - without bleach or oxy-clean. But latex gloves work great, it's what i use. I use one glove at a time, I do both legs and my left arm with my right hand, I then take off the glove, and then to re-use it, (because it's inside out when you take it off) I put the opening around my mouth and blow to "pop" the finger back out again so i can put it on my left hand, but since it's a little moist from my breath, I add a SMALL shake of baby powder to the inside and my other hand just slide right in, I apply my self-tanner to my right arm and i'm ready to go!! No mess and it's super easy...and saves on gloves.

As far as I understand, symptoms of eczema include dry skin. The thing with this product is you need exfoliate dry skin prior to application otherwise its going to be patchy. I think if you try to exfoliate eczma, it is just going to get more red and irritated, and just make it worse. And what's more, if you apply the product, its probably going to make the area still just darker than the rest of your skin.

I don't have any skin conditions, but my skin is fairly sensitive. It didn't bother me at all, even on my face.
It seems to cover blotchiness, however if there are dry patches it will absorb the tan and be darker than everywhere else. I would try it on an area that you can hide easily and see if it exacerbates your condition.

Follow the directions. Don't get it wet for four hours.

yes I do think it would definately wash off if you went swimming right after. Maybe the next day you would be ok.

yes

Yes, you can use it on your face. I've experienced no break outs!

Yes, definitely. I have very sensitive skin & have never had a problem with this on my face.

I use it on my face every few nights before bed. I find I can go make-up free (with the exception of a little concealer) the color is so beautiful and natural.

Yes it can be used on your face --- will turn face very dark if you use too much.

Yes. It's beautiful on my face.

Definitely AVOID eyelids! It could blind you, and you can always dust them with bronzer. I don't tan my ears just because they're always covered by my hair, but you can (as long as you don't get it inside the ear canal). I always avoid my eyebrows, and I tan my hairline but try very hard to avoid making contact with the hairs. It's not "good" for the hair fiber, but it's not going to do anything other than dry them out. Good luck!

I would NOT use on my face, it gave me the worst rash of my life, just use up to neck and use powder bronzer on face and blend to the neck.

I am very fair and I use it on my face it looks fine. It just says to keep away from very light eyebrows.

Use it everywhere like eyes, lids, over the brows, on your entire face so it looks even. Avoid the palms of your hands and feet. Moisturize elbows and knees really well before you apply the mousse. Oh and if your just doing your face at least put it on your neck and shoulder area so it blends well.

I used it on my face...I pulled my hair back completely off my face, neck etc and I put a light coating of vaseline around my hairline and on my eyebrows. I found it to be safe on my face. A litlle bit ran into my eye but I just dabbed it with a tissue and it was fine. Just go lightly with it on your face and make sure to rub it in really well.

If you have applied the tanner waited for it to dry and showered 4-6 hours later when you get in the pool, you will be totally fine! it won't come off, your tan will still be intact

I would recommend showering off before getting in the pool because the color guide does come off and you dont want people to see that! Also, it recommends to wait 4 hours, but I have heard its better to wait a full 8 hours to let the body completely soak it in. who knows for certain though. I would just apply it before bed the day before your going to the pool and shower in the morning. :]

You will stay tan for a couple of days after the initial application and wash.

I've noticed that regardless of how long you take to shower after an application (hours to day and half) your skin will loose some of that deep tan tone. You still have a very nice tan but not quite as dark. The product is obviously tinted to some degree and so it washes off a little bit. Still is a very good product.

If you use the product as directed and wait the proper amount of time, swimming won't destroy your tan. That said, chlorine will fade a fake tan to a minimal degree (because... chlorine does that) but no one will notice, and if you keep reapplying regularly (once or twice a week) it shouldn't be a problem even if you swim every day. Also, be sure to put on sunscreen AND a vitamin E lotion - studies show that skin treated with DHA (the active ingredient in most fake tan, including this one) is more vulnerable to sun damage, but that vitamin E combats the damage. Have fun!