When it comes to getting ready on your wedding day, how your makeup will be done is definitely a priority. And no, it’s not like you’re putting on a bit of mascara and blush to go out for a night. Instead you’re going to need something that will look flawless up close, look flawless in pictures, and look flawless at 1:00 in the morning after you’ve been dancing for three hours at your reception.
And if you’re anything like me, reading the sentence right above this one creates a mix of panic and delusional self-confidence (“It’ll be okay…I’m sure my 14 year-old niece knows what she’s doing…”). Yeah…before you put all your eggs in the “14 year-old niece” basket let’s cover some ground-rules.
Do: Hire a makeup artist. These people make a living making others look gorgeous. They know the exact shade of foundation to use and countless other tips like how to make your nose look narrower or your eyes look larger. What the average person knows about makeup (red lipstick = reddish lips) is but a mere drop in the bucket compared to what they know. So unless you’re a makeup artist yourself, put your trust in someone that knows what they’re doing.
Do: A test run. You wouldn’t hire a professional before seeing examples of their work, right? Of course not! Thing is though, makeup is a bit different than baking a cake or arranging some flowers. Because your skin is unique to you, a test run lets you see how you’ll react to the products your makeup artist will use on your wedding day. In addition, it lets you tweak some things: don’t like how your eye-shadow looks?
Face feels like it’s not breathing? Adjust it all in the test run.
Don’t: Expect the usual. Wedding makeup needs to be a bit more dramatic than everyday makeup; photography can have a tendency to leave a bride looking a bit washed-out, otherwise. Don’t worry though, dramatic doesn’t have to mean unnatural.
Don’t: Be secretive. If your makeup artist is going to do the best possible job, they need to know all the details. No point in finding your perfect shade of ivory foundation only to show up on the day of your wedding looking a slightly less orange shade of Snooki. And it makes no sense to create an eye-shadow palette designed to make your baby-blues pop only to show up wearing green contacts.
Your makeup artist needs to know other factors as well. Are you getting married at high noon in mid-July? If so, she’s going to want to make sure she uses some sweat-proof formula. Will water be involved? Of course you’re probably going to cry, but are you planning on scuba diving? Getting married at Niagara Falls? Make sure your artist has the whole picture.
Don’t: Settle. If you don’t like your look, say something! Just because they are the professional doesn’t mean you have to take all of their suggestions. If you don’t like the way you’re looking, there’s nothing wrong with asking for a few adjustments. After all, you are the bride, and the bride gets what she wants.
If you’re dying to have that strapless dress, maybe consider one that comes with detachable straps for later in the evening, making sure your busty pal will be able to dance the night away without having to worry about coming out of her dress every other song.
2.) You’ve “let yourself go.” This tends to be a common occurrence with brides dedicated to getting in shape before the big day. Typically, the dream involves you standing before all your loved ones in a dress that doesn’t fit because you’ve gained an absurd amount of weight. Now anyone can imagine how terrifying a dream like this is, but the truth is, you need to take it easy on yourself. You’re gorgeous now and you’re going to look gorgeous on your wedding day as well.
It’s a new year, and if you’re browsing wedding blogs I’m assuming you’re either engaged (congratulations!) or thinking about it (still congratulations!), and what a great year to get married! With bridal fashion just as hot as ever, lets take a look as some upcoming trends in the dress department:
have been popping up everywhere! From the flouncy and fun to the structured and futuristic, this trend might be settling in for a glorious year.
1) What should it look like? In this day and age, the art of cake decorating has long surpassed how many people think a cake can feasibly look. Therefore, shop around! What is incredibly difficult (read: expensive) for one vendor might be another’s special skill. Want gorgeous, edible flowers on your cake? A baker unskilled in creating edible foliage may charge extra, while one who has it down to a fine art might not even blink when you inquire about it. If at all possible, let your cake be a reflection of your personalities and interests!
have their one piece and then not even consider going for seconds unless they know of someone at their table that isn’t going to eat their portion. Think of all the people who don’t have a sweet tooth, and all the children that will most likely just have a bite of their mother’s.
amount of cake that will be fully devoured at the reception, or if you’re in love with it you might order enough to take home later; some cakes can be wrapped and frozen for up to three months. Keep in mind though that you can probably always go back to the bakery and get a basic sheet cake made up if you just can’t seem to get over the craving.
6.) Have some fun! All it takes is a bit of google research to find Heidi Klum and Seal’s yearly vow renewal ceremonies where they have a different theme. They’ve had a masquerade theme where they wore feathered masks and headgear, while years previous they’d gone with a “redneck theme” where Seal wore a mullet wig and guests were asked to wear jean shorts. They’ve even had a “wedding” theme, where women were asked to dress like brides and the men asked to dress like grooms. So by all means, take a page out of Heidi and Seal’s book and on your vow renewal day, have a little fun!
