New Ventures: Bridal Hair and Makeup

Recently, one of my long-time friends got hitched and I couldn't have been more tickled when she asked me to style her hair and makeup since that is actually one of my favorite hobbies.

Photo cred: mystorykeeper.com

Photo cred: mystorykeeper.com

Photo cred: mystorykeeper.com

Beautiful little bridey!

Their ceremony was very sweet with a brunch theme which, let's be honest, is the best meal of the day. Needless to say, it was a big success and I wish her and her new husband tons of happiness in their new life together.

Below, I've outlined a few tricks to keep your wedding look (or long workday look) fresh from am to pm and will also photograph beautifully! 

1. PRIME. 

Just like laying the foundation to stabilize your house, your makeup needs a no-slip grip to stay in tip top shape. May I suggest one of these two:

sephora.com

2.Next for your journey to #flawless makeup, choose your preferred makeup path.

It totally depends on your skin type, how much coverage you like, the length of time you'll need to have makeup on, and the finished look you have in your mind's eye.
                 Liquid= Complete coverage, feels a bit thicker, wears less evenly (especially if you're oily).    
                 Powder= Mid-light coverage, even wear for most brands (you can even go drugstore brands here. Think Physicians formula), but may not last as long depending on your skin type.

DRY SKIN BABES: use liquid as your skin already struggles to maintain moisture.
My SUPER oily ladies: powder is your bestie.

For the sake of this blog entry, I'm choosing liquid as I think that's the overall best choice for special occasions. ***If you go mineral powder, conceal under eyes first, powder there with your pressed powder (see below for suggestions), conceal your spots, and finally your powder foundation. Then continue steps below ***

2. Foundation

Use a foundation brush (mine is from target and works great) and apply in a circular motion. move product under your jawline, to your hairline, bush onto earlobes, but leave your under eye area CLEAR! Jaclyn Hill has a great tutorial for this if you're interested. LOVE her. 

Again, consider your skin type here, but Urban Decay Naked is a high definition foundation that is usually a good go-to for most skin types. Hourglass is another flawless brand for liquid makeup. 

Find it here

3. Conceal

Meet the best kept secret of the concealing world. Urban Decay, if you're unfamiliar, is a thorough brand that has true lasting power and this little guy is no exception. Works flawlessly under both powder and liquid foundation to highlight and brighten while completely hiding any blemishes or discolorations. 

http://www.sephora.com/naked-skin-weightless-complete-coverage-concealer-P392854?skuId=1678937

Go one shade lighter than your foundation and follow this concealing example as a guideline. Under the eyes and around the edges of the nose are my key points. 

Placing 6-8 light dabs  in this triangle area (a little goes a LONG way here), and using my ring finger, I gently dab and work the product as I feel the warmth of your finger helps. Feel free to use a beauty blender like this one for simple application.

4. Set it and forget it: Powder
If you're going to splurge on one thing, this is it. The thing about spending a little extra on the good stuff is that it usually has better staying power, has 2-3 x's the lifespan of drugstore products, and looks better on your skin so don't be afraid to have 1 or 2 products that cost more than your Saturday night out. SAY IT WITH ME.... makeup is an investment.

Okay, the powder you need is Bobbi Brown's Translucent Powder. Go 1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone. This will guarantee you a 'Yes I got 12 hours of sleep' look. I use pale yellow since having a yellow-ish tint corrects redness which most women have due to hormones. 

Find it here

5. The BBH: Bronzer, Blush and Highlight

I prefer to 'sculpt,' if you will, using powder rather than liquid. I just find it easier and faster to get right. Here's an example of where to place the color on your face:

Again, Jaclyn Hill is great at video tutorials for more help :)

The three products shown below are my top pics, even for olive to mocha skin, because they are very buildable and flatter most skin tones in my opinion. BareMinerals bronzer in Warmth is a flat, no shine tan color which is perfect for contouring or just adding a bit of summer to your skin tone. Nars blush in Orgasm has some sparkle and adds the most gorgeous natural hint of color. Becca highlighter in Opal is my favorite product out there. Somehow it creates this 'lit from within' look and gives you the most radiant bridal glow. Must have.

Find them here

6. Brows

NYC brow set

$5 at most drugstores. Works like a charm. The trick here is to dab your bush in the wax (a little goes a long way), dab the brush in your preferred color, then gently swipe onto your brows for a natural look. Try not to 'draw' on your brows, but enhanced the hairs that are there. don't put color where there isn't any hair. Perfect for light or dark brows.

7. Eyes! Here's my trifecta for every bridal look you could want: Natural, Dewy, Bold.... anything!

     1. Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

     2. Loreal liquid liner in black *drugstore* (if you're planning to use false lashes) or Urban Decay 24/7 pencil liner in Demolition otherwise

     3. Lancome Hypnose Mascara in black(great for everyday use too)

If you go the falsies route, my favorite is the Katy Perry 'Oh, Honey'

I used to pick mine up at Ulta, but you could find them in most drug stores.

8. SET

It's the top of what I call a makeup sandwhich. You started with your no-slip base, added the colors you like, now time to cap it off with setting spray. My go-to is (of course) made by Urban Decay. Didn't realize what a fan I was of their products until writing this, but their stuff just works best in my experience. Spritz the 'All Nighter' spray all over your gorgeous face (4-5 pumps) and POOF! You should smudge even if you break a sweat. Don't forget the lip gloss before your photo sesh! ELF actaully makes some wonderful colors and has a bit of staying power itself. For a splurge, go with Marc Jacobs. 

Now you can enjoy your bridal moments without worry or fear of melting or sweating through your dewy look. Have fun, bridey!

Wedding Gifting Guide 101

What a happy couple they are!
Let's help them stay that way with any of these lovely gift ideas

1. ANYTHING from their registry

Seriously... anything. As an engagement gift or as part of their wedding gift, it's good practice to grab something from their registry. I mean, it's there for a reason. When we were engaged, I checked our registries more than I checked Instagram. Any bride will tell you it's like Christmas morning to see things disappear from your wish list knowing someone truly understands that you need that kitchen Aid or those Kate Spade toasting flutes.

If you're not sure where to check for the engaged couple's registry, try these popular retailers first:

www.nordstrom.com

www.potterybarn.com

www.crateandbarrel.com

2. Honeymoon Treats

Find out where they're going on their honeymoon and if they have a honeymoon registry. If so then you can go to that site and select a treat for the couple to have while they're there (like a candle light dinner for 2 or bottle of bubbly). If the couple is going to an all-inclusive resort, but didn't register, you can go through their resorts website to pre-pay for the gift of your choosing. They'll love it, I assure you!

In the case that the couple is traveling abroad or to a local spot, you can call ahead to their hotel and have chocolate strawberries or wine waiting on them when they arrive. You'll be the FIRST thank you note they send out once they return. 

Honey Fund

3. Things everyone can love!

The gift of no carpel tunnel 

They'll stamp your thank you note extra straight. Self-inking address stamp here

The gift of their love story

Caution, this will cause happy tears. Custom wall hanging here

The gift of chic barware

They'll be pleased as punch!
Classic Mint Julep Cup from Reese Witherspoon's Boutique, Draper James

The gift of a cozy guest room

 Thirsty guests will be a thing of the past with a water decanter like this from Pottery Barn.
(Add the monogram option for a more personalized gift)

The gift of laziness

Why pass the salt when you can spin it?
Personalized lazy susan found here

The gift of 'Firsts'

 Break out the cheese plate for this one....A DIY gift with a bottle for each 'first' 
'Wedding night, first fight, first dinner party, first Christmas, first anniversary, and first baby'

The gift of comfort

Personalized pillow for the love birds' nest like this one

The gift of lost ring prevention

One ring to rule them all... unless it's down the drain.
Prevent the couple's first fight with this ring dish

Of course the GREATEST gift of all will be your presence at the wedding festivities, but to secure your seat at the head of their dinner party table, any of these options are a great go-to.



Happy shopping!

Create Your Own Wedding Schedule

All my little precious bridies, let me introduce you to your wedding LIFE. SAVER.

Being organized makes everything run smoothly and leaves zero question to where everyone and everything is to be and when. 

This simple tool will be what you can send to your wedding planner, venue planner, photographer, DJ, Bridesmaids, family....everyone really...which will give you more time to focus on important things like finding your dress and sipping  mimosas. You're a few steps away from worry-free planning!

1. Create an Excel Spreadsheet.

I literally use excel for EVERYTHING in my life. It's just so easy to organize and reference.

Create the following tabs: 

-Guest List

-Invites (For list of invitations you'll need to get ready)

-Vendors

- Music

-Wedding Week Check List

-Rehearsal Day Schedule

-Wedding Day Schedule

Naturally, edit this list to fit your own needs and you can make it as organized or as basic as you'd like.

2.Add Details

Guest List:

 I color-coded mine and added columns for other events like bridal brunch and rehearsal dinner so all of your events are in one spot and you can use the same list of names/ addresses. I made a separate tab for addresses as it was the solution to simplifying the couples and families with the 'one lives here, but the other lives there' issue. Add a column for addresses here if it makes more sense for you to do so.

Yes, I'm the OCD human who put a key to categorize our guests, but we wanted to see the breakdown of family to friends and so-on for planning reasons. You obviously don't have to go that far lol.

Invites/ Prints:

I was very DIY and did all my own design and prints. Even if you're outsourcing your printables, it's good to have a list of deadlines and when they're completed. Trust. The 'P Party' was a sleepover I threw for my sweet bridesmaids (Pinterest, Pizza, and Pj's!) since they offered to help put programs and wedding projects together. We all honed our bow-tying skills for sure lol. 

Vendors:

Self-explanatory pretty much. Keep all your vendor's info in one place and you'll never have to go searching for numbers or addresses.

Music Preferences:

You'll send this to your DJ/ band. First dance, garter/ bouquet toss, intro/ exit music will all need to be chosen. We also had a handful of songs we didn't want to be played even if requested and some we definitely HAD to have which I included as well. 

Wedding Check List:

The week before my wedding is what I focused on here, but I would suggest to list as far out as possible to make sure you're not missing anything. TheKnot.com has an excellent timeline of when to do what here.

Rehearsal Day Schedule:

My favorite of the tabs thus far because anyone involved can easily see when and where they're you'd like them to be. You don't have to plan minute-for-minute (despite what you plan something will run under/ over your time plan), but I suggest planning a gentle timeline that conveys meeting times or points of interest. These were included in the welcome bags at check-in for out-of-town guests who were involved in the rehearsal.

Wedding Day Schedule:

This was given to my venue planner, DJ, bridal party, house party, parents, and photographer. They were all very happy to not have any confusion on when to be where and everyone was on the same page. Big weight off your shoulders so you can focus on having fun with your gal pals. With everyone having this schedule, they ended moving me around when I needed to be somewhere which was nice because I didn't even have to think about it lol. 

Address Book:

Yall, I use this to this day. No lie. You're wedding is when you'll be collecting your nearest and dearest's addresses and, if you didn't already have a list of addresses like me, is your master list for all future Christmas cards, party invites, change of addresses, and general correspondence. If someone moves/ changes addresses or we get new friends and add their addresses, I update it here so I will always have a running list of who to send cards and things to. At some point, I had a column for thank you notes, so consider adding that to help you track who you've thanked for your awesome gifts. Also, invest in an address stamp or some labels to print your return address as it'll save your time (and hands) in the long run.

There you have it! Super easy, but will save you so much worry and time during your wedding adventures and beyond. If you amend anything, let us know in the comments for others to see your awesome ideas :)

Cheers!

Wedding Chic on a Dime!

All my foxy little brides on a budget, this one's for ya'll!

My husband and I paid for our wedding with the exception of the open bar (thanks to my awesome FIL aka father in law) and the cakes (thanks mom and dad!). With that being said, we were able to pull off the whole shebang in under 10K thanks to a couple little diy's and tricks of the trade. A LOT of the lower cost was due to our location which was an all-inclusive (meaning ceremony, reception, food, cake service, etc..) hotel but it was in a small town. Our cost would've doubled had we done something in the city, but it just worked out to have it in our college town.

Pinterest was just becoming a thing when we were engaged, unfortunately, so I hardly got the chance to have the super adorable 'Pinteresty' weddings you fine ladies are having now. Regardless, I feel like I could pass on some budget-friendly knowledge to anyone who's looking for ways to save a penny or two. 

 1. Flowers
I've decided I actually need to quit my life and become a weddings-only florist because they make a KILLING. If you haven't looked at the cost of having even just a couple arrangements, girl you might as well just kiss $500+ goodbye.

I was like no thank you, I'll just spend $80 and made my girls' and my bouquets. Ya'll... it's so much easier than you think and the possibilities are endless. I chose to make a few fabric flowers and add in some fake florals, broaches, feathers, and some sentimental jewels as well. The handles?... paper towel rolls... shhhh.  I'll have a how-to on the flowers soon, but until then, here are a couple photos so you get the idea :)

Floral bouquets: $150 ea
Vs.

Fabric bouquets: $10 ea

I also made the flower ball our precious flower girl carried. Styrofoam ball, tissue paper, ribbon, and and little hot glue, and you've made magic!

2. Table Decor
I was given some brilliant advice when planning: Candle light. Candle light. Candle light.
In a semi-dark room, candles provoke a romantic and chic atmosphere. This was my alternative to having floral centerpieces... which, again, would've been an arm and a leg. I bought large 3-wick candles from hob lob (40% off of course), spray painted them navy, wrapped them in pink ribbon, added a couple bejewel-ments around the ribbon and sat them each in their own stand. The stands were small terracotta pots/ saucers I spray painted, and glued as you see them below.

Floral centerpieces: $250 ea
vs.

Candle centerpieces: $15 ea

3. Programs and Printables
I highly recommend printing your own invitations/ programs/ thank you's etc.... unless you want a calligrapher, metallic print, or a reallllllly specific color that your printer won't print. Even so, I strongly suggest to print some of the less-highlighted handouts (favor notes, door hangers, agendas, etc...) yourself just because that alone will save you lots of mula. You can find pretty paper at Michael's and Hobby Lobby had the best option for invitations and ribbon that I saw.

From a Printing Source -200 guests
Invitations: $400+
Programs: $250+

VS.

DIY -200 guests
Invitations: $100 (plus ink cartridge for printer)
Programs: $100 (plus ink cartridge for printer)

 Invitation From Hobby Lobby $25 for 50 count

Iridescent card stock ($7.50/ 100),  Paper Doilies ($2/16) at Michael's, 1/2" ribbon ($3/10 yrds) Hob Lob

***Include your 'Thank you for coming, this is how much we love you' note on your program to save paper and money***

All of the printables below were projects I did for other friends' weddings in Powerpoint or Word. You can get some pretty awesome fonts for FREE from this safe-to-download website. You can google free clipart and fun patterns for an even more sassy hand-out. Just save them as JPG. or a PDF. so it'll print like a picture and when you send them to other people (if you need to) they'll be able to see the correct fonts and arrangement.

4. Cake
So I've decided that the second career I need to jump into is wedding cakes. Although there are many alternatives to your #basic wedding cake (i.e. cookie towers and cup cakes), all of these options will most likely account for a large fraction of your wedding budget. I'm talking $700 for a basic white wedding cake.... like what? I'm pretty sure the shopping list, alone, for that one cake is probably around $30..... hence my new career choice lol


I was all on board the cup cake train when my mom mentioned cheese cake petit fours as a possibility and a light bulb went off. Not many people I know don't love a good piece of cheese cake AND it's different *bonus!* since that's also what I was going for. Enter The Cheese Cake Factory. A cheese cake from the CCF comes in 8 slices for about $48; however, each of those slices can be split into 3rds for an actual normal serving size. 6 cheese cakes x 24 slices from each cake = 144 pieces! Perfect for our 120 guests.

 Let's do the math:

Wedding cake from bakery: $500-$700+
Cheese cakes from CCF: $240

Also, wedding toppers can be anything these days. I found our initial above at Hobby Lobby for like $4.  The cheese cakes were a big hit and what makes it even better is that we can have our wedding cake every anniversary if we want. Just have to swing by a CCF :)

5. Favors

I've seen alllll kinds of favors. It's a fun way to do something sweet for your guests who've traveled from near and far that is unique to you and your new spouse. Cookie cutters, horse shoes (for luck), a candy bar so they can take home your favorite sweets, and a couple's favorite fast food snack...which is perfect after you've danced yourself back into a state of hunger are all good ideas. 

My advice here is to choose something unique that personifies you both i.e. blue bonnet seeds if you're from Texas or coffee beans if you're both big cafe con leche fans. Do it in bulk aka a grab-as- you-go thing if possible, like our candy bowl below, or some kind of food take-away because that is usually less expensive. You can buy little jars, bags, or envelopes on etsy or at a local party supply warehouse/ store. In Houston, I would suggest Arnes!

Here are some other unique ideas.

6. Your grand exit

This tip is for those who are looking for something other than sparklers, bubbles, or petals. We made ribbon dancers out of skewers and 2-inch ribbon in our wedding colors. It was actually really fun to run through and they were so inexpensive, we just had everyone trash them in end without care because we literally only spent about $20 on all 150 of them lol.

I will say I love a good sparkler picture if you have a night time wedding, but a lot of venues don't allow them anymore and they can get pretty smokey if you don't run through just as they're lit. My suggestion is to do something that will give you pretty pictures but that can be easily cleaned up or disposed of. Bird seed is traditional but it doesn't make for great pictures and glitter/ confetti is a NIGHTMARE so make sure it's biodegradable and that your venue allows it.

Here are a couple more ideas:

Like ours, but with bells! LOVE.

More tips on how to make your wedding day as flawless as you coming soon!

Cheers!