Other Musings

Wedding Day Hair and Makeup

I’m on a bit of a wedding kick after yesterday’s post, so I thought what better way to let the wedding wisdom flow than to review some of the vendors from my own wedding day! During the next few weeks, I’ll discuss each of my vendors, my experience with them and some lessons I learned (some the hard way!) during my bride-to-be experience.

One of the most important, and also fun, decisions to make is the one about your “beauty team.” When I was going through the process of choosing a hair and makeup team, I can’t deny that I felt a bit egotistical doing so much research and putting so much effort into my appearance. However, after seeing pictures, ladies  you have full license to be a diva. This is your Oscars; your Grammys; your fifteen minutes of fame! Go for it – spare NO expense to feel good and look perfect.

So, where do you begin your search for the team of beauty geniuses that are going to make you rival Heidi Klum? First, make a few decisions:

  1. Do you want to travel to a salon or have your services on-site?
  2. Do you want hair and makeup or just one of these services?
  3. Are you going to offer hair and makeup services to your bridesmaids? Your mother? Your soon-to-be Mother in law?
  4. What kind of look do you want for your bridesmaids? Hair up or down? Heavy makeup or a more natural look?
  5. Are you going to pay for any or all of these services for your bridesmaids?
  6. What is your budget? *Be sure to account for gratuity.
A snapshot of my wedding day hair.

Once you know what you want from your hair and makeup services, you can begin deciding where you should look. Start with what you know:

  1. Do you have any recently married friends who can provide you with some recommendations?
  2. Does your venue have any recommendations?
  3. What vendors are local to the area in which you are getting married?

Due to my desire to have hair and makeup on-site, I immediately eliminated a majority of the vendors because they required brides to come to the salon for services. I further limited my choices given that my venue, Rosemont Manor, was more than an hour outside of the DC-Metro area in Berryville, VA. I finally decided, after hours upon hours of researching options, to check out my venue’s recommendation,  The Special Event Salon at the Cottage in Stephenson, VA. Looking back, I should have saved myself the headache and trusted my venue, not my hopes of finding a hidden gem! The Special Event Salon was my hidden gem. After meeting with their salon manager to address my questions, as well as pricing, I scheduled the all important hair and makeup trial – which is an entirely different topic and post related to choosing your hair and makeup vendor, and arguably the most important aspect.

However, you can’t get to the trial without narrowing your choices, so start out by exploring the questions above!

 

Wedding Showcase: January 22!

During wedding planning, my favorite magazine was always Washingtonian Bride & Groom. The editorial style allowed my imagination to dream up new ideas and concepts while the “Real Weddings” section helped me believe I could pull off the same class and elegance of my fellow DC brides. Of course, I can’t overlook the novelty that came with viewing all things wedding featured solely in the DC Metro area.

Naturally, I have to shamelessly plug the Washingtonian Bridge & Groom Unveiled wedding showcase on Sunday. The magazine’s unfaltering understanding of class, elegance and whimsy makes them the perfect choice to host an event for a bride-to-be.

Every wedding planning “event” promises a one stop shop for everything you need for your special day. However, very few deliver successfully. Most leave you for target practice, trudging past booth after booth, sales pitch after sales pitch, many from vendors who are not the top in their industry.

Washingtonian’s upcoming event is at the Mandarin Oriental, one of DC’s top hotel venues and hosts some of the DC area’s top vendors – no, really, they are the cream of the crop! My favorite highlight, a fashion show and appearance from designer Reem Acra – absolutely gorgeous! Here are the details:

Sunday, January 22nd from 11:30 am – 3:30 pm

at the

Mandarin Oriental Hotel 1330 Maryland Avenue Southwest Washington DC, District of Columbia 20024 (202) 554 8588

Tickets are $65.00

Wedding Show Tip: Don’t overdo the bridal showcases and don’t steer away from one because of the price tag. I went to one that was just $10, which allowed me to cover the costs for my bridesmaids who were attending to provide me their support. I ended up just wasting $60 because the show was so low quality that I didn’t get any value out of it. I’d have been much better off forking over the money for my own ticket to a higher quality show and using it to find some key vendors.

 

Is Your Wardrobe Pants-tastic?

Glamour just released a list of the Ten Pants Every Woman Should Own. Now, as the elude to in the feature, I am not a pants girl and not in the ultra-cool Lady Gaga or RiRi kind of way. More in the “my body issues and I prefer to conceal our thighs under a cute skirt or dress kind of way.” I found this list particularly enticing, as I was hoping for some inspiration. Here are the “looks” that made the cut according to Glamour…and the ones I don’t necessarily agree with:

“Fit-You-to-a-TDark Jeans”
A Joe’s Jeans skinny fit dark wash option
We all have our favorite pair of jeans that make us feel like we can rival Giselle and they typically happen to be a dark wash, since it is by far the most flattering. This is one area where I say splurge! Designer jeans just FIT and FEEL better – after you get them hemmed, that is. My favorite brands are Paige and Joe’s. Designer jeans come with a pretty price tag, but you can always find them for a steal if you have the patience for it. The first place I always check for discount designer jeans is Nordstrom Rack. If you are on the shorter side, give the petite sizes a try! 
NiceLeggings
I’ve already posted about my favorite leggings from Lucky Brand that I unfortunately can’t seem to find anywhere this season. A nice pair of thick, stretchy leggings are your BEST friend. They go with anything you have in your wardrobe, can be dressed up or down and are just plain comfortable! I’m still on the search for another “golden” pair, but you can try Lu Lu Lemon for some high quality leggings that can do double duty as workout gear!
RuggedPants (Fit for a Lady)
I don’t necessarily agree with this suggestion. I think the “rugged” trend has come and gone back to the mountain, safari, hiking trail from which it came. Your money can be better spent elsewhere and cargo pockets really are not a girl’s best friend (unless you resemble Kate Bosworth). Take some inspiration from this look, perhaps an army green or rich khaki colored pant but this doesn’t necessarily need to be a staple for every woman. 
Colored Legging-Jeans from Gap
Pantsin a Bold or Bright Color
Grab your shades, kids! This spring is going to popping with bright colors – neons, bolds, jewel tones – they’re all there! I just picked up a pair of red cords and cobalt blue capris to do my part. I wouldn’t recommend splurging on this item. Look for a steal, but don’t sacrifice fit or color for the price tag. Pick a color that will work with what you already have in your wardrobe and that can act as a neutral; cobalt or royal blue, red or coral, magenta and mustard yellow are some great options to begin your journey into the world of color. Check out J Crew’s cords and Matchstick colored jeans, or Ann Taylor Loft for some suggestions. 
Cocktail-PartyPants
So, we all need some fancy pants, huh? I see the need for having a fun, go-to, dressy pair of pants in your closet for when your LBD is just too tuckered out to make another appearance. However, this doesn’t necessarily have to be it’s own category. If you’re on a budget, as most twenty-somethings, your cocktail-party pants can be your favorite pair of black pants or your bold, bright colored pants. Let’s be resourceful, ladies! It is a recession, after all! 
BoyfriendJeans
If a slouchy style looks good on you, then by all means, find a great boyfriend jean for your wardrobe. I’m not hating on the boyfriend jean, I just don’t think it is something every woman needs in her closet. What ever happened to a great, classic trouser or boot cut jean? 
Office-AppropriateTrousers
Always necessary, although not always fun! Many stores are showing a much slimmer, ankle-length version pants which are great for the office. Just make sure they aren’t too tight! 
Leave it to Kimmy K to make
the wide-leg jean look chic
Printedor Patterned Pants
Couple these “statement” pants with your color pants – again, work with what you have to put together a great outfit! Pants with prints and patterns can be adorable, but they are not a necessity. However, if you insist, J Crew can usually offer you some nice, preppy options!
Wide-LegPants
If you can pull the wide-leg look off, then they are a must. A long hem helps to elongate the leg, yes, even for us short girls, but you have to be careful to stay away from anything too high-waisted or too 70’s. Go for inspiration, not expiration. A nice button up shirt or fitted top pairs well with wide-leg pants. 
Persona-AlteringPants

Leather, pleather, skinny, wide-leg, printed, colored -whatever it may be. Keep a secret weapon in your closet to punch up your wardrobe whenever you need a fashion boost. If you’re preppy, purchase some liquid leggings. If you’re a rocker chic, go for something unexpected in a color other than black.

Addition: The LBP
The Little Black Pant is just as essential to a woman’s wardrobe as the LBD. You can wear them to work, to play, to party, to church – wherever and whenever. Go for a flattering fit that is long enough to work with flats or heels so they are universally workable.