The Wedding Dish

On today’s Wedding Dish, learn why make up trials are so important for your wedding. Plus get exclusive make up tips from professional make-up artist Eve Pearl and Lash Boutique’s Courtney Akai!

Enjoy!

August 20, 2010 by The Wedding Dish | Filed under: Health & Beauty,News & Celebrities,Wedding Dish | 0 Comments
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Bicoastal_Bride

The morning of our wedding started off quietly and slowly, with my mom, sister and I heading to one of my bridesmaids’ homes to start getting all dolled up for the special moments to come.

As we entered the quiet house along with our hair and makeup stylists, I relished the serenity of the day, but felt eager for the hustle and bustle I knew would soon follow. After all, this was my wedding day, and every moment was supposed to feel action-packed and fun, right?

 Getting Ready: The Calm Before The Storm
But since a few bridesmaids had gone to a separate salon, things remained calm and relatively peaceful for quite a while. My mom made a Starbucks run, as stylist Jana and her daughter worked away. Stephen’s sisters joined us, patiently awaiting their turns in the makeup chair. My phone on my lap, I found time to blog and send off a few fun “wedding day” messages.

But sure enough, as the morning wore on, the house started to fill up, both with people and things. My future mother-in-law brought us lunch, leftover from our rehearsal dinner the night before. Future father-in-law? He also stopped by, kindly heading to Jamba Juice to grab our favorites. The rest of the girls arrived, and there was excited chatter, plus hugs all around.

 Getting Ready: The Calm Before The Storm
As the kitchen table became strewn with plates, boxes of crackers, and empty plastic cups, one or two of the girls’ boyfriends even popped in and out of the picture, while photographer Damien steadily snapped away, alongside his assistant Nicole. Photo equipment filled the living room, as my gown hung happily in the window, where it could finally have its day in the sun.

Things were calm yet crazy, and quiet yet joyously loud. It was the perfect combination.

heather 1 Getting Ready: The Calm Before The Storm

LESSON LEARNED: Before your wedding day, think about exactly what type of “getting ready” experience you’d like, as this can set the tone for how you feel going into the entire day – nervous, excited, calm, and so on. Do you envision a boisterous morning to get you pumped up? A calm, relaxing moment shared with just your sister and mom? A mix of both, like me? Let your personality be your guide. Plus, when choosing a location, be sure to pick a spot that is large enough to comfortably accommodate however many people will be there. A place that will lend a great backdrop for photos doesn’t hurt, either.

Where do you or did you plan to get ready on your wedding day? Do you prefer to be surrounded by a large group, or to keep things small?

(Photo Credits: Personal Library & Damien Smith Photography)

August 5, 2010 by Bicoastal_Bride | Filed under: All the rest,Ceremony and Vows,Health & Beauty,Wedding Photos & Video | 1 Comment
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GM Deals Steals Giveaways

 Calling All Atlanta Brides!

July 19, 2010 by GM Deals Steals Giveaways | Filed under: Bridal Events & Contests,Health & Beauty | 0 Comments
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caitlin1122

I feel like whenever a girl gets engaged they start to obsess about 2 things… 1. looking at your ring all the time and smiling, and 2. thinking to themselves-oh no. I need to get in shape to look great on my big day!

Those were definitely 2 things that I was doing! So once we bought our house and moved in, we both decided that we need to get our butts in gear. It’s worked out pretty well… we had that extra weight from eating what we wanted to and not exercising much. I’ve lost 15 pounds since January! I think the biggest part of that has been that my FH and I have been doing it together. We’ll get up at 6 and go to the gym together and we try to plan out our meals for the week so we are intrigued to go grab something quickly-which also helps us save money!

Are you doing anything to keep in shape for the big day? What are your tips??

July 15, 2010 by caitlin1122 | Filed under: All the rest,Health & Beauty,Wedding Etiquette & Advice | 2 Comments
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Stuart Brazell

Today I felt like at kid on Christmas when I woke up – finally after three months of planning and talking on the phone and by email my mom is here in California in person!   And my dad is here for the first time since I moved to Los Angeles seven years ago!

I am so confident in my wedding planning abilities and the wonderful experience this has been for both myself and Rob, but there is nothing like having your mom to share in the fun and offer her expertise!  So I’m off to pick her up and take her to see the dress – and yes this will be the final fitting before the big day, which is Saturday – craziness!  We have an action packed day: she will see the venue for the first time (which she actually found online), stop by the florist, and the big one ……  my parents and family will meet Rob’s parents and family for the first time tonight!  I can’t wait – I just know everyone is going to have a blast.

I feel like I’m on the top of the world I am so filled with joy!  Also, I have a couple surprises during the wedding and I’m debating whether to share with our closest ones or leave them a surprise.  For example, I have decided to wear the fabulous flashy white ballroom dress with the feather bottom for our first dance!  Also, I will be performing a hot hot hot salsa group number with three of my besties.  And wait for it ….  the best part – I’m having my friends do the full on Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” dance and number before my bouquet toss!  And the fun is just getting started – I have tons of other day of “Stuisms” (what I call me putting my touch and artistic flair on the event).  I have decided to wait until I can show you all pictures of video for the rest, but no doubt this will be a night everyone will remember!

And I did a preview with my actual hair and make-up peeps yesterday so let me know what you think!

by Stuart Brazell | Filed under: All the rest,Health & Beauty | 1 Comment
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TheHoneymoonTesters

On our honeymoon, we did a lot of long haul flights – at least 10 hours at a time and on some of those flights I got some seriously unattractive swollen ankles. Not on all flights, just some of them.

As our job as The Honeymoon Testers, we do at least one flight a week, which led me to ask my lovely Facebook friends – how could I possibly avoid the dreaded cankles with all this flying?

Take it away….

Amber: Those travel socks help a little bit – make sure you get up move around at least every two hours – a bit of yoga here and there helps too – you get a few strange looks but its worth it!

Anna: I would probably say socks as well, plenty of water and get up ALOT even go into the bathroom and try and do squats or something or stand on your tip toes?

Anthony: Walk about when you can, but at other times wiggle your toes. The heart pumps blood down to the feet, but your feet and leg muscles pump it back up. When you wiggle your toes you’re also using your calf muscles. Flight/compression socks work too by gently squeezing the blood back up.

Kylie: Walk around a lot. Go hang out with the crew in the galley. I never get cankles – u could get on a meal cart?!

Andrea: Aspirin an hour or so before you fly and the rather unattractive flight socks – the thicker the better. They really do help.

Melissa: Uh, I think some people are more prone to this than others. I always get the leg swell too.

Anne Marie: If you get bulkhead or some space, lying/sitting so that your legs are pointed up (or if you’re seated at bulkhead just stick em up against the wall hehehe) … I do it for about 10-15 mins when I feel like I’m swelling … and weirdly, also moisturize your feet/ankles, prob got something to do with massaging and so moving the blood around.

So, it looks everyone has the same advice. Move around a lot and get a hold of some of those sexy flight socks!

Any other advice?

by TheHoneymoonTesters | Filed under: Health & Beauty,Travel & Honeymoon | 0 Comments
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Bicoastal_Bride

“While they were taking my order, I just wanted to ask, don’t you know what day this is?” my mom joked with me, my sister, and our hair and makeup stylists as she returned from her Starbucks run the morning of the wedding.

As excited as I was that day, if there was anyone even more pumped up, it would have been my mom. And with good reason! Between planning a wedding from across the country and balancing a busy schedule to boot, I would have been lost without my mom’s constant help and support. Did I need something picked up? My mom was there to handle it. Help reaching out to vendors early on? Mom was quick to assist. And finding a place to store all our DIY and store-bought treasures until the big day? Don’t even get me started.

 Dont You Know What Day This Is?
Yes, this was definitely her day, too, and in light of that, I wanted to make her feel special by treating her to a little pampering. But, as a simple and humble gal, my mom doesn’t like to be fussed over. Professional makeup? Maybe. Manicure and pedicure? No thanks. And hairstyling? This freaked her out big time, and she was especially adamant about doing it herself.

But then, on the wedding day, the curls my mom tried to create in her own hair just didn’t turn out quite right, and she started to worry. As she watched my stylist Jana prettify me and the girls, I could see that she wished she’d agreed to have her own hair styled, too.

Wanting to make sure she was happy, I immediately talked to Jana. Not only did she agree to squeeze my mom in, but she agreed to do so for no additional fee. “Listen,” she told my mom. “You’re the mother of the bride today. In about a month, I’ll be the mother of the bride, too. So, don’t worry!”

 Dont You Know What Day This Is?
In addition to being generous, Jana was very patient, making sure my mom was happy with everything she did, and that my mom wasn’t forced into anything too over-the-top. Of course, she came out looking gorgeous and feeling great, which continued throughout the evening while she danced the night away!

After the wedding, I was quick to send Jana a “thank you” card. In it, I thanked her for making me feel beautiful on my wedding day, but especially thanked her for making my mom feel as special and important as she deserved.

 Dont You Know What Day This Is?
How do you hope to make your mom, grandmother, or another VIP lady feel special on the wedding day?

(Photo Credits: Alex Neumann Photography & Personal Library)

July 13, 2010 by Bicoastal_Bride | Filed under: Health & Beauty | 3 Comments
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Stuart Brazell

Hey everyone – so as promised here is my second look (which I think is my favorite) – smokey eyes, loose curls and lots of volume!  I have scheduled my make-up and hair run through for this Sunday – so excited!  And I’m curious to know if you girls are wearing fake eye lashes – I love the way they look, but I hate it when they don’t stay in place.  What are your thoughts?

July 9, 2010 by Stuart Brazell | Filed under: Health & Beauty | 1 Comment
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FutureMrsAble

I am down to 83 days and counting. I feel more overwhelmed now more then ever I think because I know I have SO much to get done but can’t until the money is “here”. I am going into day 3 of working for Subway. I started Wednesday morning & I must say, I am totally enjoying it and never imagined I would be as happy as I am working there. My manager is cool. My other co-workers, minus the ones I haven’t worked with or the boy that screamed he was racist and he is black, they are all pretty amazing.. but I said minus the boy. LOL. He is getting on me nerves really bad and we started the same day, so we will see how he continues to work out seeing as he fumbled the ball yesterday goofing off after clocking in from lunch in front of the manager.

Anyhow, not sure as to when they get paid again but it’s either today or next friday. If it’s next friday I think I’ll have a check for 15 hours and 40 minutes. If so, off to David’s Bridal I go to make a payment to keep my dress on hold for a wee-bit longer. With me working, I don’t believe I’ll need until September but I do need at least 2 or 3 paychecks depending on how I want to pay. I think my 1st check will go 100% toward my dress. This is approximately $110. That will bring it down to $200ish being owed so I should be able to pay it off & have it fixed after my 2nd check. So this is excited!

I need to shop for my bridal accessories as well within the same week so that I can just put it all away & be done with my part and focus on the reception items I still want to get. I told my MOH I’d buy her Sash & Shoes. But she has a $40 limit on shoes. Her Sash is $29 and I pay be able to catch it on sale. I’m not sure yet.

My little brain has been working overtime on my centerpieces. I haven’t started making them yet but my sister is to come this month and we’re to work on them for an entire weekend. I am going to try to make sure that I get an earlier shift the Saturday she comes in and a later shift on the following Sunday so that we have ample time together to get them finished. The main things I am worried about is getting the bouquets and bouts done. Me & my MOH can play around with centerpieces through the week and on weekends to get those done. But if she could make just 1 cute one for us to mock then it’d be great!

I feel better about working. It’s a great feeling. Also my sweet dear Fiance is waiting on hearing back from the temp agency that offered him a $10 hour job working just a few miles down the road from where we live. It makes conflict with my making it to work but, if I can get his Dad to take me to work I can walk home. It’s 3 miles from my home. I need more exercise anyway :)

Well, I have got to be at work in 30 minutes so I need to finish up my duties here online & at home. Have a great day everyone!

But this is my wedding makeup trial. I did it myself.

My hair was a trail, too, but have since found a different style that my MOH is going to try to copyy!

CIMG0022 On the Wedding Planning Frontlines

July 6, 2010 by FutureMrsAble | Filed under: All the rest,Health & Beauty | 1 Comment
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Stuart Brazell

I just got back from trying on my dress – LOVED it! One problem, it is too big (insert frown face) – but with alterations (another $400) it should be perfect.  I wanted to order a size smaller, but the boutique owner assured me this would be perfect.  Lesson learned ladies, sometimes you do know best!  Scary part, I can’t try it on again until two days before the wedding.  Luckily my mom will have arrived from South Carolina, so I’m hoping she can play bad cop with some southern charm if need be.   Hey it’s my wedding day – I need to LOVE my dress right?

So I have decided to turn my attention to something I can control and that’s fun- hair and make-up.  Take a look at the one of the options I’m considering:  old Hollywood glam make-up with hair pulled back.  Of course this is just me playing at home and trust me I’m not a professional, but you can get an idea.

Would love to know your thoughts ladies!  And also here is a quick thank you to my fabulous future sister-in-law who sent strawberries and champagne to me and my girls in Vegas – whoo hoo!

Stay tuned for my smoky eyes and long flowing curls look coming soon!

July 1, 2010 by Stuart Brazell | Filed under: Health & Beauty | 5 Comments
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