All Dressed in White October 31, 2008

This week, we have discussed skin care, make-up, and hair. Today, we will finish beauty week by talking about body types and how to find the right gown. First you must know what body shape you have. A pear is small on top and wider around the hips and bottom. The triangle shape is wide in the top and smaller on bottom. The hourglass is a large bust, small waist, large hips. Finally the willow is basically slim all the way down with little curve.

The four major dress silhouettes are full skirt (ballroom), A line (princess), sheath and mermaid. Full skirst and A lines are very helpful in hiding flaws. The form fitting bodice shows off everything you’re proud of and the way the fabric flows off the waist covers the hips and makes the waist appear smaller. Sheath and mermaid dresses are good for those who have nothing to hide. They are very form-fitting all the way down. The mermaid has a flare below the knees, like a mermaid tail. 

If you are a willow, you might look fabulous in a sheath dress. The tightness puts emphasis on what curves you have, creating the illusion that they are bigger. Women with large busts should avoid sweetheart (looks like the top of a heart) and strapless necklines. On the other hand, if you have a smaller bust, a sweetheart will give you a visual boost. Large shoulders also need to steer clear of halters, as they will make your shoulders look even wider. A particularly tall bride might want to go for a dress with just below the knee length or two pieces.

When you are looking for a dress, consider what kind of wedding you will be having. My husband and I are swing dancing fanatics, so I knew I would be doing some of that at my reception. So, I got a swishy chiffon dress that flowed well as I moved. My husband even lifted me upside down in the air and my dress didn’t fall down to show too much. Morning weddings are generally slightly less formal than night weddings and you should choose your gown accordingly. 

The best advice I can tell you is to watch the reactions of people when you walk out of the fitting room. That includes the people you’re with, as well as other women in the store. If you get a double-take or ooohs and aaaahhs, you know it’s a good fit. Happy shopping!

Under the Veil October 30, 2008

 

When you are planning your wedding hairstyle, take into account the formality of the event.

Black-tie weddings are the most formal and call for an elegant updo. Sleek and structured will serve you best.

Formal or semi-formal weddings allow for a loose updo or a professional-looking half-up, half-down style.

The bride at a casual wedding should wear a loose, unstructured style that is still polished. Have a professional do your usual style so it looks a little more glamorous. Consider a sleek pony tail.

A beach wedding needs a style that can handle the sea breeze. Perhaps loose waves or tussled curls cascading over bare shoulders. 

When you have your hair trial run, leave it in for at least a few hours, if not all day so you can be aware of any problems that may occur later on (frizz, uncurling, hair dropping, flat). Avoid washing your hair on the wedding day so it’s easier to manipulate. Don’t forget to wear a button-up shirt to your hair appointment so you don’t ruin the do as you change into your dress.

From my Big Day October 29, 2008

Since we’re talking about beauty this week, I thought I’d include a few beauty pictures from my own experience. Trying on wedding dresses was one of the best times I’ve had. Here are a few of the trials, which turned out to be errors.

  

 

There were a plethora of dresses tried on that day, but I will not post all of the horrid ones, to save my reputation. It’s amazing how good a dress can look on a hanger in contrast to how bad it can look on me.

Here is what I ended up with. It was the third dress I tried on at the third store. When I put it on, I knew it was the one. It fit well, I felt gorgeous in it and I got the “ooohs” and “ahhhhhs” that you want on your wedding day. Nevertheless, I tried on 12 more dresses. Then, I came back to the one. It was perfect.

 

Photo by Linda Story

Is it on straight? October 28, 2008

My first piece of advice concerning wedding day make-up is get a professional. You or a friend can hide flaws, but a professional make-up artist can bring out your best features, making you look naturally like a model. If you just can’t bring yourself to go over your budget any more than you already have (the average American bride goes 50% over her budget), here are some tips on how to look glamorous. First of all, realize that you will probably need to wear more make-up than you do on a daily basis. However, this does not mean just cake it on, haphazardly. Be sure that you are using a foundation that matches your skin tone. If you don’t know, ask someone. Some skin has a yellow tint to it, others are more pink and still others have more brown. Be aware of what colors are in your skin tone. Then, apply your foundation all around your face, concentrating on blending, especially in the creases and odd shapes, like around the base of your nose. Be sure that there are no lines near your hair line or chin, because cameras tend to pick those up very easily. Next, use a concealer that is slightly lighter than your foundation to hide impurities and dark circles under the eyes. Don’t forget the outer corner under your eyes! Be careful not to use a concealer that is too light, as that will frame your eyes, instead of blending the circles with your cheeks (Note: concealer goes on after foundation because you want it to stay right where you put it and not get smeared around). 

When applying blush or bronzer, follow the natural line of your cheekbone. Always apply in strokes from beneath the middle of your eye toward the top of your ear. Never start at the ear and go toward the nose. If your blush looks too strong, wait a few seconds for the skin to adjust after being manipulated and, if it still looks intense, give it a light layer of foundation or powder to make the red glow look like it’s coming from beneath the skin. Always follow with powder to avoid shiny glares in your pictures.

You should be using several shades of eyeshadow. First, use a light to mid-tone or shear shade from the lash line to the brow. Then, using a flat eyeshadow brush, apply a slightly darker tone along the crease line, or slightly above. This will give your eyes shape and dimension. Lastly, use your darkest shade to create a small ‘v’ that sits on it’s side, from the crease to the outer corner to the lash line. Follow this with eye liner from corner to corner on the top and from outer corner fading to inner corner on bottom. Feel free to add a colored liner on top of this on the outer corners. Finish with two layers of mascara. Use a waterproof mascara in case of wedding tears. Start at the base of the lashes and follow them out as you move the brush in horizontal strokes to separate lashes. Go easy on the bottom lashes.

To get kissable lips, apply a liner along the natural edge of your lips (don’t put it on the skin tone outside of your lips, or you will get a chapped-lip look) and follow with a lipstick that matches. To complete the look, add a subtle gloss. Be sure to take lipstick and gloss with you on your wedding day for touch-ups. If your maid of honor carries a purse, that’s the perfect place to keep them.

Final thoughts: Blend, blend, blend! To successfully make your make-up look natural, blend all lines and all boundaries between different colors. Stay away from too much glitter or shine, as this will reflect the flash of cameras.

Beauty Week Begins! October 27, 2008

This is the launch of beauty week, here at Aisle Talk! Today’s topic is skin care. Every bride wants to look her best on her wedding day. Successful skin care is the first step to a flawless look. Do not start a new skin care regimen closer than 3 months before your wedding. It takes time for your skin to react to new products and a new routine.

Be sure to create a daily routine that fits your skin. If your nose is always oily and your chin is always dry and the rest of your face is always normal, then don’t apply moisturizer to your nose as often as to the other parts of your face. If you have acne-prone skin, don’t use harsh scrubs, which can cause an outbreak or scars. For oily skin, find a cleanser that is made for oily skin (says ‘removes oil’). If you are not using a cleanser that says “removes make-up”, then it’s not meant to remove make-up. It’s meant to remove oil and impurities. You need to either find a make-up removing cleanser, or use make-up removing towelettes before washing your face. By the way, if your cleanser does say “removes make-up”, then it’s a great shampoo for make-up brushes. Clean your brushes regularly to avoid using tainted colors. Another helpful hint: wash your face with warm to hot water to open your pores and rinse it with cold water to close your pores. This way, your cleanser can go deep into your skin to remove all the dirt and oil and it becomes more difficult for grime to get back in.

Remember-your skin heals and rejuvenates at night. Use protectors like sunscreen (a must, even in winter!) in the morning, and healers like anti-wrinkle serums before bed to get the best results.

Drink plenty of water (you’ve heard the usual 8 glasses a day) and exercise at least 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes. If you will be wearing a strapless or shoulder-revealing dress, concentrate on your arms and back.

Quotes of Love October 25, 2008

When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.  ~Nora Ephron, When Harry Met Sally

Let Them Eat Cake… October 24, 2008

Cupcakes and chocolate fountains are two popular alternatives to the traditional wedding cake. Many wedding traditions have been put in place for good reason. However, some are just silly. I think that if the bride and groom dislike cake, there is no reason they should feel obligated to have one at their wedding. Instead, feel free do your own thing. For instance, if you prefer ice cream, why not have an ice cream sunday bar? Another fun idea is chocolate covered strawberries. There are always compliments when strawberries are decorated like a bride and groom using white and milk chocolate. Guests appreciate it when you are creative with your wedding.

It’s also nice to have options for them. For instance, consider having a dessert table with all sorts of goodies. Fruit tarts are good for those who are trying to stay healthy. Be sure to include chocolate and vanilla treats.

 

 

My Big Day October 22, 2008

 

Photo by Linda Story

 

 

This is a picture from my own big day. This is my favorite posed picture from my wedding because you can clearly see how incredibly happy we both are. My family photographer has been taking pictures of us since I was little and has become a special part of the family, because she’s always around during our most important events. Linda is an artist and a joy to work with. I appreciate her ability to see what can be and create an amazing, unexpected shot. Thanks, Linda! You can visit Linda’s website at www.lindastoryphotos.com

Attention Grooms! October 22, 2008

This post is for all those grooms-to-be out there…or all those brides who want to show their grooms that they really do have a role in the wedding besides saying ‘I do’. Some grooms want to be involved in the planning, as it is their day, too. However, most grooms just let their future bride take care of it, since they have probably been dreaming about it for years anyway. My husband was the latter. So, I have a little advice for those who just don’t know how to let their sweetie know they care without taking over the details.

First of all, if your bride asks you to do something, do it! Do it fast, do it well and then let her know that it’s done. If she gives you a task that you really don’t want to do, tell her you don’t feel comfortable with it and then offer to do another task for her (if you’ve been listening to her, you’ve probably heard the hundreds of things on her list). 

Second, if she asks your opinion on wedding details, give her your honest opinion and then forget about it. Ultimately, she will probably go with whatever makes her happy and if she does you need to respect that. You get to plan the honeymoon. Let her have her day. However, almost every bride I’ve known truly does want to know how they can help their groom be involved in planning. So, let her know.

Now, this is the most important part. Remind your bride over and over why you are getting married. It’s not so that she can have fake snow brought in for a winter wedding in April. It’s so that you can spend the rest of your life with the one you love. So, if all else fails, you will still be together, and that’s what counts. Be on her side. Support her. This is one of the four most stressful times in her life (the other three being the experience of child bearing, death of a loved one and moving). Let her know that she’s not alone in it. Be her hero.

Sneak Peek of Featured Event October 20, 2008

My current client is two weeks from being married and I’m so excited for the outcome of all our planning! I will give you a full description of the wedding when it’s over, but here is a quick sneak peek. It is a November wedding, with a garden theme. The venue for both the ceremony and reception is the Farm at South Mountain. It is a quaint little farm with a grove in the middle of it. In the grove is a large arch covered in greens:

 

 

The reception is a stone’s throw away under a great canopy. The flagstone floor provides lovely framework for our design.

 

 

If you notice the pots on either side, you’ll understand why we were a little worried. The pots themselves were scuffed and old, and the trees inside them were, to say the least, scrawny.  Since this picture was taken, the pots have been replanted and we are very happy with the outcome. You will just have to wait to see them.

 

There will be sunflowers everywhere. Even the female ringbearer will be carrying the rings down the aisle on a fresh sunflower secured with a ribbon. The bridal party will be driven right up to the end of the aisle in a limo. That’s all I’m revealing right now, so I hope you are intrigued. Come back in November for a full account of this gorgeous fall wedding.