Wedding Planning Guide / One Year Out

Hello Brides to be !  So you just got engaged. Congratulations !  And you already may be feeling a bit over whelmed...OMG WHAT DO DO FIRST !!!  The key is to have a solid planning guide.

The guide that I will be giving you is based on a one year plan though of course you can adjust it to your own timetable.

1) Start a bridal file and fill it with photos from Bridal, Cooking and Home magazines & websites. This will inspire you and help you choose your Dress, Jewelry, Flowers, Table Design & Cuisine. Pinterest can be a great resource for this. Start your own wedding Pinterest Site !

2) Put your budget together. If family members are contributing
    combine your wedding savings with theirs & begin to decide how  
     you will allocate the funds.
3) Choose your Bridal party. Both you and your Fiance should work on this together.
4) After shopping for & choosing a venue, book the date.
5) The guest list.  Of course you need to discuss this with parents
     Just keep in mind that there will be many other costs to be considered so if you don't have a big budget you may have to be strong on this point. People will
be understanding about this.

6) If your budget allows hire a wedding planner to help with all the details and the vendor search .
     But you Can find vendors on your own....there is plenty of help out there. One Wed, Wedding
     Wire and Wed Plan are great because vendors are reviewed by brides. Good idea to start your
     search now & give yourself 2 months to decide.
7) Book your officiant.

Next time we will talk about florists, makeup, hair, entertainment,caterers and other important things to do nine months out.

Hurricanes & Luck

Hello everyone, I was going to blog about wedding planning tonight. Then I watched the Benefit for the victims of the hurricane and decided that more important things had to be said. I'll keep it short & not preachy.
      For those of us who did not lose a loved one
and who have a place to go home to... we are so lucky. I know that things are rough for lots of us That money is tight & some of us have to work 2 or more jobs to make ends meet but think about those people on the Jersey Shore & Staten Island.
They have lost everything.
 So if you have just $10 please send it to the Red Cross & help.  Think of how fortunate you are tonight. I know I am.

Part Five Blush & Lips

Happy Fall Brides !
Autumn Weddings are very popular now. Cooler temps and lower humidity are much more desirable than sweltering summer days.
So let's talk about the finishing touches on your bridal makeup.
    Blush should take a "back seat" to the rest of your makeup. Keep it in the same color family as your lips. Use a really good brush, not the one that comes with the product. Do not take it down lower than the halfway point between your nose & mouth and lightly powder over the blush to give it a more professional, natural look.
Now, for your lips. Lips are sooo personal. Most women are not going to make an extreme change in lipstick on their wedding day.
    For the woman who wants a natural look I suggest a neutral lip colored pencil all over the lip followed by a low key or clear gloss.  If you are going for color please match the pencil to the lipstick. No lip pencil lines!!!  To help keep the lipstick on longer blot and powder between coats. Then finish with a moderate amount of gloss.  Lipcolor REALLY pulls the whole look together so even if you never wear it do a natural color. You will look so much more wonderful in your photos.
Have a beautiful Weekend !

DIY Bridal Makeup / Part Four Perfect Eyes

        Let's talk about your beautiful bridal eyes.
If you want your eye makeup to last a lid primer is an absolute must. Purchase a high quality one. Great eyes are done with high end products & brushes. Choose a look you love from a magazine or a website. Then go look for the shadows & try them in the store before you buy. Go a few times if you can; then practice until you achieve the effect that you want. If you are not used to eye makeup, keep your look soft. Remember that really good brushes will do the best job & Blend, Blend, Blend !
Invest in waterproof liner & mascara please. They will last all day & well into the evening.

Now for your brows. They are the frame for your eyes so make sure they are well shaped and clean. After applying your brow pencil or powder be sure to brush through with a brow brush. I prefer a combo of pencil & powder. I know this may sound like a lot of steps but it will be worth it when you receive compliments and see your Bridal photos.
That's all. Have fun shopping for your fabulous eyes !
Coming soon: Blush & Lips

DIY Bridal Makeup Tips Part Three / The Natural Bride

    This will benefit all the brides-to-be who want to make absolutely sure that they look completely like themselves & that their fiances are met at the alter by the "natural girl" that they proposed to.
   Some sort of foundation is really important. Then take the makeup you wear everyday & embellish it. Change it up
with a little bling ! It doesn't have to be DRAMATIC.
   Here are a few things you can do:
Get a delicate highlight for the area under your eyebrow like MAC Vanilla Pigment
Apply a little glow powder to the top of your cheekbones.  Purchase a new mascara that really brings out your lashes & take your time applying it.
Get a new wonderful glimmery lipgloss in a neutral or pale pink.  Any or all of these will make you feel more
bridal without compromising your comfort level.
Next ; Part Four / Brushes & Eye Makeup
 

Great Tips for Brides to Be: DIY Bridal Makeup Tips Part Two / Foundations

Great Tips for Brides to Be: DIY Bridal Makeup Tips Part Two / Foundations:   Happy Spring Everyone!                  We are having an unusually early Spring here in Chicago. Everything is green & in bloom...it's so...

DIY Bridal Makeup Tips Part One

Happy March !
         Spring is on the way & wedding dates approach more quickly than you can imagine. So if you are a future bride or bridesmaid and are planning to do your own makeup I have detailed, helpful tips for you.
Part One: Skin Care   Have fun with this...remember it's for your wedding!
          I know you are 20something and your skin feels fine so you don't think you have to moisturize. There is a moisturizer for every skin type...oily,combination or dry. You don't have to spend lots of money to get one. Drugstores now have a wide range of skincare products for all skin types. If you feel unsure or worried about allergic reactions see a friend recommended dermatologist.
          If you break out when under stress it's a good idea to see a dermatologist well ahead of time to ask about a product that will help.
Also if you want to have a facial before your wedding have one
at least one month before. This is really important, believe me.
Have a simple facial if you have not had one before and use an esthetician who is highly recommended.
                                                          Now for brides 30 & over ! All of the above applies plus eyecreams
are a real plus. The skin under the eyes are the first part of the face to lose moisture.If you are a regular makeup wearer regardless of age be sure to cleanse well. Your skin will thank you.
                          OK, here's the bottom line. You will feel great & look gorgeous on your very special day
in person & in your photos if you take good care of your skin.
        Part Two / Foundations is coming in a few days. Have a wonderful weekend, Wendy
                   
                     
       

LUCKY !

Hello All ! I know that you have not heard from me
in a long time. Life & work get in the way of blogging.
But I'm back !
        On Saturday we did a lovely wedding at
The Public Hotel in Chicago. This is the home of
The Pump Room, where every public figure since the
1930s has come to dine. What a great job they did renovating this beautiful landmark hotel, from head to toe.
         My wonderful bride Iris (to the left) was such a pleasure to work with. Her stepmom Peg, her sister
and bridesmaids were all terrific. They were fun to be with and were so loving to Iris. They took really good care of her and attended to every detail.
Plus regardless of timing pressure Iris was sooo patient & sweet and maintained her great sense of humor.
They are all very fortunate to have each other & we were very lucky to spend the day with them.
I hope all future brides will be blessed enough to have this sort of wedding day !
                                                                                  See you soon (REALLY !) , Wendy