Bridal Beauty Makeup Tips

Recently I celebrated my 2 year wedding anniversary. Every year this time around, I like to look back on one of the most emotional and memorable days of my life. There's not a single think I regret or would change about my bridal look and it's because I kept it classic and simple.

Trends come and go,  on your wedding day you want to look as classic and timeless as possible. Loverly reached out and asked me to share my makeup looks for a wedding dress and here are my favorite products, some of which I actually used on my wedding day. So here are my tips for all you beautiful future brides to be. These products are also great for any wedding attendee.

The Dress:

I choose this classic drop waste dress, because it was the closest to my own wedding dress and I love the elegance, simplicity, and modern look of the style. You can look back at this years from now and not cringe at your choice. Example, those huge puff sleeve satin, polyester blend dresses from the 80's.

Here are some pictures of my own wedding dress:

Now the makeup!

It's all about a good flawless face for me. I personally had my makeup artist use the Armani Luminous Silk foundation that I had bought on me for my big day and it is still my goto event/ special occasion foundation. It lasts all day and has a beautiful natural flawless finish. Just so you know a hurricane blew through my wedding right before I was about to walk down the aisle. So this held up through humidity, rain, sweat, and tears. 

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

Eyes:

Eyes should be the highlight of your makeup. You can go smokey, sultry, bold, or natural, I personally choose a natural smokey eye with TONS of lashes. I wanted to look like a doll. Lashes were my main focal point. We used neutral eyeshadows, with hints of plum to bring out my golden brown eyes and tons of mascara and individual false lashes. 

I think we used a whole pack of these on me

The perfect amount of neutral shades and plums. Lorac Pro Palette

With lips I suggest using a your lips but better waterproof lip liner to define your lips and fill in. Apply a your lips but better gloss or stain over. This way you won't be a mess after all the kisses you do for photos and guests. Also you will have no time to reapply your lips, so pick a good long lasting one!

It Cosmetics YLBB Waterproof Lip Liner. This is my goto lip liner. It stays all day and has the best shades to achieve a natural lip. 

I'm a HUGE fan of it cosmetics vitality lip flush 4- in -1. This product goes on super creamy and moisturizing, yet wears off nicely leaving a subtle stain on your lips. 

No matter the products you choose or the look you go for, just make sure it represents you! Your going to glow with happiness on your big day and you want to let your inner beauty shine through. 

What are some special occasion products you always pull out? 

XOXO

Serein

How Vera Wang Taught Me To Savor The Moment

Live in the moment and the pleasure of things before it’s gone. This past weekend I had the pleasure of helping a good friend shop for her wedding dress. A part of me was a little worried that I wouldn’t have fun because my dress experience was so stressful. I knew what my friend wanted and what she liked and what was her, so I started by making a few appointments. Unfortunately making dress appointments the week of is a little challenging. After making the appointments I called my sister to confirm with her that these places were going to give my friend the treatment she deserved. My sister had been to every dress place in Southern California at this point and said they would be good.

I got up early for a Saturday and headed to Costa Mesa to meet my friend. The whole way I was nervous, what if she hated this place, what if the experience won’t be fun, what if we can’t find anything? What if?! Then she called, she was already there, but I couldn’t find the place and it was already 10am!  How is it that I always get lost? She, the bride talked me to the correct shopping center and I relaxed. Seeing her happy face, I took a breath; she is excited and always positive, so why shouldn’t I be. She’s not going to blame me if she doesn’t have a good time, I hope.

We enter the fancy bridal shop, with beautiful chandeliers and a calm aura. The wonderful personal shopper was kind, attentive, asked all the right questions, and was super sweet to my friend. I relaxed. She was whisked away into a room full of Vera and Monique. I knew she would be happy with her friends.

I however was left with a few Newport Beach housewives, who could have used a little less Botox and filler and a little more humanity and class. I always forget how money can’t buy style or class; instead they had plenty of snobbery and pseudo wealth.

Then my friend came out in her first dress. She was stunning and beautiful. She looked romantic and very ballerina like, just like she envisioned. Words can’t do her image justice. The whole day was fun from there on out. We spent 2 hours trying on dresses, and then went to have lunch and purchase shoes for my wedding. We ended the day with another bridal shop that was just as accommodating and spent another 2 hours playing dress up.

The whole day made me realize you only get one of these days. You only get to be a bride once (at least for the first time). This experience can only happen once. So why not savor every moment good or bad, enjoy the pleasures that the experience has to offer because it will never happen again. Even if my friend tries on the dress again at another store, that first dress she ever put on at the first store is the first wedding dress she has ever seen herself in.

Lately I’ve been overwhelmed with starting my own business, planning my wedding, and a baby shower, that I’m not enjoying the process anymore. There has been more stress and frustration with everything then pleasure. So I’m going to remember the day I saw my friend in a Vera Wang wedding dress and savor the moment. Because once a moment has passed, it’ll never happen again.  Time is so precious and I spend so much of it in a cloud of anxiety. 

Tips on Finding a Wedding Dress by Diane

Hey Guys! So based on my last blog about finding my wedding dress, I asked my sister, Diane to write a guest blog about some tips for going about the very important task, So here she is:

I love weddings…everything about them.  I don’t know what it is about bridal stuff that gets me all excited and puts a glimmer in my eye, but the first time I saw the movie, The Wedding Planner, I wanted to be just like Jennifer Lopez’s character, emergency kit strapped to my waist and all. Every bride has some sort of idea of what her BIG day will look like.  Even the ones who say they never thought about it or don’t know what they want, deep down they know.  This is where I come in.  I have been a part-time wedding planner/coordinator for about 10 years now.  My mission…(and I always accept it) is to help make every bride’s vision come true.

One of the biggest challenges for a bride is finding the right dress. All eyes will be on her and the dress is such a statement piece. It is best to give yourself about 6-8 months before your wedding date for your dress. I know, such a ridiculous amount of time. Unlike a regular clothing store, bridal stores only carry one of each dress; therefore, it is called a sample dress. Once you say “yes” to your dress (I couldn’t resist the phrase), the store will call the designer and order your dress to be made in the European size closest to your measurements.  That’s right, the dresses aren’t just stored in a warehouse somewhere, they actually cut the cloth and make the dress when it’s ordered. This is why it takes so long and why you should give yourself plenty of time for alterations, to avoid paying “rush” fees, and to help minimize sheer anxiety overall.

When a bride gets ready to shop for her wedding gown, these are some of the things she should have in mind:  Budget, Style, and Personality.

Budget. Obviously this is an important one. It’s so easy to get caught up in all the silk, satin, tulle, beading, and lace. The worse thing is for a bride to fall in love with a dress that she absolutely can’t afford. Keep in mind that it’s not just the dress your purchasing; don’t forget to factor in alterations and accessories (veil, shoes, garter, etc). At the same time, don’t let affordability scare you away from finding your perfect dress. There are ways to find the same dress for less either online or at a sample sale (to be discussed in more detail later). The key is to be realistic. Don’t go looking at the Mercedes Benz of dresses if you can only afford Toyota level dresses. So, set a budget and start shopping.

Style and Personality. The type of dress a bride chooses can say a lot about her whether she knows it or not.  It can represent the bride in her true personality and it can also be an opportunity for her to show a side of her that’s been aching to be seen (perhaps a fun or wild side). With so many styles of dresses nowadays, it can be overwhelming. In my opinion, the first step should be to figure out your theme. What I mean here is, what is the overall tone of your wedding? Will it be formal, casual, fun, vintage, rustic, modern, etc. Many brides find the whole dress shopping experience to either be exciting or scary. Some can’t wait to be pampered and catered to. Some worry they don’t know what type of dress they should get. Some think they have to know exactly what they want before they make their appointment. And some fear that they won’t find THE dress. A lot of anxiety and expectations build up, which is why many brides have a hard time just getting started.  First of all, you don’t necessarily need to know exactly what type of dress you want.  In fact, it’s almost better when you don’t.  Reason being, if a bride goes into an appointment with only one type of dress in mind, she will more than likely be disappointed. In my opinion, it’s best to be open-minded. Sure, go through magazines and have tear sheets of what draws your eye.  But when you go to the appointment, it’s best to try on several dresses in all styles. I usually find that a bride is surprised that the style they thought would be perfect for them…isn’t; but the style they thought would look hideous on them…fits them the best. All dresses are saying something…some are classic, some are dramatic, some are fun and flirty, and some are sexy.  It’s up to you to decide on what you want your dress to say about you.  Just try on a bunch of dresses so you can narrow down what you like or don’t like.   

Saying Yes.  As with many brides I have talked to, as well as my own experience…when you find THE dress, you just know (whether you know it or not).  When I was getting married, I must have tried on at least 100 dresses. Seriously. But the one I ended up with, was one of the first few dresses I had tried on.  I saw it hanging on display.  It was a mermaid dress.  Very simple with no lace or beading, just a ruched silk satin bodice fitted down to mid-thigh, which then flared out into a skirt of layered silk organza.  A large flower was adorned where the asymmetrical bodice and skirt meet, giving the dress a couture feel and the “something special” effect. Another bride got to it before I did. She was the super skinny type, with big boobs. She stepped out in the dress and looked beautiful. I was jealous. She passed on the dress even though I thought she looked gorgeous in it.  I waited for her to leave and I snatched it from the rack. I was hesitant to try it on.  It’s a tight fitting dress and I’m no stick. The lady at the store encouraged me. I put it on. Before I even saw myself in it, I loved it. I step out to where all the mirrors were and confirmed my gut feeling. I felt like a bride. It fit me like a glove, hugging and complimenting the curves of my body.  I had butterflies in my stomach. This was it, this was going to be my dress!  But I was by myself so I didn’t feel that I could buy the dress on the spot.  Plus, it was $700 over my budget.  I take pictures and leave the dress behind.  I show one of my bridesmaids and my mother a picture of me in the dress, both wrinkle their noses. The dress is not a hit. You can only imagine my disappointment. I proceed to shop for my perfect dress but in the end, after visiting nearly 9 bridal stores and like I said, trying on hundreds of dresses, I just couldn’t get that dress out of my mind.  So in the end, I went back to the one I had fallen in love with and I bought it.  Oh, but I didn’t buy it from the original store I saw it in.  I shopped around and found it at another store for $400 less. Yay!  Lesson learned, I shouldn’t have let other people’s opinions influence me. Everyone has different tastes, different styles, and different opinions. When you go dress shopping, don’t necessarily go by yourself but don’t bring an entourage either. Too many opinions will cloud your judgment. Bring someone you trust, who can put their own preferences aside and trust your instincts ladies! Don’t let anyone else sway you.  When you find the dress that makes you feel like it’s THE DRESS, make it so.

Tips

So you’ve found the dress of her dreams.  If you absolutely fall in love with something but the store charges $2500 (for example), it is possible for you to find the same dress for less.  Designers give a range that their dresses can be sold for.  Each bridal store independently determines where in that given range they want to set the price for the dresses from that designer. It is possible for you to go to three different stores and find the same dress for three different prices.  Most dresses at a retail store will only vary in pricing by 10-15%.  But, you can also go online and sometimes find the same dress for about $500-$700 less, maybe more.  Some online stores will sell the same designer dresses as seen in the stores for a small discounted price but for the deepest discounts, you should be open to a previously worn dress, a sample, or maybe even a knock-off of your dress. There is usually a ton of sample sales right after the holidays and before year-end. Also keep an eye out for winter sales offering huge price breaks, as they get ready to move in the next season’s line of dresses.  My sister was able to get a beautiful lace, fully beaded designer gown for about $1000 less than the original cost because it was a sample dress that was discontinued. After alterations and a professional cleaning, the dress looked brand new and she was still under budget. So even though it can be tempting to purchase your gown at the store, sometimes it pays to shop around.  If you absolutely must have that designer dress from the shi shi store, then ask about their trunk shows where they showcase the designer and offer 10% off (better than nothing). Good luck!

Journey for a White Dress

Two weekends ago, I tried on my wedding dress for the second time. When the seamstress called me to let me know that my dress was ready for my first fitting after alterations, I became incredibly nervous. For some reason, I had forgotten about the dress. This is probably because I was scared and had buried it in the back of my mind.  Let me start from the beginning of the hunt for my wedding dress.

After I became engaged, my sister made an appointment for me at a very nice, clean, and quite bridal boutique. I was welcomed with coffee, fresh baked cookies, and chandeliers. They even had a pedestal for me to stand on and view myself in each of the dresses. My sister is all things wedding. She loves weddings… and when I say love I mean LOOOOOVE! She took charge and pulled dresses and told the nice saleslady what to put me in. I figured the best part of the whole wedding planning process would be to try on all these dresses since I am all about fashion, well I was wrong.  I had no idea what I wanted in terms of a dress. So many options, so many designers, I was actually overwhelmed when it came to clothes! I knew my wedding was going to be a garden, vintagey theme and I thought I knew what type of dress I wanted. I tried on tons of dresses. The ones I thought I would like, I hated. The ones I thought I’d hate I kind of loved. I’m usually great at this but I was feeling overwhelmed.

Some of my many choices

Everything looked so pretty and special on. I was torn. I fell in love with 3 dresses by the time I left, but wasn’t willing to commit to any of them. I knew that once I bought my dress that was it. No returns. No going back. That is the only dress I get. For the first time in my life I didn’t know what I wanted in fashion. I had a headache. I was tired. I didn’t want to try on anything else.  I was bummed that my expectations of having this incredible time trying on beautiful gowns and knowing exactly what I wanted weren’t met.

My sister on the other hand didn’t want to give up. She wanted to take me to a sample sale. Really? I’m tired! We get to the sample sale and it’s the total opposite of what I just experienced. It was chaos, madness, brides gone crazy with racks and racks of bridal gowns in no particular order. Seeing the fear and annoyance in my eyes, my sister takes charge again, she starts pulling dresses.  I have no idea how she can even tell what would look good when everything is all enclosed in plastic garment bags and hanging all ugly and squished together. I tell her she can pull 3 dresses and I’ll wait in the corner to try them on. She brings me the 3 options and strategically puts me in the first dress. She dresses me better than the professionals at the store do. I’m shocked. She even made a space for me to step into the dress without having me step on the dress. She clamps me in because they are all sample sizes. I step out and look in the mirror. I’m staring at myself, not sure what I’m seeing. But it’s dirty. It’s got snags, it’s missing beads, and the corset is torn. It’s a size 12 dress and I’m a size 2. I hear my sister ask me if I like it in a little bit of a panicked voice. Long silence…. I absolutely love it. Despite everything…it’s perfect. It’s the one…AND my mom loves it! She never loves anything.

Then we find out it’s the last one. We can’t order this from the designer anymore because it’s been discontinued. So if I want this dress, I have to take it “as is”. My sister inspects the dress, trying to see what can be done with it. Meanwhile I see a gaggle of brides eyeing me in the dress, wanting to have me take it off so they can try it on themselves. I’m angry, I don’t want anyone to touch this dress. I refuse to take it off. We come to the conclusion that if I love the dress, we can spend the money to really have it cleaned up and fixed professionally. Can you even take it down 10 sizes? We were told it was possible. It’s also ridiculously discounted and way below the budget we had planned for my wedding dress. Okay we buy it. I’m REALLY NERVOUS. My mom says we can sell it and get me another dress.  But I love this one. What if it doesn’t work out?

So after lots of research and some refusals to work on my dress, we find a wonderful lady who says it’s no problem and that she could “make it like new.” This is where I panic again. I’m suppose to just trust this woman to take my dress, send it off to the cleaners in NYC, take it from a 12 to a 2, and fix everything?! Yes. So I did and I left scared. I made myself sick with worry.  Months went by and I forgot about my dress. Then came the phone call…my dress is ready for the first fitting. My sister is across the country and my mom can’t make it. My Matron of Honor has a gig and can’t come either. Thank God one of my bridesmaids could make it. It was also fitting that I was with her for her wedding gown purchase and we’ve known each other since kindergarten. She is supportive, helps me get dressed, and takes pictures, I’m not alone. I put the dress on, it’s beautiful and actually frames my body perfectly now. Well almost, we still have a few inches to take in. The dress is actually ivory and clean, not the dingy yellow it once was! The corset is perfect! I’m not scared anymore. I’m happy! It’s beautiful, it’s everything I wanted, and it’s mine.

I’m not sure why it was so hard for me to commit to one dress or why I had such anxiety over it, but in the end everything worked out. I knew the right dress when I had it on. It’s kind of like all things in my life, my gut instincts usually are right and I never end up regretting them. Being impulsive is good if you listen to your gut and heart.  You just kind of know when it’s right. It’s like when you find the right guy to marry, you just know.