Top Wedding Day Beauty Questions Answered

What Can I Do With Thin Hair? There are many beautiful wedding hairstyles out there, but it seems like most of the models have thick, lustrous hair that the average woman can only dream of. If you have the money, getting professional hair extensions is the best way to add fullness to your mane. If you intend to work only with the hair you already have, your stylist can add fullness by backcombing hair at the roots and curling it with a large barrel curling iron before pinning it into an updo (the actual hairstyle does not need to look curly, by the way). Opt for a headpiece which will not slip out of thin hair, such as a headband.

Can I Tell My Bridesmaids How To Do Their Hair And Makeup? In a word, no. Your bridesmaids are grown women, and should be trusted to do their hair and makeup in a tasteful and appropriate manner. Besides, the days of cookie cutter attendants are over; these days, they show their personal style with different dresses, unique bridesmaid jewelry, and eclectic bouquets. However, it would be okay for the bride to gently nudge her ‘maids into the desired direction. For instance, you could request formal hairstyles or glamorous makeup, but nothing so specific as an updo or smoky eyes and red lipstick. If you would like to give your bridesmaids a slightly more cohesive look, give them a pretty jeweled comb to wear that complements their unique crystal bridesmaid jewelry. Then let each one decide how to style her hair in the fashion that looks prettiest on her.

How Can I Cover A Tattoo? Oops – did you get a little butterfly on your shoulder during spring break in Florida while you were in college? Don’t worry – no one has to see it if you don’t want them too, even if you are wearing a strapless gown. There are a number of excellent products available which are specifically designed to cover tattoos. They are a much heavier makeup than regular concealer, and are usually available in custom blended shades. When applied properly, the makeup should not smear or get on your wedding dress. If you only care about covering your tattoo for the wedding ceremony, the simplest option is to wear a shrug over your dress.

What Do I Do About A Pimple? The stress of planning a wedding can unfortunately cause a woman to break out, just when she wants to look her best.  Use either a benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid blemish fighter. Look for a non-drying formula designed for adult skin. Cool compresses can help to diminish the size of the pimple, and concealer can cover the redness. If you wake up the day before your ceremony with a whopping zit on your forehead, the best cure of all is to run straight to the dermatologist for a cortisone injection, which will start to shrink the blemish almost immediately so you can look picture perfect for your wedding.

Charming New Flower Girl Trends

Flower girls have been in the spotlight lately. The quartet of adorable young ladies at the Prince William and Princess Catherine’s royal wedding this spring first brought the idea of having several little ones in the bridal party. This was followed by Kate Moss’s wedding, in which she was accompanied by a bevy of sixteen girls aged two to fourteen. The idea of having lots of flower girls in the English custom instead of a big group of bridesmaids is a wonderful idea for any wedding.

Another delightful flower girl trend is for them to carry signage. There have been some darling pictures coming out recently of flower girls bearing signs that say, “Here Comes the Bride”. A single flower girl can carry a sign on a post or a pair can carry a small banner between them. It is a whimsical detail full of charm. They would carry the sign instead of a basket or posy of flowers. To help them live up to their title of “flower girl”, give the little ones wreaths of blossoms to wear in their hair.

The ballerina look is a fun idea for flower girl attire. Very young girls will be beyond adorable in very full short tutu skirts over tights. They can even wear butterfly or fairy wings, if you like. Tiny crystal butterfly pendants make lovely wedding jewelry gifts to complete this sweet look. For a slightly older flower girl, a tea length ballet inspired tulle skirt would be wonderful. She can wear a wrap cardigan over a leotard on top, and ballet slippers for shoes. Shades of pale pink or blush are just as pretty as white for this type of flower girl outfit. For the wedding jewelry gifts for the older flower girls, petite pink crystal heart earrings will be perfect.

There are many other fun trends for flower girls right now. They can carry fairy princess wands or floral pomanders instead of baskets, wear sparkly ballet flats, and let their hair be loose and flowing rather than plaited. Your little flower girls are sure to add so much charm to your wedding.

Pretty Rustic Barn Wedding Decorations

Rustic barn weddings are very popular, especially in the fall. Such a special venue calls for just the right type of decorations. They should be pretty enough for a wedding, yet casual enough to suit the location. These are some wonderful ideas for pretty rustic barn wedding decorations.

Great lighting can be one of the best ways to dress up a barn. The big open space can feel a bit dark if not properly lit. Lanterns are one of the best styles of lighting for a barn. Fill them with tall pillar candles in either ivory or your wedding colors for a great effect. Lanterns can be used as centerpieces, hung from rafters in the barn, or set out around the perimeter of the space. Another fantastic lighting idea is to to hang strings of globe lights around the rafters of the barn. You can also use dozens of tiny round glass candleholders filled with votives to suspend over the dance floor. They will create a romantic flickering light that will dance on your bridal jewelry.

Flowers are always an important part of a wedding, and there are many varieties which are well suited to a rustic wedding. Traditional flowers like roses, lilies, tulips, and orchids tend to look out of place in a barn. The best choices are casual blossoms with a country feeling, such as sunflowers, mums, dahlias, and craspedia. For an interesting kick, incorporate non-floral accents into bouquets and centerpieces. As for the centerpieces, why not display them in rustic vessels? Fun ideas include oversized galvanized tin pails, watering cans, wooden boxes, or even carved out pumpkins.

Wreaths always look fantastic for a barn wedding. They can be made from a number of different materials to fit in with the rustic theme. A wreath made of wheat tied with a satin ribbon creates a look of understated rustic elegance when hung on a barn door. Dried flowers make for romantic yet rustic wreaths. They would be lovely hung on the wall behind the head table. A cute idea is to suspend tiny wreaths of lavender or herbs on the backs of the bride and groom’s chairs.  It is the type of little extra which will add a lot of character to your wedding reception.

Snowy White Winter Wedding Cakes

If you are planning a winter wedding, this is the perfect time to design your wedding cake. Winter is a wonderful season in which to embrace a classic all-white cake which is reminiscent of a frosty winter day. Get inspired by these ideas for snowy white winter wedding cakes.

A fantastic way to make an all-white wedding cake interesting is with the use of texture. It will ensure that your confection, while understated, is not the least bit boring. One fantastic idea is to cover a streamlined fondant cake with little sugar “pearls” in a variety of sizes. Start with more petite edible pearls near the top of the cake, and scatter larger diameter pearls towards the base. Dust with an opalescent powder to make the decorations shimmer just like the genuine pearls in your pearl bridal jewelry. It is a very elegant cake for any winter wedding reception.

Snowflake motifs are always appropriate for wintertime. A beautiful approach to this classic theme is to have the baker use a stamp design to press a snowflake shape around the tiers of the cake. It will give your dessert a unique arts and crafts feeling, even while making use of a familiar motif. For a more contemporary snowflake cake, the baker can make silver snowflakes from sugar and scatter them down the sides of a white fondant cake. It will remind everyone of softly falling snow.

Winter is cold, but it can also be quite cozy. It would be fantastic to design a wedding cake based on the cozy side of the season. One incredible idea is a an all-white or ivory cake frosted in an intricate cable knit pattern. It will look like a warm fisherman’s sweater! How charming would that be for a wedding in a ski lodge or a New England country inn? Or take a simple cake and add a whimsical sweater inspired detail like a pair of edible pom poms. It would be adorable for an informal winter wedding.

How to Get Your Wedding Dress to a Destination Wedding

For most brides, nothing is more important than their wedding gown (other than the groom, of course!). Imagine what a nightmare it would be to arrive at your dream destination location to tie the knot and realize that your wedding gown got lost somewhere en route. No bride wants to walk down the aisle wearing her crystal bridal jewelry and a t-shirt from the hotel gift shop! This is why the number one rule of traveling with your wedding dress is never put it in checked luggage. Never. Ever. Anyone who flies has a horror story about lost or delayed luggage. If it is the most important dress you will ever wear that is stuck in limbo somewhere, it would be an absolute disaster.

When flying with your wedding gown, you must hand carry it on the plane with you. Do not rely on the lightweight garment bag that the bridal salon provides. Those bags can tear or even crack in extreme heat or cold. The bridal salon bag should be placed inside a proper piece of luggage, such as a real garment bag made for travelers. Call ahead to your airline and let them know you will be bringing your wedding dress on board the airplane. Many airlines are actually pretty accommodating of brides and will allow you to stow your precious cargo in the first class cabin closet or even in the pilot’s closet. You might even get a glass of champagne on the house.

Some brides prefer to ship their gowns ahead to their wedding destinations rather than try to get it onto a plane. There is some risk in this choice, since there is always the chance that the dress will not show up. It might be insured, but what good will that do you if you have nothing to wear when you walk down the aisle? If you determine that shipping your wedding gown is really the best method, send it overnight with a very reliable carrier like FedEx so you can track your precious package every step of the way. Send it at least a week before your wedding, just in case of delays. You can make plans with your venue’s wedding coordinator to receive and store the gown until you arrive.

While you are making plans to transport your wedding attire, remember to think about your wedding accessories. Things like crystal bridal jewelry sets, headpieces, veils, and wedding shoes are small enough to easily pack into a carry on bag. Then when you arrive at your wedding destination, you will have everything you need to look incredible on your wedding day.

Types of Bridal Showers

Games Shower. For some people, a bridal shower means lots of silly games. Think making a wedding dress out of toilet paper, competing on a quiz about who knows the bride the best, a kitchen utensil word scrambles. This style of wedding shower is also for ladies only, and it tends to work best when there is a fairly large group so that there is enough competition for the games. Traditional brides might really enjoy this type of shower, while modern brides often find it to be hopelessly outdated. Choose a games style of bridal shower only if you think the bride will enjoy it.

Lingerie Shower. Definitely a ladies only affair! While this is a traditional kind of bridal shower, not every bride-to-be will be comfortable opening intimate presents in front of a group. It is best to get the okay from the guest of honor before planning a lingerie shower. The type of shower should be noted on the invitation so that guests know what kind of gift to purchase. Always include a gift receipt in case the items need to be exchanged for a different size. While the bride’s girlfriends might want to get her something sizzling for the honeymoon, the mothers of the bride and groom would do well to stick with pretty nightgowns that will not make the bride die of embarrassment on the spot. (Besides, knowing that his mom picked out that hot little number will pretty much kill the mood for the groom!)

Jack and Jill Shower. This style of co-ed wedding shower has become more popular in recent years. Also called a stag and doe party, the groom is present at this one, as are male guests like brothers, groomsmen, and fathers of the bride and groom. The presents for a Jack and Jill shower should not be personal gifts for the brides like the lingerie or gifts of bridal jewelry that would be right for other kinds of showers. Rather they should be geared towards both the bride and groom. Items like cool clocks, barware, and gourmet food baskets are ideal for a co-ed shower. Speaking of food, the light fare served at a classic shower will not suffice for a party with guys present, so serve up some heartier snacks.

Spa Shower. Sometimes the best kind of shower is one that combines gifts with relaxation and pampering. This is where the party at a day spa comes in. All the ladies in the bride’s life gather at a local spa for a round of pedicures while sipping mimosas and opening gifts. Little luxury items like a monogrammed silver jewelry box are particularly suitable for a spa shower, although traditional shower presents like toasters or pitchers would also be perfectly fine. Throw a spa shower for the bride who loves to be pampered. When you match the style of party to the personality of the bride-to-be, it is guaranteed to be a fantastic event.

Non-Floral Decorations for Wedding Receptions

As beautiful as fresh flowers are to decorate a wedding, they do not fit in with everybody’s taste or budget. There are many elegant and beautiful ways to dress up your reception venue without using cut flowers. These are some wonderful choices for non-floral decorations for wedding receptions.

Candles: The flickering glow of candlelight will add romance to any style of wedding. They are generally quite affordable when compared to flowers, which makes candles an excellent option for the bride on a budget. When decorating with candles, the key is to use them in large numbers to really make a statement. While a couple of votive candles in the middle of a table for ten will not look very impressive, a collection of ten candles in different heights will look marvelous. You can also use one large pillar candle and display it in an interesting holder like a lantern or a hurricane to give it style and size.

Balloons: This type of non-floral reception decoration is a bit more controversial. Some people feel that balloons are a fantastic way to add color and fill up a large reception space in a festive way. Others believe that balloons are either too casual or too juvenile for an event where the bride is wearing an elegant bridal gown with gorgeous wedding jewelry. As a rule of thumb, balloons work best for informal or whimsical receptions. They will look more sophisticated if you use chic color palettes such as gray and yellow or jewel tones, rather than primary colors that will call to mind a child’s birthday party.

Props: There is a big trend these days of using unique props for wedding decorations. They are fun because they are so different than the standard floral centerpiece. In addition, carefully selecting the props you use will allow you to express your personality and give your reception character. Ideas for cool props include stacks of vintage books, old birdcages, funky little sculptures, and large wicker balls. Use props that enhance the overall theme of your wedding, whether your style is a Roaring ’20s bridal gown with vintage wedding jewelry or an ultra modern loft wedding.

Fabric: Gorgeous fabrics can be used to truly transform your wedding venue without flowers. Drape the ceiling in pink organza to cast a flattering romantic glow over the entire space. Hide ugly columns with elegant curtains. Decorate the front of the bar with a swag of material in your wedding colors. Because fabric effects are done on a large dramatic scale, you will only need a minimum of additional decorations to complete your reception decor.

White Lies Every Bride Tells

What a Beautiful Handmade Ashtray! Every couple is bound to receive a wedding gift or two that they do not like, can’t use, or that is just plain bizarre. A lumpy handmade ceramic ashtray for the non-smoking fitness nuts would definitely fall into all three categories! Yet, you don’t want to hurt the feelings of the person who gave you the present, so it is best to fake it. Pretend, just for the moment, that it is the best gift you have ever received. Once you have sent a gracious thank you note, feel free to put the oddity in your next yard sale.

We’d Love for Your New Boyfriend (or Cousin or Kids) to Come. Somehow, there is always at least one wedding guest who does not seem to realize that only the people whose names are on the invitations are invited to the reception. Never mind that the caterer charges $150 a head or that it is supposed to be an intimate wedding for close family and friends only. Invariably, someone will call the bride three days before the wedding and ask to bring along their cousin who is in town for the weekend, the great new man they just started dating, or their kids “because they have never been to a wedding before”. While a gracious bride might indeed say yes for the sake of accommodating her invited guest, rest assured that she does not really want her wedding populated by random people. A polite guest will realize this and not put the bride on the spot.

I Don’t Mind That My Mother-in-Law Is Wearing White. Oh, what to do about the mother-in-law who decides to wear a white dress and pearl wedding jewelry to her son’s wedding? Well, if you are a wise bride, you will tell the little white lie above. Of course, only the bride should show up in a white gown and elegant pearl wedding jewelry, but making a fuss about what her mother-in-law is wearing will get the bride nowhere. The fact is that no one will think it is appropriate for the groom’s mom to wear white; the bride does not need to say a word, because all of the guests will see the mother of the groom’s fashion choice for the petty slight that it is. If the bride remains silent, she will definitely come out looking the better of the two.

We Are Having a Small Wedding. This is the classic line that brides use to get out of inviting extra people to their wedding. The beauty of it is that “small” can mean anything the bride and groom want it to mean. Small can mean twenty people in their living room or one hundred guests on a private yacht. All it really means is that the wedding is too small to invite that one particular individual. This is probably one of the most commonly used bridal white lies, and one of the most effective.

While no one advocates lying, there are certainly instances where telling a white lie is more polite and tactful than brutal honesty!

Swanky Museum Wedding Receptions

Most cities have at least one spectacular art museum. They are often designed to be very grand and impressive, with marble lined entrance halls, a stunning atrium, and incredible works of art everywhere you look. What better place to hold a formal wedding? Museum weddings are almost always held in the evening, since they are restricted to hours when the galleries are closed to the public. That gives you the perfect excuse to have a black tie affair. Just picture yourself dressed in a couture gown and custom bridal jewelry, sipping Champagne with your new husband while admiring a Monet or a Renoir – life doesn’t get any sweeter than that!

The one thing you will not need a lot of for a reception in a museum is decorations. When the space is full of original paintings and sculptures, not much else is called for. Pretty centerpieces and table linens will just about do it. That said, there are many special considerations to hosting a wedding in such a large space. For one thing, you may need to hire a lighting specialist to get the lighting just right for a museum after dark. Something else that may be necessary is a sound engineer, because the acoustics in a vast marble-clad room will be very challenging for the band to get right. And of course, you will need an insurance policy in case Uncle Fred has one too many and tips over a Ming vase or something.

When planning a museum wedding, you will probably need to bring in your own caterer. The events coordinator at the site will give you a list of pre-approved vendors, because not just anyone is going to be allowed to work there. The nice thing about working with someone who has prior experience at the museum is that they will know how to work around the venue’s strict rules about things like no beer bottles, no red beverages, and a ban on open flames. While a bit of a pain, the reason behind all of the restrictions is to protect the priceless artwork, so it is actually rather reasonable. The formal setting would make a very elegant dinner appropriate.

If you are thinking about having your wedding in a museum, remember that there are all kind of interesting ones beyond traditional art museums. You could have your reception under a giant fossil in the American Museum of National History in New York or the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Or if you are a kid at heart, why not have your event at the Children’s Museum in Pittsburgh? That would be a really fun site for a wedding with a lot of kids in attendance. Choose a whimsical wedding gown with colorful custom bridal jewelry to set a playful tone. Whichever site suits your fancy, when your wedding is surrounded by one-of-a-kind works of art, it is sure to be spectacular!