Wedding experts can be full of advice, but who better to offer advice for brides than brides who have been there? I interviewed more than 100 couples for Intimate Weddings: Planning a Small Wedding that Fits Your Budget and Style. None of them regretted having a small wedding. However, some brides confessed that they would have done a few things differently if they had the chance to do it all over again.
Here’s what these brides had to say about planning their weddings:
1. I would have hired someone like a coordinator for that day to help keep things on schedule. Everything went really well, I just worried too much. I guess I thought it would be simple with a small gathering. I didn’t anticipate all the distractions that you have as a bride. In the end it was hard to stay on top of things. My advice for brides is to hire a wedding coordinator to keep things running smoothly on the day of the wedding.
Linda
2. I would have hired a wedding coordinator. I am not a “planner” by nature so I found the whole process very difficult for me. I didn’t enjoy the planning one bit, which made me very resentful towards my fiancé.
Leila
3. The only thing I would change is that I would have had my then-fiancé help me more with the planning. He has this wacky idea that I was like all those girls who have had their weddings planned forever. It’s really hard to plan something when you don’t care about colors, favors, cake, food, flowers, etc. I might have had a wedding planner if we had more money.
Danielle
4. I would (have planned) it small from the beginning. When we started scouting out reception sites, we found some really one-of-a-kind places that we couldn’t even consider because our numbers were well above what they could accommodate. By the time we really launched into the smaller wedding concept we were under contract with our original reception venue.
Kerry
5. I would have lost more weight before the wedding, and I wouldn’t have stressed out so much. I also would have taken more time off of work before the wedding instead of just the day before. My intimate weddings advice is to take a few days off before the wedding so that you won’t be frazzled trying to put it all together.
Kristen
6. I would have been more careful with the guest list. There were people that didn’t show up and it wasn’t really a surprise. I should have followed my intuition and invited other people that I know would have loved to go. My advice for brides is to invite only the people you really want to invite.
Jennifer
7. I would have printed up a schedule for the day for everyone involved … Just a minor detail, but there was some very small last minute confusion. (A schedule) would have put my mind at ease.
Christine
8. The only thing I would change would be my dress. I had a big ballgown, but felt it was too much for such a small group so I went with a much simpler, understated gown. In the end, the simpler gown made more sense but I still missed the big ballgown. My intimate weddings advice is to choose the dress you really want.
Shannon
~From Intimate Weddings: www.intimateweddings.com
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
New Website~
Looking to always keep gropwing we just put together a new website for easy viewing: http://www.omadden.biz
Friday, January 16, 2009
The Value of Wedding Photography
~It is very hard to put a value on wedding photography or completely understand just how important it is to hire an creative professional on your wedding day. That “value” becomes a harsh reality when you realize you hate your wedding day photos! Or they are just OK! And after it is too late, once of a lifetime moments were missed, you don’t like the way you look….. Where are my family shots? I hear it over and over… The disappointment sets in and the term “you get what you pay for” repeats to you over and over. Why did I not make photography more of a priority and spend a little more?
Looking for a wedding photographer is now harder than ever. Just open any magazine and you will be overwhelmed with just how many choices there are. And to make the decision even harder, most ads and websites look pretty good. A photographers experience and reputation needs to play a huge part when making your decision. Look at other weddings he or she has documented and look for consistency from wedding to wedding from photo to photo. Consistency being a photographers ability to capture and document moments, wedding after wedding with excellent consistent results. You don’t want to hire a photographer that has one good wedding to show you, look at many photos and make sure the photographer you are hiring will produce those “sample” images for you that you have seen in his/her portfolio and albums. Make sure you really look closely at the album design and that the photographs in the album tell a story and you love what you see. You should be able to imagine yourself in those photos. If you don’t, and you are not moved by them, move on and look at another photographer.
Ask how long will it take to get your finished wedding album? Get the terms in writing. Make sure you feel comfortable with the album production timeframe. We get calls all the time, “can you do our wedding album, our photographer has gone out of business, and we don’t have any photos” Referrals are also VERY important, ask around, ask your friends and gauge who was happy and who was not. Hearing a photographer’s name in a positive light over and over again is a good thing! Photographers that work venues several times become familiar with those properties and have the experience to work with the staff. They scout the best locations and creative angles/perspectives for those awesome photos you are looking for. REMEMBER, EXPERIENCE…. IT IS IMPORTANT!
Hiring the right wedding photographer for your wedding day is one on the most important decisions you will make when planning your wedding. You can’t take away the band, the flowers, the food or the venue…but you can take away the memories from one of the most important days of your life. Those memories will be in the hands of the photographer you hire…. choose wisely and remember wedding photography needs to be a priority on your wedding day, it only happens once! ONLY ONCE!....(MK Photo)
Looking for a wedding photographer is now harder than ever. Just open any magazine and you will be overwhelmed with just how many choices there are. And to make the decision even harder, most ads and websites look pretty good. A photographers experience and reputation needs to play a huge part when making your decision. Look at other weddings he or she has documented and look for consistency from wedding to wedding from photo to photo. Consistency being a photographers ability to capture and document moments, wedding after wedding with excellent consistent results. You don’t want to hire a photographer that has one good wedding to show you, look at many photos and make sure the photographer you are hiring will produce those “sample” images for you that you have seen in his/her portfolio and albums. Make sure you really look closely at the album design and that the photographs in the album tell a story and you love what you see. You should be able to imagine yourself in those photos. If you don’t, and you are not moved by them, move on and look at another photographer.
Ask how long will it take to get your finished wedding album? Get the terms in writing. Make sure you feel comfortable with the album production timeframe. We get calls all the time, “can you do our wedding album, our photographer has gone out of business, and we don’t have any photos” Referrals are also VERY important, ask around, ask your friends and gauge who was happy and who was not. Hearing a photographer’s name in a positive light over and over again is a good thing! Photographers that work venues several times become familiar with those properties and have the experience to work with the staff. They scout the best locations and creative angles/perspectives for those awesome photos you are looking for. REMEMBER, EXPERIENCE…. IT IS IMPORTANT!
Hiring the right wedding photographer for your wedding day is one on the most important decisions you will make when planning your wedding. You can’t take away the band, the flowers, the food or the venue…but you can take away the memories from one of the most important days of your life. Those memories will be in the hands of the photographer you hire…. choose wisely and remember wedding photography needs to be a priority on your wedding day, it only happens once! ONLY ONCE!....(MK Photo)
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
15 Bridal Beauty Tips~
Published by Kate Wood: We've gone straight to the experts to find out their best tips for how to do everything -- and we mean everything -- to get the most out of your wedding hair and makeup. Whether you're planning to look totally natural or all-out glam, here's how to:
1. Fix an eye makeup mishap.
Be extra careful -- once you've already smudged, you don't want to make it worse or you'll have to start all over again from scratch. Scott Miselnicky, executive director of global product development at Clinique, suggests wetting a Q-tip with makeup remover and gently dabbing at the mistake until it's completely gone. Go slowly so you don't take off too much!
2. Avoid Shirley Temple curls.
Pageant-perfect curls are a bride's worst nightmare. For a natural look, wrap a section of hair around the outside of the barrel and hold for three seconds. Release and let cool, then lightly run your fingers through your hair. And don't forget -- vary the size of your curls, and switch up the direction in which you wrap them.
3. Fake a great pair of cheekbones.
"If you're face is roundish, shading lightly can work wonders!" says Lucy Baldock-Sacchi, international makeup artist and founder of Lucy B. Cosmetics. She suggests using a matte bronzer just below your cheekbones, then following up with a pink or peach blush on the apples of your cheeks. To tone it down, skip the bronzer and use a hint of shimmer on the highest point of your cheekbones.
4. Flatter your face.
When it comes to choosing a hairstyle, all of our experts emphasize that your look needs to harmonize with your gown. Also, make sure to choose a style that will bring out your best feature, explains Jamal Hammadi, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Hamadi Beauty. "For an updo, placing the style between the top of your ear and the top of your eye (like a high ponytail) will enhance the shape of your eyes, while placing it lower (like a chignon) will put the focus more on your lips and neck," he says.
5. Stave off a breakout.
Right before the wedding is not the time to try out a new skincare regimen. No matter how tired you are, make sure you stick to your cleansing schedule and remove your makeup before you go to bed! If you really need more ammo, try a mask with salicylic acid.
6. Apply perfect foundation.
It only takes two tools to do this right: a quality brush and a makeup sponge. The brush will give you coverage, while the sponge will blend away any streaks or remove excess buildup.
7. Pull off a bold lip color.
Lots of brides like to amp up their look for the reception, and a deeper lip hue is a great way to do it. "Using a brighter lip color will always make your teeth look whiter; a big plus on your wedding day!" says Stila makeup artist Sarah Lucero. Keep all the rest of your face relatively neutral, and your eye makeup soft -- not severe. "Also, make sure your cheek and lip colors are in the same color family," she says.
8. Get voluminous locks.
Even if you're not going with a curly style, a curling iron or rollers should be in your repertoire. "Blow out your hair with a round brush for body, then follow up with a curling iron all over," explains Edward Tricomi, co-owner of Warren-Tricomi Salons.
9. Apply alluring eye shadow.
Eye shadow color trios and quads can be difficult to decode: How do you know where to use each shade? According to Baldock-Sacchi, it's perfectly fine to break the rules and experiment. If you want your eyes to look wider, she recommends using the lightest shade on the inner corner to give your peepers a more open look. Shimmering shades can be used all over and look amazing layered over color. The darker shades should be used for contouring in the crease or the center of the lid.
10. Keep your lipstick on your lips.
Miselnicky suggests applying a small amount of vaseline on to your teeth to keep lipstick from winding up on your teeth. "Also, gently blot your lipstick with a tissue after you have applied it to remove any excess," he says. "Believe me, the groom will be happy!"
11. Fight the frizzies.
"Always try to wash and rinse your hair with cool water, which will help maintain its natural moisture and prevent your hair from drying out," Hammadi says. Follow it up with a frizz-fighting product that will boost your protection level.
12. Make mascara run-proof.
Waterproof mascara is a wedding day must-have. "I use waterproof on everyone involved in the wedding party because you never know who will tear up!" Lucero says. For lower lashes, she recommends applying mascara with a flat eyeliner brush rather than the mascara wand. "This trick prevents smearing under your eyes, which can make you look tired," she explains.
13. Boast a beautiful decolletage.
You want your chest and shoulders to have clear, glowing skin -- especially if you're wearing a strapless gown. Debbie D'Aquino, vice president of global product development at Clinique, recommends wearing clothing that breathes and keeps perspiration from building up on your skin (this goes double for workout wear). Cleanse with a treatment that includes salicylic acid. We love ones that come in spray bottles because it's so much easier to apply to the back.
14. Prevent dark under-eye circles.
It might be tough, but Diane Berson, M.D., says it's key that you get plenty of sleep (and not just the night before the wedding). "Sleep with your head elevated on a pillow to reduce puffiness, and try not to rub your eyes," she says. It's also a good idea to use an eye cream that brightens as well as hydrates.
15. Touch up your makeup.
You may not have time to redo your makeup before the reception starts, but you should give yourself a quick once-over in order to make sure you stay looking great (after all, nearly every second of the reception will be photographed!). Makeup expert Francis Roman of Butterfly Studio says to skip blush (which should last just fine) and your eyelids (too risky). Instead, apply another layer of lip color, and blot your T-zone with an oil-removing paper. Then run a makeup sponge or a Q-tip beneath your lower lashes to remove any mascara or eye shadow that may have smudged or fallen beneath them, and you're good to go.
Photo: Sandi Fellman
© 2008 The Knot Inc. All rights reserved.
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1. Fix an eye makeup mishap.
Be extra careful -- once you've already smudged, you don't want to make it worse or you'll have to start all over again from scratch. Scott Miselnicky, executive director of global product development at Clinique, suggests wetting a Q-tip with makeup remover and gently dabbing at the mistake until it's completely gone. Go slowly so you don't take off too much!
2. Avoid Shirley Temple curls.
Pageant-perfect curls are a bride's worst nightmare. For a natural look, wrap a section of hair around the outside of the barrel and hold for three seconds. Release and let cool, then lightly run your fingers through your hair. And don't forget -- vary the size of your curls, and switch up the direction in which you wrap them.
3. Fake a great pair of cheekbones.
"If you're face is roundish, shading lightly can work wonders!" says Lucy Baldock-Sacchi, international makeup artist and founder of Lucy B. Cosmetics. She suggests using a matte bronzer just below your cheekbones, then following up with a pink or peach blush on the apples of your cheeks. To tone it down, skip the bronzer and use a hint of shimmer on the highest point of your cheekbones.
4. Flatter your face.
When it comes to choosing a hairstyle, all of our experts emphasize that your look needs to harmonize with your gown. Also, make sure to choose a style that will bring out your best feature, explains Jamal Hammadi, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Hamadi Beauty. "For an updo, placing the style between the top of your ear and the top of your eye (like a high ponytail) will enhance the shape of your eyes, while placing it lower (like a chignon) will put the focus more on your lips and neck," he says.
5. Stave off a breakout.
Right before the wedding is not the time to try out a new skincare regimen. No matter how tired you are, make sure you stick to your cleansing schedule and remove your makeup before you go to bed! If you really need more ammo, try a mask with salicylic acid.
6. Apply perfect foundation.
It only takes two tools to do this right: a quality brush and a makeup sponge. The brush will give you coverage, while the sponge will blend away any streaks or remove excess buildup.
7. Pull off a bold lip color.
Lots of brides like to amp up their look for the reception, and a deeper lip hue is a great way to do it. "Using a brighter lip color will always make your teeth look whiter; a big plus on your wedding day!" says Stila makeup artist Sarah Lucero. Keep all the rest of your face relatively neutral, and your eye makeup soft -- not severe. "Also, make sure your cheek and lip colors are in the same color family," she says.
8. Get voluminous locks.
Even if you're not going with a curly style, a curling iron or rollers should be in your repertoire. "Blow out your hair with a round brush for body, then follow up with a curling iron all over," explains Edward Tricomi, co-owner of Warren-Tricomi Salons.
9. Apply alluring eye shadow.
Eye shadow color trios and quads can be difficult to decode: How do you know where to use each shade? According to Baldock-Sacchi, it's perfectly fine to break the rules and experiment. If you want your eyes to look wider, she recommends using the lightest shade on the inner corner to give your peepers a more open look. Shimmering shades can be used all over and look amazing layered over color. The darker shades should be used for contouring in the crease or the center of the lid.
10. Keep your lipstick on your lips.
Miselnicky suggests applying a small amount of vaseline on to your teeth to keep lipstick from winding up on your teeth. "Also, gently blot your lipstick with a tissue after you have applied it to remove any excess," he says. "Believe me, the groom will be happy!"
11. Fight the frizzies.
"Always try to wash and rinse your hair with cool water, which will help maintain its natural moisture and prevent your hair from drying out," Hammadi says. Follow it up with a frizz-fighting product that will boost your protection level.
12. Make mascara run-proof.
Waterproof mascara is a wedding day must-have. "I use waterproof on everyone involved in the wedding party because you never know who will tear up!" Lucero says. For lower lashes, she recommends applying mascara with a flat eyeliner brush rather than the mascara wand. "This trick prevents smearing under your eyes, which can make you look tired," she explains.
13. Boast a beautiful decolletage.
You want your chest and shoulders to have clear, glowing skin -- especially if you're wearing a strapless gown. Debbie D'Aquino, vice president of global product development at Clinique, recommends wearing clothing that breathes and keeps perspiration from building up on your skin (this goes double for workout wear). Cleanse with a treatment that includes salicylic acid. We love ones that come in spray bottles because it's so much easier to apply to the back.
14. Prevent dark under-eye circles.
It might be tough, but Diane Berson, M.D., says it's key that you get plenty of sleep (and not just the night before the wedding). "Sleep with your head elevated on a pillow to reduce puffiness, and try not to rub your eyes," she says. It's also a good idea to use an eye cream that brightens as well as hydrates.
15. Touch up your makeup.
You may not have time to redo your makeup before the reception starts, but you should give yourself a quick once-over in order to make sure you stay looking great (after all, nearly every second of the reception will be photographed!). Makeup expert Francis Roman of Butterfly Studio says to skip blush (which should last just fine) and your eyelids (too risky). Instead, apply another layer of lip color, and blot your T-zone with an oil-removing paper. Then run a makeup sponge or a Q-tip beneath your lower lashes to remove any mascara or eye shadow that may have smudged or fallen beneath them, and you're good to go.
Photo: Sandi Fellman
© 2008 The Knot Inc. All rights reserved.
PrintEmailBlogDiggFacebookNewsvine
Thursday, September 18, 2008
The Secret to You ::: Windows Media Video ::: Visualization Tool ::: Official Web Site of The Secret Movie
The Secret to You ::: Windows Media Video ::: Visualization Tool ::: Official Web Site of The Secret Movie: "http://thesecret.tv/secret-to-you/wmv.html" (CLICK ON LINK TO VIEW)
Friday, July 25, 2008
Hair Tip
If your considering getting your hair permed or colored, have it done well in advance of your wedding day so you have time to decide if you like it or not.
www.weddingtoolbox.com
www.weddingtoolbox.com
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