Recently a Bride decided to post a rant and “open letter” to Wedding Vendors through a large  Bridal site. Fast forward through its circulation across main bridal forums, blogs, etc. over the past week or so and the response is the same; Though the bride does have some valid points, she’s become a complete joke, not only is the post one sided and missing many key elements, but comes off with a low level of maturity…She’s also now just alienated herself from Vendors she wishes to likely hire for her big day. Her post, although with an intent, was not coming from a “source” but that of “one bride” and what “she wants”, thus fueling the dramas and parade of Bridezilla-like actions out there.

So with that, I sat down with a  number of vendors in many areas of services to openly go over this and created a list of top areas we feel client’s need to know about. Here are a few key points many vendors would like to make clear, time and time again, to clients regarding general manors, inquiries and just overall conducting of business. This is business in the end, we are here to provide a service and make sure your day is the best possible day it can be!

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#1 – Answer our questions in a timely fashion. Answer everything, read all the items we send you (we aren’t just spinning our wheels). Remember that we have other clients and your email may have to wait a day to get an answer. Be reasonable. Be polite. Replies sent on a Thursday or Friday, right before a busy weekend where we are likely on location for a 10+ hour day, 2-3 days solid, they might not get a reply until Monday, AFTER Our bridal clients big days!

Bridal services are generally booked by all vendors on a first come, first serve basis, to whomever secures their date/spot with a contract and retainer. This means, if you do not reply back, bookings and inquiries do continue to come through  – all day, every day…

Thus do not be “surprised” if and when a vendor has now booked your  date that you inquired for 3 weeks ago, if you never did reply back to them! If you never replied back, they will book the next inquiry/bridal client that comes through. Date are not put on “hold” just because you sent an email out to a bunch of vendors. To then blow up on that vendor for doing their job, is just unacceptable, especially if it’s at the client’s negligence.

#2 – When you send a vendor an inquiry, and we send you an email about our services or pricing list, we actually would absolutely love to hear back from you, please have a courtesy of replying back to us, don’t disappear from the face of the earth forever. We want to know if you got our email or not, we want to know if you are interested or not, at least, thank us for taking our time  and responding to your inquiry, supplying you with information, etc…. This is really not much to ask.

#3- When you e-mail for a quote. Be specific. A vague email serves us no good, if we have no idea what we are quoting for…Many times brides completely forget to even list a date!!!  We might already be booked, there’s no point starting an entire process, if we might not even be available right?

“Telling me “I need 10 round linens” means nothing to me as a  vendor…What size do you need, what color do you want, do you have a fabric in mind? Do you only need linens? How about napkins, chair covers etc.”

“I need Beauty services for my wedding, you available?” Ok… What date, what time, how many people? which services? Location? etc.”

“Hi, what are your rates?”  – Again, address the person you are contacting, we do have a name.

Next, many of us do have a page marked “Rates” right on our websites to give client’s an idea at the very least on general starting packages. Not all, but most in the wedding fields do. Nothing becomes more frustrating receiving a vague email like this, over and over, all day long, compounded by someone who clearly chose not to take 2 minutes out to click right beside the contact page they used to send this message of inquiry! You want to know “Rates” only, please click on the page marked “Rates” or “Investments”

Brides often post on forums about Vendors not replying or replying with messages that might imply “please read my website”. Why does your vendor want to respond to someone who can’t even take a minute to address them by name, or read a clearly listed “Rates” page for someone only asking for a “Rate”?

This is usually the first red flag for a “difficult” client in the making. Whether or not you may be one… Sad but true

If a person is unable to follow even the most elementary of tasks, how are they going to progress through the vendors stages and/or planning?

#4 – Returning phone calls is nice. You blew up our phone and e-mail asking for a quote. Now that you have received it, it would be nice if you would let us know you received it. When we e-mail to follow up, a simple “I’m still gathering quotes or I’m still thinking about it” would be nice. Please don’t ignore us, It’s rude.

#5 – Don’t lie about your budget. When we ask what is your budget we don’t want to hear “I’m open as long as I like it” then respond with “Wow that’s expensive” or “You’re way out of my Price range”… SO YOU DO  have a budget then…share it with us and don’t waste others time by being vague or neglecting to even read the “Rates” pages listed for vendors in question, requesting meet ups, etc.

You’d be surprised how many vendors can accommodate services, no matter what size the budget, or at the very least offer you alternate suggestions if you aren’t being realistic. Everyone has a budget, we know that, what we need to know is what’s YOUR Budget.

When it comes to services, it goes both ways, the vendors you seek out should be more than happy to provide you with information and all your questioned answered.  Most vendors usually share a large portion in the first email back to you, take the time to read through it. At the same time there is an expected level of courtesy that needs to be returned…

Understanding of the Bridal process is a two way, yes “you’re so busy with things and just forgot”, but your vendors too have sometimes upwards of 75+ OTHER brides they are currently dealing with, plus inquiries coming through, meetings, jobs being performed and more, so really, just how “busy” are you that you couldn’t take 5 minutes out for a reply back?

So remember, we know everyone is busy, different budgets and needs, what we need to know is your specifics, not vague one liner emails, in order to be able to both accommodate and give you the best possible results for the services that are being higher-ed for…. We are here to make your day as perfect as possible!

As we progress into the 2012 year, we are seeing no signs of this slowing down. We are now seeing transitioning to the likes of light color pops in looks for Make-up, and away from the highly over done looks of the “Kim K” styles and the “Eva Longoria” Hair style and others.

No longer about tattoo covers, but instead owning the work client’s have had done and sporting it proud with services we offer such as Tattoo Detailing; Color Enhancement services and glamorization, so you can wear them with pride!

We are seeing  wedding gowns from the new Vera Wang collection and multiple other designers that are stepping away from traditional styling and introducing more color from detail accents, to gowns in colors such as Black, dusty rose tones and peaches, pale blues, mint greens and more. Accents such as fabric flowers for softer more vintage feels too… We’ll post a few of our favorites from this season below.

With the successes of our last year’s Signature Faces collections line, this year we wanted to showcase the other side of what we’ve been seeing and doing all year… Away from the traditional looks with some of our more popular requested looks.

Part 1 is listed below from our 2 part series on being Bold and Beautiful for your big day and showing that color doesn’t have to be scary

So with that in mind we are happy to introduce to you the first portion of our Color Bridal Series Below:

Model: Mandy | Makeup: Felicia Bromba |Hair: Victoria Kuzma | Photographer: Norm Whaley | Accessories: Art of Adorment

Pink | Purples | Wines | Cranberries

This season we have seen a huge rise in requests for color combos and light color introductions,  such as; Pinks, Purples, Eggplant, Wine tones and Cranberry colors.  An additional pop of color to more basic styles such as the brown smokey eye, giving a more eye-catching affect. Your level of boldness knows no limit. Here our client sports our very popular Bold Pink and Purple Smokey eye combination.

Model: "Miss Meow" | Makeup: Felicia Bromba | Hair: Kate Martin | Photographer: Norm Whaley | Accessories: Art of Adornment

Reds tones  and Red Lip Combo’s

A step up from the Wines and Purples. A bolder approach should you want, or just as a slight hint of color with a smokey eye look. Popular color choices for this combination include a mix of deep warm gold’s paired with darker red tones and Smokey Blacks for the eyes.  A favorite amongst many of our South Asian wedding clients.

Alternative options we see are a more muted version of the eyes, in Deep chocolate tones and taupe’s, paired with a fierce red statement lip! Red lips have been making a Bridal comeback over this past season and we hope to see it stay. A nice change up from the muted nudes and pink tones that often wash out many clients in photos!!

Model: Chevvy P.| Makeup: Felicia Bromba | Hair: Victoria Kuzma | Photographer: Norm Whaley | Accessories: Art of Adornment

Vintage glam

Still going strong, we featured this in our last collection, but with the amount of requests we still see for it, we felt it deserved another spot! Minimal in approach for those that are a bit more “au natural” with emphasis  on the eyes through a clean short winged liner, sexy lashes and a deeper blush tones. Lips we see include a wide range from soft pinks and coral tones, all the way back through to the deep reds and wine tones which old Hollywood glam looks were founded on.

Model: Alisa L. | Makeup: Felicia Bromba | Hair: Victoria Kuzma | Photographer: Norm Whaley | Accessories: Art of Adornment

Golden Girl

Golds are making a come-back as well! Yay!

A nice alternative from the more washed out taupe’s and lighter tones we saw allot of a few seasons back. Gold tones add a bit more glam to the eye and warms up the face. Paired with pops of colors like deep greens, this was a very popular choice through our fall brides. Not quite bold enough for color? Still a wonderful alternative base choice for the standard neutral toned Smokey eye.

Model: Erynn | Makeup: Felicia Bromba | Hair: Victoria Kuzma | Photographer: Norm Whaley | Accessories: Art of Adornment

The Super Smoke

We didn’t forget out you lovely ladies that like to really kick it up a notch for the evening looks. This style,  is a VERY popular choice for our “Reception return” services we offer our brides… Taking you from soft and daytime from your ceremony and picture time, to evening glam -  Smoke out the eyes, pull the hair up and dance the night away!

For more information on all our Bridal Services offered and to view more images, please visit:

www.makeup-by-felicia.com

or join me on Facebook:  “Felicia Bromba – Makeup Artist (Vancouver, BC)”

*A big thank you to the talents that worked alongside us for this and our client’s who came out to model for our first portion of this series, stay tuned for part 2 coming soon!

We’d like to leave you now with a little more Eye-candy and a peek at a few of our Favorite colors and dresses out for the 2012 Bridal Season. Enjoy

Designers include; Vera Wang, Elie Saab, Romana Keveza, Monique Lhuillier, Zuhair Murad, Atelier Amiee and more. For more dress ideas visit:  www.weddinginspirasi.com – One of My Favorite sites

Don’t want to compete with the huge rush of brides wanting to book all their vendors for their 2012 wedding?  Book BEFORE the engagement season takes over…

Typically, the first things to happen on the wedding day are Hair and Makeup services.  Whether this is first thing in the morning or first thing after lunch is up to you, but generally we get there before your photographer is due to arrive and long before all your other vendors.

This is why Beauty services are generally one of the first and fastest services to book up!! Especially those seeking the luxury and convenience of MOBILE Bridal services were your artists come to you in your home or at hotel location. As covered in our booking and timeline posts. These services generally book a minimum of 6 months to 1 year in advance. Spring/Summer months and all long weekend dates (Fridays included) generally averaging closer to the 1 year mark!

Here are some tips and things to consider about booking your vendors and why earlier is better.

Don’t believe what you see on TV.

With all these Bridal shows now, they’ll have you believing that you can plan a lavish event in mere weeks or a few short months. In most cases this is very untrue. What they don’t show you is the dozens of vendors hired in, to make everything a reality, dozens of teams hired on for just basics like set up and take down, let alone the actual details.

In the real world, it doesn’t quite work that way.  Wedding planning takes time, unless of course you don’t have a job and have unlimited time to juggle all your vendor appointments, fittings, taste tests, trials, and more…This is also why the average stat for engagement/planning stage is 14 months.

Your Stress is your own!

Yes, I know that sounds harsh, but let’s face it, if you hadn’t of procrastinated and waited until the mere month before the wedding, you wouldn’t be rushing around all drama like and taking it out on everyone. It’s because of you and it’s not fair for you to take that out on others.

The brides we see the most stressed out, are always the ones that left everything up until the mere few months before the date, now they scramble around work schedules, kids, school, etc. to get it together.

Somehow they thought they’d have plenty of time to book all their vendors, have all their appointments, make the decisions, then reconfirm all those details the week before? Really?

I can’t tell you how many brides we turn away every  year, who contact us in say July, for an August wedding. The busiest month(s) of the entire year and you left it until 3 weeks before the wedding? Sadly, by that point, they might as well go to the makeup counter or find someone on Craigslist, as all the professionals are likely booked MONTHS Prior, if not longer.

What happens then? STRESS – They begin to freak out, calling everyone they can find and mass messaging vendors  to find someone who isn’t already booked. Usually resulting in a family member or friend, with no idea about photography ready makeup, decor ideals, etc…. we then see a flood of “Help me” posts running rampant on the bridal forums.

In the rare instances we do still have artists open, or a vendor might be available still, the brides are already so stressed it can make for a very tense situation and thus many bridal vendors just based on that alone, will turn away a client!

Save money

In the case of last minute clients, that is a perfect example, on what’s likely to cost you more. Many vendors will now charge you more, there will be late booking fees and so on, in many cases FULL Payment is now due upfront! You now have created a stressful working environment for them, leaving them rushing around to accommodate you last minute for a trial or meet up, processing paperwork, rush bouquets, that list goes on.

You want your vendors to be able to provide you with the very best, not slap something together for you in 2 days. It’s not fair to you, or them. Sadly, you then see the brides that have the nerve to complain when a Vendor can’t meet the criteria’s in such a short time, can’t get the supplies requested, or doesn’t have an open booking at their convenience, due to having other client’s booked in MONTHS beforehand…I mean seriously think about that, the entire situation at hand rests solely with the bride at that point and the procrastination of a last minute booking.

So just remember, it does not matter what vendor it is you are seeking, booking them in advance is going to save you a lot of headaches in the end, give you ample time to plan, the ability to change things as needed and just overall make the experience a lot more enjoyable. It’s never fun feeling rushed, especially for a day where there is a lot of time and money being spent. This is your day, take the time you need to make it prefect for you. An experienced professional will have a game plan for any situation, and getting your hands on that knowledge early on will save you stress, time, and money in the end.

Remember your brows frame your face and those beautifully done eyes… bushy brows are no one’s friend and can also hinder makeup application if they are too out of control!

If you prefer waxing:

1) First and for most, for ANY Facial hair work done….7 days before the wedding day is generally recommended. Maybe 5 days, but no closer than that!!!

Tweeze any strays that appear.

If something goes wrong you want to have a little “grow back” time and for things to calm itself. Some develop little ingrown hairs, redness, etc.

Also  understanding that waxing does mess with your skin and can cause redness and irritation – for those with fair skin types more so, in some cases staying red for upwards of 2-3 days!

2) DO NOT go to someone unfamiliar. Time and time again we see undesired results  from clients that take this route out of either laziness because they left it till last minute, or trying to say a buck or two. Plan ahead, one bad job and It can often take WEEKS To start growing back those hairs. Try out that new shop another time, because you have no idea what you might be walking into and at the end of the day, it’s not worth that few dollars you were trying to save.

3) DO NOT Let them talk you into waxing areas you haven’t done before. Now is not the time to experiment with a mustache  clean up or sideburn  removal. If this is your end plan for the big day, get it done months before to test it out first!

I can’t tell you how many bridesmaids, Brides etc. we see each season with hot wax burns to their face, torn upper lips or scabbed up sideburns. Not pretty.

Remember all those fine hairs is what your makeup sticks to, they are in fact needed!!! Waxing takes off ALL the hair in an areas done, not just the dark ones you want to get rid of. Makeup DOES NOT stick to freshly waxed skin!!!

That makeup halo you now have around your brows from a fresh wax strip, or uneven eye shadow line underneath is far more distracting than a few stray hairs you’re being sensitive about.

 For those that prefer Threading:

1) Some people think it hurts.

Personally I find it far easier, less painful and less damaging than waxing, hands down. I mean you are removing hair from the roots, but it’s often far faster and less painful than having a hot wax applied and skin/hair ripped from your face…I can often be in and out in less than 5 minutes with threading!

2) There are a lot less side effects and negatives  to threading than waxing. Less chance of any “mishaps” as well.

3) If you’ve never had it done, again, be sure to try it out first, long before the wedding day. Don’t leave it last minute.

 For those that Tweeze:

1) No “new” shapes, stick with your natural shaping. For those that prefer a more natural shaping, just remove strays from under the arch to clean up the area.

2) Keep up maintenance leading up to the wedding. If you chose to tweeze the day of, be sure to do it first thing allowing for any redness to subside before you start your day and head down that aisle.

3) Removing the stray hairs from above the arch will give you a cleaner shape. Remember to taper the ends a bit, starting from the arch outwards.

For those that Shave:

Yes, people still do shave their Eyebrows… Please put down the razor blade!! Those who shave eyebrows generally shave them until there’s only a thin line left. The hair begins to grow back after 3 days and starts to look like a Hot-mess, so why go through that hassle when the results don’t last? With waxing,  threading or Tweezing  you can make appointments 2 – 4 weeks apart in most cases.

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At the end of the day, your Make-up artist can work magic with the rest and help with any pre-wedding mishaps. We can fill in, reshape and more, you’d be surprised what we can do

Be sure to do your hair maintenance first thing, Get this all out of the way before sitting in your makeup artist’s chair.  A random hair here or there is fine, but don’t come expecting a full reshaping job.

As for the rest of your body and any other “work” needed to it, a good visit to your favorite spa and you should be good to go come the wedding day!

We are back from our week off, The New Year has begun and it’s busier than ever with bookings. We spent this past year so busy, beyond words, that yes our Blogging slowed. But…We’ve been hard at work behind the scenes and this was an amazing way to end a fabulous year, filled with amazing people.

After 10 years with the most amazing man and my best friend, I got engaged over the holidays. Yes it’s true.

It’s taken us a while to announce it to everyone as we are very private people, but word has been spreading fast and I wanted to share with you all personally…or at least via blog and facebook

I have dedicated so many years to women planning their weddings.  I love what I do more than words can ever express.  I’m surrounded by it all the time, year round and now the realization has begun to register… it’s going to be ME now?!?! Wow, This should prove interesting…Here I sit about to join the army of women holding the title  of “Bride-To-Be” on the very forums I contribute to and the vendors I work with daily.

Funny enough, the number one question so far has been if I plan to do my own Make-up and Hair.

Truth be told, I would prefer to hand over this area, but those that know us or have worked with us in the past know that our standards for perfection are pretty high, for all our brides we see as well as would be for myself. I do however have a few people in mind that I will be chatting with, so I guess we’ll see.

At this time we have no concrete plans set yet or an official date, but what I can say is that after 10 years together, It’s going to be one heck of party…oh, and I won’t be wearing a white gown, I like a little color in my life

A big thank you to all my friends and family for your support and congratulation messages. To all our vendors colleagues that have been so forth coming to make my big day special and most of all my fiancé Dylan. I’m the luckiest girl in the world!

Meet Kailey-Michelle

She is a passionate curator of perfectly pretty events and fabulously crafted details.

Her heart lies in stories.

From the very first glance, to the heartfelt ending, her mind wanders to create unique events; personalized and crafted through love.

She is a visual story teller and to her, events are an art form.

She creates an ambiance of grace; familiar yet, surreal and It is with immeasurable passion that she brings your love to life.

She is an advocate of impeccable organization and flawless execution; timing is everything, flow is essential and planning is key.

A designer and a logistical perfectionist. Coupled together, She’s been crowned a “mighty mouse” in this city.

She presents your story….

Genuine in passion. Crafted in love. Authentically you.

Her Story:

After working in the wedding industry for over four years, I discovered there was a hole in the Vancouver wedding market. We boast some incredible talent, but the focus seemed to lie on two exact opposites: the grand ballroom setting or the rented hall reception. There rarely, appeared to be a middle ground. {up until recently, that is.}

My other observation, was that most stylist’s and decor companies, focused on traditional looks and their inventory of products, lacked unique pieces that the vintage wedding revolution has inspired.

For years, I’ve watched the international wedding market, attending destination conferences and trade shows. I aimed to adopt their mentality and style, in hopes of bringing it to a local market, where “home-grown style” still seemed to be void.

My desire was to show couples how to bring the elements of their everyday life, like family heirlooms, daily “rituals” and favorite memories, to their wedding and emulate their personal surroundings and taste; to create an environment that felt familiar yet surreal. I wanted to introduce non-traditional and forgotten about settings, like local parks, heritage houses, and rural land (barns, fields, forests etc.)

From this desire, Kailey Michelle Events was launched.

Specializing in intimate and intricately-crafted affairs, I place great value on personalized accents and sophisticated, home-grown touches.

From design conception to impeccable styling, I create an ambiance of grace and transform each occasion into a work of art, meticulously detailed.

Through seamless execution and flawless logistics, I present clients with their unique and personal wedding story, perfect and authentically them. I aim to transcend current trends and present genuine affairs.

{To me, It’s not about re-inventing the wheel, but rather making it your own; precious and special, for reasons close to your heart.} 

No matter my clients budget or whether or not they’ve seen their vision in a magazine, my goal is set their love story on fire and create a day, that magnifies the true beauty of their eternal commitment.

I welcome the opportunity to know you and hear your dreams.

Allow me to present…

Your love. Your story. Your way.

For more information on her amazing services, you can connect with her through the following listed below:

Kailey Michelle Events

www.kaileymichelle.com

hello@kaileymichelle.com

Twitter: @KailMichi

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kailey-Michelle-Events

Blog: www.kaileymichelle.com/blog

Today I want to spend a few minutes to convey how Trial sessions work, and what you need to know BEFORE you go spending your money on random trial sessions!

Many of the larger bridal hubs provide so much false information to brides on this sole area, that I think it’s high time we broke it all down.

Many brides get engaged and switch into hyper-excited mode, and rightfully so. HOWEVER, This is also 9 times out of 10 their own demise as well when it comes to their details planning…

Yes, many brides are eager to see themselves all done up. BUT, Not only are most not ready or prepared yet, but many also lack any of the ideals needed for their professionals hired, to do their job, and properly.

Here’s a few quick key questions to ask yourself first; Do you have all your wedding attire? Veil? Accessories? Color scheme chosen? Date/Times for the wedding? Have you confirmed number of people for services? Do you have any reference images together yet of what you want to go with for your look?

If you’ve answered no to 2 or more of even these basic questions, then you are not ready to begin your trial sessions yet….Allow me to better explain:

In the case of Bridal trials, Make-up and Hair trials are typically done approx. 4-8 weeks prior to the wedding date once everything is into its final stages and you have all your beauty “details” in place.

Though they can be done sooner, it is typically recommended against by most PROFESSIONAL beauty providers, as if done to early, it can compromise many different areas of the services.

All of these items and details are taken into consideration and worked with when constructing your bridal look. The overall style of your personal needs, but also the wedding itself. It’s for this reason that many beauty providers offer Full service packages, to better accommodate brides without compromising their service integrity as well.

Part one: Time Frame

When is your wedding? If your wedding isn’t until next August, a trial now and in the fall will do no good…6 months early? A year early? You’re wasting your time and money!

Why?

Basics will tell you that winter months will wear completely different than a spring/summer month will… How many of us have dry skin in the winter, oilier in the summer? Skin reacts differently, as will the temperatures affect on the Makeup/Hair. Even basics like rain verses sun. You will wear completely differently in 5 degree weather than in the dead heat of August sweating in 35 degree weather on a golf course. Thus in many cases completely different products will also be used, both for Hair and your Makeup.

This is often many brides first step to setting themselves up for False ideals and disappointments as to what you’ll look like, how it will wear and more…

Part 2: Growing your hair out for the wedding?

Most people’s hair can grow upwards of a 1/2 inch per month, some even more than that! So why are you going to do a trial 6-8 months early, then your hair won’t even be close to the length it is now?

Why this may be a problem…

As your hair grows out, this can hinder your hairstyle, and in some peoples cases, make the hairstyles completely obsolete come time of the wedding. Not only will the additional hair length add volume and bulk to the style, but can in fact change the overall appearance of it too.

For those planning down styles or Half up, curls will now wear and fall differently due to the added weight of the extra length. This can also cause hair to not only lose shape but fall out faster to.

For those that plan to overhaul their color; The mere color of your hair will also affect how it will “look” and more importantly, photograph! Ever notice how 90% of the bridal images you find are pictured with BLOND Models? It’s so you can see details, dark hair looks and photographs differently and thus absorbs lighting, fading out any detail work.

Part 3: The Accessories

Your veil, your earrings, the necklace, to the very dress you’re wearing that day… Even your color schemes all play a part in the final step of your wedding look.

Believe it or not, but even the shape of your earrings can change an entire “look” just by the way they shape your face, same goes for a chosen hairstyle.

In the case of brides choosing to wear a veil or statement piece in the hair, often Hairstyles will be styled to accommodate them. Some veils even leaving behind a “kink” in the hair and thus needing to be accommodated for during your styling.

Heavy beading on your dress? The style you chose for hair may actually be compromised now, causing the hair to catch and snag throughout the day on all that beading, willingly creating a frizzy mess and matted hair ends. No amount of photoshop is going to fix that…

When doing your trial, you want to make sure to see everything as a whole look, this is your best way to tell how you like or don’t like something. As a Bride you need to be able to see it as a full package, just as you would on the wedding day and for your photos. The earrings, the veil, the full makeup and Hair.

These are just a few quick examples of how much detail is taken into account for a Brides look and how jumping the gun to soon can hinder your wedding day look. Any professional level artist will tell you that. If as the bride you don’t have anything in place yet that your vendors need, how do you expect them to not only create your look but perform at the highest levels that you are paying them for, when you have them working blind?

Though it’s understandable to be excited, do yourself the favor and spend that extra time to really focus in and gather what you need first, before embarking on random trial sessions for a wedding that is still 9 months or so away and services that you aren’t prepared for just yet.

Booking and securing your choice artist is key, as many book a minimum of 1 year in advance, but holding out your included trial session until you’re ready is also key to the final outcome.

In the end, you’ll find better quality of service from your vendors, but also your wedding pictures and how you look in them. They will always reflect that extra time spent to do it right. When after all, your images are your lasting memory of an amazing day, why leave how you look in them on a bunch of  “what ifs” and “I don’t know yet”…?

So today I’d like to touch on a subject of “getting fired” by your vendors. Yes it does happen and more often than one might think….and I feel it be very important for brides to understand the working behind such a decision, as you very well might be heading in that direction and not even know it!

During a few recent conversations, I listened to a few brides stating their case of “what happened” and “why” they were without services, some photographers, some Hair and Make-up, some decorators and so on. Upon listening to many, it was evident that it wasn’t just simply a case of mishap or schedule changing, but full out FIRING of the bride-to-be due to her behavior towards their vendors in question…

Sadly, so many brides are now watching these reality programs on weddings, which do paint quite an un-realistic picture of both what actually happens behind the scenes, but worse yet implies that if you throw a large enough tantrum and go “bridezilla”, that vendors will bend over backwards for you…which unfortunately is completely opposite!  Bridezilla behavior will likely result in your vendors just walking away and FIRING YOU, leaving you scrambling.

Although it seems that the closer you get to your big day the more seems to happen, just know that in the end it will all be okay!! Every bride experiences stress, but how you handle it is key. Today I want to discuss what taking your stress out on those around you can lead to.

Although you may be having quite an ordeal with your wedding planning, keeping in mind that your vendors are likely dealing with that same ordeals with anywhere up to 100 or more other brides during bridal season.

So here are a few areas that I think should be addressed, education is the goal here so that you don’t find yourself in this situation.

#1 – Be fair to your vendors

Do unto your vendor as you want them to do at your wedding! These people are there to help make your day amazing and special. Running them through the ringer with constant last minute changes and indecisive behavior, may lead to them just walking away from it all… if you can’t get it together for them, why would they want to help?  Vendors can’t plan anything for you, if you yourself are in constant flux.

#2 – Communicate.

Your vendors do not read minds, I cannot stress that enough.  Lying to their face saying you “like” something, only to turn around a mere few days before a wedding asking for complete overhaul is very disrespectful of the work that professional vendors put into making your day perfect.   Last minute changes, never usually work out.  Emergencies do happen, so when things change let them know and allow them time to respond, especially over a weekend.  Weekends are the busiest time for wedding pros, as they are likely AT another wedding servicing other brides.  It is for this reason that responses to calls and emails are slower from Fridays through Sundays.

#3 – Be respectful

Yes things change, and your vendors understand this… but screaming, crying and throwing tantrums like a child gets you nowhere. Stepping out of line with childish name calling, demands, and hiding behind friends, family or your wedding planner will not give you the result you are looking for. Instead a vendor is to likely peg you as a drama queen and drop you completely rather than deal with your childish behavior.  Many vendors now have “abuse” clauses in their contract which allows them to terminate services and collect their full payments immediately if they feel threatened. Another thing we can thank TV For, as many vendors did not feel the need for such addition into their contracts, until many of these bridal shows came out!

#4 – Be clear and firm with your plans from the get-go

Booked your photographer for an entire day, only to email them 3 days before the wedding to tell them you only want them for 2 hours? Booked beauty services for 5 people only to now have “Bride only” for services? Not only are you now in breach of your contract, you have now likely cost them other business and clients they could have booked while holding and scheduling a full day for your services. This is often the biggest cause of Brides getting themselves fired and comes down to the age old saying; Don’t say one thing (and sign for it) only to turn around and do another… although vendors will try to accommodate the best they can, it may not always turn out as originally thought due to last minute and overhauled changes. Your day would now be on their time, not yours!

#5 – Know when to listen…and READ (emails, etc)

In most cases brides are planning for the first time. You may “think” you know how something might pan out under your own organization, but sadly 9 times out of 10 it’s a flop. Listen to your vendors’ suggestions, tips and advice given…this includes all emailed information and listings on their websites, as many vendors aim to educate you on ALL facts, BEFORE you even book! Turning around 1 week prior with an “I didn’t know” is inexcusable, especially in the cases of those who have had their contracts/paperwork for months prior that outline all such details in question, long before they even signed and booked services.

Take the time to READ IT all through. That includes pricing, policies/terms, start times, leave times, recommendations for planning and so on…If you have any questions about it, just ask them! Remember that in the end your vendors are there to ensure your day is flowing smoothly.  They know how best to make your day relaxed and fun. They do this for a living and see ALL angles, and can foresee things that more often than not a client hasn’t even thought of yet.

In the end, weddings are another part of life, and unforeseen changes can happen, but being respectful and handling situations in an adult manner will make things a lot easier and keep you from being ditched by those you aim to hire. No one likes conflict!  Think about the best way to deal with the situation, and then put yourself on the receiving end for a minute….how would you react watching yourself?   Your wedding is supposed to be one of the most beautiful days of your life, and we are always sorry to watch a beautiful bride ruin her own day!!!

Here’s wishing you a fantastic wedding and that your vendors brag about your courteous and easygoing nature to other vendors and clients for years to come!

Dark circles in some people can actually be a sign of toxin build up in the body and sometimes a sign of an allergy to foods, but also possible Kidney and Sinus problems as well.

What may work for one person, may not for another, as varying degrees of darkness/puffiness are a factor as will be skin tones/ethnicity. So I will include a few options, so no matter where you sit on the “dark circle scale” hopefully we can give you a few options to check out!

Let’s start shall we:

Of course we have the ever popular and universal use of Cucumber Slices. Raw potato slices contain potassium and also work well to take away dark circles under the eye.

Secondary to those options are cooled Green tea bags or the use of Rose water.

Cold spoons are also a great quick fix, just be careful they aren’t so cold they stick to the skin!

A few less commonly know options to treat under eye circles; Potato juice, Almond oil, Lemon juices, Crushed Mint and Figs.

Many of our wonderful South Asian clients have shared with us this one…

*Mixtures are approximate*

• 1 tsp tomato juice
• 3-4 drops of lemon juice
• a pinch of turmeric powder
• enough white flour to make a paste

Mash these ingredients together into thick paste and dab it under your eyes. Let sit for 10-15 minutes, then wash away.

Turmeric and pineapple juice is another common mixture we’ve had recommended to us.

For puffy eyes there’s also the ever so popular Preparation H use too (Cream or Gel. NOT Ointment)

Remember that sleep plays a huge role in the appearance of dark circles.  So getting ample rest is one of your best lines of defense in taming those dark circles!

Some other really great ways to minimize dark circles under the eyes are Vitamin E and Vitamin C. Diet plays a very important part in dark circle prevention so remember to include a decent amount of vegetables in your diet too.

Good luck.

If you have an tips you’d like to share that have worked for you, or products you love and swear by, please feel free to leave a comment below.

We have worked with her on a few occasions over the past year or so now and just completed a recent shoot with her for some new and exciting items for her 2011 line!

With more and more of our brides seeking something other than your “traditional” style bridal accessories we thought this would be the perfect time to introduce you to her designs with Bridal season in full swing now and many of our brides asking for accessory referrals.

We’d like to introduce you to Mandee; the maker of fine custom and elite feather headpieces!

These amazing designs are sure to kick it up a notch, while incorporating  elegant and tasteful pops of color to your hairstyle and/or dress. Her hair accessories are also a wonderful option for bridesmaids and flower girls alike.

Her one of a kind designs can be pre-purchased from her amazing array of on-hand accessories, or completely customized and tailored to your ideas and color schemes for your wedding.

With a love for color, and inspired by all ideas and cultures from around the world, her pieces have been seen gracing both celebrities and local brides a like.

Here are a few sample shots of some of my favorite pieces as seen from our recent shoot.

For more information on her designs or to custom order your own pieces, contact Mandee at: info@mishejewels.com

Mishe Jewels also will continue to sell at Private Pop-up Parties for a short time, only-until their WORLDWIDE launch SOON! To be on the mailing list for these exclusive sales, please contact her at the email above!

Photo Credits:

Photography by: Nuno Silva

Models: Laura, Vanessa, Kelsey, Gabrielle and Julia

Accessories provided by: Mishe Jewels

Bridal Gowns provided by: Pure Something

All Hair Services by: Victoria Kuzma

All Make-up services by: Felicia Bromba