How to set your Wedding Day Budget!

Congratulations on your new engagement, now the fun begins – It’s wedding planning time!! 🙂

Today, we focus our post on Bridal Budgets; as this is the first of your major steps that will determine the general planning of your entire wedding event!

After many years now of working within the Bridal Industry, I seem to hear the same “problems” over and over – spoken by many future Brides-to-be, the forums are flooded with posts about it, followed by “It’s not within my budget”….. to which leads me to present the very first question that needs to be asked before anything else.

How do you plan a Budget for your wedding day if you have no idea what your vendors, venue, and other services, are going to cost you??? So what IS your budget then?

Most Bride’s are planning for the FIRST TIME.

Here in lie’s the first hurdle that can bring down both wedding plans and add unnecessary stress along the way….. Ask yourself this; Did you just Guesstimates your totals, or have a vague recollection of what you ASSUME these vendor services should cost?

Make sure your budget is realistic!

The reason 50% or more of couples go over budget in their planning, is because:

1) They do not allow for financial changes in their own plans (Job loss, illnesses, etc)

2) They don’t add in the recommended 20% ‘cushion’ – Think in terms of a home reno – things ALWAYS Pop up!

3) Most people do not set realistic budgets pertaining to their vendors and the services they are looking to book.

Another thing that often ends up neglected is the ‘final’ total of the wedding day itself, from final taxes to your wedding vendor’s gratuities pertaining to services…we touch on this later though in another post about vendor gratuities.

Also other “missed” areas within a budget plan, just a few small examples of commonly missed areas: Alternation costs, Gifts, Favors/Supplies/Goody bags, Babysitting costs, Valet/Parking fees, and let’s not forget the MANY different “bridal parties” BEFORE the actual wedding day  – stagette, bridal shower, rehearsal dinners, etc.

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One of the best things I ever heard came from one of my brides this year, Sara, and thus the entire basis of this post as it is still to date one of the smartest pre-wedding plans I’ve come across!!

Her Mother in law had made plans BEFORE ANY PLANNING was to start, for her son, his future wife (Sara) and her to visit a few of main Vancouver Bridal Shows.

This gave them the ability to not only scope out future ideas for their wedding-to-be but most importantly, MEET some of their potential vendors face to face!

They grabbed business cards and price quotes from many of the vendors they liked, found out packaging options and more that agreed with both their tastes but also their potential wedding size as well.

This gave them a whole slew of information, pricing and other options that they could sit and go through once home, to help start them off on the right path.

Not only that, but they had another advantage now, saving more money!!

Many vendors at these shows offer “specials” or “discounts”  for those that attend these bridal shows…That you will not find available through their online sites. Booking your vendors early can not only save you tons of money, but also the disappointments of your top choices being already booked – Remember just about all wedding services and Bridal related vendors (including Makeup | Hair and Salon services) can book about 1 year out!

So once they returned home, Sara and her fiance  sat down and separated everything in sections: Catering, Vancouver Venues, Photographers, DJ Services, Limo companies and more.

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Next step is PRIORITIZING your vendors and/or areas of more importance to you.

With the information and pricing now available BEFOREHAND, They were able to go through each section and price out an average cost PER Service provider for their wedding. In the long run and after the wedding – they were even UNDER BUDGET at the end!!

Some brides have areas that might be more important to them or as a couple. Be that a Venue/Location, or a Photographer for example. Maybe it’s beauty services – These are the top 3 vendors that book the fastest, and with good reason.

You are the centerpiece in every image, throughout the day. Your most photographed day of your life; After it’s all said in done, the only thing you will have left of the day is the photos you get back of those memorable moments…. These three vendor areas are key to not only your photos, but the overall vibe and feeling of the entire experience.

Example: Some brides have no problem spending $500+ on a pair of shoes, that in reality, are under a dress, that no one will see. Then in the same breath, express how their ‘looks’ are super important to them – BUT then attempt their own Hair and Makeup, that may not be appropriate with today’s higher end media demands; it just doesn’t pan out, and the photos show it. While others may be more concerned with a napkin color or sash on a chair, that guests are likely to not even remember….

So again, look at prioritizing your ideas, THEN set your budgets alongside that.

If Photography, Venue, Beauty and how you look, or your Decor are most important, SPEND The budget in those areas!!

There will always be further options for DIY areas along the way, or portions that can allow for additional help from others. But don’t dismiss your ‘A choice’ factors when planning.

In prioritizing and figuring out your vendor cost first, this can not only keep your budget on target, but considerably lower the risk of burning out with DIY Projects and other stress.

After all, the average engagement and wedding planning time frame is about 12-14 months….so what’s a few cents a day set aside, to get the vendors and services you truly want and find the most important for your big day.

So let that be proof, that although you may be excited and ready to just jump in there and start planning, that a little extra time, smart planning, prioritizing and organization can save you so much time, money and stress later on when the ball gets rolling.

Happy wedding planning!

****Have a subject you’d like us to cover, or wedding planning questions you’d like answered? Drop us a line anytime, and we’ll do our best to feature your Question or Subject in one of our up and coming posts!!

Secrets of the Forest – Bridal Editorial for Perfect Wedding Magazine

It’s Published!

I am super excited to share our long awaited reveal on this shoot.

Our sensual, Bohemian-inspired bridal editorial has finally landed on the glossy pages of the Spring/Summer edition of Perfect Wedding Magazine!

Here are some Favorite shots below and be sure to check out the behind-the-scenes video of our Secrets of the Forest bridal editorial.

A big thank you goes out again, to our amazing team on this shoot. Always a pleasure working with friends – Talented, amazing and dedicated local Bridal Vendors.

Enjoy! 🙂

Behind the Scenes Video

 

TALENTED TEAM

Photography: MARU PHOTOGRAPHY

Hair Adornments & Accessories: POWDER BLUE BIJOUX

Hair & Make-Up (For all Models):  FELICIA BROMBA

Event Stylist: SMITTEN EVENTS

Cakes & Sweets:  MEG NELSON

Floral Design: FLEURISH FLORAL DESIGN

Set Furnishings & Glassware: MEUSE BOUTIQUE

Gowns: ELLEBAY BRIDAL  & POWDER BLUE BIJOUX

Stationery: SUNSHINE & RAVIOLI 

Rings: BARBARA MICHELLE JACOBS JEWELRY LLC

Models: ROBIN for JOHN CASABLANCAS MODELS,
ANDREA for NUMA MODELS   and LAUREN HURTON

Cinematography DANIELLE DOBSON

 

 

Truvelle: 2014 Lookbook

Many of my Bridal client’s already know the mad love I have for these gowns, I can’t say enough good things about them… but for those of you who are just stopping in, or maybe you’re a first time reader here, You couldn’t have picked a better post to join us on 🙂

Today I share with you, a sneak peek into the 2014 Bridal look book I was a part of recently for Truvelle. I was honored to be a part of this shoot, working with an amazingly talented team, and of course Gaby with her stunning gowns!

A little about this company: Gaby previously worked with Ellebay Bridal Boutique. Last year, Gaby branched off and created Truvelle; wedding dresses for the modern bride that are unconventional and effortlessly beautiful.

Based in Vancouver, Canada. These stunning gowns are made from scratch. Gaby creates made-to-order wedding dresses, with a heavy emphasis on design, fit, and quality. All of her patterns are handcrafted and perfected, with carefully chosen fabric that is individually hand cut, and each gown has its own unique story.

In her first year, Truvelle dresses have been named as one of the favorite dresses of the year on many of the top blogs!

Take a look!

 

Love them too?

Be sure to stop by the Truvelle Website for more info.

Photography: Kristy Ryan of Blush Wedding Photography // Dresses: Truvelle // Hair & Makeup: Felicia Bromba // Styling: Chiara DeMutiis of Kailey Michelle Events // Assistant Styling: Kelly Harnett // Videography: Caner Celenk // Floral Design: The Flower Factory // Model: Sophia Dishaw of Lizbell Agency // Jewelry & Set Props: Brick and Mortar Living // Location: Arundel Mansions, Vancouver, BC // Lookbook Design: Madison Hope of Hope & Co.

All a Flutter – Wedluxe Feature

Happy New Year Everyone!

Well, It’s been a very busy Winter and Holiday season, so I’m starting out the New Year with a fresh new Blog post to showcase what I’ve been up to. We’ll have more posts in the following weeks to come.

Bridal season has kept us very busy, and with that sadly – a bit behind on posting…

So today, I would like to share some gorgeous work from a group of very talented wedding vendors I had the pleasure of working with recently.

It was just a couple weeks ago now, that some more of my work got featured on one of my favorite magazine’s websites.

Here is a look at just a few of my favorites – I hope you like them!

To see more images from this feature, please check out:  Wedluxe blog. (http://www.wedluxe.com/butterfly)

Credits:

Photography: Denise Lin Photography

Hair and Makeup: Felicia Bromba – Makeup Artist

Planning: Elysium Events

Venue: The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

Floral: Balconi Floral Design Studio Inc.

Stationery: Love by Phoebe

Cakes and Cookies: Kien & Sweet

Gowns: Lazaro and Marchesa from Bisou Bridal

Jewellery and Hair Accessories: Jeweliette Jewellery

Cinematography: Modern Romance Productions

Linens and Table Decor: Lavish Design Group

Sweaty Breasts?! *Product Spotlight*

Did I get your attention???  Fantastic!

Because today’s post is all about some fancy little products and items that I think everyone should know about. Today we’re tackling the sweaty breasts, the dress chaffing, “tropical” heat moments of the Mothers of the bride and groom’s and more, and for those that might need a little more than a powder and antiperspirant.

The summer is now here and in full effect. With the temperatures outside rising, it is no big secret that some brides are often left sweating out in the heat on their big days, and of course the men too under their suits and tuxes.

Let’s face it, those dresses are often huge and hot. Yards and pounds worth of heavy fabrics and tulle. Throw in the fitted and bustier style upper portions, with boning, lacing and more. You got yourself a smorgasbord of stuff going on. Now add in some 35+ degree weather and high humidity, you have one uncomfortable situation!

So  today I wanted to share with you some of my favorite product out there, that help a lady out (and guys!!)  that we always recommend to our Brides each and every year.

Whether it’s preventing the tummy and chest sweating, the un-mentioned breast sweating, to the chaffing and heat problems that can sometimes occur with the wedding gowns…

Below  are some awesome items I want to share with you:

Fresh Breast Lotion

1.  “B” Fresh Breast Lotion

We LOVE This product, and it’s pretty easy to get to, which we always love. Available online or at your many local Drugstore locations  (Often in the deodorant/antiperspirant aisle) Just look for the little pink tube.

It’s a light weight lotion that can be applied wherever it’s needed from chest and tummy to inner thighs, drying to a powder like finish, It helps prevent sweating and chaffing.

As an added bonus, they even have a gentlemen’s version too, called Fresh Balls…Yes you read that right. I’m sure I don’t need to explain the rest 😉

Bust Dust

2. Kilma Health Solutions – Bust Dust

Another fantastic product that helps reduce sweating/Chaffing. Be sure to check out their entire line of products for just about anything you can think of, available for both men and Women!

Breast Coolers

3. Breast Coolers

These are an ultra thin cooling breast pads, that act like a sticker underneath your clothing.

These little light weight pads fit right underneath, or along the breast bone to help cool you down.

Cleavage Coolers

4. Cleavage Coolers

These fantastic little guys are  cloth covered self-contained gel packs.

Pambra

5. Pambras

These are a soft cotton bra liner designed to absorb perspiration under and between the breast. They prevents wetness from seeping  through to clothing and extend the life of your bras. They also carry post surgery options as well!

Wick’em Bra Liner

6. Wick’em

Similar to the above liner  – specially designed to absorb moisture and prevent skin irritation. These liners work by pulling perspiration away from the skin and into the cotton fill. Again you can wear them regularly, or flip the tabs under for lower cut styles.

Huppo pouches

7. Huppo  pouches

This is a time release deodorant powder – The Huppo linen pouch delivers odor and moisture absorbing powder slowly throughout the day to the places you need it most. Your own movement causes the powder to be released from the pouch so, the more you move, the more powder is released.

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So those are just a few of our Favorite products for brides to help keep them uncomfortable dress sweating at minimum.

While we’re at it though and talking Sweat, here are some bonus items worth mentioning that are also a favorite of mine:

DermaDoctor – Med-E-Tate sweat control wipes and Tease Zone Spray

DermaDoctor – Med-E-Tate sweat control wipes

I LOVE These guys! Something all makeup artists should carry in their kits too for their clients. Designed more for the “face sweaters” – yes, it’s a thing. This product is a great oil blocker and can help you prevent excess shine with your makeup. There is also their fabulous Tease zone oil control gel too.

Seban Liquid

Seban

Another oil inhibitor. Seban helps control facial oil and shine and other problems associated with oily skin. Available in both liquid or pads.

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So there you have it ladies, a few of our top recommended items to help you control that sweat a bit more on your big day. Got any other products you’d like us to know about, shoot us an email.

Wedding Tips: Wearing Fresh Flowers in your Hair.

As we head into a busy summer of weddings, the requests for wearing fresh flowers in the hair is looking strong this year!

So today I wanted to take a few minutes to list some quick tips for those looking at wearing real flowers for their big day.

1. Do not spray anything on your Flowers. This includes things like Perfume, Hairsprays, etc. Doing so can cause your flowers to wilt. Be sure to style your Hair, finishing off with your setting spray, THEN Place your fresh flowers into your style last.

2.  If you can, always try and get your florist to make or attach your fresh flowers to a Hairpin for you.

You want to make sure it’s a Hair pin (not bobby pin), large or small size – depending on the flower. Your florist can then wire or tape the flowers stem line along one of the prongs giving the flower both stability, easier pinning, but also to help balance it better to either lay flat as needed or sit up a bit more in relation with your Hairstyle.

 Your florist will also be able to tell you which flower choices will be your best option and the flowers that will last the longest when out of water, under the hot summer sun all day and more.

3. If Doing it yourself, be sure to leave some extra stem to make it easier when attaching to either your pin/clip or into the Hair.

4. Sizing. Choosing the appropriate sizing is key. You want to make sure its balanced, both with the sizing of your Hairstyle, but also your face shape.

Some client’s may opt for one large flower that corresponds with their floral choices, others might do an arrangement of multiple flowers grouped together for the appearance of one large flower or to fill a section of the style. This is also a great idea, for those looking at sneaking in a few different colored flowers, or textures of multiple flower types for added visual interest.

5. To help keep your flowers lasting as long as possible, be sure to leave them in water and/or in a refrigerator up until your last possible option before either leaving and starting into your day.

Here are a few inspiration images for you…. Enjoy! 🙂

Images from Bridal Musings

Love yourself – You are Beautiful. True insight to your unique and beautiful self.

Ok  Ladies…

Today I wanted to post this, as I know many people have now seen this, some might not have…

Love it or Hate it – I hope every single one of you will take a few minutes out to watch this and reflect.

In my industry, I am face to face with women every single day. I see things up close and from a far.

I see SO MUCH beauty and it saddens me greatly when client’s don’t see it too.

In our industry of Makeup and Hair, we aim to enhance, bringing out the inner beauty in each and every single client. We are all different in not only our direct features, but our needs and concerns.

Understanding your vision, I aim to leave client’s feeling confident, radiant and pampered with a look that fits you and your personal style.

With weddings we aim to Transform you into the beautiful bride you always dreamed of being… Beautiful inside and out. No matter what your style is, your age range, your ethnicity. We want you to look and feel the beauty we see looking at you, even before all the Makeup and Hair.

I try to compliment my clients on the beauty I SEE…. but so often they discount it or feel true disbelief. Many client’s will automatically respond, as if out of programming, rebounding the compliment with a comment of an area they hate about themselves.  Often focusing solely on the “negatives” they see, rather than an understating that we are all critical of ourselves, and what we see looking in mirror might not be at all what the person in front of you sees.

Many people assume as though when a beauty provider compliments that we tell everyone the same things because “beauty” is our job. This is simple not true, AT ALL.

I SEE beauty in EVERY client I work on…. I honestly do.

I see the sparkle in your eyes, your beautiful skin, smile, or lovely eyebrows. I notice the beautifully defined wide cheek bones that YOU think makes your face look round.  What you consider that annoying “spot” – I see a perfectly placed beauty mark…

And for the record – FRECKLES are beautiful! please stop trying to cake-face cover them with layers of Foundation 😦

I see everything about you and every single one of you has a unique beauty.

We are not all the same, so don’t compare yourself to someone else or these overly Photoshopped images you see.

All Those things that you think are imperfections are what make you, YOU.

Go ahead and look in the mirror and SEE what I see.

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL…. Love yourself, and embrace your individuality!

 

Preparing for your Engagement shoot – 3 easy steps in getting the most out of your photo session!

It’s Engagement season!

Today I wanted to share some info for all of our lovely couples that are now starting into their Engagement sessions for up and coming weddings this year…and next.

I have been super busy with Engagement sessions lately, so today I wanted to take a few minutes out to share, what I feel, is some good solid knowledge on just what you need to do in getting prepared for your up and coming E-sessions.

Here we go…

#1.  Look your best – Ladies! Get your Makeup and Hair done Professionally

This is first on our list, and not just because we do Makeup and Hair either…

Getting your Makeup and Hair done professionally can substantially increase that polished and final look of your images.

When paying for professional images, something that you will look back on and treasure years later;  You want to make sure you are camera ready.  What might look great for basic “day wear” might not translate the same in professional images and different lighting situations.

Keep in mind, engagement sessions are often fairly casual, so it’s not about over-doing it. A nice polished and cleaned up version of yourself, not only goes a long way for the photos, but also ups confidence levels and just a good overall “I look and feel good” vibe. Which in turn helps many client’s relax a bit more in front of the camera when they look and feel great.

Note:

In SOME cases, combining your E-shoot with your bridal trial session can be a great idea….but ONLY If you are aiming for a more low-key look…

Often we see client’s that try to stretch that buck spent and combine them…truthfully though, this can in many cases, cause more harm than good. Which is why many client’s now a days are opting to do their engagement Makeup and Hair services as a completely separate booking.

Remember that E-sessions are generally about you as a couple, candid, loving, a “behind the scenes” if you will.

For those opting for more formal Wedding day styling, up do’s, more structured styling, this can and does, in many cases,  look very “off” in an engagement session. Especially if you are out in a casual setting, often jeans and a nice Blouse or T-shirt, then rocking a Full ‘wedding day look’ on the upper portion with a styled up-do, big false lashes and so forth. Yes it’s nice, but completely deflects from the casual couple feeling and can look like you are trying way too hard.

So use your judgment. Popular looks being done for casual engagement sessions are often soft all over curls or light half-up styling – this helps add movement with a bit of polish without looking to over done. While Makeup is often clean, polished for on-camera, usually sticking with more earthy color palettes as a popular choice amongst many clients. Light lash filler like individuals, or accent lashes, is also a great way to add some focus to your eyes, without looking like you’ve strapped on a pair of night-club false lashes, then went to hang out in a pretty field for some pictures with your fiancé.

Don’t forget to clean up your nails and moisturize those hands too – It’s time for some pictures of the rings!

Photo courtesy of Amber Hughes Photography.

A little more Glam – Photo courtesy of Stone Photo.

All about the eyes – Photo courtesy of Alexandra Hunt

#2 – Picking a solid outfit

As mentioned above. Unless you are doing a full-out “theme” shoot. Your outfit choice helps tell the story and compliment the location choices too.

Some client’s opt for simple jeans and T-shirt styles, while others might go a bit more glam with a cute dress and suit styling for their fiance…. Whatever makes you comfortable and shows your personal vibe and style.

Look at your location choices as well, to help you better determine your clothing options. When picking your outfits, don’t forget about your seasons; colder temperatures vs. warmer!

Remember – Clothing can often photograph a bit larger or baggier too, so look at items that are a bit closer to your body for a more flattering look. Avoid items with large logo’s on them as well – You are not doing an ad-campaign!

Whatever you chose remember the following:

Clean – No old or “pilling” sweaters, etc. Yes they might be your favorite items, but over worn clothing photographs exactly like that = Over worn and old looking!

For the Guys, this means looking at new shirts. Something clean, modern, that isn’t that same shirt in the back of the closet that only comes out at the holidays.

Colors – Solid colors can make a wonderful impact in images, giving a fun, vibrant and youthful playfulness. Avoid drab colors that will wash you out, causing you to look sick or pale.

Also try to avoid anything to “matchy-matchy” with your partner….There is a fine line on looking cute and looking like you are twins.

Accessorize – Ladies , your accessories can add polish to your look, but don’t overdo it. Light Layering on items can also make your look a bit more put together.

No wrinkles!!! – Break out that iron. Make sure your items are all clean, and ironed. Nothing looks more distracting than a giant wrinkle straight across the front of a dress shirt or cute dress.

Doing it right!
Photo courtesy of Amber Hughes Photography.

#3 – Location!

And lastly, choosing your location. Something that reflects you as a couple.

We see everything from full themes – Cosplay, zombies, cherry blossoms, you name it, we’ve probably seen it – So whether you are going for casual or formal, or even themed. Take the time to scope out some location choices beforehand. Speak with your photographer and let them know what you like. We are blessed in our area with a wide range of options whether you like the concrete jungle of the downtown core areas and fancy artisan buildings, to the forested areas and horse farms of the valley, straight through to the quaint older brick neighborhoods, the beaches and ocean, all the way through to snow-covered mountains. Your possibilities are endless here.

This doubles over as well as to how and where you might use these images – Will you be using them on save the dates/invites? or displayed at the wedding? If planning this, Your Engagement shoot can then follow similar ideals in order to tie it all in.

This will also further help you in determining or bringing with you any pre-made “props” for your engagement session!

Bonus:

Look at taking the day off of work and doing your session during the week/day!

Not only will your vendors often have far more flexibility with dates, but this can help you further for a number of reasons.

Traffic – people are at work. Leaving many locations far more accessible with easier parking options too. Especially any downtown or main areas.

Fewer people – Especially in cases of those doing main locations – weekdays often give you far more options for images, with far fewer people in the way or walking around. Areas can often be a bit more personal and romantic feeling because of this. For those that are a bit nervous shooting in public with people staring at you, this to can help ease that a bit. Shooting on a Saturday or Sunday, mid afternoon, no way.

Locations – Hotels and Venues  – Yes, you can look at scoring some amazing pictures at local venues, but call in advance. Some may cost you, some can be free. Same as with many commercial photo shoots we all do for magazines etc. during the week, these areas are often quiet as can be, and may let you in to shoot a few pictures. This can be a gorgeous option for those looking at something a little bit more than the standard street or field shots for their sessions.

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When it’s all said and done – why not make a night out of it? You’re dressed up, Makeup and Hair done, and both looking fabulous….look at heading out for a nice romantic dinner.

We hope that helps you a bit more in preparing for your Engagement sessions with your photographers and remember don’t Stress – this is a fun time, enjoy yourself 🙂

For more information on our Engagement services please visit me at: www.brides-by-felicia.com

Marie Antoinette Inspired Bridal Editorial!

To start this week off, I wanted to post a little bridal inspiration now that season is well underway – I am so happy to FINALLY be able to show off this lovely shoot from last year! Featured in the Winter issue of Heirloom magazine as well.

I wanted to keep this post small, as there are so many photos I couldn’t post them all, but I definitely recommend taking a few minutes to hit up the video posted below to watch everyone’s full collaboration on this editorial Bridal shoot; as this shoot consisted of an all-star team of some of the most amazing and highly sought after wedding vendors in the city!

Enjoy 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Team:

Venue:  the waterfall building

Gown/ Tux: Allison @ Manuel Mendoza 

Florist: Evan @ Flowerz

Makeup: Felicia @ Brides by Felicia

Hair: Victoria @ Vancouver Mobile Hairstylist 

Jewelry: Elsa+ Madalena @ Elsa Corsi/ Jeweliette 

Custom Furniture: Michelle @ Hartt Designs 

Decor/ Props/ Styling: Dawna @ Aroka Vintage

Stationary:  Laura @ Laura Lavender

Sweets: Kien @ Kien and Sweets 

Shoes/Bags: Marissa @ Lords Shoes

Musicians: Laria, Karina, Jacek, Aleksandra @ Musical Occasions

Female Model: Caroline Henry

Male Model: Sydney Estrada

Chair Covers : Chair Decor Etc. 

Photography: Jeanie @ Studio Jeanie

Planning/ Stylizing: Kailey Michelle @ Kailey Michelle Events

Videography: Fill in the Blank Studios 

The Wedding day: How long should I plan for Make-up and/or Hair Services?

Your wedding is a big event already, you want to ensure your day is Fun and Relaxed. Having mobile Beauty services come to you, along with all your friends/family at your side is just another enjoyable part of it all.

Candice from Michigan touched base and wrote us;

“I came across your site and I think your articles for brides are fantastic! I got married last year, and let’s just say the timeline was chaotic. I was over an hour late! Truth – because I didn’t plan out my morning the best. I tried to do salon services for Hair AND at home services for the Girls Makeup, and truly thought I didn’t need as much time as everyone told me. I was wrong.

I was reading your timeline posts and have a friend getting married in a few months (June). Would you be able to do a post in regards to Make-up and Hair timing? She’s under the impression that we can get everyone done (8 people)  in about 2 hours. I’ve told her that clearly is not the case, as was seen with my wedding debacle…Any help is appreciated so I can pass the info on.

Thanks so much and keep up the great work!”

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I think this is an excellent question, that many brides can get confused about….So let us start!

Remember, the very first portion of the day, starts with your Hair and Make-up and getting ready.

Booking MOBILE Services, is considered a Convenience and Luxury service, with your hired providers packing up and carting often suitcases worth of equipment, directly to you, in the comfort of your home, hotel, venue, at anytime of day. There is no traveling around to and from places. With that, services are in very high demand, with most mobile beauty service providers  generally booking about 1 year in advance.

Your Photos for the entire day start on the basics of your morning, with Hair and Makeup.

Remember that you are the CENTER of every image being taken throughout the entire day!

A fancy dress and expensive photographer will only take you so far, if you look liked you skimped on your beauty work, with faded makeup, frizzy hair and if you aren’t camera ready.

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We often get asked “How long does it all take?”

Well, that depends on a number of areas of the services being done. Each bridal party will differ as per the number of people for services and the elaborateness of each service being done that day.

A good game plan for the morning helps keep everything flowing smoothly and relaxed, no rushing around or running late at the end.

First and foremost, the most important part is your LEAVING BY TIME…

Regardless of services done, how many People etc. EVERYTHING for your entire morning is based and scheduled around this time! Customized per each bridal party and their direct needs to ensure everyone is ready to go by this time.

Generally speaking you want to allow for approx. 20-45 minutes, per person, per service. The Bride about 45 minutes to 1 hour as you are the most important and often there may be a few extra details for you being done. Be sure to check with your beauty providers though, as some may take longer, where as more seasoned professionals, may take a bit less time!

Now a days, majority of Bridal clients book both mobile Hair and Make-up services. Either as a team, or  via separate provider, having their main Stylist come out to them, and so forth. This not only is far more efficient but also a lot more organized for the day of….especially with groups of 4 or more anyways.

This leaves the Bride and entire bridal party free to relax, receive services as the morning passes, while one is in hair, another is in Make-up and still allows enough time for others and yourself to eat, get dressed, take pictures and so forth… there’s no traveling around to and from places. Everyone is free to sit and relax throughout the morning or afternoon.

Secondly, once you have your “leave by time” you want to backtrack about 30 minutes to 1 hour from this. THIS Now becomes the time you want everyone 100% completed by! This last hour is now reserved for a few things…

For those that plan to have a photographer present, they will often arrive about 30 minutes to 1 hour beforehand, This is where they will take images of your final Make-up/Hair moments for everyone, and your Veil pinning. They will also start with your detail shots of your jewelry, rings, shoes, etc. before you put everything on.

This last hour before you leave, is now reserved for You and your bridal parties dressing time. Time for pictures and gathering last minute stuff together before your limo arrives or you need to leave. This extra timeline is key, as to not cause that last bit of time turning into a chaotic mess of everyone running about, scrambling for last minute things, rushed dressing and more.

This time table is universal to most weddings, again all set around each client’s leave by time.

Once your trial is completed, your artists will then have a better idea on how much time is then needed to complete your look as well as your bridal party. They will then fine tune it from there and set you up with your Start and End times.

One last thought….if you’ve hired yourself a seasoned professional makeup artist and hair stylist (or a team of them) trust they know how long your services will take.  This is what they do! Don’t assume you know better and try and outsmart them by adjusting the timelines – 9 times out of 10 is always ends in chaos!  Trust they have your best interest at heart.

Yes, some mornings might be early start times as well, you are not alone in this, and many brides end up accommodating this due to their timelines, that’s just a fact. It’s one day, and sometimes in order to accommodate services and/or large group it might be necessary.  Don’t let this be a cause for concern, make the best of it and Pre-plan out the night before, if you know you will require an earlier morning start time.

Remember Your wedding day is a once of a lifetime experience, don’t cause it to be rushed or  filled with un-necessary chaos and stress by un-thought out planning.

This is your day, sit back and enjoy it.

Happy Planning!

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Got something on your mind you’d like to see addressed?

Let us know, we’d be happy to do a post for you covering your questions.

Prepare yourself; 7 key steps in getting the most out of your Beauty Trials!

With bridal season getting underway, many brides are  now meeting with their vendors for those with weddings  towards the beginning of the year. Many  brides are now into their consult/trial run through for their Beauty services too.

With that in mind we wanted to really touch on the importance on being prepared for your meetings, following the instructions your vendors provide to you and doing the “homework” they assign to you.

This may include finding reference images of styles you like, to following up with your other vendors regarding time frames. As all of this is key, so that EVERYONE is on the same page and has a clear idea for the wedding date.

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“I just want to look gorgeous”  –  is the #1 comment we hear the most in the beauty services side….and rightfully so! It’s your special day and all eyes on you.

With the bride paying so much forth for items, venue and then her photographs, the way you “look” in them is no place to skip by on or get “lazy” with details, as these images are what’s left of the day for many years to come. Yet for some reason this is often the area in which many brides are the most unprepared and indecisive for.

So I wanted to take a few minutes to list some of the most important facts to getting the most out of your Beauty trials:

Prepare for you consultation and trial sessions!!

1) This cannot be stressed enough, many of your vendors will even provide you with full instructions long before you even get them booked in. By not following them, you are only hindering yourself in the end and setting yourself up for possible disappointments. If you provide absolutely nothing to your vendors to work with, as was asked from you, you have no right to complain!

This means and might include simple things like; If they ask you to not show up with wet hair and you do?! Showing up with 2 day old makeup caked to your lashes. Not having main items on hand like a tiara or hairpiece, but you want a style wrapped and designed around it? or a Hair design that specifically calls for a Fake Hair piece incorporated,  or longer length(Clip ins) added to shoulder length hair, but you didn’t pick anything up….How does one purpose to achieve and create a waist length down Hairstyle at a trial appointment, with natural shoulder length hair, if you do not have the false hair as needed for it yet?

2) Start with the basics; It is imperative that you arrive ON TIME for your consultations! Your time slots for trial runs have been specifically set aside for you and with consideration for your particular needs (multiple looks, medical skin issues or very long hair, to give a few common examples).  When you are late you are not only jeopardizing your beauty services for your wedding, the Trial session, but potentially other client’s who may follow your appointment time!

3) Neglectful care of your grooming including out of shape brows, facial hair and/or dry and peeling skin not only hinders the application itself, it will never let the flawless and “perfect look”  shine through to give you a true visualization of your look; if you have bushy brows, dehydrated skin and peeling lips!

4) For best results you will always want to book your Hair and Make-up consultations on the same day. This allows you to get a full visual on your chosen style and look. It’s often hard for people to visualize a fully done up makeup style, especially when their hair is in a ponytail and they are wearing jeans and a Tank top, or a fancy bridal Hairstyle, with no makeup on.

5) Bring PICTURES! You can never have too many pictures to show your artists of looks that you like for your beauty services. Otherwise, you’re starting the entire plan off on a “guessing game”. You DO however want to make sure they are similar; If you want an up-d0, then you don’t need a dozen ‘all down’ style pictures with you. Also look to images similar to YOU; your eye shape, your hair coloring/type, ethnicity and so on. Although that image maybe nice, often if it is to far ‘off’  from your natural look it will not, in most cases, look at all the same on you…

Your Artists are not mind readers and some people do have a harder time articulating their wants and needs. At the same time, what you see in an image, a professional will view it differently too. This allows them a starting point to better breakdown and analyze what you tend to gravitate to from the images brought, leaving them better able to suggest a variety of options.

6) If you can, schedule a quick dress “try on session” of your gown to follow the consultation/trial run. This will give you a better idea on how everything will look together, making it allot easier to negate any changes you might wish to make to fine tune your look.

7) Follow up. Many vendors will contact clients back a few days after, or vendors may ask you to contact them to let them know how everything held up, from the hair to any other “issues” that might have arisen afterwards that needs to be adjust before the big day. If you provide them with no follow up information, they are likely to assume everything is ok.

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The DAY OF is NOT the time to just change it all up on whim!!!  If you are confused, change your mind, etc. it’s WELL WORTH The price of a full retrial for your new idea of a look,  to better assess your new ideas and options compared to the first. Chancing it to the day of can lead to a disaster, what if you decide you don’t like it? With other members booked, there may not be enough time now to fix it!

Be open minded to your artist’s recommendations and suggestions for you. We all get stuck in routine and though it may not be what you do “everyday” remember that they do this for a living, spend thousands of dollars and often months/years in training and know how certain colors and intensities will read in pictures and how different lighting situations can affect a particular “look”. We all want you to look and feel like ‘yourself’, but at the same time remember that everyone is expecting that little bit more; they are already expecting the dress, the Hair, the Makeup, some added bling factor…

What you may see and what a photo sees are two completely different things as well. We are trained in applications that will combat everything from over-shine to foundation flare, creasing, coverage issues, time of day you are getting married, humidity levels and more.

Having a solid idea or start point going in will make things easier on all sides and go a long way,  but also allow for better results overall. Not being prepared, basically has you hiring a team to ‘work blind’ setting yourself up for possible disappointments.

So just remember, don’t jump the gun on a early trial. Let things take its course and do it when you are ready and fully prepared.

Happy Wedding planning!

Wedding Veils – Part 2: Styles, Fabric and more…

Over the years and hundreds of weddings we have done thus far, there is one area that will always hold to the ideals of classic, timeless and elegant….and that’s your Wedding Veil.

Often this is a battle for most brides….something we touched on in our first segment – To wear one or not? Or in many cases we see the family is divided, with the mothers and/or grandmothers saying go for it, while the bride may envision a completely different style.

We get to see all sides of the scale, from the veils, to the jeweled combs, to the statement flowers, bridal hats and more.

Personally, we love veils!!!  After all, it’s the one and only day in your life that you get to wear one, BUT that also doesn’t mean you need to wear it for the whole day! To each their own though, and everyone we see is different.

For those of you out there toying with the idea of wearing one, Here are a few additional areas to consider when looking into a veil for your wedding day.

 

1. Style options/choices of the veil.

There are SO MANY style options now, the sky is the limit for you!

Whether you want lace, beading, ribbon or pearl details, elaborate or simple designs.

You have half a dozen lengths to chose from as well, and the birdcage veils have been making a huge come back over the past 2 years too! Not to mention the type of fabric and options you have as well.

Look at the overall theme of the wedding as well as your personal style; Are you quirky and fun, is the wedding elegant or a vintage vibe? These type of questions will better help you narrowing in on the type of veil style you may want.

A good example to think about might be; We often see brides that have  elegant and extravagant weddings, or huge cathedral church ceremonies, in which case many we see opt for more longer length and traditional veil styles. Where as on the opposite to that, many of our brides that might be a bit more fun or quirky, doing vintage or retro themes, often we see them opt for birdcage veil styles, beaded headbands or flower pieces.

We also provide services to a lot of ‘alternative’ bridal client’s that forgo most of the conventional ideals, wearing colored dresses, neat ‘theme’ ideas and more. So in cases like this, we rarely see a client in this category donning a full length veil, instead opting for other options such as bridal hats, Large feather accessories with partial veils and so on.

 

2.  How do you want your WEDDING HAIR to look?  – This is a Big thing to consider, BEFORE you purchase your veil. I cannot stress this enough.

Examples:

Are you planning on having a summer wedding? Do you have long hair and are you wanting to wear your hair down?

A regular or full veil style might not be the best idea. If you have your heart set on a down hair style you might want to rethink wearing a veil and here’s a few reasons as to why…

Down styles, and half up styles are naturally more “high maintenance” and do often need tending to by the bride throughout her day. They wear and frizz out the fastest, and for those in the summer the combination of the sun highlighting your style can often lead to the “fuzz halo” around your entire head for pictures. Hot outside? =  Sweaty hair. Thus for the sake of the pictures, often a fair amount of spray is required to aid in preventing this…

Every hug from someone will rub across it, it’s exposed to the elements; wind, rain, heat/sweating, now lay a veil over top of it.

Sweating? The moment your scalp becomes warm the veil (fabric) will begin to stick to the hair, which in most cases has been sprayed heavily.

Fast forward a few hours later; combine a warm scalp, the heat from the hair laying on the neck, sweating and add in any sticky product such as hair spray, plus a veil …. take that veil off and what do you get? Frizz!

Veils however will almost always work best with most updo styles and do add that extra touch of classic glam. For more extravagant looks, we have many brides that do opt for Double veils/length choices!

 

3. Lastly, but also important – The weight of the fabric!

The fabric type you chose with your veil style is something that also needs to be considered.

Most of us know what the “pony-tail” headache feels like….now think about how heavy that fabric is going to feel on your head  5 or more hours into your wedding day, especially those that are heavily embellished or extra long in length.

This is something we see a lot of with many of the cultural weddings we do.

It’s often a very common thing we hear from brides who have chosen a heavier veil but have yet to actually wear it. (Always try it out around the house for a few hours if you can!!!) We  then place the veil on them and we almost always hear… “oh wow, I didn’t realize how heavy this was going to feel on after my hair was done!”  – We’ve seen veils for our client’s that weigh upwards of 20 pounds!!! Adorned with Swarovski crystals, gold threading or other things.

Remember – The heavier the veil you choose –  the more weight your head has to endure throughout the day. Which in many cases can make for a tender scalp by the time you take it off.

These are just a few things to consider when choosing your veil. Again, we let all our client’s know, that no matter what your style choice is, there is ALWAYS many options available to you in order to work it all together for the best possible outcome.

Speak with your Beauty Providers if you are looking into the idea of a veil and they will be able to give you an honest layout of all your best options available.

Got Questions you’d like to see answered, let us know!

 

 

How the Date and Times you choose can affect your wedding day costs!

Today I wanted to touch on the subject of your Wedding date.

What is already, for most, an expensive event, can become even more costly depending on the time of year you choose, to the time of day you set your ceremony, but also the  day of the week you choose!

These seemingly minor details, can in fact, hugely effect the outcome of your planning details, from the prices of your venue rental, to which vendors might be available, and more.

As we’ve touched on this subject in a few other posts related to our Budgeting and Timeline sections, many Wedding vendors book about 1 year in advance for dates. With Venues, Photographers and Mobile Makeup/Hair often booking the first and fastest due to high demand.

Today I’m going to break these details down even further for you…So lets get to it shall we?

Time of Year – What month is best?

As we’ve mentioned in a few posts now, there is no such thing as an “off season” anymore!

Many bride’s ask this question to vendors in hopes that magical “discounts” will appear. This is often not the case at all; Just as your perfect wedding day might be held in June or August. Another bride’s prefect day might be in December or January. Some bride’s might prefer a Saturday wedding, where as another might choose a Monday…

The busiest portion of the year for all Bridal related vendors is April through October!

June and September are often very popular, and can cost you more due to the demand for dates available!

Remember many bride’s seeking these 2 months are hoping for sunny, yet “Not too hot” weather options.

June is also GRAD MONTH For most areas (and often starting in May too!), thus service providers like Mobile Makeup/Hair and all Salon locations often see triple the volume of clients, so finding those available is often far more limited. As are venue options and banquet halls due to the grad dinners taking place!

July and August are the BUSIEST Months of the Entire year. They are the first to book/close for just about EVERY Wedding vendor you seek to book, often at minimum 1 year out!!

I can’t tell you how many client’s we sadly have to turn away each season that are seeking Makeup/Hair services, due to us already being booked with other brides, typically from 3-6 months prior. Many of these clients are just starting to contact people in May for an August wedding, then left scrambling, frantic and stressed, once they find out no one is available… Most of us are already closed for the year by around March! Those of us specializing or with higher client traffic, reputable workmanship or awards won, etc. book up very fast, so if you have your heart set on a particular artist, best to book them early!

Months that are often less busy are the months of January, March and November. Vendors than would normally require a minimum booking requirement, may be more lenient to smaller orders and/or booking needs from brides with smaller parties or set-up needs.

However, many PHOTOGRAPHERS specifically, start running their Holiday specials during the fall months, for family sessions, boudoir and more, so dates for them can often be limiting in months like October, November and December.

Months that can often prove challenging for finding low cost options

Months such as February and December can often be far more costly due to Valentine’s day, Christmas and other holidays within.

With that, costs often go up on everything from Cakes, to Floral and more.

Also something to remember, you are now  basically competing with other couples and COMPANIES, For venue rentals due to holiday staff parties taking place!

Bad Timing

The weekend before tax time can often leave you with lowered guest attendance. Many may not have the funds to attend, or may need the extra time to work on their taxes.

Back to school time; Again, those with children heading back to school might be more limited on available time and money.

Around the holidays; Weddings right before Christmas can also have an effect, as many friends might be heading out to visit with family at this time of year.

Day of the Week

Mondays through Thursdays can often be far cheaper in cost! Not just venue rentals either.

We’ve seen a HUGE Rise in “weekday” weddings, especially during the Spring/Summer months.

Many people have holiday time, so taking off a day from work for most people is a totally do-able option.

The past few years we’ve seen a ton of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday weddings!

Thursdays are gaining in popularity too, as many tend to have evening, cocktail style, or boat cruise weddings. Weddings taking place in the evening or after work – Guest will often take the Friday off and get to enjoy a long weekend too!

Not to mention, for those with out of town guests attending, Hotel and Flights are often also far cheaper during the week!

Yes, I know, most bride’s envision that prefect sunny Saturday afternoon wedding. But for those looking to save some money, the drop in pricing can, for some places, be extensive, were taking like $1500 to $600 type of drop.

Holidays and/or long weekends can be DOUBLE the original pricing. Much like working your regular job on a holiday. Many vendors due charge a holiday fee!

Weekends: Saturdays can typically cost more than a Sunday wedding date as they are considered a main day, some venues boast upwards of a $3-5,000 difference just between your choice of these two days!

Time of the Day

Breakfast is often the cheapest meal of the day, again of course, depending on how extravagant you like to take things…

We saw a number of couples this year opting for earlier morning ceremony times like 9am, followed by elegant brunch or lunch style set ups with omelet stations, fresh fruit platters, chocolate fountains, pastries and more.

Ceremony times 11am to 3pm are the most in demand time frames, thus limiting vendor options since majority of client’s aim within this time frame.

Where you book

Look into choosing and booking a multipurpose venue. If you are able to plan out both your ceremony and reception at the same location, you stand to save additional costs on everything from site fees, transportation costs, double set up/take down fees and more.

Final tips:

Many vendors and companies do raise rates at year end in preparation for next year’s seasons, inflation/business costs and so forth. Those clients that do their research and connect with their top ideal vendors they wish to have for their wedding day, can often score  pricing/packages before they go up and all switch over for the new year – Saving them even more, but still getting exactly what they originally sought out without having to compromise quality, needs or budget!

Engagement season! – November through February – It’s the holidays, and engagements over Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Valentines day …..well, they take over. Not to mention bridal clients are often off work/school for the holidays and can get some planning done!

This is often when Bridal vendors see close to 60% or more of their bookings set in for the following season! Many of us receive hundreds of emails from newly engaged client’s looking to secure their dates and/or get this years current pricing options. Thus sadly those who wait out to long, by then, often most of the year is now fully booked!

I hope this post helps you out a bit more in finding and choosing your perfect fit for your chosen wedding day.

Happy Wedding Planning!

The “natural” Bridal makeup.

Today we start the winter blogging with a bang 😉

I wanted to take a few minutes this afternoon to dispel a few myths I’ve seen and heard floating about for those client’s that are thinking about that “natural” looking Make-up application for their wedding day…

There is often a huge misconception,  that brides who want a natural looking makeup for their wedding day should have it cost far less than say a bride who would like a more dramatic wedding day makeup look.

This is something, many of us Bridal Beauty vendors seem to hear a lot of, or see posted in the bridal forums, from brides who aren’t aware of what’s involved in a basic natural bridal makeup look. Many assume because the look isn’t heavily applied, or using “darker” color schemes that it must be easy to achieve and that “less” makeup is used.

The reality; Wrong!

A “natural looking” makeup application, is a skill set all in itself, that unfortunately many artists may not possess. There are artists out there that spend YEARS Perfecting this particular application technique!

It’s often far more time consuming to achieve, AND uses the same amount of product, if not more in some cases! The products used are often the same, and overall they still cost the same to purchase and use.

The more natural looking an application is, the more attention is need to the finer details.

It’s more so now about perfecting the look of the skin as a main focal point, with extra attention paid to sculpting the features of the face with contour and highlight so it doesn’t fall flat for pictures.

Then into any adjustments to further camouflage areas you don’t want to see, dark circles, blemishes, etc. and ensuring the right tones are used.

Extra attention will also be turned to the brows, to help sculpt them in to frame the face, filling in any sparse areas for a balanced yet natural looking brow.

The softer looking a makeup style is, the more focal point areas there is for someone to view, over say someone who might opt for a bolder smoky eye style to draw direct attention right the eye area as a main focus and/or away from any problematic or areas of concern.

A secondary thing to understand is now the photos itself and how it translates…

You can often lose about a 1/3 of what you see looking in the mirror when it’s then translated in your photos. Those bride’s with set-ups that are outdoors under the glare of the sun can fade out even more in some cases!

It’s about knowing where and how to place the makeup on the face to give a beautiful natural look.

Yes, of course you want to look naturally beautiful in person but let’s not forget the thousands of dollars you’re spending on photography for your wedding day too. At the end of it all, this is the only thing you get back and what becomes your last memory of the big day. You want to make sure you’re looking your very best!

Often that soft look you see in photos, is far darker and more involved when face to face, Your hired artist, will blend both areas to accommodate what not only fits your needs and ideals, but what will photograph beautifully too.

It’s not simply about putting less makeup on your face; Naturally with the same amount of time spent during application, products being used, etc. this is why you won’t find huge price differences, as often its far more intensive.

So remember at your bridal makeup trial when you ask your makeup artist for a “natural look”, be clear on your direction with reference images and know just what’s involved to get you looking naturally fresh and beautiful with that “no makeup” style look!

For examples of all makeup styles, visit us online: www.brides-by-felicia.com
…or follow along with us on Pinterest as we showcase all sorts of fabulous bridal details from Hair and Makeup images, to Decor/Details, Floral, Cakes and more!

Updates and more!

Hello Everyone!

So It’s been a while since I’ve had the time to post on here…

Bridal Season has kept us Super Busy this year and traveling about the province a bunch, so as season starts to slowly quiet down a bit and we finish off our last dozen or so weddings, We’ll be getting back into our blogs.

With that, we’ve also been hard at work with a number of other projects this year, so we figured let’s start the re-blogging with a bunch of updates to let everyone know what we’ve been up to!

Firstly, we’d just like to say a Big THANK YOU to all our Bride’s from this year, you have all been so amazing to work with. We love what we do and thank you so much for letting us share in your big day!

2013 is booking and filling very fast right now, with some months now nearing full/closed! So for those reading this now, if you or someone you know is getting married and still hasn’t booked their Beauty services, we’d love to chat! Or you can visit the Bridal website for more details: www.brides-by-felicia.com

We are also happy to announce that I have finished switching over a large portion of our Pinterest account! Yay! I will soon be linking it up with my Facebook account and will of course post it to the Facebook group page as well for everyone.

The new one is slowly growing and is a dedicated spot for all our brides, clients and anyone else that would like to join us.

There you will find everything from Makeup and Hair images, to Decor and detail ideas, Cakes, Mehndi patterns,  and more…as well as a dedicated album for all our Offbeat brides – We wouldn’t leave you lovelies out! – ranging with ideas and imagery from all areas/themes.

With Fall/Winter here, I am also now back to my Teaching Schedule…. I am happy to announce, that I have expanded classes greatly this year and now include an online option to the PRO Artists around the globe. Though I will still be teaching locally as well, so don’t fret my local artists, I am still available for you guys too…. I will be looking at having the expanded winter schedule posted and live within a few weeks.

So, with that, I also have a New Site in the works that will also be going up soon. Which will offer a number of new areas for clients, as well as all the other work that I do outside of our Bridal Services.

I’ve also received a number of requests for some newly added subjects and other areas for the blog including things like; What are our Favorite products, Favorite Wedding related videos and more, so I’ll be including many new areas over the next little while.

My Facebook page too as seen a number of updates, feature bridal posts, image updates and more over the past few months. We encourage client’s and friends to join us there to keep up with all of the nifty things we’re up to.

We’ve also got some exciting plans in the works for 2013, from new magazine features, travel plans and more, so stay tuned! 🙂