Rock My Wedding

Ask The Experts

Ask The Experts -I Want Beautiful Hair For The Big Day.

February 3rd, 2012

You may have already heard of Severin Hubert and his wife Roz from Hepburn Collection and if you haven’t well…they are the pair that make W-day hair HAPPEN. As in whatever you have dreamt up in your wee bridey head they can re-create it for you. I think they are particularly ace for their ability to do the ultimate 60′s beehive or 70′s flick ‘n’ wave but they don’t just stop at a retro barnet. Oh no. If you want Madam Shiny Locks Middleton half-up pretty they can do that with one shake of their (fancy) comb.

And then there’s the products they use. I am now a fully fledged convert to Milkshake hairspray thanks to its immense hold capabilities but almost imperceptible presence…. Elnett who?

Sev and Roz are here today on the other side of the screen (*waves*) to give you gorgeous lot not only some super styling tips but also answer ANY questions you may have regarding your W-day hair woes.

Take it away experts!

Hepburn Collection: Hair and make-up is usually one of the last things to get booked yet it’s one of the first things people will see when you walk down the aisle, so ensure you don’t leave it too late to begin your research. We would suggest that once you know the style of your dress, start to think about how you would like to wear your hair.

Finding Your Style

The first question to ask yourself is “What type of bride am I?” Do you want to be a classically elegant bride? Perhaps you see yourself as a romantic bride or a boho bride? Or are you more a vintage style bride? We cannot reiterate enough to brides that this is your day and naturally you want to be a beautiful bride, but this doesn’t mean that you should conform to a stereotype. Think carefully about who you are as a person; your personality and your style. If you’ve never liked your hair up, then don’t feel that you need to wear your hair up on your wedding day!

Do Your Homework

Once you are happy with an idea of a hairstyle, start to collect images as reference. You can always narrow them down later if you have too many. Present this to your hairdresser along with the image of your dress. This helps both you and your stylist determine the right style for the day – particularly if you’re using a different hair stylist for the day. He/she will need to get to know you and understand what you’re looking for. They will take into consideration the shape of your face, discuss your best features and the one’s that you are not so fond of. It’s so important that you connect as you are putting your total trust in this person and they will be with you on the morning of your big day so you have to be 100% happy! Don’t be afraid to do your research – one of the best ways of finding a hairdresser is through recommendation. Also ask to see their portfolio of work but make sure they have plenty of real brides pictures; images of shoots are great but they are not the ‘real’ thing.

Hair by Hepburn Collection, Photography by Nobu Yamaguchi

The Trial Run

Once you’ve found a hairdresser it’s time to book your trial. It’s a good idea to book the trial at least 3-4 months before the big day. In the event that the style you had in mind doesn’t suit you, you still have plenty of time to research again. Many of our brides ask us if they can bring a friend or mum on the trial day. Our answer is always yes but we suggest that brides restrict it just one or two people as too many can be a little overwhelming. It’s important that you’re not pressured into thinking you have to have your hair accessories with you on the day. It may be that you don’t need accessories at all and this can be determined after the trial once you’ve decided on the style. Once you have found a good stylist they will be able to advise on what would look right.

Hair TLC

We all live busy lives, especially when organising a wedding! However, it’s important to keep in mind that if you don’t look after yourselves, this will have a knock on effect on the hair. Apart from eating your five fruit and veg daily with plenty of water, we would recommend treating yourself to a course of deep conditioning treatments at least 2-3 months before the wedding. If you can afford to it’s recommended that you visit your salon, otherwise you can buy some excellent treatments over the counter. Please though, don’t do this the night before your wedding day as you will have one unhappy stylist – the hair will be too soft and slippery! Apply once a week and book your last treatment a few days before.

Decide on the colour you would like approximately three months prior to the wedding day and stick with it! Your final colour should be applied 1 – 2 weeks before. It’s fine to have your hair trimmed but liaise with your hairdresser who will be styling your hair on your wedding day.

Hair by Hepburn Collection, Photography by Nobu Yamaguchi

On The Day

On your wedding day, most stylists will advise on NO conditioner. They will bring their own hair products on the day that are designed to hold the style whilst adding shine. It’s the one piece of information that we strongly advise. Your hairdresser needs to have total control over the hair and conditioner can make it too soft and unmanageable.

Once your hair and make-up is complete, we take a step back to allow the bride to get into her dress. Once in her dress we check the hair one last time, attach the veil (if wearing one) and then voila – our job is done!

For further information on Hepburn Collection, visit www.hepburncollection.com

Hair by Hepburn Collection, Photography courtesy of St Ermins Hotel

So then lovelies…. go forth and ask away, not only will you gain some useful advice but you could also be in with a chance of winning some lomography camera greatness…

Charlotte xxx

86 comments »

Posted in Ask The Experts

Tags: Expert advice on hair styles for your wedding day Hepburn collection wedding and bridal hair

Ask The Experts – Make-up Masterclass With Mariam.

January 13th, 2012

Happy Friday Lovelies! those of you that follow the RMW Facebook page may already have your questions at the ready for Mariam Jensen and her Make-up Masterclass but for those that don’t Mariam is going to be around all morning to answer any queries you may have regarding your W-day cosmetics or skincare, be it application techniques or just what products to buy. I can’t even begin to explain how excited I am to see your queries and the response – I may learn a fair few things myself!

Mariam Jensen: A few years back I was in your shoes. I remember buying all the magazines, going to the shows, studying The Knot as if it was the bible. I was a little overwhelmed with all that had to be booked and still stressed over the one thing most people expect me to do myself – my makeup!

As a makeup artist I toyed with doing my own, but then there was a big part of me that wanted to have the whole pampered wedding experience. A very good MUA friend of mine offered to do my makeup and my bridal party, so it was a no-brainer. It was so nice to sit back, sip a glass of champagne and even do a few of my bridesmaids’ makeup to cut the nerves! In the end everyone felt and looked amazing, which really showed in our pictures.

Gowns by Beverly Lister, Photography by Nobu Yamaguchi

Makeup is really important for ensuring a bride and her bridal party look and feel great! The makeup looks should be harmonious, complementing the bride and bridesmaids, bringing out their best features.

Not everyone’s budget will allow for a makeup artist so I recommend brides do a little research about products, looks and colours that will look good on them for their wedding day. The best way a bride on a budget can learn is through private makeup lessons, consultations at makeup counters and even research on the net. Keep in mind too that good makeup doesn’t have to break the bank, most makeup artists use and recommend products that vary in price from inexpensive to those that are a bit of a splurge!

Some makeup artists offer private lessons and tutoring, this is a really cost-effective way of learning how to do makeup, but also pick up the professional hints and tricks for ensuring your makeup looks it’s best on your most important of days. A lot of my clients who are getting married overseas choose this option as sometimes there is no budget for flying out their makeup artist.

If you do have a budget for hair and makeup, that’s great! This will alleviate the stress of concealing imperfections and applying your false eyelashes on your big day! It’s also great to have a pro on hand to apply a flawless base, but also bring out your best features – making you feel and look like a million dollars!

I highly recommend researching for the right makeup artist for you. Check out recommendations from friends and vendors, the artist’s websites/portfolio, their work in the press, and check out their credentials to see if they fit the bill. Chances are there is an artist or two that would be appealing to you so I would get in touch and perhaps have a chat with them to see if you think they might be a person to have a trial with.

Some really important things to consider when it comes to makeup for your wedding day is:

Is this product waterproof?

Will my foundation last throughout the day?

Does the foundation transfer (not good with a white dress!)?

Do I feel comfortable in the makeup?

How does the makeup photograph?

Do I feel comfortable with my makeup artist?

Do I feel like I am able to do my makeup well myself?

Keep in mind you will need to emphasize your makeup a little more than usual to have it looking its best on your wedding day. The makeup look you go for should not be a stark contrast to how you usually wear your makeup. For example, if you have never worn red lipstick before, your wedding day probably wouldn’t be the best time to experiment with a new look. The same goes with dark, smokey eyes – there is a good chance that you will feel overdone is you have never worn this look before.

When I sit down with a client to design a makeup look for their wedding, I always look at the dress and hair for inspiration for the makeup. This is the same creative process that I go through in my professional work, whether you are working with a model, celebrity, or bride. If the dress and hair has a more bohemian, distressed feel I almost always recommend a soft, sultry eye with gorgeous flawless skin. Then again with a more classic dress and hairstyle, liquid eyeliner and a more defined lip will usually look great. The best things about this process is no two brides are the same and even though some looks have common-threads, they are always bespoke.

Gowns by Beverly Lister, Photography by Nobu Yamaguchi

To get your skin looking it’s best, I recommend:

Drinking at least two litres of water a day to flush out your system

Get facials at least once a month, doing your last one no later than 10 days before your wedding (to prevent breakouts).

Keep caffeine consumption at reasonable levels, too much is not good for the skin.

I am a huge fan of Kim Snyder’s Beauty Detox book and drink her Glowing Green Smoothie nearly every day, I kid you not, you will feel great and your skin will glow!

If you have skin concerns such as acne, try seeing a dermatologist early on to tackle future breakouts and to ensure your skin looks its best for the wedding.

Get into the habit of a good skincare routine for day and night. Not only will this make your skin look and feel better, you will also be protecting your skin – helping to keep it looking its best. Skincare doesn’t need to be expensive to be good, just get into the habit of properly cleansing (not makeup wipes), toning, treat (if needed), and moisturizing. As Shu Uemura said, “Beautiful makeup starts with beautiful skin.”

Please feel free to ask me absolutely anything about make-up and skincare, I look forward to your questions!

Mariam Jensen x

You can see more of Mariam’s stunning work on her website www.mariamjensen.com

78 comments »

Posted in Ask The Experts

Ask The Experts – Wedding Planning With Kim Neville.

December 9th, 2011

Happy Friday you gorgeous lot. This morning we have the opportunity for you to pick an experienced wedding planner’s brain (regardless of whether you personally are considering a planner for W-day or not) so get your questions at the ready (and I mean any questions – don’t be shy!) and Kim Neville from The Pink Pumpkin will do her best to answer them for you. In the meantime she also has some useful tips, tricks and pretty ideas (loving the hanging watering can and “eat me” crates) for you all to enjoy.

Kim Neville: A wedding….  The most magical of occasions, and a time to share your love and happiness with your closest friends and family, to shout to the world how much you love your betrothed and that you have decided to spend the rest of your days together as husband and wife.

Sounds like a dream.

Potentially, a complete bloomin’ nightmare!

It is likely to be the biggest party you have ever organised and when you take into account the hundreds of options available to you for every aspect of planning your big day, the minefield of suppliers and the sheer scale of the logistics involved, it’s no wonder that many brides-to-be feel overwhelmed and fearful of the journey ahead! I did when I got engaged, and I’d been planning weddings for over five years!

Fear not though lovely ladies; planning a wedding should be fun, and there are a few things I have learned over the years that will hopefully help you along the way and allow you to enjoy your engagement, the planning, and most importantly the wedding day itself.

This is Kim Neville looking ridiculously lovely on her own W-day in the summer, photography courtesy of Polly Alexandre. if you want to see the rest of Kim’s beautiful day look out for it in an upcoming issue of YAYW magazine.

Finding Your Big Day Style

There are so, so many places for you to find inspiration for your big day – blogs like these gorgeous polka dot pages, magazines, friends’ weddings; more than ever we are bombarded with imagery of beautiful weddings, quirky weddings, weddings in gardens, weddings in country houses, weddings in cities, weddings in the countryside (you get the picture!) and it can be hard within all of that to really think about what’s “you”.

As a starting point, look to your daily life and think about what you like doing as a couple; if you enjoy dining at fancy restaurants, sipping on cocktails in trendy bars and jetting off on a European city break in a hip hotel it’s unlikely that a rustic teepee in the middle of a field, bedecked with bunting and hay bales is very reflective of you as a couple. And vice versa. So make a list of all the things you like doing together and think about how you could incorporate these into your wedding day style.

Don’t just stick to the wedding world for inspiration. I often take inspiration from interiors magazines and blogs, as well as the world of fashion when designing and styling weddings. There may also be key elements of your wedding, your gown for example, which will then really help you get a feel for the rest of the wedding; my wedding dress skirt looked like frothy chiffon roses so I incorporated roses heavily into the design of the day – not in an OTT way though; sometimes small touches are the way forward.

Finally, don’t feel like you have to have a “theme” – I’ve seen many a bride panic as they don’t have a specific theme; you really don’t have to have one! If your wedding is full of things that you both love, designed and styled to reflect your personality and interests then essentially your theme is “us” which quite frankly is the best theme you can possibly have!

Images courtesy of Mason Photography and styling by Kim Neville

Getting The Most Bang for Your Buck!

First things first, you really need to be realistic about what you can afford to spend on your wedding.

A wedding doesn’t necessarily have to cost a small fortune, but you must spend what you feel comfortable with. If you need to have tricky discussions with parents about whether they will be paying or contributing to the wedding fund, the earlier you have them, the easier it will be for all involved and you can then let the fun of planning begin!

Use a spreadsheet to keep track of your expenditure and always remember to factor in extras such as VAT or service charges. Keep a contingency within your budget and if you overspend in one area, see how you can cut back in others to compensate. Every couple’s priorities are different, so think about what’s really important to you and allocate your budget appropriately.

Become Miss Organised not Dis-organised

Organisation is really key to planning a wedding; there are plenty of guides out there which give timelines on what to sort out when; often you can print these out and tick items off as you go along, or download to your computer or phone.   Keep a wedding notebook where you can write down your to-do lists and also any ideas or inspirations you have when you’re out and about.

Keep the contact details of all your suppliers in there and this will then make it easy to copy out and distribute to ushers and your venue on the day itself.  It’s never really too early to book suppliers in and remember the earlier you book, the more choice of supplier you will have and the less you’ll have to do later on! Try to split your to-do list into manageable chunks and delegate some things if possible… above all, try not to freak out at the seemingly never-ending list of items to be ticked off; it will all be fine!

Images courtesy of Laura Dodsworth and styling by Kim Neville

Enjoy Your Engagement

Being engaged is such an amazing time in your life, so treasure that time and approach your wedding planning as a fun and enjoyable experience that you can have together. If you feel like it’s all getting too much, take some time out, go for dinner together or a walk, or whatever you enjoy doing and ban any mention of the “w” word!   So enjoy your planning ladies, have fun and above all when the big day does come make sure you have the best time of your life… it’s all over far too quickly so make every moment count.

Images courtesy of Mason Photography and styling by Kim Neville

Any questions you’ve got ladies fire away, I’m here ready to answer them as best and as quickly as I can!

Much Love,

Kim x

*You can check out Kim’s website at www.thepinkpumpkin.co.uk

72 comments »

Posted in Ask The Experts

Tags: The wedding budget spreadsheet Wedding Planning spreadsheet Wedding Planning Tips

Drowning In The Sea….. Of Dresses.

November 2nd, 2011

You may or may not of noticed that our little menu bar has changed a wee bit, we now have a new shiny section called “Ask The Experts” where from time to time we’ll invite an industry specialist to come share their experience and knowledge with you gorgeous lot, assist you in on your (often daunting) journey through weddingville.

Today we would like to welcome Love Lust List member Lauren Williamson from Adamo Bridal in Essex who spends her day not only surrounded by beautiful frocks but is also planning her own big day. And yes I asked the same question that I bet you gorgeous lot are probably thinking….how the hell do you pick a gown when you literally have so many pieces of pretty at your bridal fingertips?!

The answer is Lauren hasn’t quite chosen yet, but she does have a few tips, tricks and suggestions should you be stuck in a “I can’t find the one” style rut.

Over to you Madam Williamson:

My advice to brides so often is to keep an open mind. But what do you do when that really is the case and you just don’t know where to begin? To illustrate my eyes-wide-open dilemma, as a bridal shop owner I visit 2-3 trade shows per year. At the most recent British Bridal Exhibition in Harrogate (BBEH) there were over One Hundred And Forty (!) bridal wear collections, each with minimum of around ten dresses and some with much, much more. One thing our brides say that they like about our boutique is that they can actually SEE the dresses, because it literally isn’t a SEA of dresses! But a heck of a lot of foot slogging, um-ing and ah-ing (and I admit the occasional champagne sipping) goes into wading through that sea of pretty to pick the cream of the crop and bring them back for you. So is it true that there really can be too much of a good thing? How can you possibly find “the one” amidst hundreds, if not thousands, of dresses?

Although obviously being a tad bias, I can honestly say that I love all of the dresses that we stock at Adamo and when asked I have never been able to pick a favourite…

Clockwise from top left: From the simplicity of Ugo Zaldi To the quirkiness of Rembo Styling, the delicate draping of Cymbeline…and the classic couture cuts of Alan Hannah… what’s a girl to do?!

The pressure I feel about choosing between them is like picking a favourite child (or in my case, having to pick which of my beloved beagles Henry and Molly I love the most). It is unthinkable!!! But, unfortunately as I am no Kim Kardashian, I just can’t have them all. Admittedly I do see some dresses that make me cringe or at least raise an eyebrow. But that seems to be a common problem – it’s so much easier to pick out what you don’t like than narrow down what you do like.

After many sleepless nights and three days of perusing countless dresses at BBEH I came to a simple conclusion….the only possible way to narrow it down was by what will suit my body shape the best. It may sound basic, and it is, but it is so very easy to get carried away which is why you may need someone else to bring you back down to earth, which in my case is my very straight-talking mum. And that is my ultimate advice – if in doubt, ask for a second opinion and listen to the experts. Someone else can stand back and tell you that dress X is much more flattering to your shape than dress Y, even though you may have fallen head over heels in love with dress Y. Yes, the fitted fishtail gown or the slinky lace number may be stunning, but the point is that you are supposed to look stunning in it and dressing to compliment your figure is the only way to achieve that.

So if like me you have an hourglass figure (i.e your bust and hips are pretty much the same measurements and your waist is significantly smaller) then here are some of my top picks from Rembo Styling which we stock here at Adamo… (top right and bottom left for the hourglass, the other two are pretty cool too…) and you might just be seeing little old me in one of them next year!!

*All gowns by Rembo Styling at Adamo Bridal.

So then lovelies, question time…

Have you been drowning in a sea of dresses?

Did you buy one to “suit your shape” or just because you bloody loved it?

Have you chosen something completely unexpected because on the hanger it looked “blah” but on you it looked fabulous?

Do tell.

Big Thanks To Lauren Love

Charlotte xxx

55 comments »

Posted in Ask The Experts

Tags: Adamo Bridal Boutique Essex Alan Hannah Jennifer Alan Hannah Melita How to choose a wedding dress to suit your body shape Rembo Styling Bridal collection 2012

Big Day Flawless.

August 2nd, 2011

There is one thing that I would love to be able to walk around with all day and that’s a giant airbrush. Imagine lovelies, no more dark shadows, no more blotches, no more uneven skintone….

Make-Up artist and Love/Lust member Mariam Jensen specialises in the airbrush technique and has made literally hundreds of brides completely flawless for W-day. Mariam is going to share with us how airbrushing works both professionally and in the comfort of your own abode as well as giving us the lowdown on some of her favourite products for eyes and lips.

My favourite bit of a beauty feature? When the expert does exactly that – because they must have tried a lot of stuff right?!

Of course that’s not always a good thing. It just means I want to go out and buy everything they recommend….

*image courtesy of Exhibit Emotions

Mariam Jensen: Airbrush makeup is very different to most retail products on the market. The makeup comes in a wide variety of bases and my personal favourite is silicone – it’s long- lasting and extremely durable. The product is applied with an airbrush that is fed by an air compressor, creating the finest and lightest application of makeup. Try Airbase for a great foundation that can be used with or without airbrush.

The benefit of airbrush makeup is that it delivers lightweight, long-lasting makeup that is able to stand up to the scrutiny of HD for film/TV and also high resolutions in digital photography, making it an ideal choice for brides-to-be. One of the key reasons airbrush makeup looks so natural is because of the small spray patterns from the airbrush itself and the minimal quantity of makeup applied to achieve the desired effect.

Like any makeup, airbrush makeup is best applied by a professional artist and is worth the investment on your wedding day. However, the products can also be used at home to create a flawless make-up look using a good quality foundation brush and can be worn daily without the need for touch ups. For a natural sunkissed glow, add a touch of the Airbase Bronzer to the formula. This product lasts for hours requiring little to no touch up and feels like you’re barefaced. The coverage is fantastic and can be used to conceal acne, uneven complexions and even eczema.

*image courtesy of Edwina Ibbotson Millinery

A Rosy Glow

For gorgeous kissable lips, try a lip stain on your wedding day. I love Jemma Kidd Make Up School Rosy Glow Lip & Cheek Tint. The stain works best on clean lips that are well hydrated. Very easy to use, simply roll on evenly, blot lips together and viola – perfectly tinted, natural pink lips! For more definition try using a lip pencil, I love MAC Whirl which is a pinky nude shade. Then top with a touch of clear gloss or lip balm for some sheen. The best thing about this tinted lip product is that it is kissable yet not sticky like so many lip products often are.

*Image courtesy of Shanna Melville Bridal Couture

Big And Beautiful

Every bride wants big, beautiful eyes on their wedding day and of course, smudge- free make-up. For eye make-up that stands out yet withstands the tears, create a smokey eye using MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork – a gorgeous taupey-brown shade. Use a flat synthetic brush such MAC 249 Large Shader Brush to work the product all over the lid for a wash of colour. This can be worn alone or try layering to add sheen with a shade such as MAC Tan Pigment.

To make the look stronger, apply a deeper shade of eyeshadow in the crease. I love MAC Embark, it’s a deep aubergine-brown shade that adds depth and colour. Take a crease brush, such as MAC 224 and work the product into the crease and blend out and upwards in small circular motions. For added definition, apply a deep black liner in the inner rim and lash line. MAC Powerpoint Pencil in Engraved is a great product as it’s waterproof and wears very well.

Complete the look with a set of No 19 Lashes from Illamasqua – soft and smokey, these lashes are perfect for a wedding makeup look. You can also cut the lashes in half and use them as corner lashes which are much easier to apply and also give a more subtle flare to the eyes. After lashes are on, I would give lashes a light curl with the Shu Uemura Eye Lash Curler which helps your own lashes and the false ones to blend and look more natural. Top wish a few coats of a good waterproof mascara such as MAC Blacksplash – this can be put on false eye lashes too and make them look very natural. Finally, blend some more black eye liner in the lash line to disguise the band of the false eye lashes.

*image courtesy of Exhibit Emotions