Hurry! Extra 20% J Crew ends tonight

Until midnight tonight, use code EXTRA20 for an extra 20% off of sale prices at JCrew.com. There are some great finds on there! Some of my favorite:

Think Bridesmaids, Rehearsal dinner, Shower dresses:

Some seriously stylish flower girls and ring bearers:

Wedding Day Makeup Tips

No matter what her style, no matter what her budget, every bride wants to look amazing on her wedding day. One of the best ways to ensure that you look your best on your big day is to hire professional hair and makeup stylists that you trust.

Today, I am excited to introduce you to Amanda Peck, a very talented makeup artist out of Orange County. Amanda and I actually were good friends in Jr. High and I was so thrilled to hear that she decided to pursue professional makeup artistry because she has always had such a great artistic eye. Over the past couple of years, Amanda has been at the top of my recommendation list to my brides and today she has offered to share some of her insight and tips with our readers.

*Please tell us a little bit about yourself and why you like doing wedding makeup:

My name is Amanda Peck and I am a professional makeup artist based in Orange County. Makeup has been a passionate practice of mine over the past nine years. It brings me so much joy being able to make a bride feel and look her best on her wedding day.

*How far in advance should brides book a makeup artist? 

Brides should start looking for a makeup artist 3 to 5 months prior to their big day.

*Many brides feel like they can do their own makeup- whether it is to save money or because they want to look like they normally do. Why is it worth it to pay for a makeup artist? 

Even if you are a pro in your daily makeup, booking a professional artist is a must. Your daily makeup will not hold up for hours of photography, bright lights, hugging and tears. Trained artists apply makeup differently.  I use a combination of tricks involving contouring and highlighting which makes my brides appear stunning  in an intimate close-up shot as well as for the guests that are seated far from the altar.

*What is the benefit of having a trail run? When should it be scheduled?

I can’t stress enough the importance of a trial run. The makeup artist you decide to use for your wedding needs to be someone you’re comfortable with and whose results fit your personality and style of wedding. The only way to insure that is to consult an artist or two. I always recommend scheduling your trial on the same day as your engagement photo session. That way you can see exactly what the makeup will look like in professional photography.

*How heavy should the makeup be?

Your wedding day makeup should be about 40% heavier than your typical wear. Even if you are wanting a natural look, full coverage is still necessary for photography and to last through the ceremony and reception. 

*How much time should brides allot for their makeup application on the wedding day?

I alway tell my brides to block out a full 2 hours for makeup application. That amount of time allows for a non-rushed application, false lashes and a 30 minute buffer zone just in case.

*What should brides look for in a makeup artist as they are deciding between companies? 

One of the most important things a bride should look for when researching makeup artists is his/her past work. If you can’t find any photos of previous brides or professional photoshoots, I would recommend looking elsewhere. Check as to  whether or not the artist charges a travel fee, if they offer discounts for large parties, and if their costs fit within your budget. 

*Any tips for brides who decide to do their own makeup? 

If you decide to do your own makeup, I recommend finding a full coverage foundation, a bolder lip color than what you would normally wear and waterproof mascara. The photographer is a great person to consult with to see whether or not the makeup will provide enough coverage.

*Do you have any favorite wedding day makeup/beauty items?

My favorite wedding day items include a lipstick/gloss to match the color you and your artist decided on, translucent powder for touch ups, mints (no gum!), and tissue.  I provide all of these items for every bride I work with as a complimentary touch-up kit.

*Any other tips or insight you would like to share?

Two things I highly recommend:
First, false lashes. They make all the difference in photographs. It’s an extra touch of glamour that can be applied as natural or as dramatic as you desire.

Secondly, I highly recommend treating your bridal party to a makeup and/or hair session the day of the wedding. What could be a better way to thank your bridal party than providing them with a morning of pampering? It de-stresses everyone and is truly a bonding experience.

Thanks so much for your insight Amanda! Be sure to check out her website and blog , and you can also get a peak at her studio and graphic art here. 

Heather and Justin: A Cinderella Themed Wedding

Two weekends ago, Heather and Justin were married on a perfectly beautiful day at the Hyatt Huntington Beach.  This wedding was extra special to me because Heather is my cousin and it was a privilege to help bring her vision to life. Heather and Justin met working at the Rainforest Cafe at Downtown Disney, got engaged in front of Cinderella's Castle and later returned to Disneyland to take their engagement photos, so it was fitting for Heather to decide on a Cinderella inspired wedding.

Drew B was on hand to capture their day and it was so fun to finally get to work with her. Here are a some of the images that she posted on her blog:

My sister Shannon and I designed the flowers and utilized their engagement photos on the arrangements. I want to give a big thank you to Kristin of The Treasured Petal for letting us borrow her plexiglass stands and some vases. 

Drew summarized some of her favorite aspects of their wedding day and they were definitely highlights for me as well, so I am just going to copy her words!

1)  The ringbearer and flower girl couldn’t quite make it down the aisle (it was a long walk for them!) so Justin had to go get them and walk them down himself.  Too cute!

2)  The couple had one of the groomsmen, Sean, sign their first dance song.  It was so special and a really personal touch.  Besides that, he is super funny and has a great voice!

3)  Heather surprised Justin by singing to him.  She has an amazing voice and it was so emotional.  I loved it!

4)  Another groomsmen (it was a very talented group) did a special tribute to MJ.  The wedding was just two days after he died and it will never be the same hearing a Michael song at a reception.  The groomsmen is an awesome dancer and even incorporated Justin into the dance!

Thanks Drew!

I will post more details and photos once I receive them- lots of fun personal touches in this wedding.

Happy tuesday!

Simple 4th of July Arrangements

Happy 3rd everyone!

I am not the most festive person in the world. I love holidays and I love decor, but after growing up in a household where my mother pulled out boxes and boxes of decorations for every single holiday, I tend to stay on the more simple (or as my mom would say, boring) side for the smaller holidays like 4th of July. If I decorate at all, I stick with a simple centerpiece or a view small accent items.

Here are some of my ideas for festive, simple patriotic decor. I threw these together yesterday using left over flowers from my wedding last weekend, so try to ignore the browning flowers :)

How it started: a tin can and fabric I purchased at Jo-Ann's for $3.50 a yard:

How it ended:

I decided to make it a little more fun and add some fireworks:

Which are really just straws that I purchased at target. I cut the top portion of the straw off and stuck them in the arrangement.

For the next one, I wrapped a vase in paper that I found at Michaels:

I also wrapped a bigger vase in the same fabric as the arrangement above and then made ribbon fireworks to spice it up:

I made the ribbon fireworks by tying 5 three inch pieces of ribbon around the top of a straw:

I also want to show a cute arrangement that my sister put together earlier this week. The blue paper wrapped vase was from our wedding on saturday and she added the ribbon details:

In addition to the arrangements, I whipped up these little babies:

Votive candles wrapped in a baby sock! I found the pair of socks in the $1 section at Target. All you have to do is fold the top of the sock inside so that it is the right height of the candle and slide it on. So so easy. I stole the idea from Hostess with the Mostess, which featured potted plants wrapped in socks a while back.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend everyone!