Category: Bridal Beauty Advice

It’s your wedding day: are you ready for your close-up? If you’re having doubts, you’re not alone. That’s why a professional makeup artist has become an essential part of the modern bride’s entourage. Yet a quiet revolution is changing the way brides prep for the cameras: airbrush makeup.

The crowning glory your wedding day look is your hairstyle. And to ensure that you get the best results for your wedding hairstyle, all you have to do is follow a few simple steps.

Let’s start the countdown to luxurious locks— here’s a surefire plan to get your hair aisle-ready and fabulous.

While I’m a proud member of the Exercise Avoidance Club, my colleague Denise is definitely one of those energetic women who loves to pump it up. (She actually confessed in a recent post that she loves exercise boot camps!). This contrast became strikingly obvious on a recent business trip when Denise lured me into our hotel gym. She ran for 30 minutes on a treadmill and called it her warm-up. I walked for 30 minutes, and needed 2 aspirin, a margarita and a nap.

I’ll admit that trying to juggle working at Here Comes The Guide, moonlighting as a floral assistant, and planning my sister’s bachelorette party/bridal shower for the past 6 months has been exhausting. As a reward, I decided to treat myself to a little relaxation before gearing up for my sister’s event.

I love boot camp workouts. You’re guided by a personal trainer who will push you to work harder for the results you want, you’re in a group of people with similar fitness goals, and many boot camps also include great nutrition advice. Having gone through a few boot camp sessions of my own, I can say with confidence that this kind of workout will definitely give you the energy and stamina you need to make it to the altar. I’m also seeing some great boot camps that are designed just for brides, with workouts to make you look fantastic in that strapless wedding gown you’ve had your eye on.

Tarte Cosmetics is one company that has mastered creating products that aren’t tested on animals, are paraben-free (very, very important), and contain botanical nutrients. The makeup comes in attractive, fuss-free packaging, and most importantly, they make you, the wearer, look good. You might have read about Tarte’s world-famous cheek stains in InStyle, Cosmo, and Self magazines. I myself am a fan of the “flush” and “blushing bride” shades.

I admit it—at heart, I’m an old-fashioned girl. Add to that a hopeless romantic and a bit of an Anglophile, and it’s no wonder that I was a huge fan of the magazine classic, Victoria. Lest you cool chicks think that’s the sort of rag read only by grandmas, take note: Besides a healthy dose of lace and roses, Victoria also profiles chic boutiques, insider travel destinations (it’s never too early to fantasize about your honeymoon!), innovative recipes, and plenty of tips for creative entertaining. And as a bride, you’ll be doing plenty of that, girlfriend!

As you may have already realized, finding a flattering wedding hairstyle is almost always easier said than done. My own wedding hair search involved me spending hours at my salon having my hair twisted, tugged, and curled into countless “almost perfect but not quite” styles. I’m not sure, but I may have even seen my stylist wield a crimping iron at one point (considering it was 2002, this was more than a little disturbing!). By the end of the day, both my hair and nerves were a bit fried. Sure, I found a style, but I also had to spend the next few days “resting” my hair and deep conditioning with pricey products.

As you begin your own personal makeover in preparation for your wedding day, you can choose products that are both good for the planet and your close-up. That’s why I want to share with you the news about makeup leader Mineralogie. These purveyors of health-conscious beauty products have taken “natural” up a notch by undertaking an ambitious corporate initiative to make their entire company eco-friendly. Steps include switching to eco-chic packaging, changing to a green energy provider, converting to enviro-friendly shipping materials—company owner Mary Van even rides her bike to work.

Recently I attended a benefit concert by music legend Jackson Browne, and scored a pass to the VIP after-party. While downing a margarita (to help me get up the guts to introduce myself to the soulful songster himself!), I was discreetly pulled aside by a woman I didn’t know. Usually when something like this happens, it’s either because a) She wants me to know that I have lettuce in my teeth; b) She wants me to know I have toilet paper stuck to my shoe; c) She wants to know if my husband has a brother who is single.