Nails:

The main point I’d like to make is to try and get your mani/pedi off your bridal beauty “to do “ list prior to the day of your event.  I know it seems like a good idea to have them freshly done the morning of, but really, why add an extra drive to your day. With the traffic in this town and most ladies waiting for the weekend to visit their local salon, planning ahead can avoid a wedding day timeline disaster.  Being that acrylic nail polish is such a popular option in most nail shops, chipping just a few days in is no longer an issue.  These types of polish look great while lasting for weeks.  So you see, there really isn’t any need to add an additional task to your plate on your big day. Enjoy the extra time with your friends and family!  Other suggestions would be;

Be sure to :

• Take good care of your nails in the months leading up to the wedding. Use a nail strengthening polish 2-3 times a week to promote growth and prevent breakage.

• Invest in bi-weekly mani/pedi(s) or the proper tools to go the DIY route.  This will insure your nails are always looking great and highlighting your left hand bling to the max.

• Apply a lush hand cream every night before bed.

• Avoid cleaning chemicals…correction avoid cleaning. Ok, if you must, be sure to slap on some heavy gloves and protect those dainty hands of yours.

 Try to avoid:

• Hesitate before selecting a trendy nail polish. I love metallic and funky nail polish colors as much as the next girl however, do you really want a photo of you holding hands with your new husband looking like you just dipped your hands in a pot of melted gold or silver? I’m gonna go with probably not.  Your children with find plenty to tease you about when they look back at your old pictures. Don’t’ give those little rascals any extra ammo! Go with classic colors:  Pale pinks, French manicures, American manicures and deep reds all photograph nicely and will always look timeless!

• For the love of all that’s holy, stop biting those nails woman!!!!!!! Eat sugar free candy or start smoking instead (totally kidding, don’t light up).  For one, gnawing at your paws is a nasty habit (sorry but it’s true) and your engagement ring shouldn’t be the only way to differentiate your hand from your fiance’s in a picture. Enough said….

• Don’t go super long in regards to the length of your nails. Natural or fake, you don’t want to look like you might take out an eye while feeding your man a piece of that delectable wedding cake.

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Here are some more images from the Trees Atlanta Photo Shoot with Robin Nathan Photography and Estoria Social

(among many other wonderful vendors)! We went for an extremly natural look to go with the “green” feel and design theme!

]]> http://bellabatlanta.com/additional-photo-shoot-pictures/feed/ 0 http://bellabatlanta.com/style-me-pretty/ http://bellabatlanta.com/style-me-pretty/#comments Wed, 18 Apr 2012 19:24:49 +0000 admin http://bellabatlanta.com/?p=1151

I love when my schedule permits me to partake in an opportunity to work with fellow wedding vendors, photographers and models.  Recently, I had the chance to participate in a very unique and creative photo shoot with some of the most fabulous and wildly talented people in the industry. As a bonus, I’ve just learned that the project has been featured on Style me Pretty, Georgia which is truly an honor! Please click on the picture below to check out both the article and the beautiful images it contains!

Contributors:

Photography: Robin Nathan Photography / Venue: Trees Atlanta Kendeda Center in Atlanta, Georgia / Concept, Styling + Planning: Jaimie Cohen and Maggie Rentz of Estoria Social / Floral + Cake Design: Maggie Rentz of Estoria Social / Succulent Design + Styling: Kurt Straudt of Southeast Succulents / Invitations + Paper Goods: Becky Scheel of Pinto Bean Press / Catering: Sun in My Belly / Snacks + Desserts: Little Tart Bakeshop / Ice Cream Truck: Westside Creamery / Vintage Furniture Rental: Krista Janos of Blue Eyed Yonder / Wedding Dress: Lela Rose “Secret Garden” via Kelly’s Closet / Bride’s Shoes: Forever 21 / Hair: Salon Modello Atlanta / Makeup: Bella B / Groom’s Attire: His Own

Teeth Whitening

Wedding pictures last a lifetime and you’ll have hundreds taken of you and your new hubby the day of your event. This knowledge is enough to send most brides running to their closest dentist or pharmacy in hopes of finding the best teeth whitening solution on the market. While I can’t recommend a specific product because good results are based on so many different variables, I do have some tips for you to consider on the topic.

Be sure to:

• Try to schedule one of your annual cleanings ahead of time so the appointment falls during the week prior to your wedding day. This will leave your teeth feeling clean as a whistle and your smile is looking its’ best.

• Talk to your dentist in the months leading up to your event to see if you’re a candidate for in office whitening treatments.

• If you are only looking to go up a shade or two, cosmetic professionals often suggest just using one of the over the counter products.

• I highly recommend incorporating a toothpaste that is designed to help prevent tooth sensitivity 7-10 days before you intend on whitening your teeth. Continue using it throughout the process and until you feel comfortable that it’s no longer an issue.

• Whatever treatments you decide upon, encourage your fiancé do the same. This will avoid making his smile appear less vibrant next to yours.

• Looking for a quick fix? Get some sun! A tan is a great way to give your choppers a whiter appearance.

            Try to Avoid:

• Over bleaching! Shockingly white teeth can be distracting and unflattering! They may look good on the big screen and in glossy magazines, but in person, an overly white smile tends to look fake and harsh.  I’m assuming you don’t want people staring at your teeth all night and unless you are trying to rival the color of your white gown, stay in the natural off white-to-white zone.  There is no need to glow in the dark my friends!

• Stay away from red wine and dark foods that are known to stain your teeth. Some examples: Coffee, tea, dark berries, sodas, certain candies, red pasta sauce etc. If you can’t avoid some of these goodies, be sure to either rinse your mouth out with water or brush your teeth with whitening toothpaste following the meal. The pastes tend to have abrasive properties that help to remove surface stains.

• Unless you are familiar with how whitening will affect the sensitivity of your teeth, please don’t whiten too close to your event. You don’t want to risk being uncomfortable on such an important day and for some, it can be intense pain.

Remember…..Nothing feels & looks as good as gorgeous! Sometimes this means reining yourself in ladies so leave the chiclets in your purse where they belong!

Happy planning & Primping!

LindseyPin It

I’ve always loved my MAC Power Point Eye Pencils! They come in great shades, are waterproof and have been very dependable over the years. While I’m not ready to kick them to the curb necessarily, I have to say that I’m loving Makeup Forever’s Aqua Eye Liners! They are super creamy and a dream to apply. In addition to being water-resistant, they’re also safe for your waterlines! So all the ladies out there who get tired of reapplying their inner eye liner through out the day, you  no longer have to worry! This liner stays put and will even hold up against tears!

You might be thinking “well all waterproof eye liner should hold up against tears”! ….and I agree. That being said, it’s not unusaul for waterproof liners to disappear  from the inner eye rim despite their water resistant nature. Especially if you have naturally watery eyes.  Kudos to Makeup Forever for solving this age old dilemma!

You can pick up these fab liners for $16 at Sephora or direct from Makeup Forever!

Don’t keep this product a secret ladies : )

Happy Primping!

- Lindsey

*As a professional makeup artist I receive a discount from Makeup Forever. That being said, it’s never in return for reviews and I buy all their products with my own funds (unless otherwise noted).Pin It

Today is my 4 year wedding anniversary so I thought I’d share some of my favorite wedding pictures with you! 

My husband Shaun and I were married at the gorgeous Payne Corley House! We planned for the ceremony to be outside however with a storm brewing that was a no go! They say everything happens for a reason and it really does. The main room was so beautiful, intimate and cozy that I really can’t imagine it any other way now! We were lucky enough to be able to take all our  formal pictures outside so we ended up with the best of both worlds!

 Shannon & Steve from Photography by Shannon were our photographers which was super exciting! As you can see from the photos, they are incredibly talented and there is no end to their creativity! They’re a tremendous amount of fun to work with and really captured our personalitlies as well the feel of our day! Since then, they’ve shot my brother’s wedding and our family portraits. Shannon is now planning her own wedding and  I’m honored to be able to do her bridal makeup this fall!  I’m really looking forward to it!

Happy Primping & Planning!

We all feel better with a healthy glow and our wedding day is no exception.  It’s true that you will appear a shade or two lighter in your professional photos so getting some extra color is always ideal. This is primarily due to the fact that your photographer’s skills will allow for the proper amount of light needed to properly expose a photo. Additionally, the sun tends to dilute color in general. Most of us are used to the harsh artificial light off the flash of a point and shoot camera, which actually makes our skin and makeup look darker.  So you see at the end of the day, you could actually look extra tan in your friend’s & family’s pictures so keep that in mind when deciding how dark to go.

Another reason to tan would be the sliming appearance it provides. I always say if you can’t tone it, tan it!  Hey, every little bit helps and besides, white/ivory have never been on the list of most slimming colors to wear!

Unless you are a master self-tanner, I suggest leaving this task to a professional.  Keep in mind that nothing is ever going to look as good as a natural tan but if done correctly it can look pretty close to the real thing! It’s worth the slight difference to avoid future wrinkles, sun spots and other heath risk ladies so please stay out of the tanning beds and try to avoid the direct rays of the sun when possible!

Here are my tanning suggestions for getting sprayed as well as using self tanner.

Be sure to:

• Exfoliate girls! Scrub, scrub, scrub!

• Wax 24 hours in advance or shave 12 hours in advance to avoid potential skin irritation.

• Read product and salon reviews online before making an appointment.

• Test out the airbrush tanning salon and/or lotion you intend on using at least a month in advance. Especially if it’s going to be the first time or you’ll have no one else to blame if you come out looking like a cast member of the Jersey Shore!

• If you’re satisfied with the application and color, record the product and shade.

• Be sure to confirm that the same person will be available to apply your tan in the days leading up to your wedding.

• Apply lotion to dry areas (elbows, knees, heels etc). This will help give you more of an even application. Tanning products tend to adhere and look the darkest on dry skin.

• Staying well hydrated and moisturized will improve the look of your tan as well as maintain your color longer.

• Keep in mind that most spray tans are the darkest on day 3 so plan accordingly. Most products state that the tan can last up to a week. I have found this to be true for the most part however the color does start to lighten on the 5^th day.

Try to avoid:

• Going to dark. You don’t need to look like you just came back from spring break in order to look like you have some color in your professional pictures. Think healthy glow. Being overly tan in a white or ivory gown tends to look harsh in photographs.

• Being the only one with a tan. If you plan to tan at the minimum request your fiancé do the same. You don’t want to make others look washed out so consider this before deciding how much color you request.

• DIY tanning. Unless you are a master self tanner leave this to a professional. Should you decide to do it yourself, start practicing months before (3 times min) so you can get it down to a science so you know what to expect and how long it will take, last etc. I recommend Faux Tan by Bare Escentuals if you don’t already have a favorite.

• For do it yourselfers I also recommend tanning at night, wearing disposable gloves (leaving your hands for last) and having loose clothes to sleep in handy. Dress only after the tanner seems to be 100% dry.

• Don’t shower or get wet for at least 8 hours.

If you’re looking for a local company that comes to you check out Celebrity Airbrush. I’ve been very happy with my results and I love the fact that they offer group packages!

Ok ladies…. Go get your tan on!

Happy Primping!

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I don’t normally get the chance to see my client’s wedding videos so I couldn’t resist doing a second post about this beautiful bride! Not only am I honored that Elizabeth took the time to forward it to me but it happens to be absolutely AMAZING! Just beautiful! Wait until you hear these vows…….Have tissues ready!

I also don’t mind that fact that you get to see me in action early in : )

The video (along with the bride’s event photos) were created by the fantastic Chris & Allie from The Reason. If you haven’t already booked a videographer/photographer you must check them out!

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As a makeup artist specializing in bridal applications, I’ve had the extreme pleasure of working with some of the most amazing women you could ever hope to meet!  It is truly a dream job and I cherish getting to share a small portion of their day with them. Having the chance to witness everything come together and to feel that you’ve played a small part in making someone feel beautiful on such a significant day is an indescribable feeling.  A close second would be the enjoyment I get from looking through their wedding pictures. So much fun!

Luckily, I didn’t have to wait very long to see these gorgeous images! Chis & Allie from The Reason are responsible for these remarkable photos.  They are ridiculously talented and a blast to work with so be sure to check them out!

The bride’s hair was done by the fabulous Christine Lopez of Ny Bridal Hairstyles. If you want to see more of her incredible work she has a great online portfolio!

May I present to you the lovely Elizabeth…..

     Until next time….

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…..According to Lindsey J/k

Planning a wedding seems like just fun and games to the unengaged or those who have been married for years. Kind of like childbirth… you forget about all you went through when it’s over and are simply left with the blissful memories of having gone through it.  Only an engaged bride to be can truly recognize how many minute details are weaved into that long list of “to dos”.  At the top … How do I want to look as a bride? I’ll agree it’s a loaded question but the entire day is designed around that very answer. You don’t see many girls getting married on the beach wearing a blinged out ball gown, red lipstick & a smokey eye rocking a tiara do you?

I can’t advise you on all the ins and outs of creating the day you’ve always envisioned but I can give you the coveted map to becoming the flawlessly beautiful bride that stars in your dream!  While I’m sure some of these tips & topics have been covered a million times on various wedding websites & publications, they frequently come up during bridal consultations and weddings so I felt it wouldn’t hurt to discuss them in greater detail.  Over the next couple of posts I’ll cover all the different variables that help make a confident and beautiful bride. Though my advice might not be dramatically different than some found elsewhere, they’ve grown from experience gained doing hundreds of bridal makeup applications, working with various (and fabulous) beauty professionals and going through the wedding process myself.  So whether these suggestions act as reminders or are a complete news flash to you, hopefully they’ll help guide everyone to enjoying the best bridal beauty experience possible as opposed to becoming a wedding day beauty cautionary tale!

Buckle up ladies! Some of my tips/advice take dedication and consistency.  A personal trainer might tell you “ no pain no gain” and that’s true but for now I want you to focus on “ Nothing feels & looks as good as gorgeous!”  Everyone deserves to feel their most beautiful come wedding day, so remember your new mantra and we’ll start with the basics. 

Skin Care:

Be sure to:

• Handle any problematic skin concerns early in your planning process. Some issues can take months to remedy so visit your dermatologist and/or esthetician well in advance so you can develop a game plan.

• Whether you’re 20 years old or 100 please wear eye cream ladies! The skin under our eyes is extremely thin and fragile. Circulation also tends to be a common problem in this area (can we say dark circles, hello…), so it needs special care and attention. Not only will your concealer go on and stay on so much better, but you’ll also look well rested & refreshed.  To the youngsters reading this who think it doesn’t apply to them…  it does. Trust… you will want to look me up and thank me years from now. No need… you’re welcome!

• Kick up the water intake a couple of notches the months leading up to the big day! It will rehydrate your skin following the bachelorette party, bridal shower mimosas and champagne rehearsal dinner toasts.  It will also help keep those pesky dry patches and stress break outs at bay! Your skin and makeup artist will totally appreciate it!

• Facials never hurt. If you are new to them, I would suggest getting one at a reputable spa then gauging by your results & healing time (you can break out afterwards etc), you can judge how close to your wedding would be a safe time to schedule another one. It depends on the shape of your skin, but 2 to 3 weeks is about the normal time frame.

Be sure to avoid:

• This one might be a doosy! Alcohol can really wreak havoc on your skin and dry you out big time so try to remember to chase those cocktails with water por favor! Generally, try not to go too crazy with the boozing during the week leading up to your event. I know, I know… I’m a big party pooper but it’s worth it to look amazing in your pictures right? Remember our new mantra before you answer…. Or the calories I’m saving you : )

• Don’t stay up super late trying to cram in those last minute details (you know who you are!). All the reminders of that lack of sleep will be waiting for you in the bathroom mirror honey and it’s never a good look. Your skin needs ample time to repair & rejuvenate over night. If you currently have poor sleeping habits try to get yourself on a healthy sleep pattern at least the month or two prior to your wedding. It’s called “beauty sleep” for a reason girls! Getting the proper rest the eve of your wedding helps but won’t cut it on it’s own. The goal is to consistently get a minimum of 8 hours of z’s with 10hrs being preferred.

• Don’t make any changes to your birth control or skin-care regimen/products less than six weeks before your wedding. Doing so can really mess with the ph-balance of your skin and/or hormones. Both can create unnecessary skin drama and you’ll have enough of that creating the guest list.

• Don’t go anywhere near an esthetician 24 hours before your wedding!  Avoid all tweezing, waxing, popping, picking and any extreme skin services for at atleast 24 hours prior to your event! No one likes a blotchy bride!

Follow me on Facebook or Twitter to see when the post goes up and what the next topic will be!

Until then happy planning and primping girls!

xoxo

LindseyPin It