Wedding Day Makeup: Should I DIY? Or Go The Professional Route?

I read an interesting tidbit on the royal wedding yesterday: rumor has it that Kate Middleton is doing her own wedding day makeup!

I don't know if I'm as brave as Kate. I may go the professional route, if only because it would be less expensive than stocking up on the makeup I'd need be photo-ready on the big day.

The only reason I'm considering the DIY route is because I'm SUPER picky about my makeup. I want it to be natural but still dramatic, polished but not thick and "cakey." The look I'm going for is something like this:

The stunning Ms. Wilde, via Glamour.com.

I love everything about this look: the contouring of her cheeks (even though she doesn't need it), the matte but fresh-looking skin, the nude lips, the smoky shading around the eyes, even the false lashes. It's dramatic enough to have that "wow" factor, but it doesn't look overwhelming or completely unnatural.

If I do my own makeup, there's a few products I'll just have to have. These are the ones I swear by when I want to look my best:

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer, $32, via smashbox.com

I don't use primer on a daily basis, but I try to keep it on hand for special occasions. Seriously, this stuff is worth its weight in gold! It's a light serum that makes your skin feel like silk. Your makeup (not only your foundation, but also blush, bronzer, and powder) will glide on evenly and will last all day long, promise!

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, $19, via makeupandbeautyblog.com

A dab of Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer will keep your eye makeup in place until you remove it. Your shadow won't crease, your liner won't slide off, and your mascara won't smudge. Plus, it makes the color of your eyeshadow look more rich and vibrant.

Mac Eye Shadow in Knight Divine, $14.50, via  maccosmetics.com

In my opinion, MAC makes the best eye shadow, hands down. I use the "Carbon" shade to line my eyes everyday, so I'd combine "Carbon" with "Knight Divine" for a not-too-vampish smoky eye.

Jergens Natural Glow Daily Facial Moisturizer, $3.99, via Buy.com

This moisturizer helps even out my complexion and gives a little bit of summer color. I recommend using it once or twice daily for two weeks leading up to your wedding. A word of warning: if you over use it, the color will come off on your wash cloth, towel, pillow case, etc.

Also, DON'T use sunscreen or lotion with SPF (like the one above) on your wedding day! I can't stress this enough! The flash from a camera will reflect off the SPF and you'll look positively ghostly in your photographs.

Are you doing your wedding day makeup? What are your must-have products for your big day (or even a night out)?

If I Were Planning The Royal Wedding...

...this would totally how it would go down.



Oh T-Mobile, this fab video almost makes me want to switch cell service providers. Also, I'd be absolutely okay with my wedding party breaking out their best moves during the processional.

Are you excited for the royal wedding? I'll admit, I am! I can't wait to see how Will and Kate's wedding influences wedding trends in the coming seasons.

Confessions Of A Wedding Shoe Addict

Ladies, I have big news... I think I finally found The One. No, I don't mean my handsome cello-playing/gadget-obsessed/humor-loving fiance or the perfect sigh-inducing wedding dress (don't you dare peek, Mr. Nosy Husband-To-Be!!!).

I think found The Shoes.

After buying five--yes, you read that right, FIVE--pairs of high heels, I finally found a pair that (a) I love and (b) look great with my dress. If it seems like I'm slightly obsessed with this one wedding detail, that's because I do, in fact, obsessed with with all sorts of gorgeous footwear.

While I considered several different pairs, one shoe in particular stood out:

Swoon! The Badgley Mischka "Randee" T-Strap, $169.99, via Amazon.

I just couldn't get these shoes out of my head, but I was sure that rich shade of "bordo" would look harsh next to my dress. So instead, I ordered them in nude.

But when I took them to the bridal salon and tried them on with my dress, they didn't coordinate! The nude was too warm next to the silvery beading in my dress. 

After much angst and several more pairs, my brilliant mother suggested I try ordering them in white. But, I said, won't my ivory dress look dirty next to bright white heels? Give it a try, she said, because they may not be a pure white.

Lo and behold, she was right...

Here they are in ivory, also via Amazon.

Imagine my surprise when they turned out to be the perfect shade of ivory! They are the exact same shade of ivory as the fabric swatch of my dress. If you look at the above photo, the actual color is quit close to the tip of the toe, not the brighter rosettes on the t-strap.

So tell me, have you picked your wedding day footwear yet? Do you love your fab shoes as much as I do? Post links in the comments or send me pics!

Gifts for Your Groom...

My own wedding is over a year away, but I've been brainstorming about one very important aspect--the sweet gift I'm gonna get for my groom!

You see, my beloved fiancé is not easy to buy for. If I don't plan ahead, I'll have no idea what to get him when the wedding rolls around.

So here's what I've been thinking...

Dearest Fiancé, I love you but GO AWAY NOW!!

Or you'll lose all back rub privileges for AT LEAST a year! 

Wedding Inspiration: A Fiesta At Carnivale!

Dear readers, it can be tough to choose a venue. Once you have your venue locked in, the style of your wedding  is also limited. We booked a historic mansion for our wedding because we wanted a wedding that is formal and elegant with a bit of vintage flair. I'm really happy about our decision but I can easily imagine us getting married other places too.

One such place is Carnivale in the West Loop.  I l-o-v-e the bright colors and creative lighting. And their private dining menu seriously makes my mouth water! Ropa vieja with crispy plantains? Yes please!

The Samba Room, one of several rooms you can rent for your reception or rehearsal dinner. Photo via carnivalechicago.com

Of course we would have to have a salsa band. Because the venue is so colorful and lively, I would wear sassy little number to match:

Jules by Monique Lhuillier, via brides.com

As you already know, I'm a serious shoe addict. And a short dress calls for a show-stopping pair of shoes. I'd wear heels in Valentino red:

At $695, these Valentino babies are a little out of my price range. But a girl can dream, right?
Photo via http://store.valentino.com.

My lovely bridesmaids would wear short dresses in a variety of brilliant colors that coordinate with the venue. I'm imagining bright blue, red, pink, green, yellow...

Priscilla of Boston, style no. PB401. If ever there was a "wear again"
bridesmaids dress, this is definitely it.

Our champagne toast would be a mojito toast and we would have pictures of sangria on each table for dinner. For dessert, I'd have either classic flan or Caribbean fruit cake soaked in rum.

As for my groom, he would wear a black, slim-fitting one-button suit. I like this one by Armani:

He'd wear a skinny tie and would skip the boutonniere in favor of a square-folded pocket handkerchief.
I say "he," but let's be real--he usually just wears what I want him to wear. Photo via emporioarmani.com.
  

Since I'm half Aruban, our favors would be cigars made from Aruban tobacco for the gentlemen and cocadas (coconut candies) to the ladies.

Yum! Cocadas, cocadas with cloves and brown sugar, and cocadas with condensed milk. Photo via maria-brazil.org.

Sounds like a pretty great party to me! If you could have a wedding re-do, what kind of venue would you choose? Would you go for a totally different style of wedding?

Looky Here... Cute Chicago Save-the-Dates!

Have you picked out your save-the-dates? I love these Chicago-themed cards...

Visit Chicago by Hello Lucky. Don't you adore the cheerful color scheme?

Chicago Lights by Wedding Paper Divas. I like these STDs for mod, evening wedding.

Chicago Cubs Save-the-Dates by Keg Design. For die-hard sports fans, which is almost everyone in Chicago. I'm sure these STDs would be a big hit with your guests too!

Chicago Skyline save-the-dates by erickson design. My personal favorite. I just love the elegant script paired with
the rough sketch of the city.

I haven't picked my save-the-dates yet. I need to get on that! Do you like any of these STDs? What will yours look like?

In Which I Buy A Fabulous Dress And Subsequently Have A Panic Attack

A few days ago, I told you a little about my Adventures in Wedding Dress Shopping. I was hunting for the perfect dress, and I was adamant that I would find one that fits my criteria: it had to be relatively "danceable" dress; white, NOT ivory; a slim-fitting silhouette; not lace but not too modern; and most importantly, a unique and glamorous style that made me feel great.

So how'd I do? Why, it's so nice of you to ask!

Dearest Fiancé, GO AWAY NOW! I mean it!!
Or you'll lose all back rub privileges for AT LEAST a year! 

Wedding Dress Shopping: Not For The Faint of Heart!

Before I went dress shopping, I was sure I had it all figured out. I had looked at hundreds (maybe even thousands) of wedding dresses online. I researched designers, necklines, silhouettes, and fabrics. I thought, this is gonna be easy peasy.

Yours truly in Adorae by Sottero Midgley. It's a beautiful dress and I considered buying it,
but I decided it kinda looked like a gazillion other dresses I tried on.

Here's a little secret: Wedding dress shopping can be oh-so-much fun, but it can also be completely confusing. I know my own taste and I had a definitive idea of the style I was looking for, but it's hard to be decisive when you're trying dress after stunning (really, really STUNNING) dress.

Can't find the designer of this dress, but I suspect it's an Allure number.

Style 8764 by Allure Bridal. The detail on this dress is fantastic! Also, my posture is awful.
Note to self: Work on standing up straight for wedding photos.

My dress, as I had imagined it, would embody glamor in it's simplest form. It would not be over-done or gaudy. It would not overwhelm me with embellishments, embroidery, or layers of fabric.

I certainly didn't want lace or lace-like appliqués (like the above two photos), but I tried on a few lace Allure dresses and I nearly changed my mind. A lace dress does have a certain sweetness that you don't find in other styles. I had also thought I wanted white, or at least diamond white, but not ivory. And lace dresses almost always look better in ivory. (The slightly deeper color gives the fabric more dimensions and the dress a more vintage, classic feel.)

No idea who designed this dress, but it is elegant, isn't it? The simplicity and chic
vintage design reminds me of Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly. And, it has pockets! 

The ball gowns I tried on made me feel like princess, which is a pretty awesome feeling! Yet, I definitely prefer a mermaid or sheath silhouette to a ball gown. I like big, tulle skirts as much as the next girl, but I'm only 5'3" (on a good day!). And short girl + big dress = stumpy looking bride.

Style 8806 by Allure Bridal. The fabric is a lovely, delicate organza, and the style is
both fun and graceful.

I didn't want a dress that was very modern, like the gorgeous Allure gown above. The textured swirls and ruching are what make this dress beautiful, but both are also the trademarks of a modern gown. (For a master class on texture, please see: any dress by Vera Wang.)

A few other requirements for my dress: it has be "dance-able," namely not too heavy or cumbersome; it must not drown my petite figure in pick-ups or heavy layers; and it must make me feel like the prettiest, most glamorous woman in the room.

So I started out my hunt for a dress with seven or eight criteria. And now that I've bought a dress, how close did I come to my imaginary "dream" dress?

You'll have to wait to for my next post to find out! (Sorry to be a tease, but I've got lots more to say about dress shopping, including how I had a major, major freak-out the day after I bought my dress.)

What about you, dear readers? What kind of dress did you shop for? Did you find your "dream" dress or did you fall in love with an entirely different style?

Dress Envy: Over-the-Top Glamor By Zuhair Murad

Ladies, I have some really, really pretty dresses to show you today. Seriously, you're gonna swoon...

Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad had dressed some of the biggest names on the red carpet (Beyonce, J-Lo, Miley Cyrus), so it's no surprise that his 2010 bridal collection is a masterpiece. He isn't a big name in bridal fashion, but he certainly should be!

Go ahead--feast your eyes.

Lilas

Marguerite

Orchidia

Cattleya

Fleur de Lys

Aren't they all gorgeous?! I love the feminine textures and the incredible detailing. The Lilas gown is my favorite, but the Marguerite, which looks oh-so-Grace-Kelly elegant, is a close second. 

Unfortunately, I can't find any information about Zuhair Murad's 2011 bridal line. But I'm still keeping my fingers crossed! He simply must keep designing for brides; his dresses are just too gorgeous to stop!

Would you wear any of these dresses? Which one is your favorite? Are they too much or do you love over-the-top glamor as much as I do?

*All photos by Zuhair Murad, via Fashionbride's Weblog

Introducing: Good Reads for Brides

Check out All Dressed in White: The Irresistible Rise of the American Wedding at Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Carol McD. Wallace's blog is carolwallace.wordpress.com.

Are you going to read All Dressed in White? What's your favorite/most useful wedding book? Can you recommend any books for me to review in future installments of Good Reads for Brides?