Getting Ready...Part 1

I kind of skipped all my recaps. Not intentionally though. Shortly after the wedding we moved, I've been in the midst of a large career change that requires grad school/certification so my bloggy motivation in all realms is minimal. But alas, I'll get my recaps/vendor reviews out there. I already did our rehearsal dinner, so here's the ladies getting ready. So I'm going to try - by Valentine's Day (2/12 to be exact which will be our five month anniversary) to have all my recaps/vendor reviews up.

I got my hair did at Bang Salon in the Verizon Center - it was incredibly convenient, inexpensive and all the girls could get their hair done at the same time. It took about two hours - we were back to the hotel by noonish, grabbed a small lunch (I was intent on eating because I had heard horror stories about brides who forgot to eat and passed out during their ceremonies - hear that brides? EAT LUNCH) and then began to get ready.

I should also note, that it was just before getting our hair done that I had one of my few bridezilla moments. We were waiting for a few of the girls to get coffee at Dunkins on 7th street near the verizon center - and i found (as a life long new englander and thus dunkins fiend) that Dunkin's down in DC are notoriously horrrible with service, that morning was no different. We had been waiting for close to twenty minutes for three bagels and three coffees while people ahead of us kept getting their food, so I slammed my hand down and demanded some service because damnit, it was my wedding day and they were making us late for a hair appointment. I'm pretty sure I shocked even myself, however, I wouldn't have been so rash had my step-mother and mother not gotten into an argument before then. I knew that was inevitable but I had hoped that my mother would bite her tongue for my sake, unfortunately that was not the case.

Onward though!

{My dress}

{that dress was a beast to get on!}

{one of my FAVORITE pictures of my mom and I after my dress was all tied up. She was all tears all day long. Love her to death. Also, see my hair? I loved it. It was perfect.}

{my sister/Maid of Honor putting the veil on}

{fixing my veil}

{me with my veil on, can I just say my bridesmaids were fabulous through all this?}

Next up? See my husband getting ready - they had bow-ties, and the first go round? They all put the bow-ties on upside down. Whoops?

All photos here were taken by Megan Garrison Photography

hair help!

Alright ladies, I've got my first hair trial tomorrow. Now what the heck do I want her to do with my hair??

I am notoriously bad at talking to hair stylists. I mean I just never have any idea what I want, I'm not good at knowing what works for my face or my hair type. I do know I cannot have a style that pulls my hair back flat from my face, it makes my face/head look huge and I have to say, fat. So I know I need some texture on top. Beyond that, here are some ideas I've found around the Internetz.

Back idea #1

Back idea #2

Back idea #3

And then here are some side/front shots (source photo1 and source photo2):

Any favorites? How did you figure out your wedding hairstyle? Or if you haven't yet, where are you going to look for ideas?

OH P.S. anybody have any idea how much to tip for a hair trial? The price she's charging is $190, including two hair trials, and she'll come to my hotel room to do my hair on the day of the wedding. I'll be paying a 50% deposit at the first hair trial, would I just tip 15 - 20% of the deposit, and then tip on the remaining balance the day of? Or just a standard tip for each trial and then the whatever 15 or 20% of the total on the day of? HALP MEEEE I'm so clueless.

Happy Friday!

It's been a good first week back at work after the holidays. Well, mainly because it was only a 3-day week for me haha, I was out from last Thursday till this Wednesday, on vacation in Maine. But in this first week I've got a lot done:

• basically fixed the whole wedding band problem (just have to send back the ones that didn't work, the new ones have been ordered)
• signed us up for dance lessons! We're going with Dance Factory near Virginia Square metro. We're living on the edge and just doing the basic course and then we'll probably just wing it for the first dance - guess we'd better pick a song you can do an easy waltz to! Anyone going all out for a big choreographed number?
• signed us up for a wine-making session! next Thursday. I will be sure to report back on that whole experience, I'm really excited about it.
• may have found a hair stylist. Anyone heard of Hair by Diane? She's based in Alexandria and does wedding hair on site in the metro area. Her prices seem pretty reasonable - $190 for the bride (includes 2 trials), and $65 for the bridesmaids. Hopefully her hair styling is not as outdated as her website haha, looks right out of the 90s.. (will have to do a post soon to chat about possible hairstyles - anyone have any good sites for browsing updos?)
• just today my bridesmaids all received their dresses in the mail from Miss Brache! I'm so excited to hear how they turned out. Maybeee I can get them to bring the dresses along when they come to town for the shower/bachelorette later this month??

One bad thing this week was discovering what WeddingWire has done to their guest list management system on their website. UGH. Maybe it's really an improvement and I'm just not used to it yet but it was really giving me a headache yesterday. Is anyone tracking their guestlist on WeddingWire? I am using it to accept online RSVPs so I've gotta figure this out.

This weekend we are hopefully finallyyyy booking our rehearsal dinner venue, and then we're meeting with our DJ to talk ceremony & reception music/logistics.. But tonight, Mr. Fairfax and I are just going to be on the couch, with some sparkling wine and a movie. weee Friday!

Hair-spiration

With a large bridal party and a borderline narcissist as a bride, the likelihood that I will be running late from beautifying on the day of is pretty pretty high. My two cousins (one of whom is also a bridesmaid) own Silk Hair Studio in Richmond, Va. They will be taking care of wedding beauti-fi-cating the day of.

So, I am searching for the PERFECT hairstyle to compliment my cathedral length veil (and flower hair pin :). Here are some of my favs...

(source)

This was my initial thought for the bridesmaids. I have this "thing" where I want to be the only person who gets to wear their hair down on the day of (yes, I know, borderline bridezilla-ish)...so I thought this was the perfect, vintage/modern up-do for my ladies. I have since changed my mind and they can wear any style they want...as long as its an up-do.

(source)

Initially, when I started saving hairstyle images, I was envisioning the "Great Gatsby/Stomping at the Savoy" garden party theme. I saw myself with a birdcage veil and the quintessential 1920s dry wave. Plus, I have a history with this style...

(Me at my cousin's wedding)

I love this look on me, but I don't think its going to work for the wedding. I am no longer wearing the birdcage veil and I am not planning the 1920s theme wedding. My hair is also much much longer now and I don't know how this look translates at a longer length.

Recently, I have been into this 1930s pin-up style. I am totally feeling something like this:
(source)

I have been playing around with my hair recently and saw a few tutorials on YouTube on how to do this style on your own. This is the result...all by myself...so with a professional doing it, you know its going to be H-O-T.
(me at a wedding this past weekend)
I also like the side sweep. I think this will go well with the flower hair pin I purchased on etsy.

(source)

All the other hairstyles are nice...but I think this last one...might be the winner. I feel like it combines all of the things I love about the other styles: it is down, it is wavy, sexy and vintage and I think if I swept it to the side, the flower pin would go perfect!

(Source)

What do you all think? Which style do you like the best? Where do you guys find your hair-spiration?

Make-up Dilemma

So I went to Sephora today in Boston to do a makeup consultation for the big day which is in 41 days. I know! It's so soon!

The consultation went amazing! I loved what she did and if I had thought to take pictures, well I would have but no one went with me and I felt like a jerk taking pictures of myself in Sephora.

Unfortunately, I added up the cost of everything and $280. Not including the moisturizers she suggested I use and gave me samples of. Granted it all looks great but I don't really want to spend $100+ on foundation (HD Foundation/powder/brush) supplies that I'll likely never have a use for ever again. With fiance and I both being out of work I just don't have the cash for that.

I'm guessing I can probably find someone to do my makeup for less than that. So I'm on a mission, I have yet to find ANYONE to do my hair or makeup for my big day - a slight slacker. I know. I know.

Do any of you lovely DC area brides have any suggestions for people - salon or on site - who do hair/makeup and aren't over the top expensive? I'm trying to keep everything under $250 for myself and to between $45-75 per bridesmaids. I'm letting them choose how they do their hair so if they feel comfortable doing it themselves and don't want to spend the $$ then I'm okay with that.

Hair Pieces: Whimsical or Romantic

I have so many projects to do today, including pick up our wedding rings, but I woke up early and started researching hair pieces. I've already researched this some when I was preparing for my hair practice appointment with Daphne, but it's crunch time and I need to pick something. I plan on wearing it half up, curled, and pulled to the side. Now I just need to find the right ornament. Thoughts? Our wedding is Mediterranean-Tropical themed, so I kinda like the orchids, but I originally love the look of the first picture.

Source: Etsy

I plan for my hair to look like the gal's above. And I also love the way her makeup looks, too. A little dramatic, but still elegant.

Source: Etsy

Source: Etsy

Source: Etsy


Source: Etsy

Source: Etsy

Thoughts? Love or hate any of them?

Wedding S-Tresses

I don't know how it is for most, but for me, when I am stressed, my hair can be the hardest hit. I identify my stress spot as the back of my head, from ear to ear. My hair breaks there, and it's not a good thing. I'm not looking ill or anything, but it's just annoying. According to my hair dresser, psychosomatic/stress-related hair breakage can occur. Right now, I am applying to Ph.D. programs, being recruited for a new position, managing my current position as a corporate trainer, serving as MOH in my linesister's wedding (which is one month after mine), doing regular community service, trying to find time to work out, and oh yeah! . . . planning my own wedding. Yet, stress is a regular part of my life, so I deal with it. I will try not let it bother me too much as wedding day approaches. I originally thought of wearing my hair in an updo for our wedding, but now I'm leaning more towards a different look. I went to Barnes & Noble on a lunch break recently to look at some hair magazines, and I found . . . my look. What first caught my eye was this look, which would be perfect with my tiara sitting right on top.

I think I may like it a little shorter, and curlier. FI loves my hair curly. So rather than the loose waves of Lauren London, I think I'll have it a bit curlier, like my soror, Ms. Keys.

Basically, my wedding look will be a blend of the two styles. Yes ,this will involve adding length to my hair, which I'm not used to, so I'm going to test out these fabulous wedding tresses next month when I meet with my stylist in Richmond.

More Red Carpet, Less Princess

So before I picked my dress, before I even got engaged, probably before I even knew Mr. CP, I picked my hair style. I know it sounds silly, but if you know me at all, this would not surprise you one bit. I am slightly hair-obsessed. Of course I tortured myself with thousands of other options, but I came back to the one I originally fell in love with. See, I have tight curls, that I have straightened since I was about 10. So it's not quite curly and not quite straight and super thin, plus it has never grown past my shoulders. This is my hair in its natural state. Am I not so cute? (My family finds it hilarious, that I was non stop chatting, as in these pictures, even at 3)

So I have always known I need amazing hair. In fact, to me, my hair has been a large part of my wedding planning. I pretty much planned the venue around not having to go outdoors in case of humidity. Sounds crazy, I'm sure, but not to a curly haired lady! My sister-in-law had an amazing hair stylist at her wedding. It is the only time I have seen every bridesmaid happy with their hair, including me. Here is me and Mr. CP at my brothers wedding, although the hair is a little hard to see. (Her name is Giselle Zlotnitsky and she is amazing. Her website is http://www.hairbygiselle.com/) I literally booked her the day we set our wedding date, and good thing I did! She has gotten 2 other calls for my same day! She is not the cheapest, but she is the best!

She used something called a hair pad to fill the low bun. I have thin, short hair. These "pads" gave my bun some fullness.

source

I was considering getting extensions. I have always wanted them, and what better time to get them? Plus Mr. CP LOVES long hair, which I don't have, and probably never will, and I want him to gasp at me as I walk down the isle. I was thinking something like this. (Yes, this is Jessica Simpson's wedding hair. Everyone loves this, including me)

source

Or this, which is super flirty and cute....

source

I love the idea of extensions. I have never been able to get my hair long and would be so excited to have it long. On the other hand, would I look like myself? I want to look like myself, at least a little.
So, I went back to my original idea. I am in LOVE with this hair style. In the end it will cost the same as extensions because I still need a lot of extra hair, and padding, but I think it will be worth it. I think I am actually more excited about this, then I am about any other part of my look. This is the hair, and I told Giselle, "More red Carpet, Less Princess." I think I am maybe obsessed with it. I had my trial (camera-less and extension-less) and will have another. It should look exactly like this. What do you think? (remember my dress, its a whole "look")

source

Is there anything in particular, you obsessed over? How did you pick your bridal hair?

Hair it is...

My mother keeps pestering me. Pester sounds a little too naggy - I think a better term would be "gently reminds" me about wedding stuff each time I talk to her. Lately, it's been my shoes, veil, undergarmets for the wedding day, and how I plan on wearing my hair.

So let's talk about hair for a minute because up until yesterday I was at a loss. I've never been good at keeping long hair. In fact I hate long hair on me. I hate it. It gets too...blah looking. So Friday, because my hair was a good inch and a half longer than I usually like it and it had been a few months since my last cut, I decided to chop it off.

No, I will not be one of those brides growing out their hair for their wedding but then I thought...well...what am I going to do with the locks on the big day?

Then yesterday, I had an epiphany. Thank you to this post on weddingbee I realized:
1. I am not the only bride with shorter hair (my hair is a bit longer than hers)
2. It is not impossible to wear your hair down and wear a veil.
BINGO!

Possibilities?

(from the knot.com)
My only qualm with this? My hair is...more straight. I don't think I've worn it curly since the perm gone wrong of 1997.

(from the knot.com)
I like this! The Half-up look is cute and definitely something I know I can pull off!


(From Brides.com)
I like this look too. I love love LOVE headbands, and I know I could pull off a headband with my veil. My hair is a little bit shorter than that but this look is in the lead as of now.

The good thing about doing the half down/half up do is I bet, and I might be very very wrong about this, that I could get away with NOT having to go to a hairstylist for that. I have a straightener, I have a blow dryer, my mother did my hair for how many years when I was younger? I'll worry about this later but I still don't have a hairstylist in DC that I'm 200% happy with (though the woman who cut my hair Friday is the best I've found so far!) so I worry about finding one who's going to do right by me on my wedding day.

You see that's the problem with moving away from home, the hairstylist you used for the better half of 23 years is no longer accessible like she was when you went to college five hours away and could pop home for a long weekend. If I could fly her down to do my hair for the big day? I totally would. Unfortunately it's not in the cards. *sigh*

So the hairstylist on the day of is still up for debate but it's nice to know that there are gals who don't do the whole up-do shebang. I know it's been all the rage as of late in the bridal mags but seriously? Some of us just...don't like our hair long and like it without 300 gazillion bobby pins and a bottle of hairspray (had that for prom in high school...was not pretty).

Thoughts? Suggestions? What are you doing with your hair on the big day?

Color Injection: Shoes & Hair

As I mentioned last week, while I wanted to err on the side of traditional, with our colors being red, black, and white, I wanted to have a little fun; I wanted to inject a little color into the days festivities.

One of the best ways to do that (that I've seen) is putting it into your own outfit, as the bride. I was a bit stumped for awhile, though. I definitely wanted a white dress. While I do find some of the dresses with color very pretty, it just wasn't for me.

Then I thought I should approach it like I do my daily wardrobe. Simple base piece, in this case the classic white wedding dress, and then accessorize!

Last week you all saw my short lived foray into the idea of red SNEAKERS of all things for the wedding. Thankfully I outgrew that idea pretty quickly as the idea formed in my mind that I wanted to have more of a romantic look... no matter how comfortable sneakers may be!

Then I spied these little beauties:

If you're a girl, you're familiar with Zappos.com. If not, get ye to Zappos.com. You can shop by color, style, size, heel height, etc. It's a godsend for any shoe-shopping emergency.

Anyway, I saw these gorgeous little peeptoes and I fell madly in love.

Then I started thinking about my hair. I knew right off the bat that I didn't want a veil. I think they're gorgeous on the right person, but they're just not for me. I had resigned myself to a simple down-do. Wavy, straight...? Who knew? Simplicity was going to be the route for me.

I had thrown out the idea of putting anything on my hair as an adornment until a friend inspired me with her own wedding... crafted floral pieces, such as the one below:

Made by Mikiye Creations on Etsy.com. It adds an element of romance and you can either splash some color into your hair, or you can go traditional with white floral hair pieces. They are all over Etsy, and definitely worth checking out.

Now I'm back to the age old question: Updo or downdo? Not something I wish to figure out right now.

When I decided I wanted all of this color, I realized something... the dress I had chosen, while stunning and amazing just wasn't for me. It was just... too much. Too much beading and embellishment. The new one is perfect.

What can I say? A girl is allowed to be fickle. Until next time!