Lift it, suck it in and smooth it out.

Ok. It's time to talk about what goes on under your wedding gown. This is a very important part of creating that perfect look. It's funny how some brides either laugh and show off the weird things they are putting on their body or they try to hide it and are slightly embarrassed. Here's the thing ladies, every bride I've worked with has worn one of the items below. So, have fun with it and let's get to lifting, tucking and smoothing it out!
We might as well start with one of the oddest things, the push up gel pads or as many of us like to call them: chicken cutlets! They stick to your skin without adhesive and are used if you have a low cut back on your gown. If these seem to weird talk to your seamstress about adding in cups to your gown. $38 for the pair.
Wearing a slinky party gown? If you are slipping into a silk dress be sure to test all your undergarments before heading out the door! You don't want all your guests talking about your lace blue underwear as you walk away from them. A bra may not work at all, so be sure to try some breast petals as shown above. Only $6.
If your dress is a heavy weight material you have more options with what you can wear underneath it. Get creative and try the lace g-sting above with the words "I Do" in crystal. You also have the option of adding your something blue to this hidden location.
These were found on Nordstroms.com for $31.


Spanx. If you've ever dressed up in a formal gown you know what these are. They come in black or nude colors and there are so many options you may have to try on a few styles. The one shown above is the footless pantyhose for $28. Most brides wear the power shaper that tucks in the tummy and bum. They also smooth out the fabric. Be sure to visit a store like Nordstrom's where they can help you find the correct size.

Last but not least is the bustier. They are a classic way to shape your body and feel sexy underneath all that fabric. This one is by Le Mystere and retails for $125 at nordstroms. Whatever you decide to wear be sure to try it on under you dress before the wedding day. Take your lingerie to your next fitting and make sure straps aren't showing, lines are hidden and the gown is laying smooth. Trying to adjust these things the day of is never fun and can be very stressfull.

Working with a stylist.

Today's post comes from Madeline of Madi Cosmetics. I asked her to give our readers some do's and don'ts when it comes to make-up and hair styling for your big day.  Below are her general tips and advice when working with a stylist. 

Do:

Have a trial consultation two to three months before your wedding date.

At your trial consultation, bring pictures of hairstyles and make-up that you do and don't like. It will help your stylist achieve the look you are after. 

Once the trial is completed, take a photo of yourself! 

Make sure that you and your bridesmaids are in sync with your overall styles. From past experience, I've see where the bridesmaids look totally different. You want to create a cohesive feel from the gowns and flowers to the hair and make-up.

Check with your stylist to see if they do a complimentary trial session. Also be sure to ask about a travel fee if your wedding is outside of the Portland area. Everyone has different policies.  

Don't:

Do not shampoo or condition your hair the day of the wedding. If you do this, your style will not hold.

Do not wait until the last minute to schedule your trial run. By booking early you'll have time to find that perfect look, it can sometimes take several trials to get it perfected!

Do not do anything drastic with your hair color or hair cut before the wedding.  Instead get a trim to keep those split ends away.

Don't bring a lot of people to your trial, they can distract you from the look you want and get you second guessing about it. It's good to go by yourself so you and the stylist can get to know each other and talk about your plans for the day. 

Ok. That's it for now ladies. I will have some big news to announce soon...I'm excited to share with you since you'll be the first to hear about it. So stay tuned, until next time! 

Tanning. Good or Bad?

Your wedding day is a few months away and you're toying with the idea of either getting a spray tan or starting to tan in the bed. Is one better than the other or should your avoid it all together?

If you are getting married during the summer and tend to spend a lot of time outside in the sun be sure to think about your style of dress and avoid the dreaded tan lines. So if you have a strapless gown don't wear a t-strap swimsuit! Even if you get a little bit a of tan line and don't think it looks "that" bad, it will always look worse in the photos. If you end up with with some lines it's time to make a few appointments at the tanning booth to even it all out but don't over do it. Keep your look sun kissed and golden. 

Above: A nice golden glow on her skin. Tanning done right.

Above: tanning gone bad...very bad!

If you're wondering to add some color to your skin or stay au natural, I will always recommend you stay natural. If you tan too much, your skin can look orange. Put on a white dress and you're going to look like a Umpa Lumpa! Yikes. Add a bit of color with a bronzer on your shoulders and neckline. Remember, less is more. 

Above: Umpa Lumpa's having a group hug.

I'd stay away from self tanner's all together. No matter what they advertise they will end up streaking or staining your hands. I once had a groom whom used some self tanner and turned his hands bright orange! He was scrubbing as hard as he could to try to get it off before photos. 

If you feel your skin is very pale don't worry, you have a lot of shades of white to choose from in fabric for your dress so be sure to try on a few different shades. Wearing white will always make your skin look darker. When it comes to keeping your skin healthy, remember that "No Tan is a Safe Tan". 

Hair Styles.

I was looking for recipes online yesterday and came across a lovely vintage style hair do for a wedding. It inspired me to do some more searching for ideas for you; our loyal, stylish and beautiful readers! If you're a groom you look good too! 

I found a great website called Model Bride which shows before and after images of the model. Love this idea so you can see the total transformation. They also have make-up ideas on the site. There seems to be a trend in adding a bit of bling to your style, whether with a modern headband, silk flower or sparkly brooch, they all look great. Here's your inspiration for the holiday weekend, have a great 4th of July! 

As they say on the site, this is a great look for a beach wedding. 


Elegant and modern, this look shows off a great neckline on your gown and a necklace that makes a statement. 

This is the image I found that started this post. Don't you just love the waves on the side of her head! Really adds a touch of glam to this look. 

Wax On, Wax it Off!

Women do a lot to make sure they look their best for others and most importantly ourselves! There's the hair stylist to keep your color fresh and your cut looking new. There's the nail tech who makes sure your nails are buff and shiny. Your massage therapist to release the tension and to tie it all together the painful but worth it waxing!

When it comes to waxing you certainly want to make sure you find someone who is experienced and detail orientated. I asked my good friend and aesthetician, Stephanie, some questions about it.

If it's a new aesthetician make an appointment 3-4 weeks before your wedding date to have your brow's waxed and make sure you like the shape. They should look natural but cleaned up. Then, she recommends having them waxed 1-2 days before your wedding day so you don't have that bright red glow on your skin!

If you're there already, how about getting your legs waxed as well? I'm a new leg-waxer and must say I was nervous that is was really going to hurt! It wasn't pain free but the results were totally worth it. Smooth legs for over 2 weeks-enough said. Perfect to do right before the wedding so you won't have to worry about shaving every day on the honeymoon.

You can contact Stephanie at 503.750.0799 or email at stephyrisley@yahoo.com to make an appointment.

Be Prepared.

It has many names; the wedding day survival kit, the emergency bag,  beauty supplies, the Oh Sh*t something bad just happened-fix it now! supplies.  Whatever you want to call it, you should bring the basics with you while you are getting beautified. It's hard to say how many mis-haps I've encountered during the getting ready stage, but I always remember the moment when the bride says "oh, no I forgot to bring deordorant!", then one of the bridesmaids swoops in to the rescue, "I brought some!".  I always think to myself, now that's a good friend. 

I recommend getting a tote bag to put everything in. If you can keep it sorted & organized, even better. The best, having your maid of honor be in charge of putting together and bringing your emergency kit to your big day.

 Ok. Here's your basics:

1. toothbrush
2. kleenex
3. tampons
4. lint brush
5. deodorant
6. sewing kit with good scissors!
7. mints or gum
8. same hairspray as your stylist used.
9. bobby pins
10. straws-keeps lipstick looking good while drinking.
11. pain reliever for headaches
12. emery boards for broken nails
13. lotion with a light scent if not wearing perfume, otherwise unscented
14. floss
15. same make-up your stylist used. use for touch-ups.

Ok, I would say that hits the basics. Now here are a few other products that might be worth adding to the pile.

The new blister block by Band-Aid in case your new shoes start bothering you. I do recommend wearing your shoes around the house as much as possible before the wedding day to break them in.

This is genius, a portable stain remover. Carry it in your clutch for that moment when Uncle Bob bumps into you and red wine spills on your dress.




If you don't want to deal with bringing your goey tube of toothpaste, I think this is a great subsitute.


These are just some ideas, I'm sure there are tons of other things you could think of to bring. Don't want to deal with finding all that stuff, then go online to Target and order this pre-made box of goodies- search for wedding day survival kit. Just click and order. Beauty survival will arrive in 5-7 days.

Wedding Day Make-up.

Happy 2008 Everyone!

Here are some essential and important basics from make-up & hair artist Madeline Roosevelt.

Are you considering doing your own wedding day make-up? Everyday make-up and photography make-up fall into two different categories. When taking pictures, you will want to make sure it will last through a long day. This means it will withstand all the smiling, tears and nerves! This also means you will want to make sure it will highlight your best features so they stand out in the photographs.

If you are planning on getting married, make sure to plan a trial session six months in advance. Trust me, the earlier you get this out of the way, the better. Try to set up the make-up trial and hair trial on the same day so you can see how they will look together. Usually, it costs around $200 per head for hair and make-up to have it professionally done. It's well worth the price to look your best on your wedding day and to not have the stress of having to do it yourself. If you know you'll be nervous you'll certainly want to avoid applying eye liner yourself!

Last of all, the must have products to carry with you are lipstick, lip-liner and a pressed powder compact along with blotting papers to minimize shine. If you have more questions feel free to contact me at madi4475@yahoo.com or at 503.577.4732.

Post by: Madeline Roosevelt.
Images by Jasmine Photography.