Expert Tips for Looking Picture Perfect on your Big Day

Are you a millennial bride-to-be, or someone who’s recently become engaged and is looking for expert tips on how to look picture perfect for your big day? Then you’ve come to the right place. Your wedding day will be one of the most important moments of your life captured in countless photos and videos-make sure it’s also one of the most beautiful! Whether this is your first time preparing for such an occasion or if you're a seasoned pro at getting ready for events, there are valuable insights to make sure every detail looks flawless in pictures. Here we offer some expert advice when it comes to planning your bridal beauty. So sit back and relax -there's no need for any pre-wedding jitters when we have all the bridal beauty secrets here!

1. It's important to find an artist or stylist whose bridal hair and makeup styles you gravitate towards, as you want to feel beautiful and relaxed the morning of the wedding. To do this, browse bridal hair and make up looks on Instagram or websites like Pinterest. Pay attention not just to their artistry, but also their communication style - for instance do they respond quickly and professionally? Do you feel a good energy when interacting with them? An experienced makeup artist that can create stunning airbrushed bridal looks might be just what you’re looking for!

2. During the wedding planning process, it is important to book bridal hair and makeup appointments as soon as possible. Depending on the popularity of weddings in your area, dates can fill up quickly; sometimes brides even book their hair and makeup teams a year in advance! Seek out professionals that specialize in bridal makeup - there are many talented stylists out there who offer airbrush makeup and hair styling services of all kinds. Don't worry, finding the perfect artist for bridal looks is easier than you think - communicate what you’re looking for, trust them, and they will work their magic!

3. Schedule a spray tan trial for 1-2 days before your bridal makeup trial. This will allow you to accurately assess how the tan looks with your makeup on. While spray tans are definitely popular for achieving that sun kissed glow, brides who prefer a natural look may choose not to apply them for their wedding day - and that's OK! It all depends on your individual preference and how you want to look in your bridal photos.

4. While it is natural to want to bring bridesmaids or family members along to your bridal trial appointment, there are several reasons why it might be beneficial to go solo. If you come alone you will be more focused on connecting with your artist and making decisions that reflect your true preferences without any pressure or influence from guests. Once you have chosen the perfect bridal look, then you can always ask for valuable opinions afterwards and if necessary request another bridal trial for a different look. Going solo will enable you to make a well thought out decision about your appearance and ensure you look beautiful on your wedding day.

5. Having skin in tiptop shape is essential to any brides' beauty plan. With regular facials and a skincare routine recommended by an experienced esthetician, you can whip your skin into the perfect condition for applying flawless bridal makeup or airbrush makeup for your wedding day. The better you take care of your skin leading up to the big day, the less makeup you’ll need and the more beautiful your bridal look will be. Make skincare part of your wedding planning process – it’s worth it!

6. When deciding on hair color, brides may want to keep their current look or make a change. It's also important to consider whether a desired style will require the use of hair extensions or not. These things should be decided with your hair stylist at least 2 months prior to the wedding day. 

Now that you know all the secrets to looking great in wedding photos, it’s time to put them into action! We understand how important your big day is, and we want to help make sure everything goes smoothly. That’s why we offer complimentary phone consultations where our team can answer any questions you have about preparing for your wedding. We’ll work with you to figure out a beauty game plan so that on your big day, all you have to worry about is saying “I do.” Contact us today to book your consultation- we can’t wait to chat with you about making your wedding dreams come true!

Photo Credit: Luckybird Photography

Soft Natural Airbrush Bridal Makeup and Down Hairstyle with Curls.

The "Oily Skin" Struggle & How To Fix It

As a pro makeup artist, the question I get asked most often is “What’s the best matte foundation for my oily skin that won’t make me break out?” It’s a great question and I get asked so often I decided it was high time to make a blog about it. I hate to break it to you, but there is foundation that will single-handedly solve your oil or acne problems, despite all of the fancy marketing claims cosmetic companies love to make. Here’s why…

First off, a ton of people think they have very oily skin…but they actually don’t. Most people have normal or combination skin with a tendency to get oily as the day goes on. The truth is, most of you are actually giving yourselves oily skin and/or acne by using harsh acne products, strong toners, drying mud/clay masks, fragranced products, oil control products, silicone primers, and thick full-coverage foundation (which most people don’t need…but that’s a whole other blog topic). All of these can wreak havoc on your skin.

What? Then how do we make the oil stop? Let me break it down for you. Skin naturally produces oil called sebum which helps keep your skin hydrated and healthy. When you use products to remove it, you strip ALL the good stuff too. So your skin becomes thirsty because it’s lacking any sort of oil/hydration. The skin then goes into oil production panic overload because it’s thirsty AF. But you don’t know that- you just want the oil gone and so you do everything you can to remove it. And then your skin produces extra oil that causes clogged pores and acne. And then you use drying, harsh acne products. Which results in a vicious cycle. Sometimes there are other underlying causes for excessive oil production such as hormones, so it’s important to see a skin expert to help determine what your skin’s deal is.

Ok so how do you fix it? By seeing an esthetician who can recommend skincare products specifically designed for your skin type and provide treatments to address your skin concerns. The goal is to get your skin balanced, that way you will have normal oil production levels with hydrated skin. You don’t have to spend a ton of money on skin care products. They just need to be effective and suitable for your skin type. If you need a referral for a great esthetician in the Toledo area, send us a DM or an email! Frequent facial treatments will really improve the look and feel of your skin, as well as how well your makeup wears.

Once you finally have balanced out your skin struggles, you should be able to wear any foundation you like without it turning into an oil slick or getting patchy and cakey halfway through the day. Touching up with blotting paper once or twice through the day is normal. There is no holy grail foundation that will fix acne problems or make your skin less oily, it does not exist. So many people don’t realize how important proper skin care is in relation to makeup. Good makeup ALWAYS starts with good skin care! The two go hand-in-hand, so it’s time to stop relying on makeup wipes to clean your face, start drinking more water, and get a consistent skin routine locked down so that your makeup will last and you’ll feel your most confident.

I hope you found this helpful! Leave a comment below and feel free to share as always.

XOXO,

Amy

Makeup Sanitation & Safety

Here at Makeup by Amy Lewis & Co., makeup artists have one job that is more important than anything else. That is to keep you, our client, healthy and safe. With the recent concern of COVID-19, proper sanitation is more important now than ever once we’re able to get back to work! That being said, we know there are many artists out there that do not have correct sanitation processes in place (we’ve witnessed it or heard about it from clients and gagged!). Artists perform very personal services on many people and if we don’t follow certain protocols, we could easily contaminate our kit with bacteria and spread communicable diseases. Not something you want to risk especially during a global pandemic!

To give you peace of mind during this uncertain time, we wanted to let you know that our professional makeup kits and our workstations were and are ALWAYS clean and disinfected, even before this pandemic. While we have always practiced these safety precautions on a regular basis, we are, however, being more mindful than ever before. We thought you should be aware of our cleaning practices to give you peace of mind. Not just now, but in the future. 

Here are some things we do to keep you safe as our client: 

1. We wipe down all surfaces with 70% alcohol or disinfectant wipes before we set up our makeup stations. 

2. We wash our hands for 30 seconds before we begin your services. 

3. In addition, we use hand sanitizer as an extra step before we start services and in between clients. 

4. We use new, clean brushes on every client that have been washed in soap and hot water. No brush is used on more than one person.

5. We never double-dip directly into beauty products to avoid contamination. 

6. We always scrape, scoop, and dip products to a clean, disinfected metal palette or paper towel (one per client). 

7. We never apply mascara or lipstick/gloss on you right out of the tube.

8. When applying mascara or lipstick/gloss, we will always use new, disposable mascara or lip wands for each application, and we never double-dip. 

9. We sanitize all our tools, from tweezers to lash curlers, and wipe down all products before we pack our kit and after we complete a job. This keeps from cross-contaminating other products inside our kits. 

10. We regularly clean surface objects in the studio with a disposable disinfectant, as well as objects that are frequently used, such as phones, chairs, toilets, door handles, tables, counter tops, and cabinets. 

11. After every client, whether in the studio or at your location, we clean the working surface and always prepare a new, clean area to work on. 

12. From now until further notice, as a COVID-19 safety precaution all artists will wear a mask during services and we will limit the number of people permitted in our work area.

13. We will practice these same guidelines no matter where your service takes place.

In addition to these everyday steps, we are also being extra diligent to ensure that if team members are exhibiting any signs or symptoms of illness, we will remain home. Likewise, if you have an upcoming appointment with us and aren’t feeling your best, we will not be able to perform your service. Please email us at makeupbyamylewis@gmail.com and we’ll be happy to reschedule your appointment. We are waiving our 48 hour cancellation fee policy until further notice in an effort to do our part in the community. 

Finally, hair/makeup services have been banned until further notice so we will continue to closely monitor this developing situation and make necessary adjustments to our calendar according to state and federal guidelines. Thank you for your continued trust in Makeup by Amy Lewis & Co., and we look forward to seeing you very soon to help you look and feel your absolute best. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to email us.

Stay healthy and safe!

The Most Common Questions Brides Ask Makeup Artists

If you’ve never had your makeup professionally done before, you probably feel really overwhelmed by the process of searching for an artist you love and figuring out what questions to ask before booking your date. Here are the questions brides ask us most frequently!

What is airbrush makeup and why is it best for weddings?

If you haven’t tried airbrush makeup before, you’ve probably at least heard of it. What is airbrush and why is it BETTER? It is foundation sprayed through a handheld airbrush gun and applied to your face in tiny dots, which results in a beautiful effect. Airbrush foundation is not thick or heavy like traditional makeup can be and you won’t have any brush lines or cakeyness whatsoever. The formula feels virtually weightless and holds up well in heat and humidity with little to no touch ups for up to 18 hours, which is why our brides love it.

It’s important to know that not all airbrush makeup is created equal. There are different formulas, brands, equipment and techniques - so the quality and results can vary from artist to artist. For over 6 years, we’ve used a silicone-based formula that is water-resistant, tear-resistant, and sweat-resistant. The finish looks just like skin, so if you prefer more of a matte look with no shine whatsoever, it may not be best choice for you (don’t worry, we offer traditional makeup as well). Most of our clients choose airbrush makeup due to how long it lasts and how natural it looks both in person and on camera. Plus it feels really lovely when it gets sprayed on!

I don’t wear much makeup. can you still work with me?

We completely understand that you probably aren’t used to wearing makeup on a daily basis and might be a little anxious about choosing a look for your wedding. I personally don’t wear a lot of makeup myself but I know I need it for pictures, so what I like to do is create makeup looks that are fresh and polished but not too “done-up”. We will tailor the look to your own personal style by building light layers and soft tones. The goal is the bring out the best version of you, highlighting your best features while still letting YOU shine through - nothing too over the top. We want you to feel comfortable and confident!

How long does it take to do everyone’s makeup? 

Every artist is different, but we typically like to plan 30-45 minutes for each bridesmaid or mother and 1 hour with the bride for makeup. Timing could change based on the party’s makeup style, but very rarely do we ever run overtime. We also build in 15 minutes for setup and 15 minutes for tear down. Depending on the size of your bridal party and what time you need to be ready by, you may want several artists working at the same time. There is an additional fee to add a second artist or assistant, but this will expedite your service time significantly which is perfect for brides with larger bridal parties or only a short amount of time to get ready.

Do you travel onsite? 

One of the main benefits of hiring a makeup artist is the luxury of having them travel to you. You’ll save yourself and your bridal party so much time and stress by having a beauty team come to you instead of rushing all over town the morning of. Especially if it’s raining on your day (we sure hope not!)

When should I book you for my wedding?

Wedding dates are first come first serve and we tend to book out as early as 8-12 months in advance, especially during popular months of May through November. Dates can only be secured with a signed contract and 50% retainer. We recommend booking as soon as possible to have the best opportunity to secure your date.

What if some of my bridesmaids may not want their makeup done? 

We’re going to be 100% real with you - it’s YOUR day and they’re YOUR photos that you will share with your family years from now. If all of your bridesmaids have similar dresses and bouquets, doesn’t it make sense that their makeup and hair should look similar as well? What it usually comes down to is not that someone doesn’t want their makeup done (because who doesn’t want to look #flawless?) - there’s usually a budget issue involved. Alternatively, there may be someone in your party who thinks they’re great at makeup and doesn’t need a pro artist. The fact is, even if someone is very good at doing their own makeup on a daily basis, it may not photograph and last the way that it should throughout such a long emotional day. Plus, it’s a fun experience getting all dolled up with a group of girls!

The goal is for all eyes to be on YOU - not your cousin who decided today was the perfect day to wear her favorite dark purple lipstick. Makeup for photography has different requirements that makeup artists are trained to understand and manipulate. If the bridesmaids budget is the main issue for them sitting out on makeup, perhaps you might wish to gift them a portion of their makeup service? Many brides do this instead of giving a physical bridesmaids gift, and end up very happy with their photos.

We hope we’ve helped answer some of your questions! If there’s anything we missed, feel free to let us know in the comments or better yet- schedule a quick phone call with us. We’d love to hear about your vision and discuss how we can help create the perfect wedding look just for you.

XOXO,

Makeup by Amy Lewis & Co.

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Photo: Beth Joy Photography

Skin Goals: How To Get Pretty Skin For Your Event

Photo: Laur Nash

You want to look your best for a wedding or special event. That’s understandable! A lot of eyes will be on you, and you want to look incredible and feel confident. Of course makeup plays a big part in that, but makeup can only do so much. It all starts with great skin. The better your skin looks and feels, the better your makeup will look and wear. 

So how do you get the best skin ever in time for your event? Like most things in life, getting gorgeous, glowing skin takes some time and effort. I had the pleasure of sitting down with one of the top skincare professionals in Toledo, Jody Light, who is a licensed esthetician and owner of the Skin Studio. She allowed me to experience derma planing and an O2 lift treatment and I’ve got to say- my skin has never looked better! 

Here are some of the questions I asked Jody and my takeaways from our time together. 

1. How soon should I start a skincare routine before my event? The sooner the better. 9 months to a year in advance would be the best case scenario. But if you don’t have that much time, it’s okay. Just start good skincare habits as soon as possible and make an appointment with an esthetician (a skincare pro that will assess your personalized skin needs). 

2. What do you wish more people knew about taking care of their skin? Three things. First, the little steps you do now will make a big difference in how your skin ages. Prevention is much easier than correction. What you do at home accounts for 75% of your skin health. Second, starting a skincare routine doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive! Third, SPF is a must. The sun is the #1 thing that ages our skin. Use SPF daily mixed into your moisturizer to protect your skin.

3. What is dermaplaning and why do I need it? Dermaplaning is a treatment where a small scalpel is used to gently remove dead skin cells and facial hair (I call it peach fuzz!). I got to experience this myself in Jody’s studio and was really surprised by how much of a difference it made! The result is instant and I saw smoother skin texture and tone right away. I also noticed the fine lines on my forehead diminished. After dermaplaning, my skincare products and makeup went on much smoother too! If you’ve never had dermaplaning done before, you should try it about a week before your event. If you have tried it before, the ideal time to get it done before your event is 1-2 days. 

4. What if I don’t have a skincare routine? What products do I need? Four basic things: a cleanser (use it for 60 seconds rubbing your face with your fingers), a serum (customized for your skin type - ask your esthetician what your skin needs), a daily moisturizer with SPF, and an eye cream. 

5. What are your best skincare tips? Use SPF. Drink a lot of water. Never go to bed with makeup on - even one time will make a difference. Get a treatment 2-3 days before your event. Use a sheet mask the night before your event to wake up with fresh, hydrated skin. 

There you have it! Some of the best ways to get flawless skin and help your makeup look extra gorgeous for a wedding, prom, gala, party, etc.

For more information on how to reach your skin goals, reach out to Jody Light for an appointment as soon as possible- her calendar fills up fast! To make an appointment, call or text 567-225-0216 or visit theskinstudiotoledo.com . 

Styled Shoot: Industrial Chic with Rustic and Modern Accents

When Emily Eileen Photography contacted us about collaborating on a special project earlier this year, we immediately said yes! Emily is so talented and fun to work with, we just knew we had to be a part of whatever magical project she was planning. We had the honor of working alongside some of Toledo’s best wedding experts on this special project called a styled shoot. A styled shoot is similar to a mock wedding, where models pose as bride and groom (in this case, they were a real-life husband and wife named Chelsea and JD!). It is a great chance for wedding professionals to come together and share their talents for the sole purpose of creating some truly amazing images. This allows them to showcase their work for potential clients to see exactly what wedding magic they are capable of! Luckily, we had a rockstar team on board for this shoot. Take a look! All photos you see here are courtesy of Emily Eileen Photography.

We love to do styled shoots because it gives us a chance to get our creative juices flowing and design makeup looks that we don’t normally get to do. Plus, we get to make new friends (or hang with our longtime friends) in the process. It is so fun to collaborate with other talented creatives.

When designing the makeup for Chelsea, we wanted her overall look to be fresh and glowy with soft smoky neutral eyes. The key to any glow starts with proper skincare. Here, we applied Water Balm Skin Prep by Sonia Roselli Beauty and topped with a spritz of rosewater. For soft, conditioned lips we applied Smith’s Rosebud Salve with a lip brush. To up the glow factor, we chose dewy products such as Temptu Airbrush foundation and Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector along with a rose cream blush to get her skin looking luminous and fresh. And finished off the look by filling in her brows with the Senna brow book. Chelsea's baby blues were popping once her makeup was complete!

Of course we couldn't forget our groom JD! With men's grooming, typically the guys don't need much makeup and such was the case here. He already had amazing skin, so we just added a little bit of mattifying moisturizer to take down any shine and a touch of lip balm. Voila! A dapper, camera-ready groom. 

The design of our set was so breath-taking, you would have thought you were peeking in on a real wedding. Event Prep and Ann Strickland at Hafner Florist worked together to create this rustic, yet elegant table filled with gorgeous blooms and greenery. And we just loved the lucite chairs for a modern twist!

Of course it’s always fun to get some rooftop photos with some of Downtown Toledo (affectionately known around here as The Glass City) in the backdrop. The natural light outside really showed off this stunner of a dress from Belle Amour Bridal! 

And that's a wrap! Let us know what you think of how everything turned out. Are you planning an industrial chic wedding? We want to hear about it! Drop us a comment below. 

Rockstar Wedding Pro's Featured In This Shoot: 

Photographer: Emily Eileen Photography

Event Design/Decor: Cassandra Clair of Event Prep

Florist: Hafner Florist

Dress/Veil/Earrings: Belle Amour Bridal

Location: The Blarney Event Center

Wedding Pro Spotlight: The Legacy Golf Club

Many of our bridal clients book us early on in their planning process, so we often get asked about unique places nearby to hold a ceremony or reception. Most brides want to get married by the water, near the woods, or on a golf course. We found a spot that offers all three! 

Recently we had the chance to visit one of the most beautiful venues in Southeast Michigan- The Legacy Golf Club in Ottawa Lake. It’s just 2.5 miles from I-23 North, only about 10-15 minutes from Toledo. Their sweet event coordinator, Dawn Decator, was so kind to take some time out of her busy schedule to give us a tour and show us why The Legacy is one of the best-kept secret wedding venues in the Toledo area. 

There is a pretty chapel onsite, so the ceremony/reception can take place in the same location eliminating the need for transportation and saving you money. The Legacy holds up to 200 people inside, but can also accommodate an outdoor tent for larger weddings. 

We love the interior of the building with its high ceilings and lovely wood beams. There are lots of windows with beautiful views of water, woods, and tall grasses that help give it it’s airy vibe. There is a gorgeous, modern bridal suite with plenty of natural light and enough space for about 6-8 people so hair and makeup services can be done onsite. 

Dawn explained to us how she carefully helps set each wedding timeline, coordinates the day of the wedding and even offers packages that include a DJ and cake which take a ton of work off of the brides and grooms shoulders. 

We think the Legacy is a wonderful place to explore if you're on the hunt for your perfect wedding venue! If you'd like to set up a tour with Dawn to see the space for yourself, you can reach her at (734) 854-1101 or www.playlegacy.com . 

Stay tuned for our next wedding pro spotlight coming very soon! 

#toledomakeupartist #toledoweddings #toledobridalmakeup #toledobride

Setting A Realistic Bridal Beauty Budget

Photo: Heather & Sarah Photography  Model: Marilyn Manchell  Makeup: Amy Lewis Jewelry: Belle Amour Bridal 

So you found a fantastic venue, hired a brilliant photographer, sent out save the dates, and found The Perfect Dress! Congrats! You’re off to a great start. 

If you’re like most brides, you've probably spent a pretty penny on your wedding so far. You’re overwhelmed by how much things actually cost and your plan is to save as much money possible on the rest of the planning. Which means you may have to go without a few things or decide to cheap out on others. 

Unfortunately, professional makeup & hair are often the first things to go, mostly because you didn’t budget for them originally. So perhaps you resort to letting a friend or family member do it for you, or you hire the most affordable makeup artist/hairstylist you can find to save some cash. What most brides don’t realize is, you’re selling yourself short here. While it seems saving money is the way to go, its actually quite the opposite when it comes to beauty. When you have your friend, family member, or cheap hair/makeup artist do your trial and you look in the mirror, 9 times out of 10 you will be unpleasantly surprised... maybe even horrified. Makeup/hair tends to be an afterthought expense and many brides try to book their stylists 2-3 months before the wedding. To put things in perspective, most veteran makeup pros book weddings 10-12 months out or more. Which leaves you desperately scrambling to find someone because all the top artists are likely booked at this point. 

How does this happen? Who’s to blame for you not including beauty in your budget? Well, most likely whatever budget planner or tool you’re using! Most brides find helpful planning resources from The Knot and Wedding Wire. Surprisingly, The Knot doesn’t even list a hair/makeup category on their budget percentage chart. So we’re assuming it’s supposed to get lumped into the Attire category. Let's break it down...

The average Toledo wedding cost is between $15,000-25,000 (according to costofwedding.com). The Knot suggests you set aside 8-10% of your total budget for Attire, that means you only have around $1200 minimum (8%) to work with. That’s the total amount you can spend on your dress, veil, shoes, tuxes, undergarments, and hair and makeup. Are you kidding me? That’s just not a realistic number for all of those things in today’s market. No wonder nearly every couple goes over their wedding budget! 

We’d like to suggest a more realistic approach - not just because we’re makeup artists, but because we’ve done thorough research in the Toledo area on average rates for onsite hair and makeup. Setting aside at least 3% of your total for the bride’s hair/makeup is a much more practical strategy. It may seem like an unnecessary expense since you didn’t originally plan for an extra $450-750 in your budget, but hear us out!

Think about how much you’re paying your photographer. If they’re a really talented professional, you’re spending a minimum of $2000 or more on amazing photography for this super important day. If you've listened to your married friends' advice, you will happily pay that price because after the knot is tied and the wedding is over, the most valuable thing that will remain as a reminder of the best day ever is, of course, your photos! You’ll look back through your wedding album fondly and smile because your photographer captured so many great memories. You can see the value in that expense now, right? Good, then we're on the same page!

So if you’re spending thousands on your wedding photography, don’t you think it would be a silly risk to have a non-professional do your makeup/hair to save a couple hundred bucks? Or even worse....attempt to do your own makeup. You probably hadn’t previously considered how cold, shaky and nervous your hands will be on the big day. Trust us when we say we have been in the wedding industry long enough to have witnessed some real beauty catastrophes on the day of. Orange foundations, crusty long lashes, thick black eyeliner, way too much blush, etc. It’s not something we enjoy. We really want to arm brides with accurate information so as to avoid such future catastrophes! Why waste your money on hair/makeup trials with cheap artists when you could save that money (and time) and put it toward hiring an experienced professional that you can trust? The alternative is not liking the way you look in your wedding photos and there is not much you can do about that after the fact. In the grand scheme of things, 3% of your wedding budget isn’t much after all. 

Our bottom line here is this: The wedding planning tools and websites don’t have all the right answers. Like most things in life-you get what you pay for. If you pay bottom-of-the-barrel prices for your makeup artist or hairstylist, then that is exactly the result you can expect to receive. Why take unnecessary risks on the way you look? Especially on a day where your every move will be photographed and/or filmed in front of lots of people! 

In all the wedding days we’ve had the pleasure of being a part of, we’ve learned a thing or two about beauty. Beauty comes from within. It comes from a talented makeup artist showing you that you can feel as beautiful as you look. When you feel truly beautiful, you’re confident, happy, and comfortable in your own skin- ready to take on the world. Professional makeup artists & hair stylists bring out the best version of you so that you can thoroughly enjoy one of the most memorable days of your life and look amazing doing it. Doesn't every bride deserve that?

If you designate a realistic beauty budget now, that’s one less thing you’ll be stressing out over as the wedding day gets closer. So why not take the steps to make it happen!

We came up with a few ideas on how to save up for your Bridal Beauty Budget:

1. Cut down on your Starbucks visits. Instead of 4-5 coffees a week, trim it down to 2-3. Or order a regular coffee instead of a specialty drink. At $3-5 a pop, those savings can add up quickly!

2.  Meal planning. Most people don’t realize how much of their money is spent on food. It’s         super convenient to eat out for lunch, or grab some fast food on the way home from work. But those bills add up! You will save a surprising amount of money by sitting down once a week to map out which days you’ll pack a lunch and what to make at home for dinner. You can still eat out, just go half as much as you usually do. (Sidenote: by doing this in our own household and switching grocery stores from Kroger to Aldi, we managed to save $250+/month! Crazy, right?)

3. Girls night out could take place at a bar with happy hour specials instead of one with regular prices. Or, you can all pitch in for a few bottles of wine and stay in! Get creative with wine pairings and snacks. 

By incorporating a few of these savings strategies into your lifestyle, you will be able to build up a realistic beauty budget in no time. Then you will be able to afford the makeup and hair professionals you deserve on your wedding day so you can look and feel your best!