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.

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

Bridal Makeup: Hire a Pro vs. Do-It-Yourself

When it comes to bridal beauty, you have two options: do your own makeup, or hire a professional makeup artist. Being a makeup artist myself, I must admit I am a little biased, but its worth mentioning that I did hire another makeup artist for my own wedding day to avoid the stress of doing my own makeup! Let’s take a moment to explore the pros and cons of each option.

The main reason brides choose to forgo a makeup artist and do their own makeup is to SAVE MONEY. However, anyone who has done their own makeup for their wedding will tell you they spent the same amount of money or more by going the DIY route. Not to mention all the extra time and stress spent choosing the right shades, researching how to use the products, and practicing the perfect application. Even the women skilled at applying makeup still face the wedding day jitters, which are no match for even the steadiest hands (myself included!).

The advantages of hiring a professional makeup artist: you will save time, money, and stress. It’s best to have a trial session done beforehand so your makeup artist can create a look you love and make sure the two of you are a great fit. Your makeup artist will know exactly how to accentuate your best features so that you will photograph beautifully… and all you’ll have to do is sit back and be pampered. It's very relaxing and really fun to get your makeup done with your bridesmaids and family members! 

Makeup artists that travel onsite will save you time and stress by coming to you on the wedding day. And they typically carry pro-quality products with longer wear and better performance than the standard consumer products (such as airbrush makeup). You won't need to lift a finger!

DIY or Pro Makeup Artist…the choice is yours! Just don’t wait until the last moment to make your decision- word travels fast in the wedding world, especially when it comes to finding amazing vendors. Most reputable makeup artists’ calendars book up to a year or more in advance. If you choose to go with a pro, book them as soon as possible before someone else does!

Photo Credit: Tetyana McGowan