Last Minute Weddings

It's that time of year again where I start to see all the fruits of my labour in the form of pictures from my brides from the Summer's busy busy wedding season!  As I've mentioned on numerous occasions I LOVE getting back pics from my brides and seeing how everything turned out on that wonderful day!

Now most of the time I'm booked mths before the actually wedding day...typically 6-8 mths before but sometimes I do get last minute calls from frantic brides (or even their moms) looking for an artist to help them out on their big day.

 A lot of times unfortunately, I'm already booked and can't take these bookings but sometimes whether due to timing of another wedding or just a fluke chance I'm free I love to help these brides out.  What's crazy is sometimes I don't even have a chance to have a trial w/ the bride b/c it's so last minute (like 2-3 days before).

Of course I always highly suggest a trial not only for the bride but also for me.  It just creates a much more relaxed and stress free day on the wedding when everything has already been planned and worked out beforehand.  Plus it's a great way for both the bride and I to make sure we're a "good match" and it allows us to make any adjustments or changes necessary before the big day.

 Nevertheless I'm a pro and in fact sometimes these last minute bookings have turned out to be some of my fav wedding pics from brides!  I thought I'd take this time to share w/ you a couple of last minute bookings from this past wedding season!

Maria 

Literally was booked just days before her shoot and wedding.  What was interesting here was they opted to do their pics in High Park before the actually wedding day...but they liked what I did so much they actually hired me again for 2 days later to do her hair and makeup for her actual wedding ceremony!  I absolutely loved Maria's dress and veil (not pictured).  She's absolutely gorgeous...and had some of the best hair ever plus she's also so sweet!

Chryssi

Now talk about last minute bookings!  This bride had her makeup artist cancel on her just days before her wedding :S.  Her mother called me in a panic and I'm so happy I was able to help her out..and oddly enough this was also the day I did Maria's wedding...2 last minute bookings on the same day - what are the chances!  I only did the makeup for her (not hair...although I did help w/ the flower wreath).  I really love the pop of colour on the lip!  It goes so beautifully w/ the flowers! The pictures are courtesy of  the great team at Little Blue Lemon.  You can also see more beautiful pics of this bride here!

Maryam

Maryam's wedding was slightly different from the other two b/c I did actually get to have a trial w/ Maryam before the wedding...but it was still last minute...I think she booked me about 2 wks before...the only reason I was even available was b/c it was a Fri. wedding.  Maryam had actually had a trial w/ another artist previous to me and did not like the results...I think she described the look as Persian Malibu Barbie :S (which was not the look she was going for lol)...and the foundation shade was all wrong apparently... Like Chyrssi I just did the makeup for this wedding not the hair.  I also got the chance to work w/ her wonderful (and gorgeous) family!  I'm really happy w/ the way it all turned out and I love the blending of cultures in terms of her wedding dress!  Photos courtesy of Gary Vassilikos.

Another Wedding With One Of My Fav Families!

The sad thing about weddings (at least as far as my job goes) is that after I'm done my wedding services it's not often that I get to work w/ or see the bride again (well at least as far as weddings for them I hope lol). Sometimes this can be kind of sad when you really hit it off w/ a bride or family to think that's it...sometimes it's a blessing and you're happy to get your butt out of there lol (luckily for me the latter rarely happens lol).

Last year you may remember I wrote a post and shared some pictures w/ one of my fav. bridal families EVER - Elissa and Co.  On Elissa's wedding day the family actually hired me for her sister Laura's wedding for the following year which hadn't even been announced yet to the rest of the family.  I, of course was more than happy to get the chance to work w/ the family again!  And let me tell you it's so good that they asked and confirmed w/ me that day b/c Laura's wedding day - July 6th probably proved to be my most requested date this past year (I had two weddings and I also had my staff booked on a couple additional weddings too)!  Literally if they had even waited a mth I wouldn't have been available.  It was also the day I got to work w/ another one of my fav brides from this past season - Nathalie.  So I guess you can say July 6th was a great day for wedding bookings all around!

Having worked w/ the family before made the trial and wedding day process a breeze.  We both knew what to expect from one another and how to prepare for the day.  Elissa actually wanted something similar to her wedding day look and it was a great chance for her to use her extensions that I had made for her the previous year.

Laura - the bride this year definitely does not need extensions!  In fact her hair is literally the type of hair any stylist dreams about working with!  It's so thick and full AND it holds shape and has great body!  It's hair model hair and if every client had hair like that I can't even imagine how easy my job would be lol!

It was a sad moment at the end of the appt. when we realized Pina (the mom) doesn't have any other daughters to marry off lol!  But don't worry I was assured I'd be called back for other weddings they are attending, christenings or special events...and they are Italian so I'm sure there'll be a lot of those ;)

I really hope so b/c seriously this family is just so awesome to work w/ and Pina is a riot!  This woman never ceases to amaze me w/ some of the things that come out of her mouth - whether it's asking about Kleen Air the "Dancing Shoes" store I have across from  my apt. (it's a stripper shoe store btw lol) to asking me to feel her butt w/ her butt enhancing pads for under her dress lol!

Here's some pics from Laura's beautiful wedding day.  Photos are courtesy of Tobin Grimshaw who was also the photographer for Elissa's wedding as well!

Laura - the bride 

Pina - What a character!

Elissa - last year's bride...her extensions are still looking fabulous!

Luscious Long Lashes - Velour Lashes

I LOVE long, thick gorgeous lashes!  Whether I'm trying to achieve them w/ the latest serums, mascaras or falsies I'm always on the look out for the next great lash product.  I'm also a big believer in false lashes for night's out, special occasions, wedding or even day to day wear (depending on the style of course).

When Velour Lashes - an awesome company started by two best friends and actually based out of Toronto reached out to me to try their 100% cruelty free mink lashes I of course jumped at the opportunity!  Now I will admit I'm WAY overdue in writing this review as they actually sent me the lashes awhile ago but on a positive note I can attest to the products durability and longevity!  I have used these lashes MULTIPLE times and they still look and feel AMAZING!  Also, I can say w/out a doubt these are these easiest lashes to apply that I've ever used and I've applied A LOT of lashes on myself!  I don't know what it is about them but they fall on to the lash line so perfectly and easily...which is great for the average person b/c lets be real most ppl probably don't have the lash applying experience I have lol!

The lashes themselves are very lightweight, soft and hypo-allergenic.  The mink hair is retrieved through the natural shedding process and therefore is cruelty free and is free from any chemical processing or dye.  Now I will admit b/c they are mink and of high quality and packaging they are definitely not the cheapest lashes out there but they are a great quality and when you break down the cost/wear ratio they are actually quite affordable b/c they are reusable for up to 25 times!

As a makeup artist if you're trying to market yourself to a higher price point client or offer additional higher end add-ons to your services Velour Lashes is definitely an option as they do also offer a Pro Program!

Velour sent me two pairs of lashes to try out - Lash in the City and Doll Me Up .  These are both dramatic night time lashes in my opinion and would look a little crazy or over the top during the day.  Definitely not for the shy or demure...luckily for Velour I'm neither shy nor demure when it comes to rocking a false lash.  But that being said I have to be real and say the vast majority of my clients would definitely not feel comfortable wearing these lashes even on a night out b/c they are super dramatic and big...and I tend to work w/ very "natural" clients.  Also I wouldn't really recommend these lashes if you have small eyes b/c I think it would just overwhelm them and be "too much".  Just something to keep in mind...you don't want to scare off potential false lash lovers w/ something to different, dramatic or crazy then what they are use to the first time.

For a more natural look I'm definitely liking the look of Whispie Me Away or Are Those Real?  Personally, I think these styles would be much more wearable for the average false lash wearer or someone looking to experiment or try out false lashes for the first time.

Velour lashes are also getting very popular among celebrities right now and are showing up regularly on the eyes of the most famous starlets for lots of red carpet events and affairs...another great selling point for those clients that want what all the celebs want ;)

 Doll Me Up & Lash in the City - LOVE the packaging!

As you can see they are pretty long and dramatic!

I'm wearing Doll Me Up

As you can see in the extreme close up they look pretty dramatic but a little further away they don't necessarily look "natural" but definitely glam appropriate!

Lash in the City

Like the other style from a bit of a distance it adds drama but I think it completes the glam smokey eye night time look.

Beautiful Bluffs Engagement Shoot

Back in the Summer I had the honour of not only doing the wedding makeup and hair for one of my oldest and dearest friends Penny but I also got to work w/ her on her engagement shoot!  While I haven't seen any of the wedding pics yet if they are anything like the engagement shoot pics I know they will be nothing less than breathtaking!

I actually suggested a few of my fav. wedding photographers to Penny but strongly suggested Zach Hertzman who I've previously worked w/ on multiple editorial and fashion projects but never a wedding yet. Although I've always loved his wedding work too!  This past year he officially branched out on his own w/ the launch of  Times and Paper.  I absolutely LOVE Zach's style and he's so amazing w/ natural light and catching real authentic moments in both fashion and w/ his "real life" wedding couples.

The shoot couldn't have come together more beautifully - gorgeous weather...and the day after that insane storm we had back in the Summer so boy were we lucky there.  Penny wanted to look very natural and relaxed to go w/ the style and setting of the shoot - the Scarborough Bluffs which happen to be right near where she and her now husband Robert live.

I think these may be my fav engagement photos yet (and not just b/c it's one of my best friends in them ;) )!  I can't wait to add a few of these babies to my site!

Lush Cosmetics - Limited Edition Halloween

Halloween is just around the corner and Lush Cosmetics was nice enough to send me some of their Limited Edition Halloween bath products to try out and review.

For those of you that aren't familiar w/ Lush Cosmetics they are basically a bath, cosmetic and skincare line that believe in creating fresh handmade products from organic fruits, vegetables, essential oils and safe synthetics.  Their products are free of animal testing, vegetarian friendly and handmade using little packaging and little to no preservatives in their products.  You can find free standing stores in malls or in major cities throughout North America.

One thing to be VERY clear on though even though their products are made from natural ingredients for the most part a large majority of their line has strong fragrances (anyone who has walked by a LUSH store can testify to this) so if you DO NOT like fragrance in your products these products that I'm going to talk about are NOT for you as all of them have a strong fragrance (it's not bad but if you don't like scented things you won't like these products).

First up is Pumkin Bubble Bar - I love bubble baths and I actually had the pleasure to try out this lovely item on a recent trip to Montreal in a very luxurious whirlpool soaker tub made all the more amazing by this little pumpkin looking treat.  It creates a nice amount of bubbles and turns the water orange.  It has a sweet and earthy aroma of orange flower absolute and ylang ylang oil and it's vegan.

Lord of Misrule - similar to Pumkin in that it's used in the bathtub. I'd say at least to me this product has the strongest fragrance but it may just be that I'm sensitive to the smells of patchouli and black pepper oil...not that the smell is unpleasant to me I just found that it's strong and lingers longer than the others.  Again this product is added to your bath and it froths in the water.  The green colour gives way to a wine coloured centre - soon popping candies fizz and crackle...so maybe not the most relaxing at first but definitely enjoyable and a little entertaining lol...after the fizzing it's very relaxing and a great aromatherapy treat.  This product is also Vegan Friendly.

Demon in the Dark  - I tend to like a lot of fruity or tropical fragrance bath products so this was actually a nice change or treat to my usual bath soap or body wash.  Plus if you have a guy over it's a good alternative for them as it doesn't look or smell super girly so your boyfriends/husbands won't complain lol!  It's fragranced w/ spearmint and peppermint so very invigorating if you're looking for a pick me up...just remember to peel of the wax coating before using it or it won't work (obviously) lol! Vegan Friendly.

Ceridwen's Cauldron Bath Melt was probably my fav. product if we're talking about fragrance.  It's a mix of oats, sandalwood and lavender which are not only relaxing but the bath melt which is made w/ cocoa butter and walnut oil is also very moisturizing and softening for the skin.  My only complaint w/ this product is the price point seems a bit high for a one time use product...I guess it's sort of an indulgence but def. a little pricey to be using all the time.  Like the other products mentioned today it's also Vegan Friendly.

Bridal Beauty Trend - Wearing Hair Down

I've had a lot of brides this past season who've wanted to wear their hair down on their wedding day.  I can totally understand the appeal especially when hair extensions are so prevalent in today's hairstyles. It can actually be a really tricky thing on a wedding day especially in the Summer w/ so many variables that could make it a disaster - heat, hair texture, humidity, hair length/cut, hair fullness etc.

On one hand I always get a bit nervous when bride's show me pics of wanting their hair down on their wedding day and on the other I totally get it b/c to be honest I'd want to wear my hair down on my wedding day...and anyone who has worked w/ my poker straight hair knows I do not have ideal hair to wear down w/ curls lol!

The biggest thing I have to explain to bride's is to be realistic w/ their expectations.  If your hair is thin and fine and you want big, voluminous waves guess what you'll need extensions to even somewhat get that look. If your hair gets frizzy in the heat...guess what if you want to wear it down there's a chance it's going to get frizzy!

I've collected a bunch of pictures of weddings I've done this past Summer where the brides wore their hair down or just a few pieces pulled up off their face either w/ a nice braid or just pins.  I think all of these brides totally rocked the down bridal hair styling trend!

What's interesting is that I used different techniques for each one of the brides even though they all wanted their hair down w/ curls!

Jennifer was the quintessential surfer girl boho bride.  She has naturally gorgeous curly hair and of course she wanted to showcase it in the most natural and easy going way possible.  For her hair she defused it before I arrived (and she even taught me a think or two about defusing certain types of curly hair) after that I cleaned up certain pieces w/ a small barrel curling iron but not too many b/c we didn't want it to look too "perfect".  I pinned back just a few pieces and gave a little volume through the top.  The key to working w/ naturally curly hair is to not touch or play w/ it too much as it will bring out the frizz big time!  For her makeup I kept it uber natural and glowing and just highlighted her already gorgeous skin!  

Jennifer's pictures are courtesy of Dave & Charlotte

Denise was actually another bride that had curly/wavy hair...not as much as Jennifer but still had some natural curl to it.  For Denise b/c of her natural frizz and the type of curl she had I actually blew out her hair straight first and then added a curl back into it.  I think this was a great decision esp. on her wedding day b/c there was some definite rain and humidity in the air that day but I was so happy to see how well her hair and her makeup held up throughout!  Like Jennifer, Denise wanted things to be uber natural which mean minimal volume through the top and still most of the hair left down on the sides and only a little bit pulled back.

 Kristin's wedding was actually one of my "only hair" wedding bookings as I did hair for her and her bridal party.  She has naturally straight hair and was looking for those big, voluminous curls on her wedding day.  Additional clip-in hair extensions were added to create the volume and length necessary for her style and a soft braid was added through the front  just to keep that bit off of her face and add a bit of "interest".  I was really happy w/ how the layering and colour all blended together really well w/ her natural hair and the extensions! 

Photos courtesy of Erin @ Renaissance Studios

Madeline was a "last minute" bride I worked w/ back in July.  She was actually doing a City Hall ceremony on a Thursday and a "party/reception" on the Saturday.  I couldn't do the Saturday appt. b/c of another wedding so one of my associates helped out w/ that one but I got to work w/ Madeline for the ceremony portion of her wedding and I'm so glad I did b/c she was so delightful to work w/.  As I've mentioned before I've done quite a few City Hall style weddings.  Just b/c a bride is getting married at City Hall doesn't mean she doesn't want or deserve to get her hair and makeup done on her special day!  Now I'm not going to lie Madeline's hair was probably the most "challenging" for a down hair style out of the brides I've shown but that's just b/c it's so naturally fine, straight and more or less one length.  She's a perfect example of why a trial is so necessary not only for the bride but also for the artist.  July is hot and after the trial her and I both realized I was going to have to go A LOT tighter w/ the curl and set the hair beforehand for it even to stand a shot of holding on the wedding day.  On the wedding day I set the hair w/ a smaller barrel than the trial and I'm really happy w/ the final result.  It loosened to a beautiful curl and like Kristin, Madeline also wanted a nice braid to pull the bang part of her face and dress up the style a bit.  I also did Madeline's makeup for the day.  

Can't wait to add some of these beautiful pics to my Wedding Website!  So many more wedding pics to share w/ you guys so stay tuned!