this is a face chart I make for brides at the trial to record their colors

August 27 2011- I was just back in town from vacationing in Mexico, so I was still feeling "tranquilo." I wasn't mentally prepared for the weekend traffic & road closures into West Hollywood but the excitement for this wedding gave me the uplift I needed!

MAC shadows Vanilla, Sketch, Print & Make Up For Ever Aqua Eye Liner

I went to middle school and high school with the bride, Dana. We got back in touch through another schoolmate and bride of mine, Valerie (LA bride @ JW Marriott). I always thought Dana was a beautiful girl and she still is! So it was very exciting to do her makeup- I mean look at those eyes!







Thank you to Mi Belle Photography for capturing this day so beautifully for me! Here is the blog entry if you want to see more pictures of their day. OH, and thank you Dana!!

Labels: Aqua Liner, bridal makeup, MAC cosmetics, Make Up For Ever, mi belle photography, The London Hotel, west hollywood wedding

bridal hair with braid and loose waves

This is one of my top weddings for 2011! I met the bride, Kristen, when she was a bridesmaid in her to-be sister in-law's wedding in 2010. I love doing hair for blonde because their hair has such great texture. For her role as a bridesmaid, I gave Kristen an up-do with a braid. When it came time for her own wedding a year later, she told me everyone raved about her hair then. I was her favorite hair style! It was an easy decision to add a similar braid to her bridal hair style. Looks amazing, right?!

                                                                                                                                                                             

photo with a vintage look

There is Christina, the earlier bride, 2nd to the bride's left below! Such a beauty. Kristen's bridesmaids were family and friends. All equally fun, beautiful, and their varying looks gave me, Samantha and Kate opportunities to try different makeup and hair styles.

beauty makeup: bridal makeup & her bridesmaids' unique styles

rustic wedding, romantic dress, long hair

ceremony picture at Ojai Valley Inn

Kristen is a girl with STYLE! As you can see from her exquisite gown, and flowers, she has impeccable taste. It's no surprise that she hired Beverly Hills celebrity event designer, Mindy Weiss. Mindy is one of the top event planners and lifestyle experts in the country. I had the opportunity to hang with her that day and I can tell you she is supremely sweet and funny! Very down to earth and committed to her twitter fans! On Mindy's blog, you can see more pictures by the elegant & talented Joy Marie.

Mindy Weiss event design at Ojai Valley Inn & Spa

beautiful bride and look at that hair!

Labels: beauty makeup, Bridal Hair with braid, bridal makeup, cool wedding photography, Joy Marie Photo, long hair, loose waves, Mindy Weiss, Ojai Valley Inn, vintage, wavy hair, Wedding Hair, wedding makeup

The sleek chignon you see above may look simple, but let me be frank and admit that it certainly was not. Fulfilling once I nailed it? YES. Were we both thrilled at the result? YES.

Janine and I practiced her hair style a couple of times, trying out different parts, sectioning, and type of roll. She found a few celebrity pics for inspiration- Tyra Banks, Katherine Heigl. This bride has a head of beautifully thick, blonde hair that had to be pulled and rolled into the perfect coiffure. I appreciate her for being SO patient until I found the magic combination.

This Laguna Beach wedding was held at Seven-Degrees. It was my first time here, and I marveled at the combination of the natural setting against glass + steel modern architecture. I was also a fan of the balanced asymmetry, and these lovely ladies below.
Thank you to Duke Photography for these amazing images!

When Duke arrived, Janine's hair was complete  + was beginning her makeup.

I used a metallic grey eyeshadow + other colors by MAC cosmetics

She's obviously VERY excited to wear the dress

Duke is able to make every bride look like  a high fashion model. Incredible!

I can't get over how flawless, tan, sculpted & glowing she is!  Do you notice those earrings?

A natural smile takes the cake. So do those lashes!

A peek of the Bride & Groom at the ceremony setup

Labels: Bridal Hair, bridal makeup, Bridal Up-Do, chignon, Duke photography, grey eye shadow, Laguna Beach wedding, MAC cosmetics, Seven-Degrees

5-Star rated wedding + destination photographer, Heather Kincaid , brought Sherry and Mike to DtLA (that's downtown LA) for a timeless urban look; a story of young Love in a city, two stylish people who found each other amid million of LA inhabitants. It's amazing to me how Heather shot this couple without anyone else in the background! Truly, they only have eyes for each other.

These gorgeous park shots are, I'm only guessing, from historic Griffith Park, a location only a few miles north of the city. Naturally, our bride changed her outfit befitting the wilderness but didn't compromise her style. What I love about this picture above is how her eye shadow and blouse have the same hue, and how milky and flawless her skin looks. They look pretty cute, too.

Labels: bridal makeup, DtLA, engagement session, Heather Kincaid Photo, makeup trial, Mariah Nicole, smokey eye makeup

When I met Ashley, I knew I was lucky: this girl is incredibly sweet, charming, and GORGEOUS! A natural redhead you are wondering? - Yes, and she's never colored her hair.
Ashley was referred to me by her coordinator and close friend of mine, Gianna Provenzano of GP Events.
We got to talking and turns out here photographer is the uber-talented + friend of mine, too, Kerry Cocoran at David Michael Photography AND we have several mutual friends from the La Canada/ Flintridge area. Wow, too good to be true!


Ok, back to this natural beauty! So as you can see, she wanted a soft, natural makeup, rosy cheeks and lots of lashes to make her green eyes stand out.

The beginning! The bride in her dressing room at home. (I LUV this mirror!)

LOTS of curling + spraying happening here!

Look at these gorgeous bridesmaids + flower girl! My team did great!

I blended a waterproof brow pencil by Styli-Style to create a soft look

my snapshot of Kasia - my favorite Polish girl - making an awesome up-do. Below, the cutest bridal party! Hair & makeup done by my incredible team: Kasia, Maureen, & Kate.

Kate at work! The newest member of my artists

All these girls had the best skin! Just flawless!

She's almost done and very excited!

Jane Iredale Powder evens the complexion, but doesn't mask her freckles

That is ALL her hair! Can you believe it? Tip: For the same loose waves, use a 1.25" ceramic iron + heat styling spray

The girls are ready to go + give Kerry their best smiles

She's ready!

Labels: beauty makeup, bridal makeup, David Michael Photography, GP Events, Jane Iredale, long hair, loose waves, natural makeup, redhead

It started a year ago or so, when former classmates began contacting me for their wedding makeup and hair. It never occurred to me when I got into this business that so many people from my past would resurface, and instead of trading notes, I'd be a part of their most precious memory: the wedding day.

These wedding pictures are from Ryan's blog , and show the high energy and copious amounts of love between Valerie and Lidan. Coordination and Flowers were done beautifully by Kelly Leonard.

My favorite picture of her- What a smile!

Labels: Bridal Hair, bridal makeup, cool wedding photography, events at marvimon, israeli wedding photographers, JW Marriott weddings, LA Live weddings, LA weddings, los angeles weddings, marvimon, marvimon weddings