Fun Gift Ideas for Your Bridesmaids & Groomsmen – That Won’t Collect Dust!
Treat your bridesmaids and groomsmen with these great gift ideas from the Bridesmaid Gifts Boutique and Groovy Groomsmen Gifts! Personalized tumblers for the ladies and a flask box set for the gentlemen will be sure to make them smile.
The personalized tumblers
can be customized any way you’d like; so perhaps it’s an initial, first name or a fun nickname that the two of you have shared over the years, the tumbler is a great gift idea that can be used over and over. Enjoy hot or cold beverages in them – perfect for those days sitting out by the pool or sipping on coffee in the morning. Give them a gift that they’ll use again and again with this super cute tumbler!
Now the “Cut to the Chase” box set is perfect for those groomsmen that you aren’t sure what to get but know you need to get them something unique. A flask and a throwing ax! Both of the items come personalized and in a gift box so this gift is classy and fun.
You can find both of these items online along with many other gift ideas as well, just visit Bridesmaid Gifts Boutique and Groovy Groomsmen Gifts and start shopping!
How to Get A Natural Look on your Wedding Day
What is “simple” bridal makeup?
Every week when we receive bridal inquiries, we are asked for “simple makeup”. What that usually means is that the bride is looking for makeup that looks natural, not over done, and doesn’t look/feel heavy or cakey. Here’s a little secret…Natural makeup is NOT simple. If it were simple, anyone would be able to do it. In fact, doing the “no makeup, makeup” look takes about the same amount of time and work, if not more, than any other makeup application.
Creating a natural look that will last hours through happy tears, kisses, hugs, dancing AND comes through in photos beautifully is no easy feat. The makeup look below gets a lot of comments and we are often asked to re-create this look or something like it. Most comments consist of:
“Her skin looks so flawless”
“She looks so natural, I want that”
“I love that her lips are natural yet have color at the same time”
? credit: April Maura
This natural look took about 45 minutes to create. The true secret is in finding the right neutral colors to accentuate you natural glow so that you don’t look ‘made up’.
To achieve the best experience and results, don’t just tell your makeup artist you want simple makeup. Perhaps try communicating that you want your makeup to look natural. Be honest, if you wear little to no makeup, tell them. If you’re contacting someone who has been doing this for a long time and knows what they’re doing, they’ll know exactly what you mean, will able to work with you and do the exact look that you want.
Want to try to achieve this at home? Concealer is a must and blend, blend, blend your shadows so that you cant tell where one color stops and the next starts. Be sure to choose a color that is two shades darker than your skin tone. As for lips and cheeks, light pinks, peaches and sands are best to achieve a neutral, natural pout.
For more wedding day looks visit our IG.
Clip In Hair Extensions: The Miracle Worker
So, your big day is approaching and you’ve already gone through hundreds of Pinterest and Google Image posts of the amazing hair you want. The problem— your hair texture or length just wouldn’t make your desired look possible. The solution— clip in hair extensions!
Many brides show us inspiration pictures of amazing, thick, luscious, long and layered hair they want for their wedding. Often times, her hair isn’t long enough or thick enough for the style she desires but, thanks to clip-in hair extensions, we can make her dream a reality.
What are clip-in hair extensions?
Clip-in extensions come in a variety of lengths, textures and colors. There is a difference in extensions available on the market and we never suggest you go into a purchase blindly. Synthetic extensions often look very similar to real hair extensions but you can’t apply heat to synthetic extensions. This means no curling iron, flat iron or blow dryer.
Clip-ins are super easy to use. Each piece of hair weft is attached to a small clip that, when placed on your scalp and draped with your real hair, looks like a fuller version of your own hair!
A professional hair stylist or someone familiar with them can put them in for you. Once you start using them often, you’ll get the hang of it and be able to do them yourself. It’s really that simple.
Budget wise–a good idea?
Real human hair extensions are very popular and, believe it or not, they’re incredibly affordable. Some opt for the best quality hair (this can be upwards of $1,200) which is often “virgin” hair. This means the hair has never been dyed or chemically processed. It’s naturally beautiful, thick and healthy. This hair tends to keep its high quality longer than more inexpensive hair. Basically, you get what you pay for.
You can still get great quality hair without breaking your bank, though. Real human hair extensions are available for as little as $160. If you aren’t sure you want to add extensions to your daily beauty regimen, Babydoll Weddings offers the option to rent extensions your big day. Available at a fraction of the purchase cost, our extensions are high-quality and available in an array of colors (specialty colors are not available for rental). Be sure to ask our Bridal Liaison about extension rental or talk with your stylist at your trial.
Who really uses them?
Extensions are seriously the biggest beauty secret ever. So many women sport clip-in hair extensions on a daily basis. Especially celebrities. Extensions often provide an additional layer of self-confidence as your hair is lush and voluminous.
Interested in a quick pick me up or style change whether for your wedding day or every day? Clip-in extensions are such a simple and affordable fix, it’s no surprise that so many women wear them. It may be the quick fix you desire for your big day!
photo credit: pinterest
Wedding Day Hair Styles
We are often asked “how” a bride should begin choosing her wedding day hairstyle. In all honesty, there is no specific answer. Your hair style should compliment your dress as well as your face shape. That being said, sometimes the style you like might not match your dress (as it might cover the details on the dress) or your face, so its always good to get advice from your stylist as he/she will know what suits you best! Below are some crib-notes on the most popular styles.
Popular Wedding Day Hair Styles
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Updo
This has quickly become a popular style for brides. Whether you style it high or low, this hairstyle lets the focus remain on your face, ensuring that nothing will get in the way on your beautiful day. It’s also a great way to add flowers or other adornments to your hair, and give that extra pop in pictures that helps compliment your dress.
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The Messy Bun
If a whimsical, fairy-tale wedding is your dream, a messy bun may be the perfect updo for you. A messy bun looks effortless; as if it didn’t take you half the day to get the look and yet somehow you look perfectly put-together. This look is a great complement to a flowing wedding dress, and can make a wedding seem a little less uptight and formal.
To pump up hair and add more definition to the bun, try using a volumizing spray before you set your bun. This will give your hair some volume and thickness, while also holding the bun in place.
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1/2 up 1/2 down
By far the most popular of wedding hairstyles, this look can be achieved a number of different ways. You can add in braiding or weaving, decorative pins, flowers, or hair accessories, or keep it simple and classy. This hairstyle also works well with straight or curly hair, and and can be left long in the back or pinned up in a half bun or braid, depending on the look you are going for.
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All down
Ideal for a summer or beach wedding, this hairstyle is simple yet breathtaking. It’s best for women who have medium length hair, and is a great style for fine hair, as it can easily add volume and thickness. All you need is a curling iron and hairspray, and you’ll be ready to dance the night away, (without having to worry about your hair!).
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Side bun/ponytail
This gives a modern twist to the traditional bun. The style suits most faces, and is great for those who like a bit of hair showing but still want it off their shoulder. It always looks really beautiful with a flower and is playful, young and fresh. You will want to consider which side your bun/pony is placed. Take into consideration any detail on your dress AND the side facing the guests during the ceremony.
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Braids
A fun braid is a great current hairstyle to try! This trend has been around for a while now, likely because of its feminine beauty and versatility. Whether you want a french plait, a braided crown, or a couple of braids woven into a hairstyle, there are endless possibilities.
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Hair accessories
As much as you want to rush out and buy everything you like JUST IN CASE you can wear it for your wedding day, STOP! Try going shopping after you’ve had your trial just so you know what to look for. Also, the style you thought you like may not necessarily be the one you end up having. We do carry a limited supply of items from Hair Comes the Bride or you can order from their Try Then Buy program. It’s a great way to try a couple of different accessories before committing!
Just one last thing, please be realistic! Everyone’s hair is different, so what you see in a photograph may not be right for you. Instead, your stylist should be able to do a version just for you so that it matches your features and dress so be open to suggestions and don’t stress about it! Have fun!
Kissable Lips for Valentine’s Day
“When we think of Valentine’s Day, we think about luscious lips. What babydoll doesn’t want kissable lips for Valentine’s Day? There’s nothing more seductive and glamorous than sexy red lips! That is, of course, if we take the right approach. No blue tints, no orange hints – using a TRUE RED lip color is the key! But a good, true red lipstick can be hard to find so we hit the MAC counter to find the perfect shade. We know, our job is sooooo hard!
MAC’s Ruby Woo lipstick is one of the best “Reds” you could ever find. Matte, velvety and long lasting, it is a must-have in any makeup artist’s kit. Wonderful for Runway, and Bridal Makeup as well.
To stir things up, dress it up with MAC Lustreglass in LustreWhite. This will make your lips sparkle like crystal cherries! Or, for irresistible gloss and shine, glaze it up with MAC VivaGlam Lipglass in Rihanna. Your lips will glisten into the night!
Latest Trends in Bridal Hair Accessories
Choosing the right bridal hair accessories can be the perfect way for any bride to enhance that special glow.
Jeweled Headpieces
Looking for a way to add a little sparkle to your wedding day look? Here’s what’s trending in bridal headwear this season from one of our favorite accessory suppliers – Hair Comes the Bride!
A touch of silver and sparkle is very much en vogue. It’s also a brilliant way to create a bridal look that is as unique as you.
Foliage designs remain popular but have evolved to depict more natural elements such as hair vines available in both subtle and larger headpieces to create a more twinkly effect.
Silver forms the base for the most stylish designs, with the sophisticated glitter of pearls, crystals and beading adding wow-factor in the detail.
Faux Floral Options
Brides looking for a spring/summer, casual or beachy look will love the real-life looking flowers. What we love as stylists is that options are available as a clip or hair pin!
Babydoll Weddings carries a limited variety in the Salon or we can special order pieces for your trial with two week’s notice. Simply email our Bridal Liaison or order directly from Hair Comes the Bride using their Try Then Buy program.
To see more beautiful accessories, from head pieces to hair combs, and discover pretty bridal jewelry too, visit Hair Comes the Bride
Hair Comes The Bride is here to help! You can build your own personal look book with pieces chosen just for you. Be sure to use the code BabydollWeddings10 to save 10% on your purchase.
What to Expect at Your Bridal Hair and Makeup Trial
Getting married is one of the biggest life events you’ll ever prepare for and becoming a bride is an incredibly unique journey for every woman. Your planning list seems endless and making sure that everything is done and perfect for your big day is often daunting and stressful.
How you look on the day is also paramount. All eyes are on you so it’s important that you choose what’s right for you and what makes you feel beautiful so that you have peace of mind as you walk down the aisle.
The Consultation and Trial
Your hair and makeup consultation and trial should ideally take place 6-8 weeks prior to the wedding. During this consultation, our stylist will ask you a series of questions to gain an understanding of the styles you like. Bring photos as we don’t always speak the same language! We will advise you about what will work best to accentuate your features and compliment your dress. Your role is to have an open and honest relationship with us and to tell us what you think!
Just like you would bring your shoes and the proper undergarments to a dress fitting, you need to bring all the proper goods to your hair and makeup trial. Bring your veil, headpiece, flowers or barrettes to your appointment so you can see what they will look like with your hairstyle. Come with your hair prepped as you would have it the day of your wedding: preferably unwashed with little to no product as possible. Same for your face. Show up with a fresh face (moisturizer is okay). We can provide makeup wipes if you are coming from work and applied makeup in the morning. As with the hair, your stylist will ask questions regarding colors you normally wear and how you want to look on your wedding day. Provide input and let us know if you don’t like something. We can change it.
Depending on the hair style, we may recommend hair extensions to provide extra volume – even if you are entertaining an up-do. We offer both rental and purchase options so that you can choose what works best with your budget.
What Does “Trial” Mean
It is important to note that a trial is just that – a time to see what you like and what you don’t like, what works and what doesn’t. We will take notes and photos so that we can review them on your wedding day and use the same colors we used at your trial. That being said, you may decide, upon getting home, that the red is a little too bright, or that you really do want the winged eyeliner your maid of honor decided is too dramatic. It’s ok. We are happy to make those adjustments to ensure you are the best version of you on this day!
On-the-day Preparations
We provide a tentative timeline with each and every invoice we send you. This provides a snapshot of the timeframe it will take on your wedding day to style those you’ve contracted us to pamper. We create this as soon as you secure your date so that we can catch any issues (i.e. you can’t get into the venue as early as we need to start) and adjust accordingly. The timeline is finalized 30 days before the wedding allowing you time to communicate it to your bridesmaids and anyone else receiving services. Making sure that everyone is ready to hop in the chair when assigned will ensure the day flows smoothly and keep us on track!
Remember
Wedding planning can become super stressful, especially as your day gets closer. Your wedding hair trial and wedding makeup trial is important, so kick back, relax, and be pampered! Go in with a positive attitude, bring a pal or your mom if you want to, and let yourself have a good time while you get beautified. Trust your inspiration and your stylist and you’ll leave nothing but happy!
{Real Bride Series}: Meet Sara & Jason
This Real Bride Series edition introduces Sara and Jason. Read about their amazing proposal!
Our Love Story:
What is your name and your groom’s name? Sara and Jason
What was your wedding date? October 7, 2017
How did you and your groom meet? We met at work.
The Proposal
We are dying to know, how did he propose?! We took a trip to London last year and visited Wimbledon while we were there. Jason proposed as we were posing for pictures at Wimbledon.
What were your wedding colors and why did you choose them? Our wedding color was marine blue.
The Dress
Where did you find your dress? Would you say that finding your dress was relatively easy or difficult? I bought my dress at David’s Bridal. It was a painless experience because the consultant was amazing!
The Location
Where did your ceremony and reception take place? Was there any special meaning behind the choice of the venue(s)? We selected the Dream Manor Inn in Globe, AZ. The ceremony was outdoors and the reception was indoors.
What kind of flowers did you have in your bouquet and at the ceremony/reception? I chose hydrangea and roses for our flowers.
The Cake
What was the flavor of your wedding cake? Our wedding cake was lemon with vanilla bean and it was amazing! Who doesn’t like wedding cake?!
What details from your wedding that made it unique to you? We chose a nature themed wedding which tied in wonderfully with the views and wildlife around the venue.
Did you provide favors to your guests? If so, what were they? We customized wine glasses with our names and filled them with mints. The kids each received a treasure box with a glow in the dark bracelet, super hero mask, chocolate, and emoji stamps.
Other than marrying your husband, what was one of your favorite moments from your wedding day? We loved having our family together for our wedding. They all flew in from the east coast and being able to celebrate with them made the day so much more special.
The Honeymoon
Did you take a honeymoon? If so, where did you go? We are planning to visit Italy at Christmas.
What is one piece of wisdom you learned from your planning experience that you would like to share with future brides? Spending can get a little out of control so definitely prioritize what you want to be the most important and limit everything else. For example, food & open bar were more important than spending money on chair covers so we decided to forego the covers.
Who were some of the other vendors that were a part of your dream team? Nora Green Photography
Pinal Mountain Flower Shop (Miami AZ)
Alan and Adrian: Wedding Flowers
Roses, peonies, ranunculus, freesia. There are so many flowers to consider for your wedding that something so exciting can be so overwhelming. Add to this the fact that two guys, with no floral experience, are the grooms will take the definition of overwhelmed to a new level. Here’s how Alan and Adrian found their perfect wedding flowers.
Wedding Floral: Our Process
Q: You are two guys planning a wedding. Honestly, how important were flowers to you?
A: Adrian and I wanted flowers but we wanted a masculine fee so we took a conservative approach to floral design.
Choosing a Vendor
Q: You’ve said in previous meetings that most of your vendors were included in your Aldea package. Did your florist provide the options you needed? Were you able to adjust your package based on your desire for a more masculine approach?
A: Aldea had only 1 floral vendor to choose from when we first started looking at florists. That florist didn’t want to customize the floral package (we obviously don’t need a bridal bouquet or toss bouquet) and we felt the communication was delayed. We struggled with how to move forward until Andy Castano joined the Aldea vendor list. What a blessing.
Q: How was Andy different than the vendor you had previously considered?
A: His style is primarily boho-chic but he was very open to our ideas. Andy also had no concerns about tweaking the venue’s pre-set package to better fit our needs. He added boutonnieres and the other touches that we needed without flinching. Even better, he stayed within our budget by suggesting alternative options!
Choosing Your Flowers
Q: Alan, we love that you and Adrian like to think outside the box when it comes to your wedding. Did this remain true for floral? Will you share with us what florals you chose?
A: Seeing that we are far from traditional we wanted to stay away from using a lot of roses. We just didn’t want that stereotypical wedding. Andy’s suggestions were amazing; he suggested that we use two different flowers – one to represent me and one to represent Adrian. The men in my bridal party (including myself) will be wearing cymbidium orchids and Adrian’s side will be wearing peach freesias. We asked Andy why he suggested those choices and his response was that the flowers were like our personalities – cymbidiums are loud and dramatic while freesias are more refined and sophisticated!
The Groomsmaid Bouquets
Q: What about the girls? What will they be carrying?
A: My groomsmaids will carry bouquets featuring cymbidium orchids, stock, Asiatic lilies, blush gerbera daisies and alstromeria. Adrian’s girls will have peach freesias, stock, Asiatic lilies, blush gerbera daisies, and alstroemeria. As a special treat, Andy wanted to get a photo of all our girls’ dresses because he wants to tailor each bouquet according to the style of each of their dresses Personal touches like this really made us feel that Andy wanted to make our wedding special.
The Reception
Q: Knowing that you wanted a more masculine approach to your wedding, did you choose floral for your centerpieces?
A: We’ve chosen a minimalistic look for the cocktail hour and reception. We added a few small peach flower arrangements to the lobby to help maintain the color scheme. Our centerpieces are black candelabras with rose petals sprinkled around the base. And, we’ve decided to repurpose the groomsmaid bouquets to dress up the head table.
Flexibility is Key
Q: You have gotten engaged, found a venue, selected save-the-dates, invitations and attire for both of you and your parties, and chosen a photographer, videographer, caterer, baker, hair and makeup artist, florist and planned a honeymoon. What was the most challenging step in the planning process?
A: By far, picking flowers! Adrian and I aren’t familiar with flower types and I’m colorblind so I had to learn what the shades of peach looked like. Andy was able to simply things for us to easily understand. I’m glad we remained open minded because the end result is far different than we initially imagined but will be incredible!
Alan & Adrian: Eat, Drink and Party!
Ready, Set, Eat, Drink, Party! This week Alan J. Tomasetti and Adrian Juarez sit down with us to dish about their reception so put your dancing shoes on because we are talking catering, cake and tunes.
Eat, Drink Party: Planning the Reception
Q: Let’s talk food. You are Italian and Adrian is Mexican. Was it easy to select a menu for your reception?
A: Food is the centerfold of any Italian or Mexican household and we knew that we wanted high quality food, and lots of it. Aldea has several catering options in their packages and the caterers come to the venue as part of Aldea’s open house at the end of each month. This allowed us the opportunity to taste a variety of options.
We chose a buffet over sit-down because we wanted to provide more options to guests. We narrowed our choices between Babbo Italian Eatery, and Mi Catering. Mi Catering had a lovely variety of different cruise options and the flavor was amazing. We didn’t like the fact that they have a staff member serving food from behind the buffet. We felt that would slow down the line.
Choosing the Menu
Q: What made Babbo a slam dunk option?
A: Guests are given the choice of one appetizer, two salads, two pastas, two main courses and focaccia bread. We were pleasantly surprised by the options and quickly scheduled a private tasting.
My mom flew in for a visit so Adrian and I each brought our moms to the tasting. We sampled six appetizers, five salads, seven pastas, and eight main courses and, as you can imagine, took food home! In the end, we chose mini meatballs in marinara and the pesto bruschetta for appetizers which are served during the cocktail hour, the roasted brussel sprout beet salad, Napa Valley salad, pasta primavera, three cheese mac and cheese, Tuscan chicken and asparagus fra diavolo.
The Bar
Q: That is a lot of food! How about the bar?
A: We opted for the beer and wine open bar option, mostly because it was more cost effective. Aldea offers several options and we chose chardonnay, pinot grigio, merlot and two domestic beers (Bud and Coors Light). We also added two specialty cocktails– the Mai Tai and peach margarita – both drinks we have enjoyed during our travels. Adding a specialty ‘welcome’ drink, to kick off the cocktail hour, allows us to thank our guests for coming in a unique way.
Something Sweet
Q: We love wedding cake! So, let’s talk dessert… Tell us about your cake.
A: Let’s face it…we are two guys getting married and we want our cake to be more masculine than traditional but we also wanted something impressive. As a result, we opted for the four-tier option. We designed two tiers in a navy quilt pattern accented with silver beads and the alternating two are solid with a dark grey ribbon at the base. Peach orchids will accent in four strategic spots.
Q: What does your cake topper look like?
A: We decided to have our cake topper in script, but we wanted to have our first names instead of our last names. We custom ordered our cake topper from Chicago Factory on Etsy. Since the top of our cake is 6”, we wanted topper to be flush with the size and chose the silver paint on birch. We also got the option to have the removable pegs so we can display it on our mantle in the stand the company provided us.
Kicking it into High Gear: Choosing your Entertainment
Q: Let’s get our groove on! Did you decide on a DJ or live music for your reception?
A: Adrian and I came to the conclusion that we needed someone that could bring people on the dance floor, keep everyone engaged, and make the evening a huge hit. Aldea has 2 DJ options, Push Play Entertainment, and Tony the Entertainer.
Push Play Entertainment has a lot of bells and whistles to make a reception look like a borderline nightclub but we didn’t feel like the DJ had the personality we were looking for. After speaking with Tony for a few minutes, his outgoing personality really got us excited. He’s very flexibly with modifying the reception schedule since we’re not doing a garter/bouquet toss and tweaking various other games to suit us more. He’s been extremely responsive and amazing to work with.