Andrea Carter, Author at Bridal Hot List

Top Five Bridal Beauty Tips for Winter Weather

January 8, 2015 Leave a Comment

Brrr, it’s cold out there! It’s still chilly and will stay chilly for a few more weeks, are you prepared? If you’ve got your wedding or any wedding events on the horizon you’re going to need to be prepared to weather the weather (see what we did there?). Our top five tips will keep you looking perfect, no matter how pretty or ugly the weather can get.

Seal your Look

If you’re afraid that the rain or humidity outside will melt your makeup, do your part and seal it in. Start with a primer that stays put (we love the primers by Too Faced and Smashbox) before you do your makeup, and when you’re done use a sealing spray (like Model in a Bottle or Urban Decay). The sealers will hold all the color in place and keep your look from melting away. They’re perfect for day long events (like your rehearsal day or for the big day) or before you go out for an epic night.

Lip Butter Base

If the cold makes your skin that much more sensitive, you need to do what you can to keep your skin soft! Before you do your big bold red lips (that we are LOVING this Winter), swipe on a layer of moisturizing lip balms. We love Chapstick, EOS lip balms, and the Jack Black lip balms. Try swiping on some lip balm, doing all of your makeup and saving your lip color for last so the moisturizer absorbs into your lips. It’s also a great idea to swipe on a hearty amount of lip balm before you to go sleep. Trust us, you’ll wake up to the softest lips ever!

Liquid Liner

Liquid liner tends to have more lasting power than the pencil liners- when they dry they’re seriously stuck there until you clean your face. We love the pencil liquid liners because they’re easy to swipe on quickly and give you a lot of control when you apply. The Marc Jacobs liner is fantastic, but a splurge. If you’re on a budget, the Ulta brand liquid liner pen is a great value and stays put all day.

Liquid Concealer

If you’re hiding bags under your eyes or even some cold time breakouts, switch out our concealer for something liquid to keep your skin from drying out. If you have a blemish or a breakout, you’ll still need to keep your skin moisturized. We love the Kat von D Tattoo Concealer because it keeps your skin from drying out but also hides imperfections and breakouts like a champ.

Moisturizing Removers

Moisturizing should extend past your makeup- you should keep it in mind even while you’re taking your makeup off! We love the Neutrogena hydrating makeup wipes this time of year because it gets off every bit of makeup on your skin without drying your skin out. The cold can be so harsh that you need to sneak in those bits of moisture wherever you can!

Filed Under: General Tagged With: beauty, bridal, bride, bridesmaid, looks, makeup, wedding, winter

Top Five 2015 Resolutions for Brides

January 6, 2015 Leave a Comment

Happy New Year! Now that you’re caught up and have cleaned all the 2015 confetti out of your NYE outfit, it’s time to get down to business. If 2015 is your year to tie the knot, you’ve got a whole lot of fun ahead of you, and we’re here to help. We’ve got our resolutions that are extra important for you to follow this year to have an amazing year, wedding, and rest of your life!

Go to the Dentist

I know, I know- it’s scary. It’s not fun. It’s kind of the stuff of nightmares and it usually can cause some pain. But you know what’s more painful? Yellow, crooked teeth full of tartar and cavities in your wedding photos. Now that the year has reset, many insurance plans reset so this is the best time to get back into the groove of things. If it makes you feel better, take off work and leave mid-Friday to go to the dentist and treat yourself to a slightly longer weekend. If you’re too nervous to go alone (or anticipate some laughing gas or pain killers), task one of your bridesmaids to tag along. The dentist is always a must- and if you find a good one it can seriously make the chore really easy. While you’re there, be sure to schedule a whitening a few days before your big day too.

Drink More Water

This is such an easy win you’ll wonder why it’s not on your resolution list to begin with. Water flushes all the icky stuff out of your system, clear up your skin, slim your waist, and overall just make your life better. You’ll even save money when you go out! If you hit the town at night and drink, have a glass of water to match your adult drinks and it’ll keep you from feeling icky or dehydrated the next day. It’s a lifesaver and it’ll get your body into an amazing place for your big day.

Ditch the Tan

You should NEVER hit the tanning booths (it will destroy your skin, and seriously put a dent in your health!), and this year you should try to stop doing the fake tan thing too. Enjoy your regular skin and keep it real! Fake tans can be pricey, and if you’ve got a wedding and a honeymoon coming up you’re going to need to save up some cash. Fake tans can also get everywhere and stain your clothes- that’s no fun. Skip the skin tints and enjoy your natural glow!

Say ‘Thank You’ More

This may have been the big buzz in November, but we feel like it should be a year-round state of mind. If you’re not sure how to resolve to do this, start by committing to sending thank you notes once a week. These can be little hand-written cards or a phone call, but just make sure that they are personal. Saying thank you more will instantly remind you of everything that you have and how awesome the people in your life are. Also be sure to say thank you to your vendors and everyone you’re working with for the big day! They’re doing a lot to help your perfect day be perfect- that’s definitely worth being thankful for.

Stack Cash When you Can

Weddings are expensive (duh) so when you can, save money! That can be a big range of things like not picking up that extra pack of gum or soda at the grocery store, or skipping a cab and calling an uber instead. If you have some time during the day, call your bank and credit card companies and ask for lower APR rates (it works- try it!) and higher credit limits. Reassess what you own and sell off or donate what you don’t need anymore. Save as much money as you can this year and you’ll be surprised what you’ll be able to afford by the end of it (hello upgraded honeymoon suite!).

Filed Under: General Tagged With: 2015, beauty, bride, health, money, resolution, wedding, year

Top Five Ways to Repurpose your NYE Dress for Weddings

January 2, 2015 Leave a Comment

The asprin’s probably kicked in by now- you should be all recovered from New Year’s Eve and ready to take on 2015! Check out your calendar and look ahead at all the fun that’s coming up- the birthdays, the holidays, the weddings (our favorite, duh!). With all those fun dates in mind, we’ll give you the best ways to turn your NYE dress around and make it work all year long.

Blaze Up Your Outfit

If you have something bright (like a diamond) in a bold color, simply do a long straight cut blazer with a matte texture in a neutral color. Be sure to do contrasting colors though- if your dress is deep maroon or blue, pull a khaki or white blazer. If your dress is eye popping pink, pair it with slate gray or black. A long blazer instantly makes your look chic and slimming- plus you have pockets to stash your phone, keys, and camera to snap shots of the bride.

Hit the Hardware

If your NYE dress doesn’t have a lot of texture, add some to make for an interesting, unique look that will stand out at the reception. We love adding studs to pieces- they’re easy to apply and super cheap (buy a bag on ebay for just a few bucks!). If you want something more romantic, replace belts with soft satin ribbon. Get a little crafty and make your dress even more your own.

Give Em the Booties

If your dress is a little too formal for your friend’s beer garden wedding, pair it with some booties over regular heels to make your NYE dress more low maintenance and informal. It’ll be much easier on you, on your feet, and on the dancefloor. If you want to go super grunge, pair it with combat boots. If you want something flirtier, pick up some velvet booties with bows.

Super Tight

If your NYE dress was a little short (ahem- we’re not judging!), pair it with some deep toned or neutral tights. Tights will keep your legs covered, warm, and looking long and lean under your sparkly and fun NYE dress. For this look, skip the bright and bold colors. You want to save the 80’s throwbacks for the DJ, not your fashion choices.

Make Other Statements

If your NYE dress was a little more on the safe side (LBD anyone?) rather than the sparkly side, this is the time to pack on the sparkles. At weddings, you’re sure to find a ton of women in sort of basic, neutral, or non-sparkly dresses. You don’t want to blend in- you want to stand out so you can tag yourself in group photos! Pack on statement jewelry or a bold statement clutch to liven up a more basic outfit. You should wear clothes that make you comfortable and accessories that make you confident.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: bridal, bride, dress, fashion, holiday, NYE, wedding

Top Five Places to Find Your New Year’s Eve Dress

December 30, 2014 Leave a Comment

We’re so heartbroken the holidays are all wrapped up! Our ornaments, lights, and trees are all packed up and put away. Our ugly sweaters are folded and tucked away for next year and our gingerbread houses are broken down into tupperware. As sad as it is to say goodbye to the holidays, we’re incredibly excited for New Year’s Eve! We’ve been so excited for the holidays that we almost forgot about New Year’s Eve (almost). If you’re going out for New Year’s Eve and need to put together an outfit, we can help you out with our favorite places to go get dolled up!

Ballin On a Budget

If you need a cute outfit and spent most of your money on your secret santa, we have a few favorite stores to hit up for cheap thrills. If you’re looking for something quick and cheap just for New Year’s Eve, hit up mall stores like Forever 21 or Charlotte Russe. Both stores have lines that are designed for a more mature audience that are flattering without screaming ‘spring break’. These outfits may not last for New Year’s Eves to come, but you’ll look great for the night and it won’t break the bank.

Go Old School

If you have an afternoon to kill today or tomorrow, go thrift store hopping (just be sure to drop it off at the cleaners really quick!). Thrift stores have a TON of fun outfits right now from people donating and cleaning out their houses while on break- it’s the perfect time to find some scores.

Sweat the Small Things

If you’re out near a big city or even a college town, you’re bound to have a small indie shopping district. In LA for example, you can shop tiny boutique shops up and down Melrose and get great outfits that are hard to find. This can be a great idea if you’re going out somewhere with a lot of people- you wouldn’t want to be seen in the same outfit as someone else! Since little fashion areas tend to be smaller designers and boutique shops, just be sure to try everything on. Sometimes pieces won’t fit the same measurements as mass produced pieces.

Second Changes

Are your bridesmaids dresses picked out? Surely you had a back up (or five!) that you were thinking about for your bridal party- why not give them a turn? Hit up the bridal shop and see if you can pick up one of your second choice dresses and dance around in it just for a night. Certain shops will let you borrow a dress for a night- and it can be cheap or free if you’ve already given or promised them enough business! It can be hard to pull off, but it’s not unheard of.

Swap with a Sister

Are you always jealous of your fashionista friend? Call her up and ask to borrow something you’ve been eyeing- just be prepared to trade her those shoes she’s been dying to borrow. You can play the bride card, say you’ve been too busy shopping for her Christmas present, or just that you needed an excuse to borrow it. Good girlfriends share everything- so be ready to offer up a temporary trade. And here’s a hint from us to you- get her some coffee or macaroons she’ll probably be more likely to trust you with her vintage pieces.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: bride, bridesmaid, dress, fashion, NYE, shopping, winter

Happy Holidays from BHL!

December 25, 2014 Leave a Comment

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all of our readers! No matter what you’re celebrating this season, take some time today to feel good about yourself, your family, your friends, and everything you’ve accomplished in 2014. The BHL staff is taking today to be with our families and enjoy the day off- we encourage the same of all our readers!

Our Editor-in-Chief Niloufar Gibson is enjoying the day with her husband Sean (below).

Niloufar has been loving all the Christmas trees in her neighborhood- look how beautiful this one is!

Associte Editor Andrea Carter is spending the day at home with her boyfriend, Tom.

They love Christmas because they get to go out with their friends they haven’t seen in a while (like Alana- hi Alana!).

No matter how you’re spending your day off, take some time to be with the people you love. Happy Holidays from everyone here at Bridal Hot List. Our from you has been an amazing 2014, and our gift to you will be a fun filled 2015!

From all of us at Bridal Hot List, Happy Holidays!

Filed Under: General Tagged With: BHL, christmas, happy holidays, season, staff, winter

Top Five Holiday Items for your Wedding

December 23, 2014 Leave a Comment

Happy Holidays! We’re almost done with Hanukkah, Christmas is just a few days away, and the holiday season is in full effect- are you feeling the cheer yet? For many of our readers, friends, and family this is their favorite time of the year. If it’s yours too, we’ve got some fun stuff you can stash away for your wedding that will keep the holiday spirit going. If you wait until December 26th, you can probably score these all at a discount, so plan ahead!

Fairy Lights

Putting up lights is always an easy win- be sure to stock up or hang on to yours for your big day! We love the white lights with white cords for weddings and the holidays- try to steer away from the rainbow or color lights. The white lights are neutral and work for all color schemes for your wedding (and for any color scheme you go for with holiday decor!). You can use this to light scenery, light pathways for night weddings, in selfie spots for wedding pictures, all sorts of decor!

Candles

We love candles, and they’re a fantastic staple for the holidays. They’re really easy to find around the holidays, so this is the time to keep an eye out for some that you can use for your wedding. Bonus points if you can score some candle holders that flow with your wedding decor.We love white pillar candles for weddings and the holidays alike! If you got some for your celebrations, save them for the big day celebration as well. These don’t typically go on sale at a big discount after the holidays are over, so just keep your eyes peeled for any sort of discount or deal you can get on them.

Ribbon & Bows

Are you a hard core wrapper (see what we did there?)? We love bows and pretty ribbon, and you can make that work for your wedding too! Keep an eye out for your favorite ribbons and bows and you can use them throughout your wedding as decor, or to jazz up certain not so fancy things. Use the ribbon to tie your silverware into a bundle so it looks pretty and isn’t just folded. Use the bows on the backs of chairs, on name places, or anywhere you can think of that you’d like a little more festive fun.

Fun Foil Paper

It can be hard to gauge how much wrapping paper you’ll need- most of us end up with weird little scraps that aren’t big enough to use on anything else. Don’t immediately toss that into the recycling- look for places where you can use it again! We love getting foiled patterned or plain color wrapping paper that isn’t holiday or season specific because it’s easy to reuse. You can use them as name places or for directional signage (cut letters, table numbers, etc. out of the wrapping paper and stick it on black or white to pop). Start a pile, stick them all in a bag, and get creative when it’s time for some fun wedding DIY projects.

Gift Bags

If you’re doing wedding favors, be sure to pick up as many small gift bags as you can! Gift bags are one of those expenses that can get overlooked, but still come out of your wedding budget. Since there is an opportunity to pick up a bunch at a discount after the holidays, be sure to swoop in on that. If you find some that are great but have some small seasonal images or say something like “Happy Holidays” across it, don’t let that discourage you! You can always cover that with little labels or stickers with the guest’s name on it or your last names and the date. It’s an easy fix and overall, an easy win!

Filed Under: General Tagged With: bridal, christmas, DIY, holiday, repurpose, shopping, wedding

Top Five Holiday Splurges for your Fiance

December 18, 2014 Leave a Comment

Tis the season, right? Hopefully you’ve gotten most of your holiday shopping out of the way for your friends and your family, but did you remember the most important person? Sometimes the people you know the most about and that you care about the worst are the hardest to shop for. There’s only a few more days left to shop, so if you’re ready to splurge on your sweetie we’ve got five items that will make them fall in love with you all over again.

A Bit of Fit

One of the hottest splurge gifts this season is the FitBit. The FitBit is, at its’ core, a fancy pedometer but it can do so much for your fitness routine and overall health. It syncs to your phone so you’re able to track all your activity, track your calorie intake and calories burned, and you can even have it show caller ID right on your wrist! They may seem simple, but once you start being able to track your activity it’s really fun. Plus you’re encouraging your fiance to be fit before the big day- that’s always a plus!

Game On

If your loved one is a little more of a nerd, pick them up a new handheld gaming console. We love the Nintendo 3DS which is being more and more common to find under $200. You’re able to download apps like Netflix and Youtube on top of playing a ton of fun games. If you have a PlayStation, you can get the accompanying handheld PS Vita to keep it in the family. Handheld games are much more fun than you remember them being, and they go way past Tetris.

Throw Some Shade

If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, but they’re holding out for a sunny Spring appease them and pick up some new sunglasses. If you love accessories, this should be a walk in the park. Sunglasses can be so hard to shop for, especially if you’re investing in a good pair. You know your fiance’s face better than anyone and you’ve got to know what they look good in. It’s a practical for life and will come in handy on the honeymoon. If you want something classic, we love the Ray Ban aviators and the wayfarers- they never aged and always look good in black.

Tablet Time

This is one of the best seasons to buy a tablet- there are so many specials that it’s really affordable and easy to pick up a good tablet! If you’re partial to Apple products, check out Target which is almost always doing a gift card with purchase promotion with iPads. That pays off for your fiance and for you- save that gift card for doing another round of holiday shopping! If you’re not into apple, the Microsoft store is always doing promotions with the Surface Pro tablets. The Amazon Fire tablets are also a great value for the cost, plus you can get a free month of Amazon Prime for buying one. Score for both of you!

Onesie Party

If your fiance is more the stay at home and cuddle type, invest in a fluffy soft onesie. It’s comfier than a snuggie and keeps you much warmer. It’s a fun departure from the classic holiday PJs that makes your gift way more unique. Plus you can get a fun one (we’re partial to dinosaurs) to make your loved one even cuter. They can range in price on a wide scale- we have found a few that were quite affordable, but it’s nice to spring for the super fluffy warm ones that will last forever.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: bride, christmas, fiance, gift, gift guide, holiday, husband, splurge

Top Five Trending Nail Colors for Winter Brides

December 16, 2014 Leave a Comment

Did you switch up your regular lip palette yet? The seasons have changed, it’s time to switch things up. If you’ve gotten on board with the rest of your beauty routine, it’s time to step up your mani/pedi game for the winter. It’s fair to opt out for a classic french mani for your big day (don’t worry, we won’t judge you!), but if you’re more adventurous or if you just want new fun shades for your bachelorette party we’ve got our top five picks for this season.

We Love Olive

For a more unexpected neutral, swoop up an earthy olive tone. This color is beautiful and complimentary of the woodsy nature of the holidays and winter in general. If you want to pair this with an outfit for your bachelorette party, get something bold in color but in the same color family- it’ll be the perfect pairing (just like you and your fiance!).

Sparkly Deep Tones

We love deep dark colors that balance out with glitter chunks for dimension. Paint this on over short nails for an edgy progressive look or on your toes for a fun sparkly surprise. This color really pops against a white dress and gives you a cool, chic look. The glitter is so necessary for making your mani that much more fun. If you wear this out with your bridesmaids, they’ll be totally jealous of how pretty your nails are.

Deep and Daring

If glitter chunks aren’t your thing, find a deep toned shade that you can layer to be as dark as you want it to be. Find something with a color-balancing sheen- like the color shown above. It skips the chunkier glitter in favor of a more subtle complexity in the shade. There is some glitter but it’s so small that it just creates a cool effect of changing a little bit when you change angles. This is for those girls who do a deep dark lipstick- if you’re daring enough for big bold lips, you’re daring enough for this!

Rudolph’s Red Mani

If you love those classics but want to adjust it for the holiday, a plummy red is perfect for you. Don’t go too dark or you can risk it looking a little vampy. You also want to skip the orange based reds and save those for the spring. A plummer red is complimentary for the season and still looks so perfect for all occasions. Red nails are just as perfect for weddings as a french mani, but that much sexier.

Galaxy-Inspired Nudes

If you want something subtle but fun, look for a warm nude shade that still has some glitter. Nothing says holidays like throwing glitter and sparkles all over everything! This nude is sheer enough to have your natural tones pull through but provides enough color to make your mani fun. This is more unconventional, so if you want to skip it for the wedding you can save it for the next bridesmaids’ night out.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: bride, cosmetic, holiday, makeup, nail, polish, wedding, winter

Top Five Trending Lip Colors for Winter Brides

December 11, 2014 Leave a Comment

The seasons are starting to change which means that it’s time to change up your color palette as well. If you’re getting hitched this season, or if you just have lots of wedding events on the horizon for the next few months, check out our picks for the top five colors for winter.

Bright Winter Kisses

If you’re not really a winter person, pick up a fun fuchsia color for this season. A lot of colors this season are a little more muted and darker, but if you love your brights go for it! We love this blue based fuschia to bring color to your face- and to pop against your white dress.

Mild Mauves

Tones like this warm raspberry will look beautiful and classic with anything you wear- so it’ll look great with your bridesmaids too. What’s great about this shade is that it’s not overpowering. It is beautiful and noticeable, but will still look balanced and great with full eye makeup. You can use this both for everyday or for the big day- it works no matter what you’re wearing this winter.

Cherry Bombshell

If you’re more into that classic pinup look, we like a really warm bold red look. When you image your wedding day, most people see a beautiful white dress and luscious red lips- this is our pick for winter brides! This shade is a little too deep for spring and summer, but looks so good for winter. You’ll be the belle of your own ball if you pair this with your white dress.

Plummy Nudes

If you’re not big on bright colors, aim for a plummy nude tone. Cold-toned nudes run the risk of washing your face out while it’s cold, so you want something that will bring color into your face. A subtle, nude plum warms your face up without overpowering your look. If you don’t usually wear makeup, this is perfect for your big day since it’s still true to your style.

Deep Wine Lips

If you’re a little more dramatic with your usual look, go for a bold deep red. If you want that Hollywood starlet look, these tones are perfect for you. You want the deepest, sultriest red you can find and be sure to line it with lots of liner to keep it from sliding around. Pair it with simple eyes- keep it to black eyeliner and big lashes and you’ve got an instant classic Hollywood bride.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: beauty, bridal, bride, cosmetics, makeup, trending, winter

Top Five Stocking Stuffers for Bridesmaids

December 9, 2014 Leave a Comment

Did you miss Black Friday? And Cyber Monday? Yikes! No worries, there are still a TON of sales, specials and promotions going on in time for the holidays. You’re going to want to try to get all of your holiday shopping done as soon as possible or you’ll end up at a mall at 11:30PM surrounded by angry, rushed shoppers. Yeah, that’s no fun. It’s a good idea to put your bridesmaids on your shopping list- they’re doing a lot to support you for your big day and you have the opportunity to thank them and give them something sweet. If you’re not sure what you can get to show you love them, we’ve got five awesome ideas that will be the perfect stocking stuffers.

For the Business-minded Bridesmaid

For the girl who comes late to bridal party planning because she’s always caught up in meetings- pick up something fun from a Staples or Office Depot. We love fun things like 2015 planners, fun shaped post-its, and awesome tape dispensers. Scotch makes these awesome tape dispensers in shapes like martini glasses, puppies, high heels, and lizards. It’s easy to find fun stuff for under $15, and you know they won’t regift it.

For the Sweet Toothed Bridesmaid

If you’re so over the mall and just want to fit your holiday shopping into your regular shopping, head over to do a specialty grocery store, like Trader Joe’s. Trader Joe’s has specialty packaged candy, chocolates, and even some home goods that are ready for holidays, like this holiday set of Joe-Joes. Just keep an eye out for the fun stuff while you pick up cereal and fruit. One of our picks is the chocolate sampler- it’s a small cube that has all sorts of different chocolates inside. It’s easy, a universal crowd pleaser, and will give your bridesmaids something to munch on while they’re watching you try on dresses.

For the Team Photographer

You know that one girl that immediately instagrams everything you all do as a group? She’s secretly dying to get a selfie stick but feels silly buying one for herself. For most this will be a gag gift, but if you get it for the right bridesmaid it’ll actually be used. Most selfie sticks can be under $20, and it’s not hard to find them for under $15. You can get one for your photo-friendliest friend in a color that matches her bridesmaid dress, so when she inevitably whips it out on the big day it won’t clash with her outfit.

For the Bag Lady

You know that one girl that comes out and needs a chair for her purse because she stuffs all sorts of fun stuff in her bag? You know how bummed she is everytime you go out and there’s no purse hooks at the bar? Fix that problem for her! Get a purse hook that she can stick in her purse and will create a place for her bag no matter where she goes. You can cruise etsy and find some awesome personalizable ones. You can put a picture of the both of you on there to remind her of how awesome you both are! She’ll thank you on your next girl’s night and she can have her purse next to her no matter where you go.

For the Bombshell Bridesmaid

For the bridesmaid of yours that keeps hinting that she can do your makeup- give her some new toys to play with! All your favorite brands are doing fun holiday packs right now so it’s the perfect time to buy for your bridesmaids. Our favorite store for deals right now is Ulta- they are constantly offering bonus freebies, bonus rewards points, and have the best packages for both high end and drugstore level cosmetics. We love the Benefit Benebalm package- there’s three whole sets of the Benebalm and Benetint shades that are individually packaged and ready for gifting. We also love this EOS gift set for your girlfriends that need a little extra hydration this winter, and this kitty lip balm from Forever 21. Your bridesmaids will look so cute for all the photo ops coming up, and they’ll have you to thank for it!

Filed Under: General Tagged With: bridal, bride, bridesmaids, gift, party, present, stocking stuffers, winter