Bridal Beauty by Bethany Colson

It is a lovely Sunday morning here at BHL, but before we go out to enjoy this beautiful day, we wanted to introduce a fabulous and talented makeup artist who has some serious skills. We are talking about a gorgeous and a beautiful transformation to make any bride feel oh-so-pretty and ready for her big day. So without further adieu, we like to introduce the incredibly talented Bethany Colson.  So make sure to scroll through the pretty images which shows off what Bethany Colson can deliver for each and every bride.

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Bethany_Colson_make-up_artist-weddings_engagement_Courtney Lindberg1

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Bethany_Colson_make-up_artist-weddings_engagement_Christina Chang4

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Bethany_Colson_make-up_artist-weddings_engagement_Christina Chang2

Bethany_Colson_make-up_artist-weddings_engagement_Chad Edward Burk

 

A bride is the star of her day and should feel and look her most radiant confident best. She wants to look like herself but even better than she imagined. Her make-up should be beautiful to her groom standing in front of her and also ravishing to the guests in the back row.  Her make-up should stay on throughout the long day and be just as gorgeous in the captured photographic moments that will be treasured for the rest of her life.  But picking a glam team who can really hone into a bride’s personal and unique style can be tricky.  What kind of bride are you?  A romantic English rose? A beautiful beachy bride?  A modern bride who wants to exude sophisticated elegance?  Or are you a little punk rock?  Bethany loves talking with her clients to discover a look that truly exemplifies their personality, style and comfort level with make-up.  She always comes to the client for her trial and designs a look with them, patiently making any changes or tweaks in order to make sure that bride is happy.  A bride should have nothing to worry about on her big day and Bethany makes sure to care for every beauty detail.
With nearly 20 years experience (including 5 years as an M.A.C. trainer), Bethany has worked with many celebrities on editorials, commercials, fashion campaigns, advertisements, music videos and runway shows but she loves making ALL women feel like a supermodel on their wedding day.  She has loves working with woman of all types, ages, skin colors and styles… each woman is another beautiful canvas to explore with their own natural beauty shining through.  She has extensive skills working with photographers to ensure that the models make-up is perfectly suited for the lighting conditions and can achieve the desired look.  She also applies her make-up in a way that can withstand the often long work days under intensely hot lighting conditions.  Aside from doing the hair and make-up, Bethany has also Creative Directed many commercial shoots.  This is a cultivate skill that allows her to consider the beauty styling of a shoot in a much broader context, making sure to also consider all of the other fashion, prop and photographic styling.  She brings all of these skills to her wedding clients so that they know that they can feel confident in her care and expertise.  She also loves to do engagement photos, special occasions, boudoir photo shoots and private make-up lessons.
Bethany is located in Los Angeles but travels to clients throughout Southern California and even to exotic locations when requested.  Her full portfolio can be seen at www.bethanycolson.com and is always happy to hear from a bride to talk about the services she provides.  Feel free to contact her at beauty@bethanycolson.com or by phone at310.927.8072

 

Top Five Winter Wedding Tips

Winter often gets overlooked when it comes to planning a wedding.  No, it’s not the most popular season but for the winter loving couple it just might the perfect time to say “I Do”.   Having some doubts about a winter wedding?  Don’t despair my beautiful brides-to-be before setting out on your planning journey, here are BHL’s top five tips for winter nuptials.

Candlelight:  Candles are perfect during the winter.  They give that rustic and inviting feel, and when used in large numbers provide comfort in any space.  The soft glow of candles is perfect for creating a romantic and intimate ceremony atmosphere.  Continue this feeling into the reception space by using candlelight as the main source of light during dinner.  Your guests will feel relaxed and at ease in the inviting glow.

Experiment with Color: Don’t feel obligated to choose the typical holiday colors.  Surprise your guests with an unexpected accent color in the flower arrangements or reception tables.  Remember flowers that are in season are cheaper, but also be mindful of holidays.  For example,  the price of roses skyrockets around Valentine’s Day.

Photography: The winter months are notorious for unpredictable weather.  That’s why it’s so important to pick multiple areas within your venue to take your pictures.  Pick an area that is indoors in case rain prevents you from taking photos outside.  Remember, after the time change the sun goes down much earlier than in the spring and summer months.  An earlier ceremony time might be the better choice if you want your photos taken before nightfall.

Always Have a Back Up Plan:   Save yourself some wedding day stress by having a back up plan for… almost everything. Back up plans for ceremony, photography, reception, etc.  It’s not likely you’ll have to use any of these plans but it’s nice to know that you have them… just in case.

Have Fun with the Season:  The best thing about winter is that there are so many holidays!  Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day and more!  Have some fun with the holidays and add seasonal details to your wedding.  Incorporate an eggnog cocktail closer to Christmas or heart accents as a nod to Valentine’s Day.  You can also create a winter wonderland by hanging crystals like icicles and plenty of greenery.

Follow these five helpful hints and winter wedding planning is not so scary after all!  Happy Planning!

Five Winter Maid of Honor Must-Haves

A good maid of honor is a prepared maid of honor, no matter how cold it is. If you’re in for a winter wedding, it’s best to keep some cold-weather supplies on hand for the blushing bride. Here at Bridal Hot List, we don’t let anything stop us from looking fabulous, not even a little chill. Pack your clutch with these must haves and you’ll be ready for a white wedding.

A Super Hydrating Lip Balm

The Jack Black hydrating lip balm ($7.50, beauty specialty stores) goes on clear and keeps our lips soft and smooth no matter how harsh the cold gets. If you’d like a little more color though, the Maybelline Baby Lips lip balms ($3-$4, drugstores) are absolutely fabulous. Remind the bride to swipe some on before she goes to sleep so she wakes up with beautiful soft, hydrated lips. Those deep berry colors are beautiful this time of year, but they will look crispy if your lips are chapped and cracking.

Spray Primer

We’re longtime fans of MAC’s Fix + spray ($21, MAC counters) for hydrating our skin in any situation. The last think you want your bride to be worried about is her skin being too dry, damaged, or dull due to the weather. Spray primers are naturally hydrating and go on super light. Creams can feel heavy this time of year when your skin may be more sensitive. Urban Decay also has a fantastic primer spray ($33, beauty specialty stores) infused with vitamins.

Spare Memory Cards

Do you always delete your old vacation pictures right after you upload them? It’s okay, that’s why we plan ahead. People may have snapped more shots than they realized over the summer, fall, and holidays and filled up their cameras. You need to make sure that everyone still has space for the perfect picture, so it’s handy to bring a spare memory card. Grab one of the freebies you picked up during Black Friday and stick it in your purse-just in case.

Body Balm

Dry hand and elbows? No thank you. Pack a travel sized lotion in your clutch just in case your bride starts to get dry. Philosophy’s lotions work wonders, but the smaller sizes are harder to come by. For something compact and super hydrating, we like Burt’s Bees Res-Q Ointment ($6, drugstores). It’s small but extremely powerful. One small pot of this stuff will last you forever- or at the very least, through the winter wedding season.

Emergen-C

We swear by it. Seriously. Replace one cup of your morning coffee with a glass of Emergen-C ($10-$11, drugstores) and your immune system will thank you. If you don’t love the flavor, pair it with lemonade or a juice. A personal favorite is the raspberry Emergen-C pack with a half glass of organic lemonade. Taking your vitamins is crucial this time of year, and by super-boosting your Vitamin C intake you’re sure to get through the season without so much as a sniffle. Keep a few extras on handy in case any of your fellow bridesmaids start to get sneeze-y.

Top Five Winter Wedding Ideas

Winter is a time of family, friends, feasting, and festivities, and it is quickly becoming one of the most popular times to tie the knot. However, with the holiday season in full swing, winter can also be one of the most stressful times of the year. With our five top ways to incorporate winter themes into your wedding, you can add some festive cheer without adding extra stress to your season. So cozy up and read on to learn how you can be extra merry with your holiday and wedding planning!

Dress

The type of weather and climate you will be facing on your big day will determine just how bundled you and your wedding party will need to be. Keep in mind that despite how chilly it might be outside, you do not want to be sweaty and uncomfortable in a thick and heavy dress once you are inside and in the heat. Intricately detailed dresses (a la The Great Gatsby) are still trending this season, so take advantage of the beautiful beading and let it reflect the feeling of a gorgeous winter landscape. This decadent trend also celebrates straps and long sleeves, as well as capes and fur stoles. And don’t worry—there are plenty of gorgeous faux fur stoles out there for you to choose from!

 

ruffledblog.com

ruffledblog.com

Décor

Be cognizant of your guests’ winter traditions by staying clear from decorating with a purely Christmas theme. There are plenty of ways you can add gorgeous winter décor that doesn’t scream Santa Claus—plus, by steering away from Santa motifs and red and green drapery, you are also keeping your wedding and reception classy, and not cheesy. However, you can still incorporate red and green by using garland and holly, and a Christmas tree here and there won’t overkill your venue. A gorgeous tree upon entering the reception adds a majestic and wintery touch—having your guests sign tree ornaments to hang on the tree is a great substitute for a guest book, and it allows you and your spouse to have something special to look back on every winter.

Two Chics Photography

Two Chics Photography

Flowers

Bring the outdoors inside by decorating tables with pinecones, tree saplings, holly, garland, and poinsettias. Large white branches with orchids dangling from the limbs resemble snowflakes falling in snow. Don’t be afraid to use winter fillers—pinecones, sprigs of Christmas trees, branches—in your bouquet in lieu of using purely flowers, and instead of choosing only red and green flora, opt for cooler colors in muted tones.

 

http://www.bobanddawndavis.com/

http://www.bobanddawndavis.com/

Food

Wintertime is all about cozy comfort food that is shared with family and friends, so don’t skimp on the food at your reception. Choose filling classics such as mashed potatoes, ham, turkey, and squash, and let your sweet tooth take over with s’mores stations and miniature pies. My favorite part? A hot coca and cider bar!

Hot chocolate bar

Favors

As always, the best favors tend to be either edible or functional, and a winter wedding gives you plenty of options in either category. Miniature pies, hot cocoa ingredients, and peppermint bark make for tasty favors, while gloves, scarves, and blankets are always appreciated during the winter months.

Bridesofadelaide.com/au

Bridesofadelaide.com/au

Rustic Fall Wedding Inspired Styled Shoot by Manya Photography

I have to admit, I do not want to say good-bye to the fall season quite yet. I just love all the fall details, and when combined with weddings, then I am really in trouble. I love the colors, the smells, the cool weather, the rustic details, and delicious foods. (pumpkin pie!). So, to keep the fall loving details going a little longer, we thought to add a bit of fall wedding inspiration on the agenda this week. Fall in Southern California can be really pretty. Especially when you have talented stylist, Hope Stanley, and fabulous florist, Sarah Toner of Floral Riot on hand to style and design the most romantic and beautifully styled shoot. Oh, and add  Manya Photography to capture it all? Then you have yourself an amazing fall inspired wedding shoot with breathtaking photos guaranteed to knock your pretty little socks off. There are so many pretty details that are competing for my fall loving heart. The lovely trees, the beautiful tabletop, the gorgeous surroundings, the stunning blooms, and the sweet couple adorned with the loveliest of details. I can go on for hours or even days about this shoot, but I think its best if you see what I am so obviously obsessed with.

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The inspiration...

From Event Stylist, Hope Stanley…

What inspired me was the gold on the gown. I wanted something that would keep with more of the retro feel of the gown with out being to formal and stiff. I chose blue shoes to add a bit of personality and to make the gown suited more for a young bride eloping. The tie has touches of the blue and gold in the paisley print. We wanted to keep the setting natural and fall inspired Deer plates with a hint of blue where used and gold antique silver. We wanted the feel of a woodland cabin but outside in the fall.

From Sarah Toner of Floral Riot
I saw the gold embellishments in the dress. They were very detailed. Coupling that with the fall shoot, I started with French marigolds. They have the brown accents just like the beading on the dress. From there I choose fall foliage (maple, oak and ginkgo). Ginkgo has the fluttery golden leaves, which I love. Cream tuberose was added for its fragrance and golden celosia provided the visual highlight for the piece.

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Location: Horsethief Canyon Park

Event Styling and Design: Hope Stanley & Sarah Toner of Floral Riot

Photography: Manya Photography

Hair & Make-up: Beauty by Lucy Han 

Flowers: Floral Riot

Bridal Gown: Mary Me Bridal

Bridal Stylist: Hope Stanley

Models: Lauren Dea and Felipe Bezerra de Menezes

Weddings at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa

I do not know about you, but I am still in a food coma after the long weekend.  But man was it worth it! Mondays are always tough, but even harder when it follows a long weekend full of festivities. (eating, shopping, sleeping, eating more, enjoying family time, etc). But don’t you worry, we’ve got something that will kick start your day into full wedding loving gear! We’ve got a gorgeous and luxurious venue with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa offers more than just beautiful accommodations. This beach front resort offers award-winning restaurants, a full-service salon, pool time, a phenomenal spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and many more extraordinary services.  This resort offers venue locations for your reception and ceremony with the most amazing and jaw-dropping gorgeous details.  Oh, and even some with incredible ocean views!  Thats why it is the perfect destination for weddings- for out of town or local guests.  As soon as you check in, you enter an ultimate paradise.

For appetizers, main courses, desserts, and drinks, the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa offers a wide variety of menu options offered for you and your guests. You and your guests will be very satisfied! Speaking from personal experience, I can tell you that the food is mouthwatering, delicious, and oh-so-good! The chefs know how to get to a food lovers heart! You and your guests will be fully satisfied.

If that is not enough, this exceptional resort offers a world class spa for you and your guests to relax before the big day, and a salon where you can have your hair and make-up done,  all featuring first class service.  If you want to be pampered, relaxed, have access to all the amazing services, gorgeous ceremony and reception locations, and impeccable service, then the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa is the place to be.

Vista - Purple, Frank Salas

Aaron Wilcox Photography

Aaron Wilcox Photography

Bleu Cotton Photography

Bleu Cotton Photography

Lighthouse Courtyard, Mandap, Triple Cord

Huntington House Photography

Bleu Cotton Photography

Bleu Cotton Photography

 

If you want a unforgettable wedding, whether it is intimate and romantic, or an extravagant affair, then you should consider the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa for your wedding event!

For more information on weddings at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa visit their official website.

 

 

 

Five Tips on Who to Bring to the Bridal Appointment

Selecting your bridal gown is one of the key elements in your whole wedding. In fact, most decorations and themes are centered around the wedding gown itself! So it is important to choose the right one. This decision is so important, that people often want to bring their whole family to help them select one. But with these five tips, you’ll be better equipped to choose the select few to witness your gown selection process.

1. Yourself: This tip of bringing yourself may sound redundant, but it has a point. Remember that your gown choice is ultimately your own and not everyone else’s. Even though you would like to please everyone, it will be impossible to do so. With that being said, bring pictures of gowns you like to the appointment to ensure that you get to try on what you want to try on. Bring an open mind, and resolve in yourself to stand your ground if you end up finding a gown that doesn’t meet everyone’s approval. Bring yourself, your opinion, your likes, and your voice. Remember that you are the most important one on this special day, so don’t let anyone deter you from your vision.

2. Mom: For most girls, it is important for them to bring their mothers along when they try on dresses. It is a very special bonding moment, and you want to be able to share that with her. If you are unable to bring your mom, then bring the closest person to her; the motherly figure that you have in your life. She will greatly appreciate you wanting her to be a part of the occasion, and it will strengthen your relationship.

3. The Buyer: Often times, a good family friend, great aunt, or someone else will offer to purchase the dress for you or to contribute to the overall cost. It is courteous to invite the person who is going to pay for your gown along to your bridal appointment. It will help them to feel a part of the process, and feel more confident in contributing financially.

4. Friend: Shopping in general is always a lot of fun with your girlfriends, and trying on wedding dresses should be the most fun of all. Bring your best friend to the appointment, as she will be honest with you while still having your best interests at heart. Often times your best friend is your maid of honor, so you are still incorporating someone from the bridal party.

5. Limits: Trying on dresses is one of the things that most girls look forward to, and they want to make sure that they enjoy that experience. The bridal appointment can be really fun, as a long as you set limits. Do not feel obligated to invite your whole bridal party, or all of your cousins. Trying on dresses should be an intimate occasion with you and the few people that matter most. Less people will allow for less overwhelming opinions, and the focus will be on you and not on pleasing everyone. You want to walk down the aisle and surprise everyone in attendance, so don’t give too many people the full sneak peek.