Top Five Spooky-Glam Bridal Beauty Tips

October 30, 2014 Leave a Comment

Boo! Did we scare you? It’s all in good fun, since it’s Halloween! Halloween is such a fun holiday and so easy to get in the spirit of. Yes, it can be scary but it can also be so sexy and fun. Spooky glam is perfect for Halloween, but it can also work for your wedding. Double dip on the Elvira look this year with our top five favorite spooky glam looks.

Deep Red Lips

Go for blood red, if you can. Fall and Winter are perfect for these deep plummy red lips and they look so fabulous on all skin tones. Think plump and rouge and nail this look with a whole lot of lip conditioner and a good lip liner. If you’re a little more edgy with your costume or even your bridal look, get a lip liner that’s really deep and make your lips as full as possible.

Claw Nails

Whether you’re going as Catwoman or Grumpy Cat, claw nails are perfect for this Halloween. Even better- they’re hot right now and will be the trendiest nail shape for your wedding. These are easiest to pull off with acrylics but if your nails are super long and strong you should be able to rock it. Skip circle and square and go for triangle nails. They’re long, sexy, and and spooky glam enough for any occasion.

Dark Dreamy Eyes

Don’t be afraid of the shadows- get deep dark purples and blue tones and create a mysterious and sexy look. You should definitely do a trial run if you’re thinking about doing this- it can be hard to pull off. If you’re doing this for your wedding, stick to only one big feature- either eyes or lips. If you’re doing it for a costume, go all out. Why not?

Light Twilight

No, not the teen vampires. Add a little sparkle to your look but just in subtle ways. Use a sparkly highlighter in your cheeks, a glitter liner in the corners of your eyes, or a sparkly lip color layered with darker tones. Little specks of glitter cause some intrigue in your look and create some serious sultry looks.

Long Flowy Locks

There’s something so romantic about long flowy hair that’s perfect for dressing as Princess Buttercup or while you’re getting married. Put the updo on the shelf for now and opt for flowy soft hair. You can start by dressing up as a Hollywood starlet for Halloween and keeping the party going all the way down the aisle.

 

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Top Five Spooky Wedding Decor Ideas

October 28, 2014 Leave a Comment

We’ve just got a few days until Halloween, which is one of our all-time favorite holidays! The best part about Halloween is all the spooky fun, why not bring it into your wedding? If you’re having a Halloween wedding, a fall wedding, or just want to keep things a little different for your big day, we’ve got five awesome spooky tips for your wedding.

Black Lace

Want to add a dash of spooky romance? Throw in black lace into your decor. Use it in the linens, in your bridesmaid dresses, and if you’re edgy- in your veil. Black lace creates an edgy feel to the usual white lace and makes everything that much spookier and sexier. If you want to be more subtle, use it to tie your flower bouquets or incorporate it into your napkins. Little touches can go a long way.

Tall White Candles

Lately we’ve been seeing lots of tea candles or smaller candles, but if you want to make things a little spookier go for tall. Taller candles, especially with a little bit of wax drip already going, are reminiscent of haunted houses and mansions in scary stories. Candles are innately romantic, but old-vintage looking candles make it that much spookier.

Dark Red Wine

This is a subtle touch of spooky, but go for a blood-red wine. Find something deep like a cabernet or merlot and serve in goblet-shaped wine glasses. It’s sexy, it’s a little spooky, and who cares if your teeth get a little red? Our next spooky decor tip will take care of that.

Low Lighting

Keep the dimmer in business and try to rely on candlelight as much as possible. Give your photographers a heads up so they can plan the lighting for photos accordingly, but have dinner by candlelight. It’s so romantic and makes everyone look that much more mysterious. Use those tall vintage candles to light your night!

Vintage Plates and Stemware

Old school Hollywood horror stories have one big thing in common- big scary mansions where everything is vintage. Take a note and look for vintage or vintage inspired plates and stemware. We love goblet-shaped glasses for your red wine, but up the ante with some vintage plates and long elegant forks and knives. Tones like gold and more muted silvers look so pretty and still look spooky glam.

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Top Five Fall Bridal Party Gifts

October 16, 2014 Leave a Comment

It’s customary for the bride and groom to give little presents to the friends that they ask to stand by them on the big day. Bridal party gifts can range depending on how big the event is or what your budget is. It’s a sweet way to thank your best friends for helping you out (or putting up with you) while you plan the biggest party of your life. No matter what your budget is, we’ve got fun fall gifts for your girls! Pick one to go with, or pick a few and make a gift basket!

PSL Mug

When you think fall, what do you think? Crunchy leaves, sweaters, and the return of fun fall hot drinks. The pumpkin spice latte is probably the most common and loved fall drink (for a reason!), so give your girls something to drink it out of. Mugs are cute, easy to make or order, and you can find fun mugs at any budget. You can get unmarked ones at a dollar or craft store and Pinterest them to be personalized if you have a free day to do arts and crafts. If you have a little more money to spend, you can get personalized mugs made with pictures or nicknames done for your girls. To make this gift a whole present, stuff the mug with candy or small knick-knacks and wrap it all in cellophane. This practical present is super cute and will be loved until the handles fall apart!

Selfie Set

If you’re going to be #hastagging your wedding, give your girls the proper tools to do so! These new toys have been popping up everywhere and we’re starting to see cute versions come out. We (unapologetically!) love selfies, and so do so many out there. Our selfie sets include a selfie stick and a selfie remote. Selfie remotes are little buttons that are on a cord that plugs into your phone’s headphone jack. You just turn on your camera and hit the button for a sneaky selfie! And of course, the selfie stick has been out, but we’re starting to see more compact versions that you can stash in your purse. This gift is a little more gag-gift, but it’s still fun and will be used! You can get cute stickers for them, or if you have time go ahead and rhinestone them for a glamorous selfie set!

Glam Bag

Diamonds be a girl’s best friend, but fun makeup is a close second. Pick up makeup bags (we love the cheap ones from Ulta, Forever 21, and Drugstores or high end ones from boutiques) and stuff them with some of your favorite things! If you want your bridesmaids to, say, all have red lips with their outfits this is the perfect time to spring for that lip color for them. Keep an eye out for sales at places like CVS, Rite Aid, and Ulta. Those stores tend to do makeup sales like BOGO and can seriously help keep your budget down for these. If you’re going to go a little higher end, be sure to shop at stores with rewards programs (like Nordstrom, Sephora, and Ulta) so you can get something fun for yourself too. If you stick to more skin-neutral things like palettes, glitter, black eyeliner, and red lipsticks you can get everyone the same thing that they will be able to use.

Forward Thinking

Since we’re starting to get towards the end of the year, get your girls set up for success with some 2015 planners/agendas. Fun brands like Moleskine and Kate Spade already have their 2015 agendas available online and they are too cute, practical, and perfect to keep your girls on track. We love stationary, cute agendas, and anything that keeps us organized. You’ll be the first person to get them ready for the next year, which means you’ll be their favorite all year long (probably)!

Cozy Kit

It’s starting to cool down, get your girls ready with a cozy kit! Get a cute tote bag (that can range from $1 to however much you’d want to spend) and stuff it with warm accessories like infinity scarves, cozy aloe socks, and lined leggings. It may be a little silly to buy in bulk for your girlfriends, but it’s totally practical and they’ll be thanking you when they’re bundled up marathoning shows on Netflix. You can get them all different pieces depending on their personality or the same ones so you all have BFF outfits.

 

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Top Five Trendy Fall Wedding Pieces

September 25, 2014 Leave a Comment

Fall fashion is always exciting- just check out any fashion magazine right now! This fall we’re seeing this beautiful blend of deep darker colors that we usually use mixed in with peachy neutrals and light colors to contrast. This Fall is sure to be a special one in the world of fashion, and we could not be more excited!

Long Sleeve Skaters

Skater dresses were super cute for Spring, held strong over the Summer, and have had the best update for Fall! Scoopneck longsleeve skater dresses are starting to hit the shelves and are perfect for more casual weddings. Dress it up with fancy jewelry to create a really dynamic contrast. You’ll look super on trend, stay warm, and be cute and comfortable out on the dancefloor!

Loose Lengthy Cardigans

If you’re heading somewhere not too sunny for the big day, grab a structured but loose cardigan to go over your dress. This especially works if you’re doing a dress that’s a little more tight or short. Pair the cardigan to contrast your dress so you don’t look too matchy-matchy. Aim for fitted sleeves so it doesn’t look too untailored. If it gets too warm, use it to mark where your chair and bag is while you’re dancing.

Large Clutches

Red carpets have been showing us a trend of large, envelope style clutches to pair with your outfit. This fall, grab a large one that you can fit your wallet, phone, keys, and back up beauty supplies in. Pick up this piece in a neutral color to pair with wedding outfits all season long!

Delicate Chains

This season we’re seeing a lot of this beautiful contrast of delicate and girly with rough and tough. Play this trend up with doing a delicate chain necklace. A light jewelry piece is girly and dainty, but the chain is edgy. Delicate pendants like arrows, anchors, or even a small gem create a beautiful look that is easy to pair with most wedding outfits. Bonus points if you can find a vintage piece as your something old!

Bad Girl Booties

If you’re intimidated by spending a day in stilettos, opt for some bad girl booties. This season we’ve been seeing lots of black, buckled booties paired with sweetheart dresses and girl outfits. Pick something you can really move in and can reuse for other outfits. Pick something that is pretty as a standalone (i.e., try it on with a skirt before you try it on with jeans) so you know they’ll still be dressy enough for a wedding.

 

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Top Five Trendy Shadow Shades for Fall Weddings

September 23, 2014 Leave a Comment

Fall is such a beautiful season, and people can get so caught up in staying in the same color palettes. Fall is a time all about beautiful complimentary colors. Don’t be afraid to show some shine on your eyelids at your next wedding- own it and look good doing it! Break out of the matte shades of the last few seasons and add a little dimension to your wedding look with these five color palettes!

Pretty in Pink

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If watermelon was your color palette of choice last summer, go for something similar this Fall. A peachy and neutral warm palette with gold flecks brings all out of your remaining summer glow. Light warm colors create a romantic look that’s cute and gentle without being overwhelming. It is lovely as much as it is natural, and is perfect for the sweetheart bride or bridesmaid.

Woodsy Woman

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Want to warm up a neutral look? These basic neutrals are beautiful and gold based enough to blend with most skin tones. If you were doing golds all summer, this is the best Fall transition for you. Yellow-based neutrals are complimentary on so many skin tones and help give eyes a certain sparkle that can be hard to obtain. This color palette is so seamless, you could share it with the whole gang of bridesmaids! Just be sure to clean your brushes in between.

Deep Brunette

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Brown tones are so fantastic for all skin tones and is optimized for Fall wear. If you want to do something smokier and sexier for a night wedding, play with deeper neutral tones to make your eyes look stronger. Use the deepest toned brown in the crease of your eye to create a more natural smokey look and be ready to catch the bouquet.

Royal Plum

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Cranberry and plum tones with pieces of purple make green and brown eyes pop out like crazy and will make you look stunning in wedding photos. If brighter colors were your thing last summer, make this your wedding go-to look. If you keep the tones warm, you’ll still get that golden glow but with a deeper more sultry overall look. Pair with black on black eyeliner and mascara for a full on glamorous look.

Sliver of Silver

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If you want to do more edgy looks for the wedding, go for something slate grey and silver. Something deep with flecks of shimmer makes your look pop, and is especially beautiful on darker skin tones. Keep it a little warmer to keep it from being too frosty (save that for Winter!). Since this is more cool-toned, be sure to pair it carefully with your lip and cheek colors. You’ll be the belle (or bride or bridesmaid!) of the ball!

 

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Top Five Trendy Nail Polishes for Fall Brides

September 18, 2014 Leave a Comment

 

So you’ve got a wedding coming up and you want to do something a little more fun than a French manicure, right? There are so many great colors that are hot right now for Fall that are much more fun than the classic white tips. Pair these with your bridesmaids dress and you’ll be all set to have fabulous fingers!

 

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Glowing Plum

If your go-to is a classic red color, then amp it up for Fall with a deeper, more purple-based plum red with flecks of glitter. We love red tones and golds because they look great on all skin tones and create a beautiful bronzing effect to the skin. Swipe on two coats and pair with a neutral toned dress to stand out, a warm toned dress to flow your look, or a cool toned dress to make your fingers pop.

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Minty Fresh

If you’re not over the mint craze, go back for more- it’s coming back around! Amp up the usual more neutral mint color with a tone that leans on the green so you have a fresher look. This pairs best with neutral tones to flow with a little flair, or with bold dark tones to really pop.

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Raspberry Beret

Deep plum tones are sultry and fantastic this fall- just be sure to pick one up with some dimension so it doesn’t look too bland on your fingertips. Take your purple-based red one step further and get a much deeper plum with some shimmer. This pairs with dark tones to create a mysterious look, neutrals for an adventurous look, and light tones for a bold outstated look.

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Sunkissed Neutral

Want something that would fun for a Saturday wedding but still office appropriate on Monday? Look for a pink neutral with hints of gold or yellow in it. Peachy tones are understated but the flecks of gold will pull all that tan you got over the summer out and give you a bridesmaid glow. The bride can’t have all the glow, afterall! Neutrals look fantastic with anything (they’re neutral for a reason!) and will be appropriate for as long as you wear them.

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Go for the Gold

Love the way the leaves change in Fall? Pair that with a beautiful gold tone. Go all out and pack on the gold- you’ll look like a million bucks! Neutrals and soft tones make this pop, while bold tones bring this out to look stronger. You’ll be the flashiest bridesmaid at the ball!

 

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Top Five Coachella-Inspired Beauty Trends for Brides

April 22, 2014 Leave a Comment

Coachella is over, but that doesn’t mean the party’s over! Whether or not you were jamming out in the desert this year, these five beauty trends will  have you screaming for an encore.

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Deep Say Something Lips

Lorde really kicked off this trend, and we’ve been seeing it on tons of Coachella fashion blogs. Deep berry lips for summer create a sultry vibe and were adored in the desert. Don’t be afraid of the color- own it! A deep toned lip can work for bachelorette parties and is great for night looks. Just keep your eyes more on the natural side to keep from looking too painted.

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Thin Arched Brows

The full eyebrows are taking a backseat to arched brows. Lots of festival goers were rocking a thinner brow than we’ve been seeing, and the arch creates an elegantly framed face. Use a waxy brow pencil to keep your brows together as much as possible so they don’t look too full or bushy. Keep your color as natural as possible and follow your natural arch so it doesn’t look too drawn on.

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Dewy Sun-Kissed Skin

A beautiful trend we loved from Coachella was dewy golden skin. Use a moisturizing foundation or tinted moisturizer all over to really get that festival glow. This will look fantastic for outdoor weddings. Instant goddess glow!

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Metallic Eyeshadow

Pedal to the metal! Silvery metallic shadows were huge at Coachella- we’re guessing Urban Decay’s Naked 2 palette got a serious work out all over the desert. The cool tones look polished while still being fun and funky. Cool metallics can be dressed up for a wedding ceremony, or dressed down for a casual bridesmaid brunch. Start silvery on the insides and smoke out the creases for a dynamic eye look.

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Neutral Eyeliner

Pack up the teal and periwinkle eyeliners for later- brown is back! Keep your eyes looking young and wide with a neutral toned eyeliner. If brown isn’t your scene, go for the gold. Lighter liners that open your eyes up make you sparkle just a little more. This is perfect for brides and bridesmaids- it’s an instant eye twinkle!

 

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Five Trending Bridal Beauty Products

April 19, 2014 Leave a Comment

The weather may not always be settled (pick a side- hot or cold!), but it sure is Spring! Even if it’s not perfect Spring break weather wherever you are, you can still take part in these five trending Spring beauty products. If you’re due to get hitched soon, you’ll want to look into these so you can look your best on the big day!BHLSpringBeauty2.jpg

Liquid Lipstick

This trend is really catching on and becoming perfected by some major brands. Stila makes an amazing all-day liquid lipstick that’ll run you $22 at beauty stores like Sephora and Ulta. If you’re unsure, you can pick up Revlon’s liquid lipstick at a drugstore for around $8. Liquid lipsticks can pack some serious color punch while looking fresh all day long. There’s a low touch up factor and the slide on as easily as a lipgloss. Upgrade your lip game, and you’ll make everyone jealous of the lucky guy who gets to kiss you!

Lip Scrub

Between liquid lipstick colors, you will need to take care of those lips. Lip scrubs are becoming increasingly popular ways to take care of those lips just like you take care of your skin and hair. There are a wide range of lip scrubs, from drugstore brands like elf up to specialty store lines from Lush. Try to exfoliate your lips with a scrub once a week (pair it with your next deep condition or mud mask!) to have soft lips all Spring.BHLSpringBeauty1.jpg.jpg

High Gloss Nail Polish

Keep that poolside wet look going from the ceremony to the reception with a super shiny nail color. Bonus points if you can score a dewy Spring break color. If you’re wearing a neutral tone, go as bright as you wanna go to make that mani pop! If you’re wearing a fun color, try to do a tone in the same family. Matching colors can be too put together, keep it loose and fun (that’s what Spring is all about!).

Paraffin Wax Mani

Here in L.A., the paraffin wax mani treatment is popping up faster than our Spring daisies! This involves dipping your hands into a paraffin wax treatment for a few minutes, then washing them off to reveal soft, smooth hands. This add on is perfect if you’re doing gel nails, since the UV lights can be drying and damaging to your skin. Keep those hands looking good, it’ll make your ring sparkle that much more!

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Hang Ten

Anytime there’s a change in temperature and climate, you’re going to have to do what you can to keep your hair from frizzing. We love leave in conditioners, but our favorite right now is the It’s A 10 brand. They keep our hair smooth, silky, and effortlessly flawless all the time. We love it to create loose Spring-y waves that scream carefree romantic.

 

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Five Tips for Throwing your 2014 Oscar Party

March 2, 2014 Leave a Comment

Are you ready for the Oscars? The stars are getting glammed up in Hollywood, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get in on the action too. Gather up your girlfriends and throw a bridal-Oscar party this Sunday! We’ve got tips to make your party unforgettable (just like Angelina Jolie’s leg-dress).

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Have a Dress Code

Your bridesmaids may be waiting for the big day to get all dolled up, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun! Make your party red lips only, or a highest heels you own party. It doesn’t even have to be taken seriously, it can just be for fun with your ladies!

Give Out your Own Awards

If you’re the bride (or even the maid of honor), create awards for each of your girls to win. Best eyes, best driver, best performance at karaoke are all great superlatives for your bridesmaids. It’s a great party gift and reminds each of your friends what you love about them. Plus, you all get to give goofy ‘thank you’ speeches to each other!

Make Drinks as Fancy as Possible

Even if it’s a dry party, go crazy with the garnishes to make every drink as decadent as possible. Cut fresh fruit and have umbrellas and fun stuff to stick on the side of your glass. No matter what the drink is, serve it in a champagne flute or cute glassware. If you don’t have crazy glasses on hand, you can pick up a pack of plastic flutes or margarita glasses for under $5.

Become the Fashion Police

Be as specific as you wanna be and hit pause on every single dress. Since it’s just among girlfriends, you don’t have to rush through to get to any speeches or half-hearted interviews. You can also nominate one of your ladies who would look better in whatever your favorite starlets are wearing!

Give Thanks

A fun game to play during the Oscars? While celebs are giving their thank you speeches, mute your television and take turns ad-libbing the thank you’s (we’re big on thank you’s!). You’ll have more fun than you realize when you’re thanking a star’s ex for them!

 

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Wedding Trends for 2014

February 6, 2014 Leave a Comment

Intimacy over grandeur

While weddings with copious amounts of pomp and pageantry will never go completely away, smaller weddings of a quaint and mellow nature are on the rise. The subtle grace of intimate weddings is a welcome breath of fresh air in a grand and life-changing occasion. Indeed, weddings are a veritable feast for the senses; 2014 brings an increasing prominence of pastels, metallics, and different textural elements on wedding cakes and stationery. Crystal and silver vessels will be in demand for floral centerpieces lend an air of retro elegance, while many-petaled tree peonies radiate a certain lush softness that is exquisitely romantic.

Nowadays, environmentally friendly couples can now choose floral arrangements using locally grown flowers and organic products such as upcycled wood containers and burlap table runners. World-famous multinational retail giant Marks and Spencer recently launched their very first floral exhibit at the 100th Annual RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Organized every year by the Royal Horticultural Society, the 2013 edition of this prestigious flower expo featured a theme of a sustainable, greener future. The M&S Sustainability Garden – presented by sustainability ambassador Joanna Lumley and in partnership with award-winning Sallis Chandler Landscape Designers & Gardeners and Kenyan horticultural brand Finlays – was created to demonstrate the different processes in sustainable flower production.

Subtle grace in floral arrangements and centerpieces are a wedding trend to watch in 2014.

Subtle grace in floral arrangements and centerpieces are a wedding trend to watch in 2014.

Setting up a small-scale reception in a unique venue is another big trend that is rapidly gaining popularity. Instead of worrying about the logistics of feeding and organizing a thousand people, limiting the guest count to a maximum of 100 while enjoying the festivities on a rooftop terrace, countryside inn, or upscale bistro just makes for a decidedly more memorable experience. This intimacy can also be applied to destination weddings in enchanting locales such as France’s Hattonchatel Chateau and the Caribbean island of St. Lucia.

Clearly, an intimate wedding set on a Caribbean island with around 100 pastel-garbed guests enjoying the sight of thousand-petaled tree peonies on crystal vases is timely, appropriate, and most importantly, romantic.

This is a guest post uniquely written for publication on Bridal Hot List.

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