Top Seven Do’s & Don’ts of Haunted House Bridal Bonding

October 21, 2014 Leave a Comment

We’re in the final stretch until Halloween, are you brides to be excited? If you’re looking for something fun to do with your bridesmaids before the big day, we suggest hitting up a haunted house before they all close. If getting spooked with your best friends sounds like the best way for bridesmaids to bond, we’ve got the scoop on how to do it right.

DO Define the Group

Make sure you know if it’s going to be a date night, or if it’s a girls’ night. If you have a bunch of single girls in your party it may be easier to keep it to a girls’ night so no one feels left out. If everyone’s attached and you all get along, think about inviting the significant others too. Just think about the group before you start sending save the dates to keep it fun and low drama.

DON’T Drink Beforehand

Sure a few cocktails can be fun, but save the champagne toasts for the big day. You don’t want to risk barfing, screaming, tripping, or acting unlady-like while you’re scared. It’s not a cute look for anyone- and you’re getting married soon. Keep you and your bridesmaids appropriate.

DO Research

There are so many haunted house attractions this year- more so than ever before and they’re always getting bigger and better. There are some, however, that isolate the groups to specific numbers or even make you go through alone (such as ‘Alone’ in Los Angeles). Make sure that your numbers match up to what’s allowed so you can all stay together- you don’t want to be left alone in a haunted house!

DON’T Dress to Impress

Haunted houses can sometimes get messy- whether it’s fake cobwebs all they way out to more scary things. Warn your bridal party ahead of time to save the stilettos for the reception and wear flat comfy shoes and jeans. Dress to be warm (most haunted houses kick into gear after dark) and be ready to run a little if you need to (or need to- these places are creepy!).

DO Carpool

After running around in the dark for an hour with your best friends getting scared, do you really want to drive home alone? Carpool as much as possible to keep your girls together for both bonding and gas purposes. You’ll have time beforehand to go over any last minute wedding updates, and time afterwards to unwind and laugh together so you don’t have nightmares about haunted hayrides.

DON’T Make Them Match

It’s perfectly fine to have them in matching peplum fuchsia dresses when you’re getting married, but not when you’re just going out for girl time. The bachelorette party and bridesmaid dresses are enough for a matching dress code- let your girls dress comfy and warm when you go out. This is not the time to wear your white ‘Bride to Be’ tank. Save the wedding wear for more official functions. Yes, that includes your plastic ‘wife’ tiara from your wedding shower.

DO Take Pictures

Some haunted houses won’t let you take pictures inside, but take pictures as a group when you get there! This will be a fun experience that you’ll reminisce about- you’ll want to remember it. Check in, hashtag it, and be sure you get your smiling bridal party all together. It’s all in good fun and you’re all there because you love each other. Keep a keepsake!

 

Filed Under: General Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Top Five Fall Bachelorette Party Ideas

September 4, 2014 Leave a Comment

It’s starting to get a little cooler out here and the seasons are finally changing! If you’ve got a bachelorette party coming up this Fall and you’re stuck in pool party mode, we’ve got some ideas for you. Embrace this season with our top five Fall bachelorette party ideas!

Bachelorette Bake Off

If you’re not big on going out, why not stay in and make some pies? Make some mini pies and get as house-wifey as you can. You can have everyone bring over cute aprons and play old music to make it fun. Turn it into a bake off between the bridesmaids and have a small prize for the winner. If you have extra pies left over, pass them off to the groomsmen as a surprise!

Park Day

Now that school’s back in, it’s a great time to hit up a theme park! Disneyland is a personal favorite here at Bridal Hot List, but most theme parks are much less crowded in the fall. Plan for a work/school ditch day with the bridesmaids and ride some rides. Try to go on a weekday to avoid any crowds. Since its also a non-peak season, some parks have lower pricing (like Magic Mountain/Six Flags). It’s a really fun way to bond and create new memories with your favorite ladies and get a chance to play in a theme park when it’s not packed. There are also apps and websites for most major theme parks that will let you know what days won’t be crowded.

Try a Tasting

Is it too cold to go from place to place for your bachelorette party? Look for local wine shops or breweries that do tastings. You’ll get the experience of trying out different flavors and new things without having to trudge through any Fall weather. If you’re not a big drinker, sometimes chocolate shops also hold tastings. Tastings can also be a great way to get package deals on a variety of goods, so it would also be a great way to save a little money.

Stay In

Not feeling like going out? Don’t feel pressured to! Grab your girlfriends, your matching PJs, and have a good old fashioned pajama party. Your bachelorette party doesn’t need to be crazy- if that’s not your style don’t do it! There’s nothing wrong with popping a few bottles of wine and watching as much Orange is the New Black as your heart desires. You can make it super old school and play board games and eat lots of candy. No shame in staying in, ladies!

Go Off Season

If you want to do something a little more daring, get out of your town and check out an off-season resort or spa! Pricing in Las Vegas, Palm Springs, and most beach towns are a little lower now that summer’s over. If you can swing getting a Friday off, try to head out on a Thursday night and make a long weekend of it. Of course, it’ll be cheaper to do mid-week if you can schedule that with all your bridesmaids! Your short vacation may not be as sunny as you may imagine, but if you pick a place that isn’t hit too hard by Fall weather it’ll actually be quite nice.

 

Filed Under: General Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Top Five Tips for Planning a Destination Bachelorette Party

April 17, 2014 Leave a Comment

Whether you’re a meticulous maid of honor or a hands on bride, you’ll need some serious organization skills to pull off a destination bachelorette party. If you want to take a Spring break with your girlfriends in honor of the wedding, check out our tips for having the most awesome bachelorette party ever!DestinationParty.jpg.jpg

Start a Chain

Stick to one form of communication with everyone that’s going to keep everyone updated all at once- email. This way you can send links and skip over messages that you don’t need or aren’t relevant anymore. Keep everyone on the chain by hitting ‘reply all’ every time. Just be sure to not reply with ‘lol’ at everything. Keep it strictly to travel related information and save all the side conversations for chat or text.

Do Research

Narrow down any destination options if you haven’t already. Use the email chain to settle anything you’re unsure of with a vote. Be sure to do research on all destinations and activities that you could do and present that to the group with links or reviews. An informed traveler is a happy traveler!

Divide and Conquer

When you have a game plan, divvy up the work so you can all enjoy the festivities. If you have a friend who has a knack for finding great restaurants, have them in charge of finding nearby restaurants or bars. If you have someone who knows hotel professionals, have them in charge of the hotel (you may even be able to score a discount!). Use your awesome team to your advantage to have a smooth and safe trip.

Set Deadlines

Have a timeline and make sure everyone sticks to it! To keep costs down for everyone, get any plane tickets booked at least two weeks in advance of departure. Have everyone get their days covered at work if they need it a few weeks before departure. Keep everyone accountable so there’s no drama later on.

Pack Light

Stick to the essentials and pieces that are versatile. Plan ahead- if you’re spending most of your time at the beach, you may not even need any jeans or sweaters at all. If you’re going out, skip the bikinis for cocktail dresses. Really try to plan your packing ahead so you don’t overpack. If you’re close enough with your bridesmaids, plan out who’s going to bring flat irons, curling irons, or blow dryers. If you can keep it to a purse and a carry on, you’ve done it right.

 

Filed Under: General Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Five NYE Looks for Wedding Events

December 28, 2013 Leave a Comment

Weddings aren’t the only time we get to stay up late and celebrate with champagne. New Year’s Eve is a time of celebrating your accomplishments and looking forward to a brand new year. It’s a time of reflection as well as a time of hope for the upcoming year. Whether you’re heading downtown to watch the ball drop, partying with some friends, or even staying at home for a romantic night, you’ll want to look extra fun for the occasion. We’ve got the goods for you to look your best and start your new year off right, and how to keep these looks rolling through to your next wedding event.

 

Bling it on

Glitter and sparkle is a NYE staple. The key is to look glamorous, and not like a disco ball. Skip the body glitter as well as any glitter in your blush or bronzer and go straight for the eyes. Put on a creamy primer (like MAC’s cream colour base in Hush, $20, MAC counters), contour your favorite shadows over, and give a few swipes of Urban Decay’s Heavy Metal liner ($19, Sephora) all over it. It’s buildable, so you have the freedom to be as bright as you want to be.  We like the shade ‘Baked’ for a golden eye that will be remembered from the new year and through the reception. This will be perfect for bachelorette parties and more non-traditional weddings.

 

Lustrous Lips

Line your lips with a wax-based liner to keep them in place, and pick a color you love. Red is classic and timeless (we LOVE ‘F-Bomb’ by Urban Decay, $22, Sephora) and always a great staple to have in your back pocket. Use that liner to keep your lips together through champagne toasts on any night of the year.

 

Color-Correcting Primer

Do you fall victim to cocktail flush? Does a martini give you a natural blush? Fight back with a color correcting primer under your foundation that leaves the blushing to the bride. Even the medium to heavy coverage foundations can let some redness through after a few cocktails. The Clinique redness solutions primer ($21 , Clinique Counters) is fantastic, lightweight, and keeps us glowing the right way.

 

Baby-Doll Lashes

Lashes may be too much for the office, but they’re perfect for nights out. Look for lashes that are fuller towards the outside to give a rounding, full effect. This is fun for NYE, or any time out with your bachelorettes. If you’re not super comfortable tossing your lashes on, do a bold black eyeliner on your upper lid first. Get your falsies as close to your natural lash line as possible, and if they don’t line up perfectly use more black liner to cover any mistakes. Many people learn how to apply false lashes using this method. We love Ardell’s false lashes in ‘Wispies’ ($3-$4, drugstores).

 

Powder for Pictures

There’s going to be flashing lights all night, and it won’t all be from fireworks or the dancefloor. Weddings and holidays are always highly photographed, and you want to be sure you look your best for both. Skip dewy looks that will look greasy for matte looks that will look polished. Have a pressed powder on hand for any oily patches, and dust your face with an HD powder before you head out for the night.

 

Filed Under: General Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Five Trendy Products for Transitioning into Fall

September 2, 2013 Leave a Comment

Happy Labor Day! The summer is finally winding down, and that means putting the corals and punchy pinks aside in favor of more ethereal tones. It’s not cool enough yet for cranberry tones, but it is perfect for these cool trending products. Bridal Hot List will help you look fabulous at your next bridal shower or bachelorette party!

Fuschia! Try to go for tones that are more of a blue-based pink. I personally love fuchsia, but it’s perfect for moving from summer to fall for a few reasons. The pink tone is still summery and fun and playful, but not beachy anymore. It’s closer to a fuller red lip without being as dramatic or heavy. It still says romantic while still being sweet. I love these fuchsia tones from Inglot ($12, select department stores) because they go on creamy and have a great color pay off.

A cool toned highlighter is very complimentary to skin tones and can be just the thing you need while shedding your summer shade.  Dab a little over your foundation around the apples of your eyes to keep your face looking refreshed. The sun may not be outside as long, but that won’t stop a glamorous girl from glowing! After all, a girl’s gotta glow at a wedding.

Speaking of cheek products, use a light coral tone over your foundation to keep your skin looking refreshed. You may not be as tan, but you should want to keep your skin from looking dull. Coralista by Benefit ($28, beauty specialty stores) is a universally complimentary coral tone with a touch of sun-kissed shimmer.

With the drop in temperature, it’s smart to prepare your skin! Start using a primer that is lightweight but still a little moisturizing (temperature changes tend to dry out skin).  I like spray primers because they go on incredibly light and evenly across. This primer from ($14, Victoria’s Secret) manages to be both moisturizing but also keeps oil from eating through foundation. Plus, it doubles as a setting spray to keep your makeup in line.

A good champagne-toned creamy eyeshadow is appropriate any day of the year, regardless of season. I love this one (R.S.V.P by Benefit, $19 beauty specialty stores) because it still has some summer tones without being loud. You can also pack on eyeshadow on top and use it as a colorful primer. This color photographs well and makes eyes of all color sparkle. This would be perfect for either bachelorette parties or even the big day!

 

Filed Under: General Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

To the Top