Five Must-Do’s the Night Before the Wedding

 The wedding day is not any ole’ event. This is like they say, “the big day”, and it features a super detailed agenda. An agenda that starts as early as 6:00am and ends past midnight. So, it is a LONG day ahead. So just like any big event, you must be prepared and ready to go. However, this event is full of emotions and special moments. Moments like your dad seeing you as a bride, and shedding tears, to celebrating with your girlfriends moments before your gown is first put on, and then of course the instant that you say “I Do” to the the love of your life. That is a lot of emotions in one day! On top of that, there some wedding events throughout the day. Yes, having a wedding planner is key, and a must in my books, but there are a few things you can do as a bride the night before the wedding day.  We’ve got some fabulous tips to help ease the stress and day of emotions!

  1. Sleep: First, and foremost, you must get a good night sleep. Yes, the nerves are totally there, and it is such a exciting day ahead, that you can not sleep. However, if you do not get a good sleep, you can not enjoy the day as much as possible. Let us tell you, you want to enjoy each and every moment of your wedding day.  To help, make sure that you go to  bed early, at least 7 hours of sleep( if possible, if not then 6 for sure). Have your close friends or family over to stay the night with you, so you are not alone, and can get that nice sleep with your besties around you. They can also help (for the most part), make sure you go to bed on time. You can take a over the counter sleeping pill like melatonin an hour before you want to go to bed. ( Do not take any prescription or something strong like Tylenol PM. You will feel really our of it the next day!). This will help with calming your body down so you can sleep more naturally, then being knocked out! You must get up the next day with a fresh look.
  2. Food: Watch what you eat the night before to even the week of the wedding. Do not try new foods, or eat anything heavy. Do not starve yourself, but eat light and healthy. Something with protein and greens are really good.  Breakfast can be a smoothie, yogurt, or cereal. Lunch can be a sandwich or salad. Dinner can be a steak/chicken with a side of veggies, and salad. Dessert: frozen yogurt with fresh fruit.  If you eat right, then you will not have to worry about anything for the big day.
  3. Breathe:  This may seem like an obvious one, but take some time to breathe! One really easy exercise is to sit down somewhere comfortable (a chair, couch, bed, etc), close your eyes, and then think of something very positive, and then breathe that thought in, hold it for a few seconds, and then breathe out the opposite thought, and breathe out the negative energy. Do this at least five times. This will help you focus on YOU, and not all the crazy things that may be going around you. It can get crazy and stressful! So make sure to take that time to relax and breathe! Trust us, it really helps!
  4. Massage: A nice relaxing massage is the key to a relaxing night before the wedding. Make an appointment way in advance, (if weekends, they book fast!), and make sure to do it at least a few days before, or the day before the wedding. If you are doing it the day before the wedding, do it early in the morning. If you go to a regular massage spa place, ask for the person you always work with. They know your body, pressure points, and YOU. You can make this into a day event with your girlfriends, or maybe even do a couple’s massage with your love.
  5. Have fun!: All the tips above may seem kind of boring and dull, so do not forget to have fun too. The night before, you typically have your rehearsal dinner, and that is a great time to spend with close friends and family before the big day.  It is a preview of the wedding day, and a chance to practice your smile, and show off your fun side! Tomorrow you are getting married, and it is okay to party! Just do not party too much or too hard. Smiles!

 

Happy Wedding Day, and Happy Pre-Wedding Day!

Four Secrets Every Bride Should Know

The wedding day is one of the biggest events of your life, and if you have never done it before, it can be challenging. It is not like planning a birthday party, or  holiday party. It is a totally different type of event with a whole lot of emotions attached to it.  But it doesn’t mean you can’t tackle it. There are some secrets every good wedding planner knows, and we are sharing four of them with you!

Some things won’t quite go according to plan

It’s hard to face the facts, but things COULD go wrong on your wedding day and it is LIKELY that not everything will be perfect. But this is why you have back up plans (for if it rains, the electricity goes out, etc) and your wedding planner to keep you sane! Just keep in mind that things WON’T be perfect. You will stress way less.

Give your dress a trial run BEFORE your big day

This is not only important to make sure everything looks and feels right, but to get timing down as well. It is going to take you a lot longer than 5 minutes to get into your wedding dress, especially if it is full of layers. Make sure that you have the right bra for the style dress, your underwear doesn’t show through, and that you know how to get in and out of it. This will be important when it comes to using the bathroom and at the end of the night when you want to take it off.

Take photos

This may not seem like a secret, but with all the rush of getting ready and wanting to dance the night away, you might not WANT to take photos. But make sure you do because you’ll be thankful you did. Photos are the way that you are going to remember your big day for the rest of your life, so take some time for yourself and your groom. No doubt it is just as important to photograph with your bridal party, your family, and your friends, but the couple photos are a great way to spend some alone time together as newlyweds before the chaos of the reception.

Eat

You have spent money on food so don’t forget to ENJOY it! This may seem silly, but a lot of the time, the bride and groom are too busy saying hello to guests and dancing the night away that they forget to eat anything. This will not only make you tired but with the champagne you will be consuming, you don’t want to be a drunk mess. Make sure that you and your fiancé sit down and eat together. You can also ask your caterer to pack some leftovers. This is a perfect midnight snack or next day brunch/lunch.

 

BHL Vendor Hot Pick: Love Me Sweets

The week continues with some incredible tasty treats at BHL headquarters.  We have to admit,  we are in total love and kind of obsessed with sweets. I personally have a sweet tooth, and always ready to dive into something new and savory. So when something sweet and amazing landed in our inbox, we were beyond happy and in total heaven. Sweet heaven that is.  Yep it is that kind of  day. We are talking  about mouthwatering, lip smacking, to-die-for desserts. So, if you are  just getting back from lunch or an afternoon snack, we like to share some delightful and lovely cakes and cupcakes for your wedding loving hearts…or dessert loving hearts. We’ve got Love Me Sweets here to make your afternoon a bit sweeter, and your sweet cravings fully satisfied. Ashleigh Clesceri is a fantastic and very  talented cake designer based out of Orange County, California.  These desserts are not only beautiful, but they are so incredibly delicious, that our eyes roll back in our heads. At first, it took me a moment to bite into one of these. Why you ask? I know right? My sweet loving heart was dying to taste the goodness, but the design and pretty details stole my heart.  That is why we  had to devote an entire afternoon for admiring, loving, and drooling. You can see why we have picked Love Me Sweets for our vendor hot pick!  Make sure you save enough time to read all that Ashleigh says about her desserts, before your sugar-induced coma sets in. She is such a lovely gal! bridal-hot-list-vendor-hot-pick-150

 

Shay and Monique Taylor Photography

Shay and Monique Taylor Photography

Shay and Monique Taylor Photography

Shay and Monique Taylor Photography

Julie Irene Photography

Julie Irene Photography

Julie Irene Photography

Julie Irene Photography

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Jamie Davis Photography

Jamie Davis Photography

Richelle Dante Photography

Richelle Dante Photography

Happy Photos

Happy Photos

 

About Love Me Sweets

Love Me Sweets is a baking company, owned and operated by Ashleigh Clesceri.  She specializes in wedding and all occasion cakes, gourmet cupcakes, and desserts.

Inspired by her mother, Charlene, who also is a baker and artist, Ashleigh learned as a young girl how to bake and decorate cakes. Starting in 1999 she began entering the Orange County Fair, and became an award winning cake decorator for over 10 years. Her love for culinary arts grew to create Love Me Sweets, where you can find delicious yet beautiful baked goods.  Ashleigh, being a bikini fitness competitor, also enjoys creating healthy desserts for those that want to “Have their cake and eat it too!”  With weddings being a passion of hers, she loves to help the bride and groom create the perfect wedding cake.  Creating customized cake flavors, filling, and a one of a kind designs.  Ashleigh also creates stunning dessert tables, to help make the day extra wonderful and delicious! She looks forward in planning her own wedding dream some day! 

 
 

Fresh Catering for Weddings from Tender Greens

There is food, and then there is terrific, amazing, and mouthwatering food. I am a bit of a foodie, so I am kind obsessed with today’s post.  Mostly because it is the kind of food that not only looks good, but just tastes so fresh and flavorful. I am going to go back to the fresh factor. There is something about fresh food that is so savory and delightful. I am pleased to feature a company who brings it all and more to the table.  All deliciously delivered by Tender Greens.  A look into a fabulous catering company who offers fresh foods from local farms. Perfect for a backyard wedding or an elegant affair. Enjoy this Monday morning with some succulent and fabulous food, ready for any food fan. Or anyone who enjoys a fantastic meal.

Photo Credit: Furious Photographers

Photo Credit: Furious Photographers

Photo Credit Brian Dolen

Photo Credit: Brian Dolen

Photo Credit :Lauren Avila Photograhy

Photo Credit :Lauren Avila Photography

Photo Credit: Sweet Little Photographs

Photo Credit: Sweet Little Photographs

Photo Credit:  Stephanie Collins Photography

Photo Credit: Stephanie Collins Photography

Photo Credit: Sweet Little Photographs

Photo Credit: Sweet Little Photographs

Photo Credit: Morgan and Jodee Photography

Photo Credit: Morgan and Jodee Photography

Photo Credit:  Joshua Spencer

Photo Credit: Joshua Spencer

Photo Credit: Joshua Spencer

Photo Credit: Joshua Spencer

About Tender Greens

Tender Greens offers farm-to-fork, organic classics along with chef driven daily specials highlighting the best of seasonal ingredients, local farms and artisans.

Tender Greens Catering brings together our famed farm-to-fork sensibility and relaxed California style with flexible and thoughtful service to help elaborate truly wonderful events with memorable food.

What makes the food special:

The ideology behind our food is simple: we believe there should be a conscious connection between the one who eats the food and the source of that sustenance.  Most of our produce comes fresh picked daily from Scarborough Farms in Oxnard, delivered in eco-friendly containers. What we don’t get from Scarborough, we work with a handful of small local farms that use sustainable farming practices. We use organic ingredients whenever possible.

From cocktail parties featuring our beautiful and delicious small bite hors d’oeuvres to formal dinners, or backyard barbecues to custom weddings, we are happy to share in your special occasion.

What Stands Out in TG catering:

When you work with Tender Greens Catering, you get more than just food and choosing a menu from preset options. Our Executive Chefs are on-site cooking and making sure everything is perfect.  They work with each each couple to create a seasonally customized menu, and in a sense you are inviting us to be part of such a personal evening. Our couples are usually also Tender Greens customers and embrace our slow food philosophy to support small farmers and artisans.

What TG provides for  bride and grooms for their wedding day:

We make sure there is nothing for them to do on their wedding day but enjoy themselves. Since the Chef is in the kitchen and managing his team, our catering team are the eyes and ears of the event that is taking place to ensure that timing is perfect and your guests will be wowed. Communication is key and we help navigate the dinner service to ensure that your big day is flawless!

For information please contact: 

Viviana Amezola

P: 310-954-1415

email: catering@tendergreens.com

 

Top Seven Tips on Getting Wedding Ready

On this lovely Saturday morning, we  are thinking about all those brides who are getting ready for their big day. Some of them are in the process right now: getting their hair and make-up done, sharing some laughs with their gals, and maybe looking over her vows. It is a wonderful time in a bride’s life. That is for sure! Getting wedding ready is not just for the day of, there are some things a bride can do to get prepped. Here are seven beauty tips on getting wedding ready:

  1. If you notice that your nail polish is becoming thick in the bottle or sticky, just add some acetone, or nail polish remover, into the bottle. After only adding a tiny bit, seal up the top and shake thoroughly. By doing this, you will have enough nail polish for a few more applications.
  2. Air dry your hair often so it doesn’t suffer from heat damage. You hair can be seriously damaged by too much heat from your hair dryer, a curling iron or straightening iron. Put your hairdryer on the lowest setting to avoid damage to your hair. By doing this, your hair will stay soft for years to come.
  3. If you blow dry your hair you should use a “hot spray” before you start. You can find this in generic stores like Wal-Mart or Target. It’s used to prevent split ends and help your hair dry quicker. It also keeps your hair from drying out, and is often scented!
  4. Make your skin look more vibrant by using a moisturizer with a warm gold or pink undertone. This glowing tone can be achieved with a subtle application that emphasizes the cheeks and brow. Do not apply it anywhere else on your face. Using too much will give you a fake, shiny appearance.
  5. You have to consume eight glasses of water every day for your skin to look great. When you skin is dehydrated, the stress will make it look wrinkled, dry and dull. Reduce the chances of this happening by drinking a minimum of eight glasses of water per day. Use lemon or cranberry juice to flavor your water if you dislike plain water. Your skin is going to be grateful you drank lots of water.
  6. Be sure to exercise moderately every day. Daily exercise will help your body to stay looking young, fit, and healthy. It is definitely essential for personal beauty. You should be up and active for at least fifteen minutes a day. You can work physical activity into daily routines like walking or even vacuuming.
  7. To fix a damaged fingernail, get a teabag and cut a small piece from it. Empty all of the leaves from the bag. Then, cut a small patch from the teabag making sure your patch will cover the tear. Then you should put the piece of teabag on the torn nail and put some clear top coat on it.

Which tip was the most helpful for you? Please share with us, as we love to hear from you!

BHL Vendor Hot Pick: Fiona + Bobby Photography

On this pretty as a pink Wedding Wednesday,  I’m going to start by telling you one thing: I love Fiona + Bobby Photography.  And when I say I love them, I mean that I have been following their work for years and consider myself all kinds of crazy for their artistry.  In other words, they are seriously amazing, and that is why they have been added to our “Vendor Hot Picks”. From all the way from the other side of the world, the Land Down Under, (Sydney, Australia to be exact), a couple of gorgeous gems are found.  Gems which shine so bright, and beautiful, I want to be surrounded by them constantly. These precious gems? Let me introduce you to a pair of love birds who are not only crazy in love with each other, but they have a shared love for photography. This adorable duo has some serious photography skills which compliments their serious love for each other. A lovely and sweet couple + gorgeous photography equals a perfect soirée. I can go on and on about this fabulous photography couple, but I think its best to see some of their stunning and jaw-dropping images. You will see why I am so excited and head over heels in love with Fiona + Bobby Photography.  Oh, and you may want to get comfy, because like me, you may be viewing these photographs over and over. Yep, they are THAT amazing! Enjoy!

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About Fiona + Bobby Photographybridal-hot-list-vendor-hot-pick-150

You could say that Fiona + Bobby started back when we initially met on 23 March 2011.  We met through a love of photography, which has progressed and grown since then.  Starting up a business together after we got married seemed the only natural thing!  Bobby already had his own wedding photography business back in LA and back then I had kept photography only as a hobby, despite the call from many friends and family to embark on a more professional journey.

The way Bobby and I came together was exciting and wonderful.  We took risks and jumped on the back of a leap of faith to where we are today.  From going through this experience together, we have established that love is the driving force in all of our lives and if we allow this emotion to permeate through our skin and into the air around us, the lives we lead can be incredibly potent and powerful.  As a result, photographing in the presence of love is a beautiful and humbling experience.  We love what we do and we adore seeing couples reveal their inner most guarded connections between one another.
We would even go as far as saying that there is a part of us which falls in love with our couples every single time we shoot a wedding.  We have questioned why we feel this way and the only explanation we can come up with is that we feel like they have allowed and trusted us into their circle of love and we too embrace ourselves within that emotion, which somehow never goes away.

We approach our weddings from a purely documentary point of view.  The wedding is not about us as photographers, but about you as a couple coming together and celebrating your love.  Bobby and I view the world as it unravels around us slightly differently to one another through our lens, which is what makes the way we shoot so unique.  When we roll our images together into one, we wholeheartedly believe that the couple receives a true vision of how their day was, no stone unturned.

At the end of the day, we believe it is more than he and she meeting, it’s the magic that happens in those silences that make mountains out of your love.  We want to capture moments like these and create pockets of whimsy in your hearts which will be preserved forever.”

 

BHL Vendor Hot Pick: Designer Speciality Linens

If there’s one thing I l-o-v-e  about weddings, it is the drop-dead-gorgeous accessories which beautifies the tables. I am talking about beautiful linens, lovely napkins, stunning chair covers, and stylish overlays. Designs which are so pretty and breathtaking, it is no surprise why we have added this amazing vendor to our “Vendor Hot Picks”. It is the type of vendor which I have fallen pretty hard for. Introducing the fabulous vendor, Designer Speciality Linens.  I have to admit, I kind of  want to have every meal at one of the many delightful table settings. Ah, if only. If you do not believe me when I say SWOON, then take a moment and start your Monday morning with some pretty amazing table accessories.

Christopher Todd Studios www.christophertoddstudios.com

Christopher Todd Studios www.christophertoddstudios.com

Diandra Ann Photography www.diandraann.com

Diandra Ann Photography www.diandraann.com

Kate Noelle Photography www.katenoelle.com

Kate Noelle Photography www.katenoelle.com

Duke Photography www.dukeimages.com

Duke Photography www.dukeimages.com

Christopher Todd Studios www.christophertoddstudios.com

Christopher Todd Studios www.christophertoddstudios.com

Ashleigh Taylor Photography www.ashleightaylorblog.com

Ashleigh Taylor Photography www.ashleightaylorblog.com

Ashleigh Taylor Photography www.ashleightaylorblog.com

Ashleigh Taylor Photography www.ashleightaylorblog.com

Jen O' Sullivan Photography www.jenosullivan.com

Jen O’ Sullivan Photography www.jenosullivan.com

Christopher Todd Studios www.christophertoddstudios.com

Christopher Todd Studios www.christophertoddstudios.co

Toile Cranberry & Cream

 

 

About Designer Speciality Linens

Established in 2007 from humble beginnings as a chair cover rental company, Designer Specialty Linens has emerged as a trusted leader in Fine Linen Rental in Southern California. We offer the highest quality linens, napkins, overlays, chiavari chairs, chair covers and accessories to bring style to every table. We stand apart from other linen rental companies because we manufacture our own linens, using only the highest quality of fabrics. Our collections include 22 styles to choose from, ensuring there will be something perfect for every couple’s needs. We are members of ABC-GLA, and WIPA. The wedding industry puts it’s trust in our products and service. We’re the first choice for wedding planners, who consistently refer their clients to us.

We proudly serve Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego County, and Ventura and Santa Barbara County.

Eight Tips to have Trendy and Textured Hair

It is a lovely Summer Sunday, and I am thrilled for it. I love summer and weekends. These two make the best combo yet!  Gorgeous weather plus sleeping in, taking it easy, and enjoying the morning sun equals perfection!  As a bride or bridesmaid, or any gal of the wedding, we girls typically like to do what it takes to keep our hair healthy, stylish, and beautiful. With the ever-changing trends of fashion, most of us girls like to keep current with the latest hair styles and trends. Keeping your hair in great shape is an amazing feeling, and why not feel amazing if we can? Right?  Consider the following eight hair tips which can pretty up that hair and get it to what you want in looking and feeling oh so gorgeous.

  1. Healthy hair is an outcome of a body that is healthy. Eat a diet full of nutrition and drink lots of clean water to improve the appearance of your hair. Fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beneficial fats and lean protein all lend to happy and healthy hair.
  2. If your hair looks dull and lifeless, consider using a clarifying shampoo. Dulling of the hair can be caused by product accumulation. To prevent this, use a clarifying shampoo a couple times each week to remove any accumulated residue from dirt and hair care products.
  3. When you’re selecting new hair care products, it’s best to seek out products that contain natural ingredients. Make sure your hair type matches the shampoos and conditioners that you buy. Until you have found the right product for your hair, keep trying different ones.
  4. When hair conditioning, be sure to spread the conditioner evenly throughout your hair for best results. Allow your conditioner a minimum of two minutes to absorb into the hair before you rinse it out.
  5. If you swim often, wet your hair thoroughly before entering the pool. Unless you wear a swim cap, you should also take a few minutes to rinse and condition hair soon after you leave the pool; this helps to reduce the overall amount of damage.
  6. Have you considered adding more texture to your hair? It is a lot easier to style textured hair than non-textured hair. Texture is added to hair via style, cut or choosing to get a perm. Your hair will naturally be fuller, and you will be able to experiment with many types of styles and looks.
  7. Exercise caution so that you do not remove essential oils from the hair when you shampoo. Even if you have oily hair, using a harsh shampoo that removes all traces of oil can actually create rebound oiliness in your hair. Instead, look for a shampoo that cleanses your hair gently. Some folks forgo the shampoo and use only conditioner a couple times a week.
  8. Make sure you protect your hair from the sun! Many hair care products also have a sunscreen in them. A hat is another option you can try out. You know to protect your skin from the sun, but you might be neglecting your hair. It can also be damaged by the rays of the sun.

 

Five Tips on Accessorizing Your Bridal Gown

1. The Look: Weddings are all about picking a theme and going all out with it. So first of all, think about the feel and the look that you are going for. Do you want a 1920’s vintage feel? Then try incorporating a bird cage veil, or a feathery headpiece with a lace applique. Are you looking for a Spanish feel? Then try a big flower headpiece, or a Mantilla veil that will drape beyond the edge of your train. Or are you going for classic elegance? Then try and keep your accessories to a minimum. Pick your accessories and gown that go with the feeling that you are going for, and that feeling will be conveyed to your friends and family.

2. Match: It is also important to match accessories to your gown in order to bring out its’ beauty in the right light. For example, if your gown has a belt that has some pearls and beads on it, then find earrings or a veil that has both of those items. It is best to keep the accessories in unison to have them flow right into your dress. If your gown has chunky beads on it, don’t accessorize with pearl earrings. Try and match the items as closely as possible.

Veil & Belt

3. Compliment: Take a good look at your gown and see if it is simple or busy on its own, as they both have their pros and cons. Simple dresses allow for more accessories and chunky jewelry or statement pieces. Try on beaded belts, big earrings, or thick bracelets. Sometimes a simple belt can dress up the gown to a whole other level, and give it a unique look. If your dress is very busy with lace or bling, refrain from using thick laced veils or chunky jewelry. Less is more with these gowns, and simple accessories add to its beauty without detracting any attention from it. Otherwise your audience will be too busy trying to figure out where to look instead of looking at you. Also, if you are wearing a bracelet, be sure to wear it on the opposite hand as your engagement ring. It will compliment and even out your bridal look.

4. Try On: It is really hard to match accessories without having your gown around, or without even having it on! So be sure to try on different veils, head pieces, and jewelry while you have the gown on your body. A good time to do that is usually once the dress comes in and you go in for your try on appointment. It can be a bit overwhelming to try and pick everything on the same day as you picked your gown, so wait until your dress comes in to do so.

Earrings & Belt

5. Ask: Be sure to ask your consultant for any accessory suggestions. They have a pretty good eye in finding the appropriate accessories since they are around the gowns constantly and know what goes well with what. Be open to their suggestions and have fun with it! They will enjoy dressing you up until your look is completed to perfection.