How To Choose My Wedding Day Look?

So you are going through Google Images and Pinterest trying to figure out what look you want for your big day.

Your options are all over the place. How do you narrow it down? You will often hear us saying, “You need to Love the way you look.” How can we take it from Like to Love?

Are you someone who wears a lot of makeup? Or are you someone that never wears makeup at all?

You want your partner to recognize who they are marrying. If you do not normally wear a lot of makeup, or you stick to minimal makeup… You should probably stick inside the comfort box. You want to look and feel like you. Just a better version. 

If you are not used to wearing makeup you will probably look at yourself with the makeup and not like what you see, or not recognise the person in the mirror. 

Communication is key. I would say 90% of our brides are going for the natural bridal look. Natural doesn’t mean less makeup in most cases. It means lighter tones on the eyes, natural lip color. Not as dramatic. But it is the same process as more dramatic makeup. Just using more natural tones.

If you are used to wearing a lot of makeup, you will probably feel naked without it. That being said you probably also have a way you are used to wearing it. So someone else trying to do what you normally do is most likely not going to come out the same. Hard to duplicate another person’s art. If you have a certain way you like to do your eyebrows or eyeliner, you have full permission to do your own on the big day. We can try and do them but if you are very particular and like how you do it, Don’t fight it, you can do it. 

It is a partnership between you and your artist. We both are trying to find the end optimal result. That result is Loving how you Look!

What pictures are you gravitating towards?

Finding inspiration photos that look like you make a big difference. Showing us pictures of a blonde with blue eyes when you are tan, brown eyes, dark hair are going to look completely different. If you have blue or green eyes, find inspiration for light eyes. If you have dark skin, find inspiration with someone with dark skin. 

An updo on blonde hair or highlighted hair will look different than if you have one tone, dark hair. You will not see all the detail & texture as you would on lighter, highlighted hair. 

Find pictures of hair that resembles what you are or are willing to work with. There are clients that show us pictures of hairstyles with tons of hair. The client doesn’t have a ton of hair. The client doesn’t want to wear extensions. That hairstyle will not look anything like the picture, no matter how hard we try. 

What does your dress look like?

Does your dress have a high neck? High neck is normally code for wearing your hair up.

What is the style of your dress? Is it simple? Lots of detail? Lace or bling?

If you have an amazing back on your dress, you probably want to show it off. Think of an updo or side swept hair.

Is your dress strapless? Are you looking for a little more going on to cover up? I love half up or all down for strapless. Since there is so much skin going on without straps or sleeves, having some hair down helps bridge the gap.

I find matching your hair & makeup to the style of the dress and mood of the event has the best results. 

Simple & Classic dresses tend to go better with simple & classic hair & makeup. Think a simple bun, classic updo. Hollywood waves are all the rage and would go great with a simple dress. Add some bling for accessories. Makeup would also be clean and simple. Not too much shimmer or highlight. 

Lace dresses go great with loose waves, half up hairstyles, Loose romantic updos. Very whimsical and less structured. The jewelry is not as important with this type of look as the dress is the star. 

How does your hair hold curl?

So your whole life you have tried everything to curl your hair. It falls out before you are even done curling it. We want to think that we have the remedy for this on your big day. But if your hair does not hold curl. Your wedding day will probably not be the exception. We do all we can to ensure your hair will hold. But you know your hair better than the artist. We would hate to see pictures of you at your ceremony with straight hair after we took every method possible to make it stay curled. So if your hair does not hold a curl, please be open to an updo. We can make it look curled, and it will stay! Any hanging hair left out has a real high chance of falling through the day. 

Have you considered hair extensions?

Hair extensions add sooooo much to your hair! I cannot recommend good extensions enough. Not only can they add fullness to your hair and length if you desire. Hair extensions can also help your hair hold! I recommend getting wavy hair extensions. Most extensions come straight. Which most likely means they are chemically straightened. So they can fall faster. If you naturally have curly hair, see if you can find extensions that match your curl. You do not want to have naturally curly hair and wear straight extensions. Your hair will hold the curl and the extensions will fall. This could leave a stragly situation by the end of the night. Wavy extensions are also great for straight hair as it will help the hair hold curl. Make sure you get HUMAN HAIR. I have had situations where the client told me they were human hair. But they were synthetic. Synthetic is plastic. Plastic and curling irons do not mix. 

Extensions are not just for half up or all down looks. They are great for a fuller updo as well. 

My favorite place for extensions is The Hair Shop. They are in Southern California. They have several locations. You go in. They match your hair color. Figure out the length you are going for and texture. No need to have your hairstylist color them, or or cut them. They will pick what works best for you!

Beliami is also another great brand. Please check them out especially if you are not in the Southern California area. 

As a last resort Sally Beauty Supply has extensions. Most are straight and their selections of colors aren’t the best but they get the job done in a pinch. 

To Veil or Not to Veil? That is the question.

When else can you wear a veil? I highly recommend a veil. Cathedral, Floor length, Fingertip, Birdcage. Most veils will only stay on for the ceremony. Then you take it out. It adds a little something extra for some great photos. Veils can be expensive for a piece of tule. Maybe you can borrow one from a friend or check options online. 

Still undecided?

This is where the trial comes in. But you need to be prepared for the trial. We hear brides say they have had multiple trials and still do not know what they want. If you communicate everything you want and don’t, your likes and dislikes. If you have researched your artist and like what you see based on the portfolio and reviews, you will not need to keep spending time and money having continuous trials. See our blog post about how to plan for your trial so this doesn’t happen to you! 

This all being said…. It is YOUR wedding day. iThere are no rules. You need to love the way you look. You need to feel like you, but a better version. Please listen to YOU. Everyone has an opinion. The only opinion that matters is the brides on her wedding day.