Showing posts with label Hens night. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hens night. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Tea Party Girl

You don’t need to have frills, high heels, jewelry or an up-do. Now, that’s not to say that you can’t add those features to your ensemble, but beautiful, comfortable tea party dresses for women need none of those things.
During summer, the hot days can drag by. Whether you’re working in an office, or getting messy in the garden, taking an hour for afternoon tea is a great way to reconnect with yourself. A tea dress is a great way to make that connection enjoyable. It’s just not the same when you plunk down on a couch in your work clothes to escape into a short moment’s rest. Taking time to change clothes, and enjoying the dress you choose, turns your afternoon break into a truly relaxing experience.
Tea dresses are perfect, especially in the summer. They are light and breathable, loose fitting and easy to wear. While lighter colors traditionally rule this roost, modern vibrant colors are making their way onto the scene.  In the cooler months, a simple, classic cardigan in a neutral color will usually go with most dresses and give you a sense of cosiness in your outfit.
So, head to your closet, quickly change into a dress that makes you look great, or feel great (or both!) and enjoy a quiet setting in your pretty outfit. Wearing tea length dresses is the wardrobe equivalent of stopping to smell the roses. Yes, jeans and a t-shirt are comfortable, too, but they’re not elegant. You can skip the dressing nicely option, but you’ll miss the whole point of afternoon teatime elegance.

“When you add afternoon tea dresses to your wardrobe, you give yourself a gift that enhances your whole life and lets the elegant you shine.”


Dressing for Tea Allows Room for Creativity

There is no hard and fast rule on what makes, and what does not make, a good afternoon-tea dress. This lets you have freedom to express your personality in your choices. Gone are the days when afternoon teatime held a strict dress code and every invitee also needed a parasol. These days, you can make your outfit style all your own.
If you choose to take your teatime to the next level and turn the event into a tea party, the opportunity for creativity is even grander. Friends make dress-up time so much more enjoyable. Here are a couple of ideas:
If you’re enjoying green tea or Matcha green tea for your daily time of tranquility, try incorporating the Japanese culture. A kimono-style short dress makes a wonderful selection. Even flowy dresses that feature oriental patterns or colors can help add to the ambiance and enhance your elegance level. Other cultural garb, such as saris from India or togas from Greece should open your eyes to countless opportunities. You can take the theme idea as far as you’d like, there are three hundred and sixty five days a year to try out a new one. The point is to keep your tea dresses pretty, comfortable and fun.

Beauty plus Comfort Equals Elegance

Imagine yourself in a beautiful couture dress. Now, think of how difficult it is to breathe, how hard it is to keep the train clean and how impossible it is to sit down for long periods of time or walk without tripping.
We are not talking about dresses like that. Tea dresses allow you to feel the beauty that comes with comfort, and that’s a pretty profound thing. When you’re comfortable, you’re relaxed and happy. When your comfortable clothes are pretty, things get elegant. The stress melts from your day, any feeling of frumpiness disappears and even bad-hair issues seem less important. You start to see the small, beautiful things that constantly surround you, and you embrace them, all because you choose pretty elegant dresses for your time of respite.

Elegance Spreads to Other Parts of Your Life

After a few weeks of habitual elegance and afternoon teatimes, you’ll start to see the vines of elegance gently twist their ends around different activities you take part in. You’ll even see the elegance start to seep into your décor. Your tea dresses are more than simple fabric, they’re a conduit to your inner elegant goddess. She’s the woman inside you who understands the beauty of existence and strives to make herself a part of it. And, believe it, she’s there.
It doesn’t matter what your personal style is, there are styles for you.  Take advantage of flowers! Even the simplest dresses benefit from a few well-placed blooms and fresh leaves.

The Edgy Girl: Tea party is not the same as prim and proper. Dark colors are acceptable for modern tea dresses. So are short cuts, fringe and metal bedazzlement.
The Fashionista: The goal of afternoon tea dressing is easy, comfortable simplicity. So, utilize your trendy talents with ultra-cool accessories. Think hats, sashes, or ankle bracelets to use in making your tea dress fashion statement.
The Professional: No, your suit does not count as a tea party dress. But, please keep the pencil skirts and low heels.
The Busy Mamma: Here’s your chance to enjoy something that’s just for you. Keep your afternoon tea attire separate from the rest of your wardrobe so you won’t associate them at all with chaos. That way, no matter which of your tea dresses you choose, it’s clean, available and wrinkle-free so that you can concentrate on elegance.

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

AFTER YOU GET ENGAGED

10 Things You Should Not Do After You Get Engaged


This is a crazy time for many newly engaged couples. With all the Christmas, New Year’s and Valentine’s engagements, it probably seems like half of your friends are involved in a wedding in one way or the another. Everybody is either engaged, a member of the wedding party, a parent of an engaged child or making travel arrangements to attend a destination wedding.

With all the crazy going down, brides and grooms sometimes get ahead of themselves and — feeling happy and like they can take on the world — do and say things that cause them stress and consternation down the road. Here are 10 things you should not do after you get engaged and before you get married:
1) Do not adopt a puppy. Do not buy a horse. Do not add anything to your schedule that will require extra maintenance and a babysitter for your wedding week. You won’t have time for it and it’s not fair to the animal. Seriously. Do it after you get back from your honeymoon.
2) Do not decide that it’s time to start house hunting or move unless it’s absolutely, positively necessary. The most stressful times of your life are getting married, moving, changing jobs, having children and getting divorced. Why would you want to double up on the stress when you’re already committed to wedding planning for next however many months? Adding a move to the mess will only make you crazier. Plus, it will smack your budget hard, no matter how well you plan ahead. Also try not to change jobs if you can help it. Why pile on more to worry about?
3) Don’t take an out-of-control vacation within six months of your wedding, unless it’s your bachelor or bachelorette weekend with friends. If you have the money for a fabulous trip, please save it. Put it away and hold onto it for unexpected expenses that may come up with your wedding. Blowing it all on a cruise three months before your big day and then whining because you have 20 more guests than you’d anticipated so you’re over budget is just ridiculous. Plan for the emergency if you have the resources.

4) Don’t spend all of your time surfing wedding websites and buying bridal magazines. After you’ve planned your décor,swear off of Pinterest for a whole 30 days...if thats possible. One way to really make your wedding planner insane and blow the hell out of your budget is to keep messing with the details of the wedding after the decisions have been made, bids obtained and deposits paid. The time to choose was before you signed the contracts and locked things down.
5) Don’t continue shopping for wedding gowns after you’ve already bought one. That’s a really, really stupid thing to do, unless your original intent was to end up with more than one dress (and yes thats a huge trend now).. But if you planned to buy and wear one wedding gown, once you’ve ordered it, stop second-guessing yourself. And stop looking at dresses. I’ve had clients who bought three different dresses (and absorbed the cost of all of them and wore only one) because they made themselves crazy continuing to shop.
6) Don’t share all your wedding details on social media or with all of your friends. There should be some surprises, and it’s tacky to talk about it in a forum where most of your “friends” on Facebook won’t be invited to participate in the festivities anyway. You may find the vast selection of favors fascinating, but you don’t have to post about it. In fact, you shouldn’t. Look forward to having amazing pictures that you can share after the wedding when no surprises will be ruined and those who aren’t invited won’t feel like it’s being shoved up their noses.
7) Don’t solicit the opinion of all of your bridesmaids regarding the bridesmaid dresses. That is the kiss of death and a guarantee that somebody is going to end up unhappy. Include the Maid of Honor and maybe one more bridesmaid (particularly if you have somebody who is going to be a difficult fit), but leave everybody else out of it until it’s a fait accompli. Seriously.
8) Don’t involve your bridal party in your wedding planning, unless it’s to help you make favors or do some other bridal party project. Leave them out of your meetings with vendors and conference calls with your planner. Your fiancé and your mom are the only ones who should participate (and only if you want to include your mother).
9) Don’t put off the stupid little homework assignments that your wedding planner gives you. Do not wait ‘til the last minute to write your wedding ceremony. Do not wait ‘til a month before the wedding to start thinking about your DJ playlist. The marriage license information form you were given at the first meeting could have been completed the first week of planning — the info on there won’t change before your wedding date. Although it seems like you have gobs of time for planning when you’re looking at the “to do” list six or more months out, it’s important to listen to your planner about what should be finished when, or you’ll find yourself with a big old pile of homework a few weeks before your wedding.
10) Don’t let the stress of wedding planning ruin the fun of being engaged. I know brides who never tasted anything at any of their showers or parties and only drank one night of their bachelorette weekend because they were so determined to lose the extra pounds before the wedding. Some of them have even been known to turn on the groom, asking him to diet too. He didn’t ask you to lose weight to get the second ring, why are you asking him to drop pounds to say “I do?” I mean, for real, does that sound like fun? I’m not saying you can’t slim down, but don’t get so stressed out about it that you take away the bubbly fun of all of it. Don’t turn dance lessons into a torture session — go out for cocktails first (it worked for me and my husband Bill). Don’t talk exclusively about the wedding when you’re spending time together — it will make you both a little nutty. Try to be your normal selves and bask in the glow of the shiny diamond. And remember to keep your nails pretty.
At the end of the day, you can make your wedding planning process as easy or difficult as you want to make it — really, it’s up to you. But if you avoid the items we mentioned above, you have a better chance at having fun during your engagement and making fantastic memories along the way.
Until next time, happy wedding planning from Style Guide

Monday, November 21, 2016

Getting Married

Traditionally, who pays for what?

As a reference, below is a list of the traditional expenses and responsibilities of the bride’s and groom’s families, the bridesmaids and groomsmen, and even the wedding guests. Keep in mind that these days, all of the following guidelines for family expenses are variable—depending on the particular circumstances of the wedding. Often, expenses are shared by the couple and their families, so assign the responsibilities to fit your circumstances.

Traditional Expenses of the Bride and Her Family

  • Services of a wedding consultant
  • Invitations, enclosures, and announcements
  • The bride’s wedding gown and accessories
  • Floral decorations for the ceremony and reception, bridesmaids’ flowers
  • The bride’s bouquet (unless it is customary for the groom to pay for it)
  • Tent, awning, aisle runner
  • Music for church and reception
  • Transportation of bridal party to ceremony and to reception
  • All reception expenses
  • Services of a traffic officer or security, if necessary
  • Photographer, wedding photographs, wedding albums
  • Videographer and finished DVD
  • Transportation and lodging expenses for the officiant if from another town and if invited to officiate by the bride’s family
  • Accommodations for bride’s attendants
  • Bridesmaids’ luncheon, if hosted by the bride or her family
  • Bride’s gifts to her attendants
  • Bride’s gift to groom
  • Groom’s wedding ring

Traditional Expenses of the Groom and His Family

  • Bride’s engagement and wedding rings
  • Groom’s attire
  • Ties and gloves for the groomsmen, if not part of their clothing rental package
  • Accommodations for the groom’s attendants
  • Accommodations for the groom’s parents and siblings
  • Bachelor dinner, if the groom wishes to give one
  • All costs for the rehearsal dinner
  • Officiant’s fee or donation
  • Transportation and lodging expenses for the officiant, if from another town and if invited to officiate by the groom’s family
  • The marriage license
  • Transportation for the groom and best man to the ceremony
  • The bride’s bouquet (when it is local custom for the groom to pay for it)
  • The bride’s going away corsage, if wearing one
  • Boutonnieres for groom’s attendants
  • Corsages for immediate members of both families (unless the bride has included them in her florist’s order)
  • The officiant’s fee or donation
  • Groom’s gift to bride
  • Gifts for groom’s attendants
  • Honeymoon expenses

Maid of Honor’s/Bridesmaids’ Expenses

  • Purchase of apparel and all accessories
  • Transportation to and from the wedding location
  • A contribution to a gift from all the bridesmaids to the bride
  • An individual gift or a group gift from the attendants to the couple (if being in the wedding is not the gift)
  • Optionally, a shower, luncheon, or hens party for the bride

Best Man’s/Groomsmen’s/Ushers’ Expenses

  • Rental or purchase of wedding attire
  • Transportation to and from the wedding location
  • A bachelor dinner, if given by the groom’s attendants
  • A contribution to a gift from all the groomsmen to the groom
  • An individual gift or a group gift from the attendants to the couple (if being in the wedding is not the gift)

Guests’ Expenses


  • Transportation to and from the wedding
  • Lodging expenses and meals
  • Wedding gift

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Wedding Parties

Reconciling who you want to include in your bridal party with who you're expected, requested, or even told to include can seem like an ordeal. With friends and family anticipating or assuming they'll be asked, it's easy to get confused and resentful. After all, this is supposed to be your day, your way, right? Relax. Choosing your attendants needn't be a nightmare. Prioritizing what's important is the key to arriving at a list that pleases everyone—even you.
bridesmaid dresses

Photo Credit: R.E.M. Video and Photography

Choices, Choices

The most obvious question is how many attendants to ask and who should be your maid/matron of honor. While etiquette books suggest one usher per 50 guests, protocol surrounding the number of bridesmaids is fuzzier (12, however, is the limit). "What's important is that you include those people to whom you feel closest," says Deborah Jones, owner of A Wedding In Minnesota, a bridal consultancy in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Also consider where you'll be standing at the altar or huppah, and how many people can fit on either side of you. Aesthetically, the same number of attendants on both sides looks best, but there is no rule that says they have to match.
Start by writing your wish list of attendants. Next, add your fiancé's picks, and those who would make political sense(your brother's wife to make him happy, for example). See if there are natural groupings that would make choosing easier: all sisters, all school friends, just one sister and one friend, etc. If your list is still unwieldy, consider the following to help you eliminate people or decide their role.
First, think about their responsibilities. The maid/matron of honor is generally the bride's right-hand woman before and on the day of the wedding. Her main duties include planning the bridal shower and helping the bride select her gown and address invitations. The bridesmaids assist the maid/matron of honor and bride. All typically pay for their own dresses and travel expenses.
Second, evaluate your needs and expectations. Is this a gala affair with many details you'll need help coordinating, or a small, no-fuss ceremony? Are you the type of person who surrounds herself with friends and needs a sounding board for every decision, or do you have only one or two close confidantes?
Do you expect your attendants to devote a significant amount of time and money to your wedding? Would you feel comforted knowing that all of your bridesmaids lived in town, mere minutes away for minor emergencies? If someone says she can't afford to participate, can you make up the difference (and not take it personally)? Be honest with yourself: Are your expectations reasonable? Will you get mad if someone can't help out as much as you'd like due to her work or family commitments?
Third, factor in the lifestyle and current situation of those you intend to ask, and how it meshes or clashes with their responsibilities and your needs. For example, what if your sister lives in Alaska and your best friend just lost her job, or if another friend is so swamped with work or a new baby that she barely squeezes in a phone call, much less time to plan a bridal bash. All these circumstances impact a potential maid's ability to do the best job possible. That said, even if someone can't be there physically, she may still provide valuable moral support. So decide what's most important to you.

Popping the Question

Now the fun part—asking people to be in your party. Some brides try to avoid disappointing anyone by asking people they don't really want to participate, assuming they'll say no because they're too busy or won't be able to afford it. Big mistake: This approach can easily backfire. Some people are so honored to be included that they'll move the world to make it happen. Only ask those you'll be thrilled to hear a "yes" from.
If there's someone you want to ask but are concerned she'll feel pressured by time or money constraints, create a scenario in which each of you would feel comfortable backing out gracefully.  Let her know she's one of your top choices but you understand if she has other commitments that make it difficult for her to take part. If you're willing to cover expenses, ask her how she feels about that. If she knows how important she is to you, she'll probably feel flattered, not insulted.
If you expected a friend to say yes and she doesn't, don't be offended. Chances are it's no reflection on you. Your friend is simply doing you the favour of being upfront and honest about the time and money she wants to devote to your event, an occasion she respects enough not to ruin. 
If someone does accept and later seems unhappy with her decision, try to determine what's really going on. 

Blood Ties

Resolving conflicts with parents and in-laws isn't always so simple. Sometimes an edict is handed-down and that's that. For example, you may be told your sister will be your maid of honour, whether you like it or not. If you have a big enough party, it may not matter—a lot of your friends are included anyway. If you were planning on a small party, consider making it bigger to keep the peace.
Even if you can enforce your will and leave out a family member who expected to be included, consider the effect your stubbornness will have on family harmony. "If you deliberately leave out someone your parents or in-laws want included, you may be making a bigger statement than you intended," notes Claro. Their conspicuous absence is a visible declaration of your rejection. When it comes down to it, would including this person really ruin your wedding day? Or will the repercussions of leaving her out sully family relationships for years to come?

Wedding party selection can be a total beast what with all the DIY and destination weddings and mixed families. 
Bookmark and Share

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Engagement Party Planning 101

ou've got the dress sorted, now it's time to think about wedding beauty. We've put together these 20 bridal make-up tips, with a little help from the experts, to make sure you look flawless on your big day.
image: http://marieclaire.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/11116/00008135c/e13d_orh1000w646/Bridal-makup-L.jpg
image: http://marieclaire.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/11116/00008135c/e13d_orh1000w646/Bridal-makup-L.jpg
  


Simply say 'I do' to the following bridal make-up rules and prepare to wow.

Do:


1. 'Make sure you have your trial at least three weeks, but no more than 5 weeks, before your wedding. If you plan on using fake tan for the big day, have a test run before your make-up trial so that your artist can see what colour your skin becomes with the tan,' says M·A·C Senior Artist, Rebecca Butterworth.

2. 'Wear a white t-shirt if you’re having your make-up test in a store so that you can see how the make-up looks against a pale colour and take a picture of yourself in day light (with no flash) to see how it looks before you purchase anything,' says celebrity make-up maestro Caroline Barnes.
3. 'Emphasize your eyes by brightening any darkness under them with corrector and concealer,' says Bobbi Brown.
4.' Bring references to your make-up trial. Start looking for images of make-up that you really like and bring them with you on the day. Try to identify what it is you like about the make-up in the image and take into account that if you have the skin colour of Dita Von Teese then the make-up of Kim Kardashian won't necessarily translate onto you,' says Rebecca from M·A·C.

5. 'Remember that bridal make-up needs to have enough colour to compensate for the whiteness of the dress. There’s a big difference between everyday clothes and a wedding dress, so there should be difference in your make-up, too. Start by making sure your skin looks even and smooth, and then add colour to your cheeks and lips to give them a glow,' says Bobbi Brown.
6. 'Use individual eyelashes – they’re a brilliant way to make your eyes stand out and look far more subtle than a full strip. Go for differing lengths to create a really natural fluttery look and nestle them in between your natural lashes rather than fixing them on top,' says Rebecca.
7. 'Focus on the most important elements of your look, such as beautifully natural-looking skin, softly groomed brows and feathery lashes. If you get these basic factors right the rest of your make-up will fall into place,' says Caroline Barnes.
8. 'Research application methods as they might differ slightly from your everyday make-up routine. For example, if you prefer to line with a shadow, make it last longer by applying it with a slightly damp eyeliner brush,' says Bobbi.
9.' Go pro. The best wedding make-up should last as long as you do so I love M·A·C’s Prolongwear range which includes foundations, concealers, lip and eye products that provide superior wear that will see you through your wedding day and night,' says Rebecca.

10. 'Finish your make-up off with a highlighter shade on the browbone to make the eyes really pop. Go for a light matte shade, and pat onto the outer corner of the brow bone so subtly draw attention to this area of your face,' says Bobbi.
image: http://marieclaire.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/11116/0000782b9/a2ca_orh1000w646/Bridal-make-up-tips-L.jpg
image: http://marieclaire.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/11116/0000782b9/a2ca_orh1000w646/Bridal-make-up-tips-L.jpg
  


Don't: 

1. 'Have your make-up test done anywhere with overhead fluorescent lighting. If you have a professional make-up artist coming to your home, arrange a time when it’s still daylight outside,' says Caroline Barnes.
2. 'Let a make-up artist hijack your look. For a lot of people, their wedding is a time when they can really take pleasure in having someone else do their make-up, but I think there can be a temptation to just indulge in the experience and take on all sorts of suggestions from the make-up artist - someone who may not know you or how you like to look particularly well. I'd advise real caution here; you don't want to surprise your intended at the altar by turning up looking like someone else. Whether you're hiring a make-up artist or doing your own, I generally think that the best bridal make-up is simply the most exquisitely polished version of how the bride usually looks - after all, you want to look beautiful rather than your make-up,” says make-up artist and Lancome UK Make-up Artist Ambassador, Alex Babsky.
3. 'Trowel it on. It’s a total myth that your make-up has to be plastered on for the photographs. Lots of wedding photography is done in natural light, and if you choose a heavy base the make-up will look obvious. In terms of flash, you just need to ensure that your T Zone is matte and that can be achieved with fine translucent powders and blotting powders, not layers of make-up,' says Caroline.
4. 'Go for anything too trend-led. It's worth bearing in mind that you'll have to live with photos from your wedding for the rest of your life, so it's best to avoid statement looks and opt for something more classic; that glittery eyeliner you saw on a Parisian catwalk might look super pretty and modern now, but chances are it'll look tired and dated in twenty years' time. This isn't to say that you'll have to make yourself up in a symphony of beiges though if you're used to a more punchy make-up - vintage wedding dresses in particular can look breathtaking with a classic old Hollywood lipstick colour,' says Alex Babsky.

How to plan a wedding: your 12-month guide
5. 'Be scared of going a bit brighter. Neutral, brown, and pale lip colours can look washed out in photographs, so choose a lipstick that’s one or two shades brighter than what you would normally wear. If you usually wear a neutral hue, it should be worn as a base, with a pink or rose colour on top. If you typically wear dark lipstick, use that as the base, and apply a brighter pink on top to give the colour a lift. Pinks, roses and plums are all great, classic choices for brides,' says Bobbi.

6. 'Just apply make-up to your face. Instead, extend down your neck and over your shoulders if necessary, this will ensure you face is not a different colour or even texture to your body. Everything should look uniform to create the most natural look possible. An easy way to blend uneven skin tones together is to use a light fake tan. Do this the day before your wedding not the night and beware of darkening your skin tone too much as the effect it actually the deaden the look of your complexion,' says Caroline.
7. 'Forget to decide what kind of maintenance you’d prefer for the day. For example, are you happy to check you're looking okay throughout the day, or do you want to just forget about your make-up once it's on? Waterproof mascara is an obvious requisite, but it's also worth considering cream eyeshadows that really set - you can be sure they'll stay where you put them,' says Alex.

8. 'Go too dark on the eyes. Define your eyes by applying colour in the crease, but avoid using a shade that’s too dense, as it can detract from the eyes themselves,' says Bobbi.

9. 'Go too glossy or too matte. It's best to avoid lipsticks at either end of the texture scale; too glossy and they'll only last five minutes whilst too matte and they may leave your lips dry and cakey by the time it's the moment to kiss your groom. A moisturising, satin-y finish lipstick is best for a wedding - this kind of formula will keep your lips looking their best and will wear off the most evenly and naturally; several thin layers, blotted between applications will give the most long-lasting finish,' says Alex.
10. 'Rush. Allow at least 45 minutes to an hour for make-up application on the wedding day,' says Bobbi.

Read more at http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/blogs/cassie-steer/544615/bridal-make-up-tips-the-10-dos-and-don-ts-you-need-to-pay-attention-to.html#vJd6ThlvpcfuZtU6.99
You've got the dress sorted, now it's time to think about wedding beauty. We've put together these 20 bridal make-up tips, with a little help from the experts, to make sure you look flawless on your big day.
image: http://marieclaire.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/11116/00008135c/e13d_orh1000w646/Bridal-makup-L.jpg
image: http://marieclaire.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/11116/00008135c/e13d_orh1000w646/Bridal-makup-L.jpg
  


Simply say 'I do' to the following bridal make-up rules and prepare to wow.

Do:


1. 'Make sure you have your trial at least three weeks, but no more than 5 weeks, before your wedding. If you plan on using fake tan for the big day, have a test run before your make-up trial so that your artist can see what colour your skin becomes with the tan,' says M·A·C Senior Artist, Rebecca Butterworth.

2. 'Wear a white t-shirt if you’re having your make-up test in a store so that you can see how the make-up looks against a pale colour and take a picture of yourself in day light (with no flash) to see how it looks before you purchase anything,' says celebrity make-up maestro Caroline Barnes.
3. 'Emphasize your eyes by brightening any darkness under them with corrector and concealer,' says Bobbi Brown.
4.' Bring references to your make-up trial. Start looking for images of make-up that you really like and bring them with you on the day. Try to identify what it is you like about the make-up in the image and take into account that if you have the skin colour of Dita Von Teese then the make-up of Kim Kardashian won't necessarily translate onto you,' says Rebecca from M·A·C.

5. 'Remember that bridal make-up needs to have enough colour to compensate for the whiteness of the dress. There’s a big difference between everyday clothes and a wedding dress, so there should be difference in your make-up, too. Start by making sure your skin looks even and smooth, and then add colour to your cheeks and lips to give them a glow,' says Bobbi Brown.
6. 'Use individual eyelashes – they’re a brilliant way to make your eyes stand out and look far more subtle than a full strip. Go for differing lengths to create a really natural fluttery look and nestle them in between your natural lashes rather than fixing them on top,' says Rebecca.
7. 'Focus on the most important elements of your look, such as beautifully natural-looking skin, softly groomed brows and feathery lashes. If you get these basic factors right the rest of your make-up will fall into place,' says Caroline Barnes.
8. 'Research application methods as they might differ slightly from your everyday make-up routine. For example, if you prefer to line with a shadow, make it last longer by applying it with a slightly damp eyeliner brush,' says Bobbi.
9.' Go pro. The best wedding make-up should last as long as you do so I love M·A·C’s Prolongwear range which includes foundations, concealers, lip and eye products that provide superior wear that will see you through your wedding day and night,' says Rebecca.

10. 'Finish your make-up off with a highlighter shade on the browbone to make the eyes really pop. Go for a light matte shade, and pat onto the outer corner of the brow bone so subtly draw attention to this area of your face,' says Bobbi.
image: http://marieclaire.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/11116/0000782b9/a2ca_orh1000w646/Bridal-make-up-tips-L.jpg
image: http://marieclaire.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/11116/0000782b9/a2ca_orh1000w646/Bridal-make-up-tips-L.jpg
  


Don't: 

1. 'Have your make-up test done anywhere with overhead fluorescent lighting. If you have a professional make-up artist coming to your home, arrange a time when it’s still daylight outside,' says Caroline Barnes.
2. 'Let a make-up artist hijack your look. For a lot of people, their wedding is a time when they can really take pleasure in having someone else do their make-up, but I think there can be a temptation to just indulge in the experience and take on all sorts of suggestions from the make-up artist - someone who may not know you or how you like to look particularly well. I'd advise real caution here; you don't want to surprise your intended at the altar by turning up looking like someone else. Whether you're hiring a make-up artist or doing your own, I generally think that the best bridal make-up is simply the most exquisitely polished version of how the bride usually looks - after all, you want to look beautiful rather than your make-up,” says make-up artist and Lancome UK Make-up Artist Ambassador, Alex Babsky.
3. 'Trowel it on. It’s a total myth that your make-up has to be plastered on for the photographs. Lots of wedding photography is done in natural light, and if you choose a heavy base the make-up will look obvious. In terms of flash, you just need to ensure that your T Zone is matte and that can be achieved with fine translucent powders and blotting powders, not layers of make-up,' says Caroline.
4. 'Go for anything too trend-led. It's worth bearing in mind that you'll have to live with photos from your wedding for the rest of your life, so it's best to avoid statement looks and opt for something more classic; that glittery eyeliner you saw on a Parisian catwalk might look super pretty and modern now, but chances are it'll look tired and dated in twenty years' time. This isn't to say that you'll have to make yourself up in a symphony of beiges though if you're used to a more punchy make-up - vintage wedding dresses in particular can look breathtaking with a classic old Hollywood lipstick colour,' says Alex Babsky.

How to plan a wedding: your 12-month guide
5. 'Be scared of going a bit brighter. Neutral, brown, and pale lip colours can look washed out in photographs, so choose a lipstick that’s one or two shades brighter than what you would normally wear. If you usually wear a neutral hue, it should be worn as a base, with a pink or rose colour on top. If you typically wear dark lipstick, use that as the base, and apply a brighter pink on top to give the colour a lift. Pinks, roses and plums are all great, classic choices for brides,' says Bobbi.

6. 'Just apply make-up to your face. Instead, extend down your neck and over your shoulders if necessary, this will ensure you face is not a different colour or even texture to your body. Everything should look uniform to create the most natural look possible. An easy way to blend uneven skin tones together is to use a light fake tan. Do this the day before your wedding not the night and beware of darkening your skin tone too much as the effect it actually the deaden the look of your complexion,' says Caroline.
7. 'Forget to decide what kind of maintenance you’d prefer for the day. For example, are you happy to check you're looking okay throughout the day, or do you want to just forget about your make-up once it's on? Waterproof mascara is an obvious requisite, but it's also worth considering cream eyeshadows that really set - you can be sure they'll stay where you put them,' says Alex.

8. 'Go too dark on the eyes. Define your eyes by applying colour in the crease, but avoid using a shade that’s too dense, as it can detract from the eyes themselves,' says Bobbi.

9. 'Go too glossy or too matte. It's best to avoid lipsticks at either end of the texture scale; too glossy and they'll only last five minutes whilst too matte and they may leave your lips dry and cakey by the time it's the moment to kiss your groom. A moisturising, satin-y finish lipstick is best for a wedding - this kind of formula will keep your lips looking their best and will wear off the most evenly and naturally; several thin layers, blotted between applications will give the most long-lasting finish,' says Alex.
10. 'Rush. Allow at least 45 minutes to an hour for make-up application on the wedding day,' says Bobbi.

Read more at http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/blogs/cassie-steer/544615/bridal-make-up-tips-the-10-dos-and-don-ts-you-need-to-pay-attention-to.html#vJd6ThlvpcfuZtU6.99


You don't need an excuse for a celebratory bash—you're engaged! Party on with our engagement party primer.
Party guests at dinner table with wine glasses
PHOTO BY A SIMPLE PHOTOGRAPHY
The purpose of an engagement party—usually scheduled no later than three months after the big announcement—can be threefold: to share the news of your imminent union with future wedding guests, to introduce your families to each other, and to celebrate the impending, well, celebration. Tradition has it that the bride's parents host the initial gathering, but the groom's parents can then throw their own party, or both sets can come together to host the fete. As you decide, here are five things the hosts should keep in mind:

1. Your Family Should Give You Time to Breathe

An impromptu family gathering the weekend after your partner proposed is the perfect opportunity to break out the vintage champagne, but don't schedule an all-out opulent affair during the first month of your engagement. You both need some time to revel in just being engaged. Plan to have an engagement party two to four months after the question was popped. That gives you the chance to envision your eventual wedding—a crucial element to consider when deciding on the type of event to throw.

2. Find Out the Size of Your Wedding

Everyone who's invited to the engagement party should ultimately be invited to the wedding. Otherwise, guests might wonder what they did at the engagement party to insult you! That said, if you decide to host your own wedding and keep the list small and you want to throw an extravagant engagement party, go for it. Just be sure to let people know that the wedding will be small so no feelings will be hurt when guests aren't invited to the wedding. If you're worried that your friends will think you want to have a big bash solely to garner gifts, include a nice note in the invitation that requests no presents.

3. Consider What Will Make the In-Laws Most Comfortable

Since the engagement party custom was actually designed to help you start building bridges between your families, consider their style. If one of you has a very formal family, an impromptu picnic in the park might not be the most appropriate setting for getting to know one another. Likewise, a five-course sit-down dinner attended by all your friends might be a bit intimidating for them. Settle nerves by including as many people from their side as you can reasonably accommodate.

4. Register for Gifts Beforehand

While guests have not brought presents to this function traditionally, increasing numbers do today, so it's only fair to provide guidance. Register for gifts in the low to middle range—a $500 cappuccino maker is not your typical engagement present. If some guests arrive bearing gifts, just be sure you unwrap them after the party or away from the crowd, so people who came empty-handed won't feel uncomfortable.

5. Remind Yourself That There's Still a Wedding to Throw

Every host wants to plan an unforgettable affair, but you never want to upstage the main event. Try to create a different mood for the engagement party while maintaining your own style. You won't want to force a casual cookout if you (and your guests) favor formal parties, and vice versa. But if your guests are up to it, set apart a black-tie affair with a sit-on-the-floor, buffet-style engagement bash; preview a semiformal daytime wedding with a swanky cocktail party, ties optional; or balance a destination wedding with a home-cooked dinner party.


Bookmark and Share

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Azurite Health and Wellbeing




 SIGNATURE WELLNESS PROGRAMS

New Beginnings Cleanse

The New Beginnings Cleanse is an all encompassing wellness program, that specialises in detoxing of the mind, body and spirit.

Learn More. 

Weight Management Program

Enjoy healthy and delicious specialties, making you healthier and happier. Azurite designed the Weight Management Program to pamper your senses. Even though you are undergoing weight management, your sense of taste will still be tantalised and embraced with luxurious flavours, offering you a path to the next level of wellness.

Learn More.

Classic Detox Program

Unhealthy habits can take a toll on your body and health. Long periods of eating unhealthy food and overworking yourself can also cause toxin build-up in your body. Get rid of harmful toxins and achieve optimal health with a holistic detox program, which features Ayurvedic, Thai and alternative detox methods. Enjoy a specially designed detox juice cleanse and a program catered to suit your condition with the aid of a professional therapist. Yoga practices are also included to balance your body’s energy.

Learn More. 

Holistic Beautifying Programme

Embrace your inner youth and look just as good as you feel with Azurite’s Holistic Beautifying Package. Reverse the effects of time and get back to good habits of healthy living through a natural and truly rejuvenating experience.
This unique programme will revitalise the body and mind and make you look and feel younger each day. Only the finest premium organic skin care products are used to enhance your skin and bring out its natural youthful glow. Our spa and fitness team will also aid you in adopting a youthful and sustainable lifestyle by encouraging happiness of the mind through nutritional concerns and an appropriate schedule of meals, exercise and sleep.

Learn More. 

Rest, Relax and Rejuvenation Programme

A four-day-and-three-night itinerary of expertly orchestrated treatments and activities, which are intended to provide ultimate relaxation and rejuvenation, as well as setting guests towards a course of better health and well-being.

Learn More. 

Stay Well Program

Simple is sometimes the best. Azurite designed this package for guests who are focused on boosting their well-being and vitality through a simple path.

Learn More. 

Sleeping Well Program

In today’s bustling and frantic world, the benefit of getting a good night’s sleep has become paramount. Stress is in all aspects of day-to-day life, whether work- or play-related. Time is a commodity that we are all short of, and less time is being dedicated to sleep. A good night’s sleep is as important as healthy eating and regular exercise. Quality sleep restores our energy levels and helps us maintain good health and well-being. It revitalises our skin and mind, leaving us more refreshed and alert. Last but not least, it prepares us for a new day, making us more productive and efficient. Thus, good sleep is a jewel. Surrender your body, mind and soul with Azurite, where you can develop and enhance the quality of your sleep.

Learn More. 

WELLNESS RETREAT & REJUVENATION PROGRAM
Royal Cliff Hotel Group


Wellness & Rejuvenation Retreat

Royal Cliff has partnered up with Azurite to deliver the ultimate in exclusivity, wellness and rejuvenation. Various elements are combined for a perfect recovery with Cliff Spa treatments, rejuvenating activities, healthy cuisine and luxury rooms surrounded by an intimate relaxing environment.

Learn More. 





  
Bookmark and Share