Weddingbee

When my hair stylist and “friend” of five years double-booked my wedding day (with a more lucrative wedding offer several hundred miles away, no less), I was crushed. It felt like a slap in the face, especially because he told me only a couple of days before my only trip to Vancouver.

Because this was the only trip we would be taking before the wedding, it left me scrambling to find a replacement hairdresser that was available not only for a trial on short notice, but was also available to do 6+ updos on the morning of the wedding.

My mother booked a trial with a salon and spa near her house, and armed with the following images and a faint hope that everything would be alright, I set off yesterday morning.

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After my makeup trial (which was fun but in need of some fine-tuning), I moved on to my first hair trial, also at Sage Salon & Spa.

I truly love getting my hair done… it’s so soothing and relaxing. But this time I was more than a little tense. I still didn’t know whether I wanted my hair up, down, or half-back. After showing my stylist my hair inspirations and talking about the location and qualities of our wedding, we decided that an up-do would be best.

The first deciding factor was that if there is wind or weather, an up-do would (hopefully) stay in place longer and function better than leaving my hair down. Secondly, an up-do would give me a more functional place to hold a veil, should I so choose. Finally, talking about styles helped me realize that I really did like the classic look of pinned-up wedding hair.

To help get a feel for what I did want, we talked about the things that I didn’t want. I told her that I didn’t want my hair to look too prom-like, or too “severe,” which meant avoiding high, piled-on the head, tight, scalp-pulling ’dos.
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After visiting the rental company, meeting with our florist, and attending a tasting, we headed into Whitefish for my first hair and makeup trial at Sage Salon & Spa.

It was a real relief to have a trial so far in advance. For a long time, I had assumed that I wouldn’t be able to go out to Montana until September and so I scheduled what was to be my only trial on the day before the wedding.

Sage includes a trial in the price of their bridal hair and makeup ($60 apiece). Once I knew that I’d be driving out in May, I called Sage to see what it would cost to add a second trial - and I was delighted to hear that both trials would be free! I know that this isn’t standard, so I consider myself lucky, but they’ll be getting plenty of dough out of me for the travel and hourly rates to have them come out to Lake McDonald Lodge on the day of the wedding.

We got to Whitefish way before we were scheduled, so they started me early on my makeup. Here I am bare-faced (I had a stressful week, as evidenced by my pimply forehead):

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After that first makeup artist took another 2 weeks to return my call, I gave up and found someone else. I found Tasha and Sophie of Get Concealed. I really feel like they know what they’re doing, and they are super nice and fun.

Here’s what Sophie came up with for hair. She said it will be more defined during the next trial, but since we were fooling around with it this time there are a lot of flyaways and straight parts. Anyway, you get the general idea:

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I was referred to my makeup artist, Lisa Deniz, by my neighbor.  She’s a Business Manager for Bobbi Brown at the Nordstroms in the Roseville Galleria, and since getting my makeup done by a Bobbi Brown artist in LA for my Engagement Pics with Sarah K Chen, I was sold.

Rather than charge me for a trial, Lisa had me stop by an event where she was repping Bobbi Brown. On a side note, if you hire a makeup artist that typically works at a mall counter, she should be happy to let you stop in to the store when she’s working to give you a “free” trial. And by “free” I mean that it would be a great idea anyway to buy the extras you’ll need for touchups on your wedding day (pressed powder, lip pencil, lip gloss, whatever) so really, you’re just getting a makeover disguised as your makeup trial.

Anyhoo, my trial went great. I asked for a smokey eye, and I got it, although I’m rethinking it for my actual wedding day…it seems a little too “nighttime” for me, even though I’m most comfortable with a smokey eye.
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On Friday, I had my hair and makeup trial with Lypor*! I was really excited, because I haven’t had my hair done since….err… high school prom?Anyway, here’s the obligatory “Before” picture:

Miss Toucan sans makeup, sans hair product.

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We’re heading up to Wisconsin this weekend for a mock-up of our reception tables and for a hair and makeup trial! I am so excited I can hardly sit in my chair. I guess after all these months of planning, knowing that things are getting close and finally being able to do trial runs makes it seem so real…this is actually going to happen!

My Mom is bringing up two table runners - one without any edging and another (this cracks me up) that has ribbon on one side and bias tape on another. She wanted me to be able to see the difference between the two and decide which one I like, so she lightly attached both. Yet another reason to love Mama Sundae.

After the tables are situated, I’m having a hair and makeup trial at The Abbey Spa. After my last experience, I’ll admit that I am pretty nervous. This time I’m armed with inspiration pictures, but I’m trying to think of other ways I can decrease the odds of looking like a drag queen. I tried to be as specific as possible with the pictures. Here is my favorite one (source):
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I’m sorry to disappoint those of you who are reading this post today to find more embarrassing drag queen-esque photos of Miss Cupcake. Unfortunately for you, there will be no more drag queen incidents for this Cupcake. Fortunately for me, I won’t be looking like a lady of the evening at my wedding.

I had my second makeup trial last weekend with the amazingly talented (and uber sweet) Emily Aznouvarian of Cheekadee. Emily was referred to me by my fabulous day of coordinator, Jenn Poletti of Perfect Planners (after she got a good giggle at my expense when seeing the photos from my last trial — who can blame her?). Jenn and I have become quite friendly over the last several months, so I completely trust her opinion and value her referrals — she assured me that Emily is amazing, and her prices are also super reasonable, so I made an appointment for a trial.

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Over the weekend Mr. Sundae and I ventured from the city to the suburbs in search of wedding bands and suits on sale. We were hugely successful in both of those tasks (more on that later). So successful, in fact, that I was feeling pretty brave. But before I get into all the details you’ll need some background on the situation…

I don’t normally wear much makeup. I have pretty clear skin and therefore skip foundations in favor of light powder. My daily makeup regimen consists of a little eyeshadow, some mascara, and lipgloss. I’ve had my makeup done a few times in my life, always for special occasions, and I have always wound up hating it. But I realize I must have just had bad luck because now I’ve seen the magic that good makeup artists can create. I know without a doubt that I need some makeup help on my wedding day, but I’ve been avoiding that situation like the plague for fear of aforementioned hideousness (Miss Cupcake’s experience only heightened the fear). But like I said, on Saturday I was feeling brave.

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I scheduled my hair and makeup trial for Saturday, just before my shower. (If you are doing hair and makeup trials, I’d highly recommend scheduling them for some sort of occasion, so there is a reason for getting beautified.)

I headed to Studio Palmieri, located in the Warehouse District in Cleveland. The studio was chosen strictly based upon location- it is only 3 blocks from the hotel where I will staying the night before the wedding. When I was speaking with one of the receptionists on the phone, she decided to set me up with the amazing Dena to do both my hair and makeup.

For the hair, I just wanted a simple french twist. Dena graciously offered to take pictures of every angle of my hair, so that if I want something changed for the wedding, I’ll be able to tell her exactly what I want done differently.

The back
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