Now that I have our wedding pictures back, I can share more of the day with you! I’ll start at the beginning, with getting with my bridesmaids and me getting our hair and makeup done. (I don’t share many photos of my friends and family on the blog for privacy reasons. However, you can imagine that they were all there enjoying the day with me from start to finish!)
Breakfast
Two bridesmaids, my sister (and maid-of-honor), her boyfriend, my mom and I all stayed at my mom’s house the night before the wedding. All of us–minus boyfriend–were up early at 6am the next day! My mom made a big pot of oatmeal with fruit and peanut butter for breakfast. I had some English breakfast tea, too. I needed the caffeine since I got a grand total of three hours of sleep the night before. Too excited to sleep!
My sister planned a lovely surprise for me that morning. She decked out the kitchen–where we’d be getting ready–with cute pink decorations and set up cosmetic mirrors for all the bridesmaids to use to do their makeup. She got me a Mrs. mug and made me a “bridesmaid album,” and she got collared shirts for us all to wear while getting ready. It was so sweet and thoughtful. She definitely wins the maid-of-honor-of-the-year award 🙂
Makeup
At 7am, our two hair stylists arrived to set up. They curled everyone’s hair before styling it, starting with me. As they were working, my makeup artist arrived. I had trials for both hair and makeup at the beginning of June, so I knew what I wanted with just a few changes. My pre-wedding beauty prep included a visit to my usual salon for a haircut and brow waxing the week before the wedding, and a manicure two days beforehand.
I went very light on makeup–I don’t wear much (if any) normally. My makeup artist used airbrush foundation, since I have a rosy complexion and didn’t want my face to be too red in photos. She also colored my brows with a reddish brow pencil, since my brow and hair color don’t match naturally. Also, I wore a bit of light brown/tan eyeshadow, a smidge of eyeliner and mascara, and a lip color that matched my natural lips. I felt very comfortable and very me in the result, which was wonderful.
At 8am, my mom left to have her hair done by her normal stylist. Soon after, at 8:30, the flowers and the photographers arrived at about the same time. My bridesmaids helped the photographer find various items to photograph (shoes, accessories, dresses). Then, they started on their own makeup.
Hair
While they were going their makeup, the girls switched off getting their hair done. They picked a nice variety of hairstyles. I told them they could choose whatever they wanted! I’d already given them fairly free rein with respect to dresses, shoes, and accessories. So, I wasn’t about to turn into a bridezilla over hairstyles! They all looked lovely and the stylists had fun with the variety.
My style took a bit longer, over an hour, to complete. I counted 48 bobby pins when I took it out that evening! I wanted something sleek but traditional. I did not want messy, as I was worried that messy would make my dress look “country.” My stylist suggested a low chignon with some wispy curls around my face. I absolutely loved it. It also stayed in amazingly well! E and I took some portraits of just us at the end of the day and my hair still looks very neat in them.
Unfortunately I don’t have any good back-of-head shots from our beauty prep–but I do have some from the ceremony. I’ll share them in a week or two so you can see the final product!
Finally, my hair was done and I joined my bridesmaids for a little pre-dress photoshoot. The pictures turned out so cute with our matching shirts (pale pink for them to match their dresses and white for me)!
Meanwhile, our second shooter headed to the church to photograph the guys putting on their finishing touches. Then, it was time for us girls to get dressed! This post would get too long if I added outfit details in here, though, so I’ll save that for next week.
Vendors Mentioned
Photographers: Studio 220 Photography
Hair & makeup artists: A-List Bridal Hair & Makeup
Haircut & brow waxing: Juut Salon Spa Edina
Manicure: Spalon Montage
Have you ever gotten your hair and makeup done professionally? This was a first for me! I’m usually pretty low maintenance but I enjoyed feeling pampered on my wedding day 🙂
And what’s new in your life in general? I haven’t blogged in a hot second. Fill me in on your life!