Prepping for Your Wedding Day

Wedding planning can be stressful, but try to take some time for yourself leading up to the big day. If you're anything like me, you want your wedding day to be perfect down to the tiniest detail. And part of that is feeling and looking your best. Whether you're the bride, a bridesmaid, or the bride's mother, you deserve to be at your most beautiful.

All eyes will be on you as you walk down the aisle looking like a million bucks. But more importantly, you’ll feel confident and beautiful knowing that you took care of yourself in preparation for this very special day. So go ahead and give yourself a little extra love in the weeks leading up to the big day—you deserve it!

Here are some tips on how to prep for your big day.

Hair

First, let's talk hair care. If you're wearing your hair up, you'll want to ensure it's hydrated and healthy. I like to use a product called Nutrafol Women, which is a supplement that helps with hair growth and overall wellness. It works to target the root causes of compromised hair health, including hormone imbalance, stress, poor metabolism, and aging. I’ve been using this supplement for months now, and I can attest to its effectiveness.

Nutrafol Women, $79

I've also found that getting regular trims leading up to the wedding day helps my hair look its best (this is where I come in!). 

Tip: If you color your hair, get a touch-up a few weeks before the big day. However, if you're using supplements for hair growth, take them as directed.

Get That “Lit From Within” Glow

As for skincare, you'll want to start exfoliating and moisturizing regularly. I like to use a gentle exfoliator a few times a week and then follow up with a hydrating mask or serum. 

On the wedding day, I would recommend doing a sheet mask to give your skin some extra love. Ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid can hydrate your skin and make it feel plump and glowy.

One Wedding Cliche To Follow

And finally, be sure to get enough sleep, eat well, and drink plenty of water in the weeks leading up to your wedding. Better yet, incorporate these things early into your routine to build a habit. This will help you feel your best on your big day!

Last But Not Least: Have Fun!

I hope these tips can help you prep for your wedding day. Just remember to relax and enjoy the process. It's a very special day but it’s only the first day of the rest of your lives so don’t stress. Just savor every moment. What matters most is what comes after: working and building each other up as you explore this new chapter.

Do you have any tips on how to prep for your wedding day? Share them in the comments below!

Shop Nutrafol products.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. Please keep in mind that I included this brand and its products because of their quality first and foremost. The buying decision is always yours.

6 Best Bridal Hairstyles for Spring/Summer 2022

We’re back to planning weddings again, so searching for the perfect bridal hair, gown, shoes, and accessories is more crucial than ever. As a hairstylist, I understand how important it is to look and feel your most beautiful on your big day. While I make it a point to consider the bride’s face shape, dress style, and theme, some clients would still request a trending hairstyle—and that’s okay! Every bride deserves their dream wedding hair.

With that said, I took it upon myself to look at this year’s biggest bridal hair trends and pick some of my favorites.

The Undone Updo

With micro-weddings becoming more popular, more brides prefer a ‘messy’ but chic look a la Meghan Markle on her wedding day. It exudes an ethereal vibe perfect for boho brides. This look is done by pinning pretty waves in a low bun and leaving a few strands curled at the front.

Mermaid Waves

Stunning mermaid waves are excellent for laid-back brides who still want a touch of elegance to their look. Glossy and voluminous curls give off an old Hollywood vibe, making it a perfect complement to your glamorous wedding dress. This style is versatile for any neckline, whether it’s a sweetheart, square, strapless, or asymmetrical neckline. I love mermaid waves because you can adorn them with a lovely tiara or a flower crown as a finishing touch!

Elegant Chignon

If you want something elegant yet sweet, opt for a classic chignon. It’s simple but versatile enough to style however you want, whether you like your chignon braided or a little bit relaxed. You can also incorporate unique accessories like flowers or pearl pins to elevate your look.

Long and Volumized Braids

Braids have been a long-running trend in the beauty world, and bridal hairstyles are no exception. There are many ways to wear them, from loose plaits to big fishtail braids. Braids are also fun to accessorize. For example, you can weave in dainty flowers for a unique and romantic look or insert embellished pins, combs, and more.

Half Upstyles

If you are looking for the perfect in-between bridal hairstyle, you can’t go wrong with this one. Kate Middleton wore her hair just like this on her big day. Like mermaid waves, this style suits laid-back brides who still want a polished look. It looks gorgeous with an off-the-shoulder dress or a lace gown. A half upstyle hairdo is also perfect for accessorizing. Think flower inserts or crystal clips to add character.

Natural Curls With Hair Accessories

For ladies with beautiful, textured hair, any hairstyle would look fabulous on you! For instance, a half-up half-down hairstyle is best for a daytime glam look, and then you can let your hair down in the evening for a more relaxed look. For more drama, accessorize with gemstone clips, flower inserts, or a tiara.

Ready to Say “Yes” to the Hair?

After browsing hundreds of hairstyles, it all comes down to what you want for your special day. These trends serve as an inspiration to find your dream hair. Once you find it, we’ll make it happen!

Let’s discuss your hair for your big day! Download our ShineForth Bridal Info and Rates and see how we can work together.

Photos by Bridget McDonald Photography (couple); Photography Maghradze PH (mermaid) and Jonathan Borba (curls) from Pexels; Joeyy Lee (undone updo), Brock Wegner (chignon), Alvin Mahmudov (braids) and Devon Divine (half updo) on Unsplash

Wedding Hairstyling

What I love about wedding hairstyling is that you get to meet wonderful people and be a part of a day to be remembered for a long, long time. I consider it an honor to be a part of the day but to help the bride find a wedding hairstyle that will bring out her regality and compliment her dress and theme for her wedding.

I loved Lindsay from the moment I met her. Ease, grace, and kindness are words I would use to describe her.  I think she looked just beautiful!

Wedding Photo Shoot

Photo shoots are an excellent way for me to exercise my creativity. I love the camaraderie on a shoot, where "the team" is working on a common goal of getting fabulous pictures. The purpose of this shoot was to create a series of bridal looks.

The team consisted of photographer Kristina Varaksina, beautiful designs by Joseph Domingo, Makeup Artist Chloe Rainwater, Model Lindy Castro, and flowers by 7 Victoria Street. Great group of inspired creatives! In bridal looks, detail is everything.

'For this series, I began with the looks that were the softest in texture to allow me to build the hair up with products as the day progressed. This shoot was ALL DAY!

I worked with L'Oreal Professionnel products, beginning with Volumetry and Volume Envy Mousse. Second look, I used some Infinium hairspray.

Third look, more Infinium hair spray, and the use of pins.

Wedding Hairstyle

Styling hair for weddings can be tricky. A bride usually brings in a photo that may or may not look like the same texture as her own. From there, it's my job to recognize her hair texture and be honest about what it will or will not do. Of course, working with a client who respects this honesty is always easier. Managing expectations is part of my job.

I always focus on what I can do. For Candace, who has lots of hair, it was essential to find a way to dress up her hair so that it felt gorgeous and would stay put.! I brushed L'Oreal Professionnel's Mousse Volupt́é into the hair to create a texture of hair that would hold. Then I sprayed Infinium #3 on each section, used a curling rod, and pinned the curls.

I wanted to create an elegant hairstyle that, that night or the next day, could be taken down and have lots of body in the hair.