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How to do your own wedding hair (and look picture perfect)

Want to do your own hair on your wedding day? Anna Baker, artistic director & head of bridal at Errol Douglas Salon picks three catwalk bridal styles and tells us how to create them at home…

Look One: 

GoRunway.com

Who does it suit?

Brides with a vintage 1920/30's feel to their bridal look.  This perfectly complements dress shapes with a drop waist silhouette and embellished beads, as it channels the overall feel and does not compete with the details in your gown.

Heart shape faces can carry this look beautifully as the hair up emphasises high cheekbones, and the horizontal angle of the roll is elegant without adding bulkiness to a wider jawline that heart shapes do not have.

Fine hair suits this best and if your hair has a slight kink or waves to it the roll will be super easy to achieve with your flexible texture.  Adding fine Highlights throughout can add depth to this simple yet effective up-do.

Get the look:

• Begin with a light setting spray  combed through freshly washed hair to give a workable texture and blow dry through using the Errol Douglas Infra-Red Pro Hairdryer for volume and shine, as the infrared dries from the inside out it locks in moisture so it shows in the finish.  
• Next divide hair at the nape into 3 sections. Beginning with the centre section, to create the balance essential for this look, roll from the ends upwards and outwards round your fingers until you reach the nape of your hairline.  
• Pin inside the roll pushing grips horizontally across onto the flat of your hair to keep in place and prevent the section from dropping.  
• Repeat with the left and right sections making sure to roll up and slightly inwards to connect with the central section.  

Top tip:

Apply a strong hold spray upwards from underneath the horizontal roll as this will neaten the shape and help support the roll from gravity dragging it down.  A jewelled clip placed to the side behind the ear can be a beautiful finishing touch to this vintage look.

Look Two:

GoRunway.com

Who does it suit?

Brides with a glamorous or outdoor setting.  This is stunning with strapless or halter neck gowns and those and brides who feel up-dos are too far out of their comfort zone to wear.

Square and round face shapes are flattered by the soft volume and waves with this look and the length elongates the face beautifully.

Long hair or hair with extensions such as the fantastic Pre Tape Extensions available with specialist Karis at Errol Douglas Salon. This look makes the most of flowing locks and the fullness disguises any extension tape bonds at the roots of your hair, perfect for brides under pressure to grow their hair. All hair shades can work with this look as the hair is definitely styled to be noticed!

Get the look:

• Rough dry hair pre-prepped with a heat protectant spray and a volume mousse. This gives structure and makes the hair pliable enough to hold this style. Set 2 inch width sections on heated rollers winding the hair around firmly to create the waves.  
• Once cool, remove all rollers and tip your head upside down, combing through using a large rake comb to create a loose textured feel before shaking at the roots to blend any section lines the rollers created.  
• Flip your head back and part softly in the centre.  
• Take one side at the front and twist the hair around your fingers pulling the twist back to secure just below the crown with grips.  
• Repeat with the other side and gently tease the hair at the front to soften the effect at the forehead.  
• Apply a flexible hold hairspray liberally through the hair for support to the waves

Look Three:

GoRunway.com

Who does it suit?

City Brides and bridesmaids looking for a simple effortless chic feel. This look works perfectly with designer wedding gowns, think Chanel and Tom Ford expert tailoring. If you want to soften this look tonging the loose ponytail can instantly add softness.

Oval face shapes are perfect for this look as its swept back quality emphasises the balance of the face and allows makeup to stand out if you are going for a statement lip or contoured cheekbones.

For fizzy or coarse hair textures, the Nano Keratin Complex Smoothing Blow Dry Treatment offered at Errol Douglas Salon works expertly to smooth an unruly texture without chemicals.  Also consider a Gloss Colour Service to enhance your natural shine ahead of the big day.

Get the look:

• Smooth through a styling cream and blow dry straight, refining the finished look straighteners.  
• Apply a light serum to maintain the sleekness needed and brush back to the crown securing in place with a band or bungee cord. 
• A unique accessory to add to this look, and make it more wedding appropriate, would be a strip of lace that's featured in your gown to wrap around the pony base or even a pearl necklace coiled around the start of the ponytail can lift the drop of the tail and give a simple style a unique twist.
• http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/news/beauty/2014/06/02/how-to-do-your-own-wedding-hair

The 8-Step Process to Planning A Wedding, Step 1: Where To Start

Firstly, congratulations!

A wedding day should be the most important day of any couple’s life and something that you should relish, so don’t let the planning put you off. We understand it can be a daunting prospect, especially as most people have little experience of organising an event for dozens, if not hundreds, of guests. But you should be able to enjoy the journey as much as the day itself, so we’re here to make the planning as painless and smooth as possible.

To make it more manageable, we’ve launched a special series of posts aimed at providing you with a detailed plan and breaking down the process into eight manageable chunks, followed by the ultimate wedding planning checklist.

Whatever your role in planning a wedding, whether you’re the happy couple planning your own big day, doting friends or family helping your loved ones, or starting out in your own wedding planning career, this guide aims to take you through each key stage, helping you make decisions, prioritise and complete the tasks essential for successfully planning the dream day. We want to make sure your wedding is well planned, within budget and, believe it or not, enjoyable to organise.

Of course, this being an event planning and management blog, we will be sticking to the things that fall within our expertise, we’ll be leaving other aspects such as choosing the dress, make-up, hair, gift list and the rings to those who know better.

Getting started

The proposal may have been nerve-wracking enough, but the thought of organising everything from scratch when it comes to the reality of actually planning a wedding can sometimes be enough to force anyone to abandon their hopes of a white wedding and run off to Gretna Green instead. But never fear, it doesn’t have to be a stressful experience.

Once you’ve broken the news to parents, family and close friends, it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty to start building the foundations of your big day. Start off with solid planning foundations and everything else will run a lot more smoothly.

Set the date

In many fields of work, setting a deadline can really help focus the mind, and it is no different when planning a wedding. This should be one of your first priorities because it will give you a clear timeframe and will also mean you’ll be able to get accurate costs from suppliers and check the availability for venues and facilities rather than working hypothetically.

Of course, it is not always just a case of plucking a date out of the air, in some cases there may be aspects that you’ll need to consider first, such as fitting around work commitments, availability of any particular venue you have in mind, and liaising with special guests such as parents, best friends and anybody needing to travel far. This may mean that you’ll need to come back to this point later, but start thinking about a date and get one in the diary as soon as you can.

When choosing a date

Ensure that you allow enough time for preparations and, if needed, time to save up.

Previously, legal requirements restricted the times of weddings and civil ceremonies in most of the UK to between 8am and 6pm, but these restrictions were scrapped in England and Wales in October 2012, and no such restrictions are in place in Scotland (similar changes are yet to be introduced in Northern Ireland).

However, it is worth noting that even though the law has changed, many local authorities and religious groups may still only conduct ceremonies during the traditional times and they cannot be forced to host a wedding outside of these hours, so if you want an evening or nighttime ceremony, make sure you choose a venue that is willing to accommodate this.

For maximum turnout, it may be best to avoid popular times of the year when guests are likely to book holidays and also check the calendar for event dates in your area, such as festival dates, major sporting events and school holidays. You don’t want to be saying your vows in front of an empty venue because the guests are stuck in Glastonbury traffic on the motorway.

However, it is also important to remember that this is your day and when choosing a date it is almost impossible to please everybody.

Create a wedding folder

Don’t let wedding planning take over. Start as you mean to go on by being organised from the beginning and create a ‘wedding file’ on your computer, which will include everything about your wedding.

Take advantage of modern software tools and cloud computing

Try getting a Dropbox account (it’s free), which is an online folder stored in the cloud, meaning you and your partner will be able to access it from any computer or mobile device. You can also download a copy of the folder onto your desktop so you’ll have the files saved to your computer too which will be automatically kept in sync when changes are made or documents are added. Once it is set up you can use it to quickly save and store anything useful you come across on the web, such as these essential eventjuice wedding planning guides!

There are also a host of other online tools which can help you stay organised, such as Google Apps for storing and sharing documents, Evernote for collecting links and jotting down notes on your computer, laptop or mobile, or even Pinterest for collating inspirational images.

Set up a dedicated wedding folder in your email account too and you can use this to save all the important emails relating to the wedding, especially things like quotes and confirmations from suppliers.

Put together the wedding budget

It is impossible to start planning your wedding without knowing your budget, so you’ll need to get a provisional figure together as a priority. The idea that the bride’s father pays for everything is old-fashioned, and these days it is usually a family affair with the bride and groom contributing the majority, especially if both are working.

Find out contributions

The first thing to do is find out how much everybody is willing or able to contribute towards the day. It may feel a bit embarrassing talking about money, especially so early on, but there is little point in contacting venues or suppliers that are out of your price range, and you won’t be able to settle on anything unless you know for sure how much you have to spend.

Some couples choose to go it alone to avoid family arguments about who should be invited to the day – after all, it’s harder to not invite your dad’s brother who you haven’t seen for 10 years if your father is paying for everything.

Once you have an idea of how much everybody is going to contribute, create a spreadsheet with your budget, compile a list of expenses and keep track of any financial activities here, so you can see how much you’ve spent and what is left to play with. Some couples choose to open a separate wedding bank account too.

Allocate the budget

If you have no idea how much some things will cost, allocate the budget by what’s most important to you and your partner, and then compare it to the average wedding budget to see if your budget is realistic.

According to UKWeddingBelles, the average wedding will cost £16,164 in 2013, here’s a breakdown of where the money goes:

The average UK wedding budget in 2013
Stationery – £320
Stag and hen nights – £318
Insurance – £122
The service – £520
Wedding rings – £640
Flowers – £680
Reception decor – £500
The bride’s outfit – £1,300
Hair and beauty – £195
The groom’s outfit – £180
Attendant’s outfits – £360
Transport – £290
Photography – £1,080
Videography – £875
Venue, including food and drinks – £4,600
Entertainment – £560
Wedding cake – £290
Gifts – £134
Honeymoon and first night hotel – £3,200
TOTAL – £16,164
(Source: UKWeddingBelles)

Of course, the above list is just based on averages and there may be significant differences if, say for example, you may prefer to spend more on entertainment and less on food. Rather than just changing your spreadsheet, think about creative ways that you could save money on the food. Don’t be afraid of going down the DIY route for parts of your wedding either, this is increasingly popular and can really add to the personal nature of your big day and should not be seen as a bad thing.

Announce your engagement

You’ll want to let everybody know that you’re engaged, so you might want to get on the blower and tell people about it. Or, alternatively, organise an engagement party, dinner or drinks to celebrate the fact that you are getting married. You may also wish to announce your engagement in the local newspapers.

Next steps:

In the next post we’ll take a look at putting together the guest list and roles in the wedding: Step 2: People Involved in a Wedding.

In the meantime, do you have any suggestions, insights, recommendations or great places to visit? Please share and let us know in the comments below and we’re always keen to hear on what you would like covered in future posts too.

- See more at: http://eventjuice.co.uk/the-8-step-process-to-planning-a-wedding-step-1-where-to-start/#sthash.GjB49MZ8.dpuf

http://eventjuice.co.uk/the-8-step-process-to-planning-a-wedding-step-1-where-to-start/

Bridal Shower Ideas | Bridal Shower Planning

Planning a Bridal Shower

Source: http://www.bhg.com/wedding/bridal-shower

Once upon a time there was a beautiful bride. And, as the bride's best friend, you're charged with throwing her the bridal shower of her dreams.

Your first task is to gather the troops. No one expects you to go it alone. Spreading the responsibility helps lighten the load and the costs. Plus, it gives you the chance to spend some preshower social time with the other women in the bride's life. Even if you think you can pull off this gathering on your own, it's a nice gesture to give others the opportunity to help.

Keep your sights on the leading lady. Let the bride be involved as much -- or as little -- as she'd like. Some brides want to be part of every decision. Others put their confidence in a close relative or bridesmaid and remain hands-off. Either way, respect her wishes. At the very least, though, choose an available date and location and let her supply or approve the guest list.

If you're planning a surprise party, you'll want to enlist the help of a trusted friend, sister, or mother of the bride, since they can assist with the date, guest list, and ploy for getting the bride to the surprise shower on time.

Shower day will be all about pampering the guest of honor. Make her laugh, make her blush -- and capture it all on film. Assign a close friend to stay by her side when opening gifts -- to jot down each gift and who it is from.

• The Wow: Start off an invitation with something clever to grab invitees' attention. Use a catchy phrase, image, or special paper that sets the tone or reveals the theme of the event and makes them want to RSVP right away. If the party is a surprise, be sure to note this prominently on the invitation and follow up right away with a phone call to explain the details.
• The Who: State who is hosting the event and the name of the guest of honor. Be clear about the RSVP date, and include a phone number and e-mail address so invitees can easily let you know whether or not they can attend.
• The What: Give the purpose of the event (in this case, a bridal shower).
• The Where: Supply details about the event location, including specific directions and a map if possible. Give instructions for parking, too.
• The When: Be specific about the date and time of the gathering. It's a good idea to include the day of the week (Saturday, October 1st) and a start and end time if applicable.
• The Theme: Planning a kitchen, lingerie, or other themed shower? Let guests know so their gifts and gift wraps add to the party ambience.
• The Wear: Put invitees at ease by cluing them in to the expected attire. If this is a casual event held outdoors in a park, you don't want anyone showing up in a little black dress and stilettos. If the party is more formal, the guests should know not to show up wearing shorts.
• The Wrap: It is often appropriate to include a note about gifts and bridal registry information with shower invitations. While some guests may disapprove, others will welcome the help in selecting an appropriate (and desired) gift.

Themed decorations are wonderful conversation starters and can make for a memorable occasion. Go with a creative theme for the shower, or borrow a theme or color scheme from the wedding plans -- a nice preview for the big day.

Browse these party themes to see if they spark your imagination.

Theme Ideas

• A travel shower could feature maps laminated into place mats, a globe centerpiece, and "tickets" for invitations. Wrap travel-related gifts in maps and create a menu of international tastes.
• Caribbean and tropical fish motifs might be the inspiration for a bride who is going scuba diving on her honeymoon.
• For a lingerie party you might drape the table with a cloth of silky chiffon, caught at the corners with bows of satin ribbon.
• A food-related theme can be a crowd-pleaser. Look for interesting clear containers to fill with candy almonds, jelly beans, or chocolates. Exotic coffee beans, teas, and shaped pastas are possibilities. Or create a menu that evokes a special theme that's meaningful to the bride.
• A bride who adores collecting may love a shower based on her particular interests. She might collect antique teapots, vintage linens, or silver -- all items that can be incorporated into your table settings and gift choices.
• A personalized shower theme can also be fun. The table could feature monogrammed mats and napkins which can then be given to the bride as a memento and gift. Monogrammed flatware, vases, picture frames, and linens are appropriate gift ideas.
• Recipe showers can be a lovely idea for a bride with an extended family of good cooks. Guests bring a prized recipe along with the utensils and equipment required to make it. Another idea would be to collect the recipes ahead of time and use the computer to assemble them into a one-of-a-kind cookbook.
• A hardware-themed shower might be perfect for a couple about to embark on a home remodeling project. It can also be a way to include a groom and his friends in the shower festivities.
• A paper shower is based on all things paper -- from engraved note cards to scrapbooks. Photo albums, archival memory boxes, personalized cocktail napkins, books, magazines, and event tickets can be ways to stretch the paper theme.

Original Big surprise for Bride and Groom...Chris and Leah Wedding 5 April 2014

Beautiful Budget Weddings

Source: http://www.hitched.com.au/wedding-planning/

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking your wedding won’t be as beautiful as all the others you see online and in magazines if you have a tight budget. We can tell you that is absolutely not true — you can have a fabulous wedding without breaking the bank.

Jess from The Wedding Designer agrees, and promises that they can offer lots of budget-boosting advice: “We even have an unlimited hire package, where our DIY brides and grooms can hire everything they could possibly need or want, including chairs, centrepieces and glassware, for a fixed price!”

To prove it’s not all about the price tag, Jess has shared the story of three of her couples and how they saved money but still had a wonderful wedding...

Bronya and Matt

“Bronya and Matt had such a wonderful idea of having a cake table with lots of different cakes from a local bakery. It was very effective especially when placed on a gorgeous mirrored dressing table. Bronya also found her dress in store and on sale!”

Ordinary cakes bought from a bakery are lots more cost effective than ordering a custom wedding cake. They can be jazzed up, and look amazing displayed at your reception. Plus, your guests have more to choose from!

Kelly and Adrian

“Kelly and Adrian opted to use a family member’s hay bale shed instead of a function centre. We couldn’t believe how gorgeous the old barn was and it was just meters from the river! They did an incredible job of stringing fairy lights to the roof using the farm’s tractor.”

Being creative with your wedding venue can save you a fortune. If you’re not lucky enough to have a family member with a suitable venue space you can use, consider restaurants or community centres as a cheaper alternative.

Nadine and Geoff

“Nadine and Geoff also saved on their venue by using a parent’s property for their ceremony, and the town hall for their reception.”

By keeping ceremony costs down, you can spend more on your reception. Just check with your celebrant that they are able to perform the marriage in your chosen location!

Jess is a big fan of being creative with your wedding budget: “We love it when our clients find little ways to save money, and in my opinion these money saving choices were what made the wedding so amazing! It shows the couples’ personality and tastes, which the guests can then relate to. I would always recommend ways to save money such as these to other couples we work with.”

To find out more about Jess and The Wedding Designer, why not visit her website — www.theweddingdesigner.com.au.