2011/12 Blogging Brides

Hello! As I suspected, practically 100% of you said that you think Chris and I should sit together during the ceremony. Some also gave me some fantastic different ideas and options to consider trying out at our rehearsal. Thanks so much for giving me your thoughts and ideas!

Tomorrow I am having my second hair trial. As you may remember, I settled on a french twist style at my first hair and makeup trial back in November

However, I have some other ideas and styles I'd like to try out now that my hair is so much longer, and I just want peace of mind that it really is the style I want to go with.

Other than that, I have a laundry list of other errands and projects to work on this weekend...two more weekends before the big day!! Today I'm going to re-post my 2011/12 Blogging Brides Page. There has been a TON of new additions since I last posted this, and it was such a hit I made it a page at the top of the blog. Definitely check out some of the amazing bloggers listed here.

Source

2011

February
          2/19: Laura @ Wine and Cheese, Please

March
          3/5: City Girl Bride
          3/24: Heidi @ The Sweet Life

April
           4/10: First Comes Loves
           4/10: Victoria @ Little Miss Mac (to be)
           4/16:  Orange Juice in my Cheerios  
           4/17: Justine @ A Knot Editor Gets Married
           4/19: Two Hearts, One Beach Wedding          
           4/??:  Sara @ Butterfly Cottage
           4/23: Kayleigh @ The Knottie Bride
           4/23: The Future Mrs
           4/30: Nicole-Lynn @ Seaside Smitten
           4/30: Melissa @ The Best is Yet to Come (My scarf swap pal!)
         
May 
          5/1: Beth @ The Goodlaff Bride
          5/1: Katie @ Koala Chique
          5/6: Mrs. Vid To Be
          5/21: Laura @ Saying "I do"
          5/21: Anne @ The Fit Bridesmaid
          5/21: Heather @ He Asked, I said Yes
          5/27: Lauren @ Eat Drink and Be Married 
          5/28: Jessica @ A Little bit of Everything
          5/29: 5K Becomes a Bride

June
          6/9: Miss Tattoo @ Tattoos and Lace
          6/10: HillJo @ Daisy to Sunflower
          6/10: Erin @ The Long Distance Bride         
          6/11: Miss Puppy Love
          6/11: It's a Love Story
          6/11: Natasha @ A Day in the Life 
          6/16: Steph @ You're the Cheese to My Macaroni
          6/18: Kassi @ Truly Lovely
          6/19: Always Wright @ Wedding Day and Beyond         
          6/19: Vicki @ Crowning Victoria 
          6/22: Jessica @ Happily Ever After
          6/24: Kamie @ True Love Story's Never Have Endings
          6/25: Becca @ Countdown to June 24, 2011
          6/25: Chelsea @ Chelsea Gets Married
          6/25: Kelly @ The IKEA Bride
          6/26: Holly @ June 26, 2011

July
          7/2: Lexi @ $15K and 1,000 Miles Away
          7/9: Miss Margarita
          7/10: Leana @ Enginner + Geek Tie the Knot
          7/16: Jasmine @ Jasmine and Sean
          7/22: Shana at Whimsy Wedding Day         
          7/30: Natalie @ Semi-Homemade Wedding
          7/??: Robin @ HitchDied

August
          8/1: The Oceanside Bride
          8/6: Annie @ WinkingAnnie
          8/6: Lisa @ It's the Same but Different
          8/10: Miss D @ And Something Pink         
          8/13: Jill @ Strawberry Blonde Bride
          8/15: Miss Cuddlefish @ All the Lacy Details
          8/20: Tiffany @ To Be Wed 
          8/20: Dee @ LittleBirddee
          8/27: Donnica @ Fighting Bridezillas
          8/27:  Lauren at The Bride Side of Life
          8/29: Amanda @ Twoninenine and Ever After         
          8/??: Cheap Chic Bride
          8/??: Terra @ Adirondack Jersey Girl

September
          9/3: Cheryl @ Sweet Disposition         
          9/??: Sarah @ A Wedding with a View
          9/??: Wannabe DIY Bride
          9/9: Amanda @ From Thee to We
          9/10: Manda @ Wouldn't Change it for the World..
          9/10: Jenny @ Our Day In the Making
          9/17: Jenn @ A Sweet September Wedding 
          9/18: Future Mrs. Brake
          9/23: Heather @ Hangry Pants 
          9/24: Margie and Drew @ Margie and Drew's Southern Wedding Blog

October 
          10/1: Confessions of a Grad School Bride
          10/7: Miss Doxie @ My Journey from Miss to Mrs.
          10/8: Mallory @ That's what she said is getting hitched!
          10/13: Melinda @ Wedding Stuffz
          10/15: Allison and Steve   
          10/15: Miss Coffeebean @ What This Heart Wants
          10/15: Tara @ Diva Gone Domestic          
          10/22: Jenny @ Jenny Busy Bee
          10/??: Ms. Lemon Puppy @ The Lemon Puppy

November
         11/5:  Kristin @ Busy Bee
         11/12: Danielle @ Sealed with a Kiss
         11/??: Hearts and Whimsy
         11/25: Ashley @ Eleven Twenty Five Eleven

December
          12/3: Stephanie @ The Vintage Modern Bride

2012 Brides:
April
4/14/12: Mel @ Adventures in Wedding Planning
4/21/12: Imperfect Obsession
4/21/12: "I do" on the Bayou

May
5/5/12: Karen @ The Adventure Begins

June
6/2/12: Tracy @ B and T Wedding

September
9/1/12: Building Life Through Love


October
10/13/12: Sandy Toes Bride

Wish to be added to this list, or make a change? Email me at info@lauraandchristopher.com, or leave a comment below.

Hair and Makeup Trial

I had my official hair and makeup trial yesterday! It seems a little early to have it, but I wanted to try them out and hopefully book (which I did!) these two women before anyone else snatched them up! Sandra Baldini comes highly recommended on many of the Long Island wedding message board and websites I read, not only for being great, but because her price is so unbelievably reasonable. I called and emailed a LOT of people regarding makeup and she gave me absolutely the best price out of everyone. She actually is going to be on My Big Friggin Wedding tonight at 9:00 on VH1. Haha, I know, I know...she was not immensly proud to be making her reality debut on such a show, but she happened to be booked for one of the weddings that was being featured (this is Long Island after all...) and the episode she filmed will air tonight! I had no intentions of watching this show, buuuuut I'm going to make an exception for tonight. So, if you watch: my makeup artist is Sandra Baldini, and she does makeup for the couple Sandra and Joey who I believe are featured first in the episode.

On to the day: My parents were visiting for the weekend so they could be there for my trial, which I'm so grateful for. Dad was a trooper with all the girly stuff, but as my resident photographer he was there to capture it all for me, (he's where I get my innate need to document everything). We arrived at Sandra's gorgeous house at noon. She JUST got a studio set up in her basement, and told me I was the first person to use her new space, which was still a work in progress but perfectly functional for our purposes of the day. 

I really enjoyed Sandra! She was super fun, suuuch a character, talked me through everything she did, listened to every question and concern I had, and I feel so confident leaving my makeup in her hands.

And here's me with finished makeup...and a funny expression...

We decided the eye makeup was a bit darker than I wanted, so on the day of, she's going to use a lighter color to line my under-eye so it's not as dark. I think that will be much better.

When I called Sandra to ask about makeup, I asked her if there was a hair stylist that she normally works with. She said she often works with a woman named Terri Valente who's been doing weddings for years. Once my makeup was done, Terri started work on a few hairstyles. I showed her my inspiration board and she tried a ton of hairstyles low and to the side, like I had asked for.

Hairstyle #1:

Hairstyle #2:

Hairstyle #3:

 Hairstyle #4:

Hairstyle #5:

I wasn't entirely feeling any of these hairstyles. When we tried the veil on with them, it didn't really work. I think the main problem is that I simply don't have enough hair to get most of the looks I was envisioning. My hair is very thin so a big curly up-do, turned into a puny, curly up-do, and it looked so small. She suggested adding a hair piece, but I really don't want to do that. So, I asked if I could keep the height of the hairstyle in #5, and try a french twist in the middle of my head.

Hairstyle #6:

This, I loved!! Now, we were getting somewhere. I really liked how elegant it looked in the back and even how it looked in the front. This was timeless and classic. And once we added the veil, it fit beautifully!

Now, I also have been waiting to tell you all about my veil! I hadn't written about this because I didn't know if it was going to work with my chosen hairstyle. Around the beginning of September I was finishing up my piano lesson with my two Tuesday night students. I often talk to their mother for awhile after their lessons and they're a really great family.  So that night as we were talking, she asked me if I had already bought my veil for the wedding. I told her I had an idea of what I wanted, but I still  hadn't purchased it. She then pulled out of her closet a hand-cut Vera Wang veil from her wedding 10 years ago, still in mint condition...and said if I wanted it, it was mine. Let me repeat....if I wanted it, it was mine! I protested a few times, and of course offered to pay her for it,  but she told me that with her two sons, and no nieces, there was no one in the family that would ever take it. She insisted, and I walked out of there with a beautiful, and free, veil!!!

This veil is currently cathedral length, and the one that I liked at the bridal salon went to my fingertips. But, I can easily alter this veil to the length that I want and add a little trimming if I choose. However, it's a very plain, simple veil which I had wanted, and also the perfect off-white color to match my dress. I really don't think I will need to do anything to it other than alter the length!! I don't have a full picture of it, but here's what it looks like added to the hairstyle.

At that point, we had been there 3 hours and we were all getting a little restless. I liked this hairstyle and there was so much hairspray in my hair that I knew asking for a half up/half down style would just be rather difficult to do. So, I left there  feeling great, and booked these two women for the wedding. Now, I was all dressed up and nowhere to go!

When I got home, Chris said I looked like I was right out of Mad Men which, I'd say is pretty good! I looove that era (and show!) Chris loved how I looked, but he also said he loves my long hair down, too because that's usually how I wear it, and was curious if I had done any hairstyles with some of my hair down. This was a thought that had crossed my mind as well. I also thought about how my hair will be longer by May and therefore some of the styles might work very differently. If you've noticed, here's where my overanalyzing self begins to take over!!

All in all, at least I know that I like these two women, they are booked, and if I need to do another hair trial in May to make absolutely sure that I'm confident with my hairstyle, then so be it: I can decide that then. I do think ultimately, I'm going to stick with an up-do anyway.
But for now: Hair and makeup= Check!

We ordered in Chinese food for dinner with my Mom and Dad before they headed back to PA. Another successful weekend with the parents! Note: My arms are both out at the same height on either side, except my right arm is around my mom's shoulder and my left arm is around my dad's waist....FUNNY!

All pictures courtesy: DAD