Spring & Summer Jewelry Trends

When it comes to wedding day bling, the big issue is no longer what to wear, but where to wear it all. Brides are no longer content to confine jewelry to their ears, necks and wrists. It's more popular than ever to literally have a sprinkling of unique bridal jewelry from head to toe.


Brooches are big again, thanks to the trend toward vintage styles. If you want to create a point of interest on your gown, a sparkling brooch might be just the thing for you.


Another major trend among brides: Taking advantage of hair jewelry and headpieces.


[Source: You May Kiss The Bride ]

A creative bride or hairdresser can make a gorgeous "headpiece" by incorporating a favorite necklace into a hairdo. Lisa Raye was way in front on this trend when she tied the knot several years ago.



If you're wearing earrings or a necklace, it's always a good idea to make sure they complement you hairstyle and your wedding day attire. This will never change. Wearing a set is fine, as long as it doesn't look TOO matchy-matchy.



Don't forget the little things. Bracelets and bejeweled garters offer another way to add extra sparkle, if that's what you're after.


What do you think? What are some other ways brides can use jewelry to create personalized looks?

Wedding Day Beauty Tips



-by guest blogger Juliana Landis

Aside from her dress, makeup is one of the most important things a bride can wear on her wedding day. All brides want to look their best on this day more than any other occasion, as the video and pictures taken will be viewed for years to come. Makeup Juliana Landis has some great tips for you and your readers to achieve that stunning look on such the special day.



Before the big day arrives it is very important to research makeup artists at least 3-6 months in advance in order to set up trial run. By doing so a bride can discuss their look/style and scan through magazines to guarantee they get the look they want on their wedding day.



Creating a flawless base that doesn’t look heavy or caked on is essential. To do this, Landis believes a good primer is essential. When preparing a bridal client at her studio, Landis likes to airbrush her clients to give them a flawless red carpet look, using Temptu, as they have a great color range for every skin tone and their silicone base covers all imperfections. Also suggested is the bride should stay away from shimmer powders and bronzers as it doesn’t always photograph well and try to stick with a matte bronzer. To avoid unwanted shine, Landis uses a yellow toned translucent powder concentrating on the forehead, nose and cheek area. The most important step in creating a beautiful “blushing” bride is – blush! A romantic pink color works well on lips and cheeks as beiges and nudes will wash out in the photos, something critical for a bride to avoid! A great color Landis recommends is Nars in Orgasm, it works well will every skin tone and stays put all day and comes in a stick form that the bride can keep with her and re-apply as needed.



Eyes should be as natural as possible to create a classic and timeless look that will remain in style for years to come. Landis likes to use a beige color all over the entire lid, with a taupe color in the crease and a sweep of peach across the lid. This color combination will give the appearance of a no makeup look. To give brides a very natural, pretty look, Landis likes to create a light smokey eye, that always looks great. If the bride has blue or green eyes I like to use natural copper colors with a taupe in the crease for contour, these colors will make the eye color pop. My brown eyed girls look great with deep plums again with taupe in the crease and keeping in mind to blend blend blend. Eyes should be lined with a soft brown pencil, and if needed, individual lashes can be applied to add a more dramatic look. Make sure to use waterproof glue, or better yet – have semi permanent lashes applied by a professional. These will stay put through the wedding day tears all the way through to the end of your honeymoon.



To ensure long lasting lip color, Landis suggests using a lip liner a few shades darker than your natural skin tone and fill in with lipstick applied with a lip brush. This technique will hold much better than lip gloss.
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For last minute emergencies at the alter, the Maid of Honor should keep a rescue kit containing concealer, lipstick, Advil, band-aids, safety pins and tissues!!



Juliana Landis is an LA based makeup artist and brow/lash expert providing an array of beauty services at Juliana Landis Brow & Lash Studio in LA. For further information, please visit www.JulianaLandis.com.

Top 10 Eco-Beauty Secrets For The Blushing Bride


by guest blogger, Randi Ragan
For Body (B), Mind (M), and Spirit (S)

1) (B) Do yoga at least once or twice a week. Ask your instructor for poses that support back health and flexibility, as well as poses which strengthen the legs. These are two areas of your body that will receive the most stress on your wedding day from continual standing, very little sitting down, and (hopefully) several hours of dancing!

2) (S) Make time to take long walks with your Beloved. In addition to being great exercise, it is quiet, uninterrupted bonding time which will continue to lay the framework for a healthy relationship long after the actual wedding ceremony.

3) (M) Learn deep breathing and simple meditation techniques. Breathing deeply allows oxygen to circulate more completely through your system. Breath is the source of life. During inhalation, fresh energy is brought into the body, energy centers, and pores to nourish the cells, tissues, and organs. With exhalation, accumulated stress, stagnant energy, and toxins are released. Sitting quietly while focusing on your breath, is the easiest form of meditation. It keeps the mind from skittering here and there, wrecking havoc on our peacefulness.

4) (M) Work with aromatherapy to alter moods. Essential oils can be found online or in your local health food store. Dab on a cotton ball or cloth handkerchief and inhale.
Lavender is an excellent scent for calming and soothing; Geranium is for joy and uplift, Bergamot for insight and confidence, and Clary Sage for fatigue and burnout.

5) (B) Get regular facials (2 x mo), up to one week before wedding. Just as you would not jog around the block to prepare for a marathon, nor would you wait until the day before your wedding to get a facial. Preparing and nurturing your innate natural beauty with regular facials (with organic products, if possible), will have your skin glowing and in the most perfect state for all your photographs. In times of stress, and because they help release toxins from the skin, a really deep cleansing facial can cause temporary breakouts, so give your skin time to settle before the big day.

6) (B) Never let them see you sweat: natural ways to fight BO and reduce perspiration. No need to worry about ruining that beautiful wedding dress or even feeling stressed about how your stress will show up. Make it a point to use pH-balanced soaps and skincare products to maintain the protective acid mantle of your skin. Certain foods, such as meat, onions, garlic, exotic spices, and drinks such as coffee and alcohol, and smoking can lead to body odor. Cut down on dairy products and sugar - protect your gastro tract from yeast-enhancing sugar which spawns underarm bacteria and odor. One or two chlorophyll tablets or chlorophyll liquid taken with each meal may also help, as chlorophyll is a great deodorizer. In addition to your deodorant, try using a mild solution of hydrogen peroxide (3%) that can be picked up at the pharmacy. Put a teaspoonful in a glass of water and wash the underarm.

7) (S/M) Keep a journal. Write down any and all random thoughts, dreams you can remember (even fragments), conversations you’ve had, wish lists. It all has the effect of helping both your conscious mind and your inner life process the changes that are occurring in your life. There is no better therapy, and it lays the groundwork for huge insights and problem solving that help mitigate stress. And as everyone knows, stress shows up on your face.

8) (B/M): Eat smartly for beautiful skin, hair, nails, and to regulate moods. Food is fuel, and food is beauty. Conscious eating can also reduce stress. Pack protein rich small meals on the run on those days with tons of appointments and fittings: raw almonds, peanut butter and crackers, cheese sticks, or grab a smoothie instead of a soda or triple espresso. Omega 3, 6 and 9 create that healthy glow in the face and are found in salmon, flax seeds, and walnuts. Blueberries lower blood pressure and are crazy with antioxidants, kale and oranges have a high calcium content which keep hair and nails strong, carrots contain Vitamin A which eliminates ridges in the nail bed. Anything with folic acid in it will help stabilize mood swings: whole grain breads, chickpeas are the best source.

9) (B/M) Get regular therapeutic massage, especially the week before the wedding day. An obvious, but sometimes overlooked remedy for releasing pent up stress and tension. When you are in harmony with your physical being, in all ways, then the mind/body connection becomes paramount and something not to ignore. Massages can help reduce incidences of stress headaches, upset stomach, and insomnia.

10) (B) Get a hand and foot pampering treatment with a non-toxic manicure and pedicure.
Get this treatment a day or two before the wedding from a service that can give a luxurious and complete (at least 75 minutes) experience. Your hands will be immortalized forever in the ring photos, so they should look their absolute best. Your treatment should include a long soak, exfoliation, massage and really great, organic (if possible) products. The polishes should be high quality and listed as “Three-free” to assure they do not contain harmful chemicals. You can always source polishes on-line or from local health food store’s beauty department, and take with you to the salon.


Randi is the owner of GreenBliss EcoSpa, Los Angeles’ award-winning mobile spa and lifestyle company. She is a former yoga and meditation teacher, and regularly speaks, leads workshops and retreats, and writes about mindful self care for optimum health and beauty.

Simple Themed Wedding Invitations


Shopping for wedding invitations can be more difficult than what meets the eye, especially when you trying to stay within the vibe of your wedding and your budget. I decided to check out the invites over at Invitations by David’s Bridal to find some inexpensive, yet classy invite ideas that would suit the various wedding day moods and themes you are all celebrating.

Seasonal Simplicity

Those who get married in the Fall are looking for a crisp look for your autumn vows. Details of leaves and candy apple colors are perfect for October and November weddings, while floral designs are perfect for those getting married in warmer seasons.

Lakeside Nuptials

Overlooking the water from a dock or lakeside home? Whether your color scheme is warm or cool tones, most invites will come in various color schemes. There were some great choices of seaside ceremony invites for Cape Cod type ceremonies.

Great Outdoors

I absolutely love these scenic cards highlighting the wilderness and landscape. They would fit perfectly for a Mid-western, ranch-style wedding or even a mountainside, log-cabin celebration.

Destination

The dropping temperatures give any bride and groom the perfect excuse to escape to an island getaway to tie the knot. Get tropical with seashells, blue waves and palm trees that will get the guests longing for the set date.

Wedding Gown of the Day: Zanzis Bridal



"Maria"
by Zanzis Bridal

Vivienne Westwood Bridal



Vivienne Westwood's wedding gown was the most talked about couture piece from the Sex And The City movie a couple of years ago. But as glam as that gown was, it isn't the most interesting bridal dress Westwood makes. Her dramatic, Victorian style has become all the rage among edgier brides, so don't be surprised to see a lot more of this from other designers in the next year.








Something Blue?


Vintage cluster necklace by Lonkoosh
$65

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