5 Tips for Feeling Your Absolute Best on Your Wedding Day
Important Questions To Ask Your Wedding Hair Stylist
4 Ways To Prepare for Your Wedding Morning
Why You Should Stop Searching for Cheap Wedding Vendors
“Seeking a great wedding photographer who can shoot my wedding, from getting ready to the end of my reception, who is not so expensive.”
“In need of a cheap live painter for my wedding.”
“Looking for a hair and makeup team for my wedding that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.”
“In search of a cheap florist for simple greenery and centerpieces.”
The truth is that most vendors would run like crazy if they saw posts like these. Matter of fact, you'll find these kinds of posts rarely have replies from actual vendors. In the world of weddings, “cheap” and “simple” are the words that are all vendors’ worst nightmare. If you plan to use these social pages to get referrals, post exactly what you need—and for heaven’s sake, be polite. A basic, “Searching for a great wedding makeup team for 10/18 in Houston who can work with my $1500 budget.” Stating your budget—and need—upfront allows vendors who are an ideal fit to respond directly.
Looking for “cheap” wedding vendors? We get it! Weddings can be expensive. As planning progresses, expenses begin to add up and budgets tighten further. Eventually, most couples face the ultimatum choice: going over budget or cutting some things they would like to have at their event. Let’s be real, we all have our Pinterest life and our real life. Not every wedding can be one hundred percent social media perfect, but you can still make the occasion perfect for you.
Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Vendors
All wedding pros understand that you are on a budget. To create your dream event, you need to consider the following when looking for and choosing professional wedding vendors.
DO NOT tell a wedding professional that he/she is “too expensive.” A good wedding vendor knows his/her worth and what the current market will support. Their services may be more than you can afford or would like to spend, but they’re not “too expensive.” If that professional is working in the industry, then there are a lot of couples who can pay their price. The vendor is not “too expensive.” They are just not in your budget, and that’s OK.
Don’t assume that you can’t afford a really in-demand wedding pro. If you are simply in love with a particular vendor, take the time to reach out to them. Be up-front about your budget, and ask politely if they have smaller packages or services that would work for you. Some wedding pros have cost-effective budget programs that they don’t really advertise. It certainly doesn’t hurt to ask.
Be flexible with your wants and even your date. If you have your heart set on a certain venue that is out of your financial reach, ask about alternative days. A Sunday brunch wedding is charming, and a Wednesday or Thursday evening cocktail hour event can be elegant and fun. Weekdays are usually less expensive than a Friday or Saturday booking. If you are getting married in a slow month, you may be able to negotiate a better price as well. Wedding season starts in early spring—mid-March—and runs through June. July and August are slow months, with the fall season kicking in after labor day and slowing down a bit for the holidays. You’ll never get a discount if your wedding is in October, aka the busiest wedding month of the year, but a vendor may be willing to work with you in July, when he/she only has one or two bookings.
Make sure you prioritize those things you love over those you simply want for your event. Spend your budget on those things that really matter to you, instead of solely seeking out cheap wedding vendors. Are your friends and family big foodies? Then focus your budget on an amazing food experience. Create beautiful tablescapes, and get the best caterer you can afford. Are you and your guests party animals? Then keep your décor simple and splurge on that open bar and an awesome DJ or band who will keep the party pumping all night. In love with a floral design that is way out of your budget? Select one element that can be recreated or use the color and idea as inspiration rather than trying to recreate the entire look. Remember, your guests are not going to remember the monogram mints you left on the table.
Your Wedding’s Unique Story
Now you have how-to knowledge to choose wedding vendors that meet your one-of-a-kind wants and needs. Think about you and your partner’s personalities and incorporate little details that reflect you as a couple. You can add a lot of style to your event by layering small, inexpensive details that tell the story of who you are. Build your wedding around the things that are important to you. Forget about doing things cheaply, and look for the best quality you can afford without busting your budget.
Remember, having a meaningful wedding is far more important than a Pinterest-perfect occasion.
XOXO-Mayra
Tips for Natural Wedding Makeup
“I want to look like myself.”
By far, this is the most common request of future brides! We understand that natural bridal makeup is anything but one-size-fits-all, and this description can mean something different for everyone. Do you want neutral colors? Do you prefer a lighter-feeling foundation? Are you referring to how dark the makeup is?
Essentially, these brides want to feel the prettiest they’ve ever felt without caking on the makeup. We hear you and understand! Our team at Simple Beauty Artistry focuses on enhancing your features with natural wedding makeup while making sure you look like YOU.
Our Approach to Timeless Beauty
To get a feel for what someone may consider a more “made up’ version of themself, we ask how you wear your makeup on a day-to-day basis and what you might do if you’re getting ready for a date night out. Do you like a filled-in brow? Do you like eyeliner? Do you fill in your waterline? Are you a lipstick or lip gloss kind of girl? This gives us an idea of what you are comfortable wearing.
The makeup application is about YOU and what makes YOU feel beautiful. There are ways to sculpt and create new features using dramatic contouring, but our approach to bridal makeup tips is more about enhancing the natural features you already have. Our professional services take the best of the best and make them pop! This is what I consider to be timeless beauty.
Our Tricks and Tips for Wedding Makeup
Love your eye color and want them to stand out? We’ll use some color theory to pick eye shadows that will make the color even more intense. Then we’ll go a step further and pick a lash shape that compliments your eye shape!
Love your lips? Let’s add a little color to them! If you want them to look fuller, we can use a contouring technique to give them a more of a pouty effect without over-lining.
Take good care of your skin and want it to glow? You’re speaking my language! The key to bridal radiance starts with proper skin prep and adding highlight on just the right places to catch the light in the most flattering way.
Simple Beauty Artistry is here to help guide you with these tips for bridal makeup, but ultimately our job is to make you feel the most beautiful you’ve ever felt on one of the best days of your life!
XOXO-Mayra
8 Wedding Beauty Mistakes and How To Avoid Them
IT’S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN. You’re down to the last couple of weeks before you finally say, “I do.” While going over your checklist for the 3rd and 4th time, you come to realize that maybe, just maybe, you’ve been slacking a little bit on your own personal care. We get it—you’ve been busy DIYing the last few things for the wedding. Wine and pizza are obviously the best options while staying up until 1 AM on a Wednesday painting candle holders, creating centerpieces, and working on your seating chart, right? And what’s the big deal if you don’t wash your face tonight? You’re tired and just want to crawl into bed.
I’m sure those centerpieces will look AH-MAZING, but YOU are the bride. You will be the main focus at the wedding, not the small details you’ve spent hours and hours perfecting. For this reason, I’ve created a list of common beauty mistakes brides make leading up to the wedding. Here are the top beauty dos and don’ts to prevent that dreaded “SOS” email to your bridal makeup artist the night before.
Mistake #1: Waxing anything on your face within 72 hours of makeup application
Why is this a pre-wedding skincare mistake? Makeup won’t sit properly on freshly waxed skin. The area will be red and the makeup will break apart. You also run the risk of having a reaction to the wax and then we’ll also have a breakout and/or rash to deal with.
How do I avoid this? Schedule your appointment about 3-4 days out from your wedding day.
Mistake #2: Getting your first spray tan ever within a week of your wedding
Why is this a common wedding skincare mistake? For one matter, you could end up looking like a patchy Oompa Loompa! You could also have a reaction to an ingredient used in the formula.
How do I avoid this? Get a spray tan 2-3 months out from the wedding to see how the color sets and if it becomes streaky. Once you find one you like, use that the week of your wedding.
Mistake #3: Trying out a new facial, hair color, or treatment the week of your wedding because your BFF or TikTok swears by it
Why is this on our list of pre-wedding beauty dos and don’ts? Any time you try a new product on your face, hair, or skin, you run the risk of breakouts and irritation. The damage can at times be so severe we can no longer provide the services requested.
How do I avoid this? Talk to your dermatologist, esthetician, or stylist to see what facial/treatment best suits your skin and or hair needs. Start treatments at least 2–3 months before the wedding to give your body time to adjust and see results.
Mistake #4: Switching up your skincare routine
Why is changing your skincare routine a major wedding skin preparation don’t? The same reasoning applies as why you don’t try a new facial right before a big event. You don’t know how your skin will respond—and how many times you’ll experience breakouts as your skin adjusts.
How do I avoid this? Talk to a professional several months out from the wedding to determine the best skincare routine for your skin type. Stick to that routine religiously in the time leading up to your wedding day! Often times the process takes several weeks before you see dramatic results, but there are also things happening you can’t see. Patience is key.
Mistake #5: Eating pizza, fast food, donuts, and drinking alcohol because it’s convenient and you “need a drink”
Why is this a mistake in our guide to pre-bridal skincare dos and don’ts? Fast food may be easy, but the grease is likely to cause breakouts. You’ll experience bloating, and alcohol will dehydrate your skin.
How do I avoid this? Stick to clean, unprocessed foods as much as possible! Limit your sugar intake, which also means limiting the amount of wine you’re drinking. Drink LOTS of water to keep your skin hydrated as well as eating water-rich foods like cucumbers and apples. If you haven’t noticed yet, hydration is KEY.
Mistake #6: Pimple popping and face picking
Why is this a mistake? Popping pimples is a great way to get an infection if your fingers are dirty, as well as causing the minor wound to scab over. If scabs are present on the wedding day, we cannot apply any makeup for sanitary and safety reasons.
How do I avoid this? Step away from the pimple! Avoiding touching your face is essential on any beauty dos and don’ts list. Remember, breakouts are normal when you’re stressed. Naturally, you’ll want to pop it, but the best thing you can do is keep your hands away from your face. A professional makeup artist can easily cover discoloration (red zits). What’s not easy is trying to conceal texture. If anything scabs over, the blemish will be much more noticeable.
Mistake #7: Whitening your teeth the morning of the wedding
Why is this a pre-wedding prep mistake? Most whitening agents will leave white splotches on your teeth for several hours after use.
How do I avoid this? If you can afford to, whitening your teeth at the dentist is the best option. If you want use personal white-strips, use them for a couple of weeks leading up to the wedding and then once more the night before the wedding. Avoiding liquids that stain your teeth, like coffee and red wine, is always helpful!
Mistake #8: Not getting enough sleep
Why is this a skincare mistake? Your skin quickly becomes dehydrated, and you’ll notice bags or puffiness around your eyes.
How do I avoid this beauty blunder? “Beauty Sleep” is a real thing! Studies show that when you’re in a deep sleep, your skin cells are actually regenerating at a faster speed. Proper snooze time helps with skin elasticity, complexion, and discoloration.
I know keeping up with everything can be a lot but feeling your best and looking fab makes it all worth it! You’ll be relaxing on the beach with your hunny soon enough, sipping on a margarita. Cheers!
XOXO-Mayra