Blogs

Even though you may have mastered the art of applying your own makeup, you might not be translating your style accurately when it comes to your makeup trial. Getting across the look you like to the experts can be tricky! We sat down with Kimara Ahnert, of Kimara Ahnert Makeup & Skincare Studio in NYC, to learn how to make the most of your makeup trial — and how to avoid the most common makeup trial mistakes.

1. Be Specific
“You may say natural but want false individual lashes at the same time,” says Upper East Side’s favorite makeup artist, Kimara Ahnert. Rather than describing what you want as “smoky” or “natural” and using words that might be interpreted differently by the expert, you should start by telling the artist which features you want to accentuate and/or play down. For example, you can say that you want your eyes to pop, and she may recommend a more dramatic eye and neutral face and lips. Try to be as specific as possible in your verbal descriptions.

2. Bring the Goods
Provide as many props and visuals as possible, including makeup products you love, as well as magazine tearouts of your favorite looks. Better yet, Kimara gives this recommendation: “Apply your own makeup like you would for going out and wear it to your trial. It is the best way for me to see what you usually do and improve upon it.”

Valentine’s Day is a day dedicated to love, so it comes as no surprise that thousands of couples tie the knot on February 14th each year. According to a survey by American Express, a whopping 6 million people are planning or expecting a proposal this Valentine’s Day. If he already put a ring on it, why not get married on the most romantic day of the year? We’ve rounded up the most unique ways to get hitched this week in NYC — these wedding venues are anything but ordinary and are sure to make your special day all the more unforgettable!

Each week, we feature wedding music recommendations from Scratch Weddings, the nation's leader with the best wedding DJs at affordable prices. This week's post comes from DJ Center, who spreads his signature sound worldwide. He's performed with music icons like John Legend, Estelle and Digable Planets, as well as for corporate clients like Adidas and Gucci. 

From funk to hip-hop, R&B to pop classics, Center flows through genres effortlessly. "Weddings are very special celebrations and I'm honored to entertain on the couple's big day. I create a custom mix that will keep everyone dancing all night long and then talking about it for weeks to come.”

Photo Credit: Ashley Rose Photography

TLC’s latest wedding series, "Something Borrowed, Something New," premieres tonight at 10 p.m. EST (9 p.m. CST). In each episode, one bride-to-be works with designer Kelly Nishimoto and stylist Sam Saboura to help her choose between two dress options — a "something borrowed" family heirloom (like her mother's gown) that Kelly re-works into something more befitting of a modern-day bride, or a fabulous "something new" that Sam shops for with the bride's preferences in mind. In the end, the bride has a very important decision to make: Will she wear something borrowed, or will she choose something new?

We chatted with stylist Sam Saboura to get the inside scoop on this new series.

Do more brides choose something new or something borrowed?
After we complete our shopping trip, I always feel like I have it in the bag and the bride is going to pick my new dress, hands down. At this point, no one has seen Kelly’s reworked/borrowed dress, including me, so I’m always pretty confident. Once the borrowed dress is revealed, everything changes. There are tons of emotion and things escalate to a whole new level. The decision becomes very real for the brides and very tough. We never know which way it’s going to go.

Scratch Weddings — who you might recognize from our Music Monday column, where they provide song recommendations for every part of your wedding day — has a very special Valentine's Day gift for one lucky couple: One of the top DJs in the country will spin your wedding for FREE!

Scratch Weddings is the leading provider of highly skilled, experienced, and affordable marquee-level DJ talent for weddings. Their DJs have worked with major recording artists like Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Lady Gaga, and Justin Timberlake, and they're often called upon to spin at high-profile corporate events, music festivals, and the most respected clubs and lounges around the world. 

The winner will receive a four-hour DJ package, complete with a customized soundtrack based on your music selections and preferences. Enter now!

—Kristen O'Gorman Klein

We all know that the floral budget for a wedding can be quite hefty. So for all of you green thumb brides who would love a DIY project that can easily save big bucks, here are some gorgeous ideas for your reception table flowers from the experts at ibulb.org. The secret is to keep the look simple, pretty and clean using white tulips and daffodils… the perfect blooms for spring and summer celebrations!

I love this crisp, bright display made with seasonally-appropriate seashells:

How-to: To create the tightly bunched effect, gather 15-20 tulips (leaves stripped) in a cluster and wrap the stems so they are securely held together (use florist tape or a plastic tie). The stems should be cut 3 inches long so they are not seen in the vase. Fill the vase 2/3 full with small- to medium-sized seashells. Place the bunch of tulips in the vase. Carefully fill the remaining vase with the seashells. Gently add water to the vase using a watering can. Refill water level as needed.

This next creation is so easy to do, and it’s an ideal display for an outdoor wedding:

Guest blogger: Patrick Kelly is the co-owner of JJ Kelly Bridal, Oklahoma's premier bridal salon. For over 30 years, the store has helped thousands of brides find their dream wedding dress. They carry exclusive designers such as Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier, Lazaro and more; gowns range in price from $800 to $10,000. Kelly also co-founded the website idoappointments.com, a service that allows brides to make appointments with important vendors instantly, without waiting for phone calls to be returned or e-mails to be answered.

He shares his experience working with Randy Fenoli on a recent taping of the hit show Randy to the Rescue, which was filmed at the Sheraton Oklahoma City Hotel.

Randy Fenoli knows wedding fashion like no one else. He started out as a wedding gown designer (an extremely talented one, I might add) and has three reality TV shows, but above all, he loves to make brides look (and feel) beautiful on their wedding day. 

Here at BG, we have a soft spot for Barbie weddings (case in point: this and this). Barbie and Ken are one of the most iconic couples in pop culture history, after all. So when aspiring wedding planner Jervon Mackey reached out with not one but three Barbie weddings showcasing different wedding styles, we couldn't wait to share them with you. Let's jump in and take a ride into Barbie's world with a look at these fabulous Barbie dream weddings!

1. Hollywood Glamour

Mackey's first Barbie wedding is a lavish affair filled with sophisticated touches — the bride wore a Chantilly lace gown, and the bridesmaids donned black dresses with pink bouquets. After a friend read the classic 1 Corinthians 13:4. "Love is patient, love is kind..." Bible verse, surprise guest Beyoncé serenaded the couple with "At Last." 

Each week, we feature music recommendations from Scratch Weddings, the nation's leader with the best wedding DJs at affordable prices. This week's post comes from DJ Schuller, a NYC native who  has been mixing for over a decade and has spun at a number of coveted hotspots in his hometown, as well as in LA, Philly, Atlantic City and Miami. Whether it's a jam-packed venue fitting thousands or an intimate private gathering, Schuller brings the crowd to their feet every time. With his attention to detail and amazing skills shining through, Schuller keeps a wedding dance floor packed every time.

Photo Credit: Chris Jorian Fine Photography

In the moments before your wedding, the last thing you'll want is a silent room to get ready in. Keep the mood light with a chill yet fun soundtrack to soothe those pre-wedding nerves. These gender-neutral tracks will do the trick while you're putting on those finishing touches and hanging out with your bridal party in your final moments as a single lady (or guy).

I was never the kind of little girl who dreamed about her wedding day. But once my best friend asked me to marry him, I dove head-first into the world of wedding planning. I quickly discovered the joy of jaw-dropping couture gowns—they never fail to make me weak in the knees! Here, I've rounded up photos from my gown inspiration binder in the hopes that they inspire other brides out there. Get your "pinning" finger ready to add these to Pinterest...

Gown Inspiration: Then

I love every wedding gown style and silhouette to a fault. The first wedding gown I ever fell in love with was a Lazaro fit-and-flare. When I first laid eyes on it, I immediately tore it out of the magazine and insisted it was "The One."

Lazaro Dress, Style 3766

Over the next five years, my sense of style changed drastically, proof that you should never set your sights on a dress too far in advance. I've found a new gown by Marchesa that's swept me off my Louboutin-loving feet, and I'm beyond excited to try it on in New York this spring!

Gown Inspiration: Now

Marchesa
Marchesa blends traditional elements with whimsical designs. All of her creations leave me with sensory overload!