Elegant Emily

Today I met the lovely Emily McAleese at the Madison Beach Hotel in Madison CT. Emily came all the way from England for her special day. I met Emily and her two bridesmaids, Katie and Ana, and the fun started. Later, Emily's mom Robin joined us. They were a wonderful bunch to work with and the bond between the three friends was really something special.

The Blushing Bride

Emily, you were a beautiful bride and I was so honored to be a part of your special day! I wish you and your new husband a lifetime of happiness.

Emily's bridesmaids, Ana and Katie

Spectacular Stephanie

Today, I had the great pleasure of styling Stephanie Wieczorkowski's hair for her wedding. I arrived at Stephanie's parents' house bright an early, eager to get started. She was extremely relaxed and excited. Her Maid of Honor, also named Stefanie, arrived shortly after I did and she was so happy for her friend's special day. I started with Stephanie's mom and then worked with her MOH. Next, it was the bride's turn. We did an all up style to compliment her wedding gown, and the finished product was just stunning on her.

Stephanie, it was wonderful working with you! I wish you all the best life has to offer.

Favorite Product Alert!

I'm not sure if a flat iron counts as a product but it should. If you don't own a flat iron it might be time to join the club. There are some many fun styles that you can create with a flat iron. You can create soft waves, bouncy curls or a sleek straight look. I've even used it to create a fun flipped out look. The possibilities are endless.

My favorite flat iron is the 1-inch ghd. This iron is pricey, ranging from $175 to $250, but it works great. Infrashine and Chi are other popular irons and they range from $100-$150. I know that seems like a lot of dough for a styling tool but believe me it's worth it.

Here are some flat iron styling tips:

1. Start by spritzing spray starch or hairspray all over your hair to protect it from the heat.

2. Starting at the back, section off a small amount of hair and clip the rest up so it's out of your way.

3. Place the small section of hair between the ceramic plates, starting at the root.

4. If you're going for a straight look, simply pull the flat iron down to your ends slowly. If you're going for a wavy style, turn the flat iron so that you are getting a bend in your hair and slowly pull it down to the ends.

5. Repeat until your whole head is styled.

NOTE: Always keep the iron moving. They get very hot and stopping the iron while your hair is in it is going to end badly.

I'll post a few "how to" photos soon. Enjoy!

Weddings The Creative Process

May 3rd, I had the pleasure of attending Weddings the Creative Process at Saltwater Farm Vineyard in Stonington, CT. The event was hosted by True & Wesson, Hana Floral Design, and Style Me Pretty and it was a unique twist on the old fashioned "bridal show". Each vendor presented a workshop related on the various sensory aspects of planning a wedding. I attended along with Jennie Fresa of Jennie Fresa Beauty Library. Jennie presented a workshop on the sense of touch and did a demo makeup application on our beautiful model, Adrienne. Prior to the event, I styled Adrienne's hair in a low, side-swept "knot". Once Jennie completed her makeup demo at the workshop, I showed the group a few different headpieces that would give Adrienne's hairstyle a different look without actually changing the hair. The beautiful headpieces were courtesy of The White Dress by the Shore.

It was a great day and I was honored to be a part of it!