Bridesmaid Dresses & Alternatives

May 9, 2016

Welcome To The Bride Tribe

Just when you thought picking out your wedding gown was tough, now you have to make sure your girls look their best while standing by your side. There are so many options and it is hard to pick just one. So don't! There is no right or wrong way to dress your bridesmaids, but here are a few of our favorites and alternatives for some of our more out of the box brides.

Mismatched Dresses:

This is the best idea to make your girls feel like a group of individuals. Giving each girl their own pattern or color makes them feel unique. Before giving your girls the go ahead on buying a dress make sure all of the dresses fit well together and match the color palette of the wedding.

Skirts:

Are you an informal bride? If casual is more your style, no need to feel stuffy in a formal gown. Have your girls wear stripes for a preppy vibe or sparkles to make your ladies stand out.

Maxi Skirts:

Another awesome way to rock a skirt at a wedding. This is slightly more formal than the short skirt option but still gives off a more casual vibe. Pair the maxi skirt with a t shirt top or something more structured like a lined corset top.

Jackets and Shrugs:

I am in love with this trend. Adding a jacket or a shrug can totally change the vibe of a bridesmaids dress. The jackets can be taken on and off throughout the night so they are not a huge commitment. In the winter have your girls wear a fur shrug to keep them warm, or add a a leather jacket to turn your tribe into a group of biker bad asses. Adding this simple element will make for great photos that are sure to be pinned all over Pinterest.

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Same Dress, Different Neckline:

This was the trend I saw everywhere last wedding season and it just works. Its a new spin on the old tradition of all your bridesmaids wearing the each same dress. You can pic the dress color and the fabric and then let your girls pick the best neckline for their body type. Some girls may look best in a halter top and some may be busty and opt out of a strapless. This gives your girls the option to customize how they will look on your wedding day. By going with this trend you are being a really really good friend.

Patterns:

Typically bridesmaids dresses are one solid color. Break the mold and go with a bold pattern. Floral prints are an amazing option for spring and summer weddings. Polka dots, stripes, whatever your little heart desires. This is also another way to follow the mismatched dress trend and have your girls wear complimenting patterns.

Denim:

Because life is too short to feel uncomfortable. Denim is becoming a great new alternative for the rustic or country bride. You can use denim in the form of a button down chambray top, a denim dress, or a jean jacket. Pair them with cowboy boots for full country glam. If your a lover of a good pair of jeans, stay true to yourself with this look.

Jumpsuits & Rompers:

This is my favorite new trend. For a bride who wants a completely different look on their wedding day, dress your girls in a jumpsuit or romper. This look can be very bohemian like these kick ass girls in coral or incredibly chic like the ladies in white. Rompers can also be a cute outfit for you all to get ready in before the wedding. I am absolutely obsessed with this trend and I hope to see more of it this season.

Vendor Spotlight: Megan Cary Artistry

April 29, 2016

For this weeks vendor spotlight I wanted a chance to sit down with the vendors I feature and really pick their brain on their journey to becoming a successful business owner (I have a lot to learn). In an industry as large as the Colorado wedding market it can be hard to find people that you click with, & Megan is just that. I reached out to Megan because I had seen her work not only in bridal fashion, but in high fashion and had to know more. This woman is incredible. Not only is she a bad ass business owner, but also a wife and mother to her beautiful 12 year old daughter. We bonded over lunch with some tempura fried sushi and miso soup at Hapa Sushi and by the end of our meeting I wished we would have gone to happy hour and cracked a bottle of wine instead. I cannot wait to collaborate with this babe in the future. Here is a little more about Megan Cary and her amazing company.

Tell us about yourself and your company

I personally am a small town girl that is actually quite the tomboy. Always on my quad or fishing or on my horse or in the ocean! I never was really into playing with makeup or hair when I was younger. I think as I got older my creative side took over and that is when I started to dabble in it. Behind the chair was never enough for me and I wanted something that could let me have the freedom to juggle being a wife & mother and something I could do remotely anywhere I lived. I LOVE traveling & know the value and convenience for on location services and that’s when I decided to start Megan Cary Artistry. Founded in 2012, Megan Cary Artistry has become Colorado & Central California’s Premier on-location hair and makeup team that truly loves what they do and it shows through our work!

When and why did you get into the wedding business?

I didn’t start out in the wedding business. I experimented with editorial and fashion looks prior to. It’s when I moved to Colorado and saw such a high demand for it, is when I decided to incorporated our artistic style into our bridal looks of today! That is what our brand is about! We love our brides and have realized that being able to have such a huge part on a bride’s day, it is truly rewarding!

How would you describe your style?

Our style is not your typical, cookie cutter bridal look. We are an artistry team that incorporates our Fashion & Editorial styling expertise into our bridal looks to give you that sought after bridal look! Whether you want to keep it a timeless & classic look or you want to go bold and try something trendy, I feel our team is your fit! Every bride that we touch we want to look like they came off a magazine cover!

How do you pick the girls that work for you?

I look for consistency in the brand. I look for the same quality and the
same style as well as an artist with a caring and patient personality. In
this industry there is no room for being impatient or uncaring. It
doesn’t matter how well you are at your craft, if you aren’t able to play
well with others we don’t want that for MCA. I learn a lot from my
girls. I think some of our artists are better at than me at hair &
makeup. The girls on my team are not below me and are on the same
level. Sometimes this is hard to explain to a potential client. Look at
our work, trust in the brand, and expect nothing but amazing work from any of our ladies!

Who are your biggest influences?

The people, artists, clients & family I have around me on a daily basis. They are all important for very different reasons personally & professionally.

What products do you never leave home without?

A hair tie to make my messy bun and some organic lip balm. I very rarely wear makeup myself.

Mac or Bobbi Brown?

At Megan Cary Artistry, we are primarily MAC Cosmetics users. It is a prerequisite for my girls to know the products. Of course there are so many awesome brands out there and I’m known to incorporate some of them as well in my kit along with the rest of our artists. Our staple is MAC because we pride ourselves on knowing our products inside and out and educating our clients! If people ask us questions we truly know the answers. An added bonus is if a client likes a product we use on them it is fairy easy for them to get a hold of it at their local MAC store.

What social media platform do you love the most?

All of them are my favorite for many different reasons. This business is all about social media marketing as word of mouth can only go so far. My blog is my favorite because I can incorporate pictures and describe the moment as if you were there that day!

What is one of your favorite products right now?

My Eucerin moisturizer. Feed your face some moisture, especially in a dry climate like Colorado. Healthy skin is a must to have your makeup look fresh and flawless. As far as a makeup product I would have to say Urban Decay”All Nighter” which can be found at Sephora. I haven’t found a setting spray that feels so light but locks in your look for hours on end besides this one. A must have for my brides wanting their look to last all day into the night!

What’s one hair, makeup or wedding trend that you wish would just go away?

Airbrushing and extreme false lashes. We promote enhancing your natural beauty while not changing your look completely. Lashes are supposed to add some length and thickness. There are many lashes to choose from that look completely natural as if you aren’t wearing them. There’s also mascara with fibers to help you or you may opt to get professional lash extensions from your local spa. You want to look back and recognize it was you! As for airbrushing, in my opinion, it is an unnecessary additional charge and truly makes some individuals look plastic at times. Definitely a fad that has stayed around too long that needs to take a hike. Many artists have to go in and use their hands anyhow after initial airbrush application. With time products have evolved & have been made to create a flawless look while not being too heavy, similar to the airbrush look. It’s our job to educate our brides that look to us for direction in that area. With that said, we cater to all brides and do offer airbrushing if desired.

What advice would you give to an aspiring hair & makeup artist?

Always be willing to learn. Keep up on the latest trends, as it will likely be requested from you. We are all still learning & products and styles are always changing. Also, be genuine to your artistic self. We are creative minds. Have your own style & clients will come to you for that. Lastly, there is value in providing services for free as long as you are selective & able to build your portfolio at the same time. This helps not only your self, but also creates lasting work relationships moving forward.

How do you achieve a personal/work life balance?

It’s one of those things that I most likely will always struggle with. Working for your self is a blessing but it’s hard to not let work overflow into personal or family time. Clients don’t know when your grocery shopping or out of town on a vacation or in bed for the evening so it’s up to us to manage our work flow properly while still getting back to our brides in a timely manner! With growing & expanding a business, I have learned to let the emails go late at night and tell myself it’s fine to address them the next morning. It seems to be a good compromise!

You have opened your branch of MCA in California! Amazing! How will this change you and your business?

We just opened a branch in California this year. Being from Northern California & Nevada my heart will always lie there. All along the coast & wine country makes for a beautiful wedding backdrop. We service the central coast, which is typically San Luis Obispo all the way up to Lake Tahoe. We have been very selective of our artists there to keep the MCA brand & style consistent. Since we cover a large area, artists are more spaced out across the state so it eliminates the outrageous travel cost for the bride.

Tell us something most people don’t know about you

I’m a perfectionist, always feeling like I could do better. It helps to keep me striving for more, but can be a negative as I can put too much unnecessary pressure on myself at times.

Denver Flea

April 27, 2016

Denver Flea

This past weekend Tommy and I went adventuring around Denver and wound up at Denver's Spring pop up flea market. It was so much fun and had tons of local vendors selling everything from ginger beer to handmade drift wood furniture and an endless row of food trucks. If you are a Denver bride looking for unique antiques, one of a kind jewelry, or some organic candles, I would recommend going to Denver Flea when it returns June 25th and 26th in Denver's RiNo neighborhood.

Vendor Spotlight: Jenne Anne

April 22, 2016

This chick seriously does it all! Here is a little more about Jenne Anne.

Tell us about yourself and your company?

I'm an absolute sucker for the outdoors. I'm an adventurer and a wanderer at heart. My passion is to encompass stunning scenery and spaces while sharing the beauty, emotion and similar spirit with my clients along the way.

Why did you get into the wedding business?

I actually dipped my feet in about 12 years ago as a bridal hair and make up artist. I worked alongside amazing photographers most of that time. While in college, I majored in Graphic Design and was required to get my first DSLR [A nice camera] while attending a few classes for basics. I had no idea the passion that was about to unfold.

How would you describe your wedding photography?

My approach is adventurous. To bring out the true emotions felt in my images, through them. To capture the connection. I've never been 'traditional', and would probably describe myself as more artistic than modern.

What are some of your biggest influences?

There are a lot of trends right now for bright & airy film looks. I found it frustrating as a make up artist when photos were taken that didn't even showcase the gorgeous colors that were used and flattened out my work being a bit overexposed. I have always wanted to achieve realistic tones and showcase the beautiful details brides carefully incorporate into their special day. As well as incredible locations!

What is your favorite venue? Colorado and elsewhere?

I absolutely love location scouting with my couples and discovering new spaces together. The undiscovered.

What is your most memorable wedding to date?

All of them had incredible moments in their own way, I could never pick only one!

What is your favorite moment during a wedding?

First looks are pretty hard to beat! Especially between a father and daughter. When couples write their own vows...

What advice would you give a future bride?

It's YOUR day... Do you know the biggest regret from most brides regarding their big day? Not doing their wedding their way. It's so easy to get caught up in what is traditional or what your family & guests may think. Try not to get caught up in other people's opinions of what they think you should do or too much pinteresting temporary trends. Remember to focus on your details in making your wedding truly authentically yours. At the end of the day, that's really what it's all about! Celebrating YOU!

Tell us one thing we might not otherwise know about you!

I often style, design the save the dates, invites, cards, and wedding website, create bouquets, perform hair and make up services, as well as photograph my weddings. I am looking forward to opening an all inclusive venue in the gorgeous Colorado mountains in the future to provide a one-stop shop.

New York Bridal Fashion Week

April 18, 2016

Be Still My Heart...

Last weekend was New York Bridal Fashion Week. The gowns shown this weekend took our breath away. Although we would have killed to attend, we watched the dresses slay the runway via social media. Here are some of our favorite dresses and designs from this weekends festivities.