Your wedding day's just around the corner and you've been counting down the days, right?!
Mani, pedi, wax...check!
Gorgeous hair and sublime makeup?...check!
You got a few good nights of sleep and you look refreshed BUT you've woken up to find an uninvited guest, Mr. Zit, sitting nice and pretty right smack in the middle of your face!

What to do?

Don't panic...just try these pimple be gone tricks and zit zapping remedies below:

• To get the red out, apply a few drops of Visine on the pimple.
• To reduce swelling, run an ice cube over it.
• To eliminate any crustiness, dab a bit of Vitamin E or Tamanu oil on it.
• For a whitehead, apply a hot compress, then gently (and I really mean gently) squeeze and dab the area with rubbing alcohol. This prevents infection.
• If none of these methods work or you're in need of an overnight super quick fix, visit your MD for an emergency cortisone shot.

Tips for Covering "it" Up

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"top tips to filling-in eyebrows like an expert"..
~ by Georgia Spyra

The Facts

• Eye brows frame your face and account for 20% of facial expression.
• Well shaped brows make you look younger while bad brows (you know the ones that look like hockey sticks, overgrown caterpillars or commas), well, they just make you look bad or like a fashion statement gone wrong!
• An eyebrow that is too thin and round will make you look permanently surprised not to mention clown-like!
• Downturned brows make you look sad and too straight brows give you an angry look.
• Most of us girls will make the mistake of over tweezing our brows while trying to fix them, at least once or twice in our lifetimes.

The Tips

The trick to getting the brow right is usually a combination of tweezing and trimming and colour filling.

Filling the brow in is great because it is easily fixed if you make a mistake. Over-tweezing however, takes weeks to correct.

Useful: Eyebrow Shaping Tutorial on indianvanitycase.com

1. First, use a pencil in a light/medium colour and follow that up with brow powder: one in a light colour and one in a darker colour. (So if you're a dark blonde, that translates into a medium blond pencil and a light/medium blonde powder duo.) I really like Laura Mercier's brow products for colour range.
2. Stroke the pencil lightly over any areas that are sparse or lack hair. You need a pencil if your brows are very sparse and/or if you want the colour to stay put throughout the day.
3. Next, with an angle brush, stroke the lighter powder colour over the entire brow and the darker powder colour along the lower part of the brow from the inner eye to the arch and along the top half of the brow from the arch to the outer eye (at the temple).
   • Make sure to blend the colour into the hair with a brow comb.
   • This process will lift the eye up, and by using three colours, your brow will look natural and not drawn on.

Let a Pro Start you Off

Before you decide to pick up your tweezers and massacre your brows some more, consider visiting a makeup artist or brow specialist to get the perfect brow shape for your engagement photos and wedding day.

Why? A professional makeup artist will look at your face shape, age, eye shape and personality as a guide, and them trim and tweeze those babies into the right shape for you! They will also recommend the appropriate combination, brand and colour of products; pencils, powders or gels, to define and tame your brows.

After you've had your initial professional brow grooming session, you can tweeze stray hairs as they come in and fill as needed to retain the shape of your brows.

Georgia Spyra is an accredited, award-winning makeup artist with over 16 years experience in the beauty industry. She was voted one of Canada's top-20 makeup artists and one of Canada's Top-5 bridal makeup artists; she was featured in Elle Magazine as top Canadian make up and beauty expert. She is a make over artist for Life Network Platform; a make up artist/educator for Canadian Make Up Show and Kryolan Cosmetics; as well as a make up designer for many fashion shows, music videos and Television shows, like CBC News and Relic Hunter.

Last month: 10 Tips for Luminous Wedding-Day Makeup"..

Next month: Brighter Eyes for Your Wedding Day"..

Wedding Dress Shopping Fun Facts

• Once ordered, a wedding dress can take anywhere from 4-6 months to come in.
• Salon wedding dresses are not stored in a warehouse waiting to be purchased. Each one is custom made.
• Most brides will try on anywhere from 15 to 17 wedding gowns before they decide on the "one".

Top-10 Tips to Wedding Dress Shopping

1. Do your homework! Browse through magazines and online galleries to determine what style you like. Make sure the style you settle on also matches your wedding. Outdoor, garden, evening, beach....all these variations on wedding themes equal a particular style dress. Don't wear a ball gown to a destination wedding on the beach!
2. If you are having your dress made, find a good designer or seamstress to work with.
3. Don't do the shopping alone. It is always advisable to have someone with you whose opinion you trust for some extra guidance but having a whole "entourage" with you can get confusing. Limit your advisors to one or two of your most trusted gals, like Mom.
4. Know your budget and stick to it! Look only at dresses that you know you can afford.
5. Arrive prepared! When trying gowns on, make sure you have some shoes with you with the same size heel you plan on wearing to your wedding. Plus, having the right undergarments on will make dress fittings that much easier.
6. Always check the dress racks at the bridal salon and plan to attend trunk shows if possible. A great deal could be there for the taking!
7. Even if you have a look in mind, always try on a variety of styles. Perhaps your dream dress is the opposite of what you had planned on.
8. Before you order your wedding dress, make sure you and the bridal salon are clear on what alterations are needed, how much they will cost and if your gown can be altered properly to suit your size. If you're between sizes, always order up. It is easier to take in a large dress than to let out a small one.
9. Be prepared to pay a sizeable deposit for the dress when you order. Usually 50% is required up front. Since most bridal salons have a no return policy, make sure you are positive that this is your dress before finalizing anything and paying a deposit.
10. Ask for a fabric swatch to take home with you so that you can match your veil, shoes and accessories to your bridal gown.

"Easy-to-follow tips, by one of Canada's top makeup artists, for a fresh & beautiful wedding-day glow"..

Wedding Makeup 101: The 10 Essentials of Makeup Foundation

1. Exfoliate

   The morning of your special day, start with a gentle exfoliant to freshen and liven up your skin.

   




2. Moisturize & Prime

   Moisturize (with your usual product) then follow-up with a primer and an anti-shine lotion. This will help keep makeup looking fresh and reduce excessive shine.




3. Apply Foundation * don't skip this step! *
   

   Foundation is really important to even out your skin and to help you look picture perfect. The right colour, texture and amount will make your skin look gorgeous. Make sure to have a professional pick out the colour and formula for you.

   Use a foundation that has silicone in it and is sweat-proof and waterproof so that it stays put. Always apply it with a brush.

   Hint

   For dry skin, spray the brush with a hydrating mist.

   Don't pile it on; use about a pea sized drop and spread it out starting from the centre of your face going outwards. Make sure to apply it over your upper and lower eyelids too.

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"How many days left? Do you have everything you need?
Are you sure?"..

Attention all Brides!!!

How many days left till the big day!? Do you have everything you need? Are you sure? Hope you haven't forgotten about your 'Wedding Day Emergency Kit'! Something might now work out the way you planned, therefore be prepared for something to go wrong! Solution? Having everything you need on the big day!

We have put together all the emergency items you might need on your wedding day! We guarantee that you will at least use two of them!

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Margaret Woroszylo, from MW Flower Design in Scarborough, loves the feather look so much she has made it her specialty. Last week she noticed our Wedding Style Options: Feathers story and decided to send us some of her own thoughts and tips on the subject. THANKS!

Centrepieces

Floral + Ostrich Feather Centrepieces

Ostrich feathers are beautiful addition to your wedding décor. They bring height, color and a unique wow-factor, but keep an aspiring romantic feel which never fails to impress. You can choose to

• have a full ostrich feather centerpiece, or
• simply add them to your existing flower centerpieces for additional effect.

Bridal Bouquets

There are many ways to add feathers to your bridal bouquets since they come in so many variations and lengths. Imagine a layer of feathers at the base of your bouquet or just a few placed delicately between the flowers.

Floral + Ostrich Feather Bridal Bouquets
MW Flower Design, Scarborough

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source: Hortense B. Hewitt Co

Guest-Book History

Wedding guest books came about as a format for a newlywed couple to

1. remember who attended their wedding,
2. organize thank-you notes and
3. start a formal address book.

Nowadays..

.. wedding guest books are mainly used as a memory keepsake of the wedding day and all that attended. Unfortunately, the traditional book of signatures often gets stored away for all eternity without anyone giving a second thought to it after the wedding day.

Your Available Options in Canada:

Since having a keepsake of your guests' well wishes is obviously a wonderful memento of your wedding, let's look at wedding guest book options readily available today that will both house your wedding day memories and will not just be used as a post wedding storage item.

Traditional Styling Options

The easiest and most traditional form of wedding guest book is just that, a signature book. Simply choose an a-la-carte signature book in a theme that matches your wedding and place it at the ceremony or at the reception.

Since the traditional guest book is the usual form of wedding guest book available, you have a multitude of style options to choose from. Anything from seasonal styles to "camo" print is readily available in Canada.
Check them out!..

Elegant, Damask theme (check out this wedding)
source: InspirAsian Creations (online, Vancouver)

Winter wedding?
source: The Wedding Superstore (Weddingstar, online, Whitby, ON)

Spring/Summer wedding?
source: The Dream Boutique (Weddingstar, online, Vancouver)

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photo: Digital Arts Photography, WA

Are you planning a winter wedding or dreaming of a wedding in a winter wonderland? If so, you have a number of things to consider and plan for that a spring or summer bride doesn't.

1. Weather

Besides the (obvious!) fashion considerations, planning a wedding around colder (freezing?) weather, means making some additional arrangements, like:

• coat check: your guests will be arriving dressed for the weather and that will undoubtedly mean heavy coats. Plan ahead and arrange for a proper coat check at the reception so that guests can relieve themselves of all that extra clothing and feel more comfortable right from the get go.
• indoor photography: arrange with your photographer to have your photo session indoors. Choose a venue to reflect your style like, for example, an art gallery. Confirm with the location that you can have your photo shoot there and reserve the space well in advance if reservations are required.

source: bride.net

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Seating plans for your guests play an important role in having your reception run smoothly right from the beginning. You want your guests to come into the reception and feel comfortable right away by knowing exactly where and with whom they are sitting.

"knowing where to seat each of your guests, however, is an art that very few people are instinctively good at, which begs the question 'to self-seat or not?'"..

Self-Seating?

Self seating is a good option for informal, small weddings (under 50 guests) but, if you have a large wedding and sit down dinner reception planned, self seating is not a good idea. It adds stress and confusion to your event, plus, it delays the beginning of the reception while everyone is trying to accommodate themselves. You want your guests to start off the reception happy and relaxed, not flustered and frustrated.

found on: "HotRef"

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© Decor8 Events & Rentals, Calgary

Vases are a perfect décor accessory. They come in various shapes and sizes and can be used on table tops, or to frame a doorway, the altar or the aisle itself. They are very versatile and work great with floral arrangements, candles, and even marbles or rocks.
How you choose to display them and what you put in them depends greatly on the look you are trying to achieve.

glass vases from Canexcel Glass, Mississauga

Types of Vases

• Flute

  The flute or trumpet vase is a slender vase that gets slightly wider at the top. Often its lip curves around the top for added appeal. These vases are very popular choices for weddings and are great for achieving a tall-looking centerpiece.

  

  vase: Canexcel Glass, Mississauga

  Idea

  Fill the vase with petals or coloured stones and put a flat plate on the very top. Put your floral arrangement on top of the plate. The result is a unique "tall" centerpiece.

  

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