Determine a wedding day style.

Make a photo scrapbook. Begin to look through bridal and fashion magazines or google search images of specific makeup looks (ex. “smoky eye,” “natural”) for ideas. Then tear out pages of specific photos that inspire you to show your makeup artist at your trial.

Consider your personal look. What is your typical makeup routine? Think about the ways you put on your makeup, but be open to suggestions when customizing your wedding day look with a makeup artist. Do you always wear lots of mascara and false lashes? Go for lash extensions or a lash growth serum. Moisturizer and lip gloss and you’re good to go? A natural look is you. Like to experiment with the latest looks and trends? Try something retro like a cat eye and a red lip. Don’t hesitate to test out a new lip color or bronzer if your makeup artist recommends it. Remember, this is a trial run, and makeup washes off, so you can always swap a color out.

Maintain a good skincare routine. Don’t throw caution to the wind and fall asleep with your makeup on. Now is a critical time to be gentle on skin, moisturize and exfoliate so that your skin can remain flawless for your wedding day. If you plan on tanning for your wedding, don’t book a tanning session and makeup application on the same day. It will be hard to match your true complexion and you may not get an accurate picture of the final outcome.

Bring a friend. Having a familiar face with you can take off some of the stress that comes with wedding planning. Plus, close friends know your style and can offer a second opinion about the styles you choose.

Leave it to the professionals. Oftentimes to stay under budget, brides are tempted to get a friend to do their makeup. If you are hiring a talented photographer to capture your special day, think of it as your own photo shoot. Professional makeup artists are trained to keep your look fresh and camera-ready throughout the day. If you are investing in good photography, invest in a talented makeup artist so you will look amazing in your photos!

Remember, this should be a fun time and a chance to pamper yourself. Have an open mind about what your stylist might recommend and take lots of photos and have your makeup artist write down colors, so that you remember what you decided on.

1. Get a Facial from a Pro! My face was a mess from pre-wedding day stress. My acne usually flairs up when I’m overly anxious, so it was no surprise that my skin was worse for wear in the weeks leading up to my wedding day. I got a deep pore cleansing facial the week before my big day and then one more hydrating and rejuvenating facial the week of. I also had an eye contour treatment add-on to make sure my eyes looked bright. My skin never looked better. Be sure to go to a licensed professional in a clean and trusted environment. Whatever you do, don’t squeeze or pick your skin yourself — it may lead to infection and scarring. If you have a blemish and can’t get to a pro, use an overnight treatment based on salicylic acid – the blemish should be gone by the time you wake up.
2. Get a natural glow. My complexion is peaches and cream on most days, but I always prefer the way I look with a bit of a tan. Afterall, you are wearing white and we all know white always looks best with a nice golden hue. Now, please don’t get an orange glow – you are not auditioning for Dancing with the Stars. Applying a light selftanner the week of your big day will give you a nice splash of color without turning you into an oompah loompah. Don’t ever go to a tanning salon as the rays are cancer-causing and don’t tan outside even with an SPF because you may end up with tan lines not to mention it’s never safe to be in the sun for extended periods of time. A tan in a bottle is a safe alternative and gives you a nice healthy glow.
3. Eye Lash Extensions! My hair/make up artist recommended that I get lash extensions. I was apprehensive at first, as I don’t love the idea of something glued to my lashes not to mention the hefty price tag but trusted the advice of my stylist. The lashes were well worth the investment. They survived the tears that I shed before and during the ceremony – never having to fear a streaky tear moment á la Lindsay Lohan! My sister turned to me and gasped “after the wedding you have to tell me what mascara you are wearing…” Bonus — my lashes looked great throughout our beach honeymoon in St. Barths. Having great lashes saves you loads of time in the morning, not to mention, waking up looking just as pretty as when you went to bed!
4. Get your hair and makeup touched up after the ceremony. It was wonderful having my makeup/hair stylist there after the ceremony to touch up my makeup and change up my hair. I let my hair down after the ceremony, literally, and I was ready to party the night away.
5. Calm down. It’s your day. Enjoy it. Words that are easier said than done. I didn’t know that my nerves and the emotions of the day would get the better of me but thankfully my sister was there to calm me down with some calming essential oils. She cusped her hands and let me breathe into them. Whatever it is that helps you relax, have a trusted friend or relative be equipped to be the one to help you through the moment. Just breathe and enjoy it. Remember, it’s your day and you have a lovely man waiting for you at the end of that aisle because he wants to spend the rest of his life with you. Everything else will fall into place.

Photo: iStockPhoto|Elle.com

But, one question remains, which look better suits her for her upcoming big day. Tell me, which do you prefer?  Leave your answer in the comments section of this post and help Amber choose her style!

WeddingWire has teamed up with MIX 107.3 FM and the Washington Bridal Showcase to give one lucky couple from the Washington, DC Metro area a dream wedding BUT they only have one week to plan!

Beginning January 4th, we encourage local couples to enter to win a $50,000 wedding. With the help of our team of wedding professionals, including hair and makeup services by Victoria Stiles Makeup,  you will get it all, from the dress to the reception and everything in between. Give us a week and we will give you a wedding!

Please visit Mix 107.3 for more details on how to enter! Good Luck!

Winter Wedding Inspiration Cello

The hair was styled to be “sweet” and almost ballerina like.  The hair was pulled tight on top of the head and filler hair was used to create the full bun.  A white ribbon tied in a bow finished the look.

For the makeup, I added a touch of pink color to the eyes, lips, and cheeks while still keeping the soft bridal look.

Winter Wedding Inspiration Woodlands

The hair was styled to perfection in this series.  This up-do takes on a non-traditional look by sweeping the hair and designing the hair to one side.  This look, although finished, is not pulled tight as the top is left loose with volume.

The makeup takes on a more dramatic role– but still bridal soft.  Emphasis around the eyes was achieved by rimming the eyes with a black kohl liner and adding lots of mascara.  The lips were softened with a nude gloss shade.

Winter Wedding Inspiration Pheasant

This hair and makeup look is completely soft and bridal clean.  The hair was styled with a 1″ curling iron through out and the curls were separated and styled by hand.  A soft finishing spray completed the look.

The makeup is minimal as just a touch of foundation, a little top eyeliner, one coat of mascara, cream flushed blush, and a natural lip shade were used to design this look.

For more information on my bridal services, please check out my website: www.VictoriaStiles.com

For a recent shoot with one of Washingtonian’s top pics for wedding photography, Genevieve Leiper and I collaborated aboard a sailboat in Annapolis, Maryland with one very lucky bride. The scene was dramatic which called for drama-makeup and hair.

Makeup: I perfected her skin with Face Atelier Ultra Foundation and smoked out her eyes with MAKE UP FOR EVER’S Flash Colour Palette. A soft lip in Conquest Lip Tar by OCC finished the look.

Hair: The hair had to be a bit dramatic as well but not to over-power the entire look. I teased the hair at the root all over and gently pulled it back into a low chignon. I wanted the hair to be loose yet secure, so I gently picked through the crown of the ‘do with a rat tail comb.

Here are some of the images from the day!

Special thanks to Holly Heider Chapple for the gorgeous bouquets and hair pieces!

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced that my business, Victoria Stiles Makeup, has won the 2009 Bride’s Choice Awards™!

In its inaugural year, the Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and honors vendors from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellent quality of service, responsiveness, professionalism, value of cost and flexibility. This year’s recipients represent the top three percent of WeddingWire’s vendor community, which includes over 100,000 wedding vendors from across the US. That means that my business is one of the very best for wedding makeup in Washington, DC!

Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the company, the Bride’s Choice Awards are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds through surveys and reviews.

Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s CEO said, “We are excited to launch this annual award program to honor high-performing vendors based solely on the experiences of our WeddingWire community.  This year’s recipients have set the bar high, exhibiting excellent service and expertise in the wedding industry.”

I would like to take  a moment to thank my past brides for speaking on my behalf and helping me win the 2009 Bride’s Choice Award!

Happy Wedding Planning!!