Category: First Things First

Countdown to Wedding Day Beauty Calendar

Posted on by Glendalough Manor

Every bride wants to look and feel beautiful on their wedding day!  It is the one day that all eyes will be on you and of course you want to look your very best.   I have complied a beauty countdown starting from a year before the wedding up until the wedding day to give you advice on how to look and feel your most beautiful!

One year before the wedding:
-Start a regular work out routine.
-If you want to lose weight, consult a nutritionist to evaluate a plan that works best for you to monitor your nutrition
-Get your teeth fixed if you have a tooth that is turned or need straightening.
-Decide on a plan for your hair. Do you want to grow it out or maintain your hair length?
-In you free time begin to set aside time to do non-wedding activities at least once a week!

6 months before W Day:
-Consult Dermatologist: Wedding planning can be an overwhelming process that can sometimes cause a lot of stress.  That stress can wreak havoc on your skin.  Your dermatologist can develop a skin regimen just for you that may include monthly facial treatments, microdermabrasion and/or peels.
-Find a Hairstylist and work with them to decide on your wedding day hairstyle.
-Find a Makeup Artist and consult with them about how you want to look on your wedding day

1 month before:
-Now is the best time to get your teeth whitened.  If you don’t have the money for a professional treatment there are many great alternatives you can get at local drug stores.
-Have your Hairstylist and makeup artist give you a “trial run” so you can make any necessary adjustments.
-Consider getting a spray tan.  If this is your first time getting a spray tan make sure to get a trial to test the color and lasting power on you.

2 weeks Before:
-Have hair colored and trimmed.  Make sure not to do anything drastic to your hair this close to the wedding.

Week of Wedding:
-Get eyebrows professionally shaped
-Get Spray Tanned mid week to allow for tan to wear off but still give you a healthy, natural looking glow.

Day before:

-Wash hair
-With all the stress right before the wedding you may have a breakout.  Don’t worry….just visit your dermatologist and ask them to give you a shot of cortisone to deflate it!
-Treat yourself to a Manicure/pedicure

Day of Wedding:

Relax, enjoy and make sure to take time out to remember that you are marrying the man of your dreams today.  I promise when your groom see’s you for the first time he will think you are the most beautiful woman he has ever seen!

Picture Sources: www.afteryesweddings.com, www.texasweddingssltd.com, www.onewed.com, www.gettingmarriedonlongisland.com, www.hamletphotography.com

Wedding Day Emergency Kit

Posted on by Glendalough Manor

If you are getting married and didn’t hire a wedding planner, you should prepare a wedding day emergency kit.  With the right tools this kit will have everything you need in case an “emergency” arises.  I have made a list of the most common items wedding planners bring. You can always buy a pre-made kit, but I think the best kits are the ones you make yourself!

You can use a tool box, bag or makeup case to hold all of your must have items. Just make sure whatever you choose has enough compartments to keep everything organized and readily found in case you need them. Many of these can be found in trial size which is less expensive than the regular size.

Scissors
Sewing kit (needles and thread in black/white)
Thread  (color of bridesmaid dresses)
Safety pins
Floral Straight pins
Lint Roller
Fashion tape
Floral tape
Spray Deodorant
Baby Powder (great for inside of legs so don’t rub or on wedding dress stains like red wine, ink or lipstick)
Denatured Rubbing Alcohol/ Cotton Swab
Hairspray
Bobby pins
Tums
Tylenol
Pads/ Tampons
Ivory Ribbon (in case you need to make a bouquet or boutonniere)
Benadryl
Smelling Salts
Tide To-Go Pen
Peppermints (great for fresh breath and calms nausea)
Bandaids
Extra garter belt
Earring backs
Batteries (AA and AAA)
Sandpaper (slippery shoe bottoms)
Comb and Mirror
Tissues (all those moments that make you cry)
Tweezers
Static Cling or dryer wipes

These items may not solve every problem that arises but will help ease some of the unexpected incidents.  A wedding planner may carry more items (like the bag below) but the items listed are the most commonly used.

If you have other items in your emergency bag we would love to hear about it!

Happy Planning!

Picture Sources: www.thestylishbride.com

Unique Save the Dates!

Posted on by Glendalough Manor

Saves the Dates are my favorite piece of wedding stationary!  You can be super creative with your save the dates and the best part is that you don’t have to be as formal (like your wedding invitations).  You can give your guests a sneak peak at the date and time but also give them a clue in to your wedding and/or personalities!

I love handmade save the dates!  You can take your own pictures or make your own cards to send and I promise your guests will love them and appreciate the time you put in to make them.  Make sure to put that the invitation will follow and if you have a wedding website I would list that along with the date.  All of the details can be listed on your website(where guests can stay, location of ceremony and reception, where you are registered, etc) without having to include this information on the card.

For my wedding, I did Valentines themed Save the Dates…my wedding was in August so February was a perfect time to send them out.  I made handmade Valentines’ day cards and got calls from almost everyone I sent one to telling me how cute they were.

If you and your fiance love music then this music inspired save the date would fit your personalities perfectly,

Creating your own banner or sign and taking a picture of you and your fiance is a great save the date.  Be creative with it!  My favorite is the photobooth strip!

Or make a miniature banner to include in your save the date cards…how adorable is that?

My new obsession with wedding is balloons…yes balloons..but not used the way they used to be!! They are great for save the date pictures and look at this great save the date idea!


I hope these ideas spark your creativity to come up with your own personal and unique save the dates!

Happy Planning!

Sources: www.forgetmeknotweddingsblog.com, www.chrislaich.com, www.lisafittsphotography.com, www.ohhappyday.com, www.bridesbuddy.squarespace.com, www.pinterest.com