wedded bliss

my friend, Maria got married!!

one can only hope to find a love like this.  congrats, my loves!

The Knot Atlanta

Thanks to +TheKnot for having a fabulous wedding professionals mixer!  It's always great meeting other vendors in the area.  Let me know if you're looking for a photographer, wedding planner, tanning salon, DJ, etc... 

 

This chick is amazing and helps run Solar Dimensions here in Atlanta and is the bomb at spray tans. Call her at the Buckhead location (404-233-8599) if you need anything tan related!!

bridal makeup

While watching 'Melancholia' today, I was amazed with #1. how much this movie sucks and #2. how stunning Kirsten Dunst looked.  No doubt she's gorgeous without makeup but her bridal look for this movie was right on the money... glowy, fresh skin with a chocolate smoky eye and soft rose lip.  Ah, love!

You know that I am always thinking about how to recreate a look, etc.  And I can't watch a single movie without wondering who the makeup artist was and/or what products were used.  Sooo... here is a list of products that I would use to recreate this look:

FACE:
MAC Complete Comfort Creme
MAC Prep+Prime Skin
Makeup Forever HD Foundation

Makeup Forever Concealer Camouflage Palette

LUSH Eau Water Tonic
Stila Cosmetics Convertible Color Peony

EYES:
MAC Paint Pot Constructivist
MAC eyeshadows Antiqued/Handwritten/Blanc Type
MAC Feline
MAC Opulash

LIPS:
MAC lip pencil Soar
MAC lipstick Brave

Ahh... Charleston!

I have the very best of friends.  And when I used to live in Charleston, I met one of my favorite couples...  Steve and Danielle.  There were a lot of times when Danielle would just laugh at me for the ridiculous dating stories that I had.  I have so many great memories of beach days, Sons of Bill concerts, dance nights at TRIO, etc...  Not to mention, they have been very supportive of me in my career.  LOVE, LOVE these two.  So over the weekend, I got to go back to Charleston and be the makeup artist for Danielle as she married her best friend, Steve.  Danielle is very minimalist when it comes to makeup so she asked for a very natural bridal look with lashes.  And she was a very stunning bride if I might add!  Here are a few pics...

all pictures courtesy of TOMME HILTON

bridal beauty

A few pics from a recent bride...

Orlando Bridal Makeup

Just updated some info on the mywedding.com website! Feel free to check out YourMakeupGal there and contact me if you have any questions regarding booking your wedding!

Orlando Bridal Makeup

I get asked about bridal makeup almost daily. And I love working with brides as they plan the big day. Bridal makeup is necessary for several reasons but mostly it ensures great looking photos. The other day I came across an article giving advice to brides about choosing a makeup artist. The article brought to light many great questions so I thought I would answer a few and share with you. If you think of any questions that I haven't answered here, please feel free to email me at christien@yourmakeupgal.com or call me at #321.279.6543!

1) How do I book you for my wedding date? Is there a deposit? What about a contract? Most brides start with reviewing my website and online portfolio. Then we check to see if I am available for their wedding date and go from there. I have a few different packages available for brides to choose from to meet individual makeup and budget needs. I do require a 50% non-refundable deposit for the estimated cost of the bride (not inlcuding bridesmaids, family members, etc). I also require each bride to sign a contract outlining the services, fees, etc.

2) Will it be YOU at my wedding or another artist? What happens if YOU can't make it on my day? When you speak with me about hiring a makeup artist for your wedding, you are hiring ME as your makeup artist. I have never had an issue where I was late or couldn't show up for a booked wedding In the event I cannot do the makeup on the day of your wedding, I will make every effort to find another makeup artist to provide services. If makeup services cannot be provided at all, I will glady give a full refund.

3) How many weddings have you done? Do you normally work with brides? I have been doing makeup for brides for over 5 years to date. And I don't plan on stopping any time soon... When I think about the countless number of brides I've worked with, I feel honored. It's a privelage to be a part of a day people remember for the rest of their lives. And yes, I do still work in several other areas of makeup such as fashion, film, print, etc. and enjoy that as well.

4) What is your background? Where did you learn to apply makeup? I have been doing makeup for as long as I can remember. I think my fascination with makeup started around age 14?! After deciding (at age 25) that I wanted to be a makeup artist when I grew up, I was hired as a part-time prestige consultant for ULTA. Then I put together a small kit and booked my first bride through craigslist.com. From there, my makeup career blossomed to where I was working full-time in social services (did the whole college thing first) and working weddings, etc. on weekends. After deciding I was tired of being a "weekend warrior," I went back to school in 2010 to learn advanced makeup application at the Joe Blasco Makeup Artist Training Center in Orlando. Since graduating, I have continued to work with brides, in film, on photo shoots, etc. and was hired as a full-time artist with M.A.C Cosmetics. So my training continues almost daily!

5) Do you have a portfolio? YES!! Several pictures of my work can be viewed by clicking HERE!! I try to update as often as possible and I stay current with trends. But pictures always help so don't hesitate to show me
a picture of what you expect.

6) Do you have a website or a blog? Sure do!! And feel free to browse through it all day - http://www.yourmakeupgal.com/! LOL!

7) Do you have references? YES! References are available upon request. A few brides that have "raved" about my work can be found by clicking HERE!

8) What do you charge? I have a few packages available to meet each brides makeup needs with keeping their budget in mind as well. And I leave each and every bride with a touch-up kit!

9) What size of bridal party can you accommodate? How long does it typically take per person? I do not have a minimal number of people required to be booked for your wedding makeup and can work with any size bridal party. The largest I've worked with to date is 13 I believe... Hey, it's all about the bride anyways, right! For time planning, I say allow me 25 minutes per person but I've been know to crank out some makeup come crunch time. I often find myself in the time keeper position for larger bridal parties because people are socializing, relaxing, and getting ready (and rightly so).

10) Can you duplicate a makeup look from pictures in a magazine? Pictures always help me get a better understand of the clients expectations. During the trial run, we'll dicsuss skin type, tone, etc. to makeup sure the bride gets the end result expected.

11) What methods of payment do you accept? At this time, I only accept cash, checks, or money orders. And yes, I always provide receipts.

12) What kinds/brands of products do you use? A little of everything. I'm not brand specific because there are so many great products (high-end and drugstore) from different lines. Although I do tend to have a lot of M.A.C products since I work there... During the trial run, we will discuss skin type, etc. to determine the right products to use. I'm available to stick around for touch-ups if desired but I use products/techniques to ensure the makeup lasts as long as you do.

13) Are you able to cover tattoos?? YES! There is a process involved and pricing depends on the size/location of the tattoo.

14) Do you know how to handle severe skin allergies, acne, etc.? Yes. I have dealth with several skin types and textures. And this reason is why the trial run is so important.

15) Do you apply false lashes? YES! I offer both strips and individual lashes to add a little or a lot of drama!!

16) Is there a travel fee?? How far are you willing to travel?? I will ll travel to your chosen location for the trial run and the day of the event. However, there is a charge of $20 for anything more than 20 miles outside of the downtown Orlando area.

17) What happens during the Trial Run? The trial run is necessary because this is when we talk about skin concerns and the look desired. This way, you will know exactly how your makeup will look the day of your wedding. The trial run can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. It's a good idea to take pictures of the makeup so you know how it will photograph and how it will last through the day.

the adorable Mahailey!

I never get tired of doing bridal makeup. I think it's very endearing when people hire you to take part in one of the most important days of their lives. And I just love meeting new people! Mahailey was a very sweet bride, not to mention gorgeous. Taneshea had a time getting all her hair in an updo (2 hours!!) but my job was easy since she has such great features. I kept the look fairly neutral for Mahailey - evened out the skin tone with a light foundation, shades of brown around the eyes, a cream coral blush, and pink/nude lips. And Viola! The beautiful bride...

underneath the cypress trees...

I have been lucky enough to work with some beautiful brides and in some gorgeous venues. One of my favorite things about Charleston has always been and will always be the breathtaking views. I can literally sit and get lost in the sunsets. On May 9th, I did the makeup for Abbie and the bridal party for her wedding at Cypress Trees Plantation on Edisto Island, SC. I highly recommend the trip out to Edisto Island. It's a bit of a hike from Charleston, but the views are unbelievable...ah, the sunset!! I knew Abbie would be a darling to work with even without ever having met prior to her wedding date because she was so laid-back about the planning process (at least with me). Abbie and her entire wedding party flew in from out of state and made a mini-reunion/vacation of her wedding weekend. It was obvious everyone was enjoying themselves and seemed completely at ease while getting ready for the affair! All I had to do was show up and play with a little makeup - my favorite thing!! Here are a few pictures to drool over...

hair by Taneesha Dupree:

http://affairhairbytanesha.blogspot.com/

photography by the wonderful crew at Richard Bell Photography: http://richardbellphotography.com/

I highly recommend checking out additional pictures from this stunning Charleston wedding at: http://richardbellphotography.wordpress.com/2010/05/09/shamus-abbies-edisto-island-wedding-at-cypress-trees-plantation/...

double duty

My friend Emily married a great guy this past weekend in San Francisco. Ken and Emily are so perfect for each other and totally adorable. It was my second time doing double duty as bridesmaid and makeup artist. The entire weekend was a ton of fun!! I was able to spend quality time with all my friends, stand up in support of a great couple getting married, and got to do the makeup for several beautiful ladies! Emily choose a black/white paisley theme with touches of hot pink. I think her vision really came through in all the little details of her wedding and reception. It was a ton of fun, I know that for sure!!

After I applied a stain to everyone's lips, I kept the L'Oreal HiP Shine Struck Liquid Lipcolor in Euphoric in my pocket (gotta love a bridesmaid dress with pockets!!) for touch-ups. I think this lip color went well with everyone's different skin tones as well as the overall theme of Emily's wedding. This is a lipcolor that glides on like a gloss but is packed full of color so a little will go a long way. I just wish L'Oreal would offer more colors in this product because it's quality stuff.

a blushing bride

Lindsay was one of my fun October brides! She is the kind of girl who you immediately feel comfortable around and want to be friends with. I was lucky enough to do her makeup on her wedding day along with the makeup for all of her ladies. I especially loved that Lindsay and all of her bridesmaids weren't afraid to tell me exactly what they did and did not want. Lindsay loves blush and said she never goes without it. But one of her ladies told me strictly no blush/bronzer of any sorts. HA! To each her own in this case and I think everyone ended up looking beautiful if I do say so myself. Lesson learned here, speak up!! It's YOUR day...don't be afraid to tell people what you want. The two flower girls were adorable. I see a potential makeup artist in the one on the far right as she wanted to watch everything I did and asked a ton of questions. And of course, I loved it!! I know I'll be adding a few of these to my website but here is a little preview of Lindsay's blue/green wedding...

congrats Jamie & Brian!

Jamie and Brian's fun, unique wedding was held at Tidewater in Mt. Pleasant, SC. Jamie and Brian decided to have a Sunday brunch reception starting with a donut and smoothie hour in lieu of your typical cocktail hour. It's always great to see when a bride comes up with something creative! Congrats!!

look how adorable her cake was! and from PUBLIX!

congrats to JD & Lisa!

Here are a few shots from the wedding of JD and Lisa, courtesy of Socialite Studios. I highly recommend Joelle!!! She is so adorable and seems to connect to all of her couples. Just scroll through her blog for a few and you will see what I mean!

I was lucky enough to do the makeup for Lisa and most of her bridal party. Her entourage was just a gorgeous as her, which made my job fairly easy. And if you have never been to Lowndes Grove Plantation, I highly recommend checking it out. It's absolutely gorgeous, inside and out. The perfect location for a romantic, Charleston wedding!!

slideshow of Ashley and Griffin

Click HERE to see a slideshow of Ashley and Griffin from their wonderful photographer, Liz Duren. I was fortunate enough to do Ashley's makeup for her engagement photos, bridal portraits, and wedding!! Gorgeous!

A Wonderful Wedding Bridal Show

Thank you to all the brides who came out for the Wonderful Wedding Bridal Show!