Photographs by Dreamstime.com and Photos.com
I am often called Miranda rather than Magan by my friends. Overly rational and often pessimistic, I practice “organized chaos,” which keeps me from leaping without prior research—not that I don’t leap, mind you; I just read the fine print first. But if I am the Miranda of our Sex in the City set, my friend Gloria is the Charlotte.
A bubbling optimist, she called from Memphis recently to tell me that she is now engaged to her law-school beau. Immediately I began the research that will keep us all afloat in the sea of pastel foam that is a bride’s daydream. My research is unromantic and often unsolicited, but when I save her from the Cheeto-colored stain that another friend confessed to putting on a bride’s train just days after a Mystic Tan, I’ll be appreciated.
“So, how much time do we have?” I ask her crisply.
Hair and Makeup
“A year and a half. So many brides don’t realize that stylists plan that far out, so you’ll need to pick your hair and makeup stylist probably a year and a half out,” advises professional hair and makeup stylist Danielle Erb from her chic brushed-steel and white leather salon (daniellestyle.com). With a stylist, a bride can be glamorous without having to research or purchase makeup and hair products she may never use again.
Erb advises brides to “try out a new stylist on a night when you’re just going to a party.” Whether it’s a new updo or just a new makeup style, you’ll know not to return if you are hushed and rushed.
And for the do-it-yourself bride? “Use hair products that are forgiving, such as Aquage Finishing Spray [$13.34 at beautydeals.net], which holds firmly but brushes right out, just in case.” For this spring’s romantic curls, hold the curling iron vertically to stretch the curl, then mix equal parts hand lotion and Jonathan Dirt Texturizing Paste ($26 at sephora.com) in your hands and run it through the curls for manageability and shine.
At Sephora, color specialist Jason Adams is the man to know—especially for lash and matte lipstick phobes like me. Both are vital for that perfect vintage-1940s glamour style that Gloria has chosen for her wedding. And even her blonde lashes are taken care of with soft brown false lashes, easy to use and cheaper than lash extensions or tinting.
The application is simple: Apply one layer of mascara to your own lashes to give false lashes more substance to which to adhere; spread adhesive on the band, using the toothpick-sized applicator provided; gently press the center of the band to the center line of your lash line, followed by both corners; complete with a final layer of mascara. “Liquid liner acts like a concealer to fill in any gaps and cover any dabs of glue,” Adams explains while showing me his suggestion for my vintage look, Lancôme’s Artliner in Noir ($27 at lancome-usa.com).
“Some brides prefer the separated sprigs of lashes for a more natural look,” Adams adds. The sprigs are less intimidating for first-timers: You dab the sprig itself on the applicator tip. You should get three or four uses from properly cared-for false lashes.
My next challenge is to find the perfect classic red lip color. Brides need to consider long-wearing but creamy lip colors, avoiding glosses that attract too much of a camera’s flash and will inevitably stick to veil and curl alike. “You don’t want to have to reapply when you’re already nervous and rushed to begin with,” Adams points outs, referring to the bride who drops the lipstick only to watch it tumble down the front of her dress.
“Use a lip liner to line and fill in the entire lip before applying a lip color,” Adams urges, “so even with all of the kissing that brides do through the day, if the lip color does fade, it will not fade to a completely bare lip.” To add definition without adding gloss, he says, “dab the highlighting eye shadow on your fingertip and dab in the center of your lips” for that perfect pout.
Another camera-friendly tip comes from Adams’ colleague Stacy Sapp, who says that foundation primers are a must for wedding-day and wedding-portrait photography. Again, go light on the shimmer. Sapp suggests Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer ($38) without sunscreen. “The green tone [Adjust] is especially good for those with redness,” such as blushing and often blotchy brides, she says.
For inspiration, look for Lola’s fabulous lip colors in gift-worthy cases that include a cap-sized mirror that flips up to reveal the message “Laugh Often Love Always.” My choices? Lola’s Lip Creme in Sweet Love ($20) and a lip pencil in Foxy ($16)—a matte made in heaven.
A nail color to match? Our 1940s style calls for red, but French manicures with custom-colored acrylics that match the bride’s skin tone are growing in popularity ($42 at American Image Salon, 13385 Olive, 314-878-5210).
Skin Care
Remembering how the fog of feminine mystique dissipated when my boyfriend first caught me with Nair on my lip, I seek the friendly advice of Mary Inman, medical esthetician in the office of plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Rottler.
“Most of the new brides we see come for a year’s worth of microdermabrasion and laser hair removal,” Inman tells me. Although microdermabrasion offers the greatest benefit to those with serious sun damage or problem skin, laser hair removal is an invaluable beauty investment for many (dr-rottler.com/skincare). Both require multiple treatments and must be started months in advance of a special event; laser hair removal requires avoidance of the sun for four to six weeks afterward, so tropical honeymoons must be weighed carefully. And although being unable to wear undies for a week in Bali could heighten the thrill of a honeymoon, I make a note: Recommend waxing to Gloria.
I also dare the question: “Have you test-driven your underwear?” By the general silence that follows, I realize that Gloria has not yet considered that her corset may rub blisters under her armpits or that her Manolos are better suited to a Carrie. With six months until the big day, I suggest that we vacuum our houses in our bustiers, gartered stockings and heels. Two hours of cleaning in your skivvies will let you know if you need to exchange anything—or if that adhesive bra will eventually become shoulder pads.
Diet and Exercise
Although a tan is not required for our vintage-inspired glamour, many brides prefer a sun-kissed look. Alas, darker things don’t always look smaller. The American Dietetic Association recommends five or six small meals a day—lean meats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Snack-sized portions fit in the palm of your hand; a serving of meat is the size of a deck of playing cards. Eating your meals from a salad plate can also help control portion size.
Another diet boost is to drink “half of your body weight in ounces of water every day,” says Pat Staude, program director of the St. Louis Institute for Weight Management (weightloss-stl.com). “There is no magic pill for weight loss, and people often try to lose weight too quickly,” she says. “We recommend spending no less than four to five months to lose 50 pounds.”
But for the benefit of those of us with chocolate—I mean willpower—problems, I also meet with clinical hypnotist Jim Mellor, of the Health and Wellness Hypnosis Center, in High Ridge, Mo. (636-226-7117).
Like an aversion to tequila after an endless Cancun weekend, hypnosis can help convince your brain that chocolate actually tastes like the gelatinous mass it will add to your bum. You must already be committed to losing weight, but hypnosis works by “bypassing willpower and working through the subconscious mind to deal not only with your eating habits, sugar addiction and motivation for exercise but also with the reasons you have become overweight,” Mellor says. He reports that generally one $75 session is needed if you have less than 50 pounds to lose (and only two sessions to lose more).
But dieting alone is not enough to make a healthy body. Exercise is required, and if you have unopened workout DVDs that you’re planning on regifting or using as coasters on the coffee table, hire a personal trainer or join a nationally recognized program such as Curves. A budget-friendly option is to seek out a web support site such as BuddySlim.com or iVillage.com where you can chat and share motivation and recipes—a convenient option for long-distance friends.
Relaxation
With cocktails weighing in at 70 calories per ounce, alternate stress relief is required. Kohler’s new Steam Generator shower system with aromatic oil ports indicates that aromatherapy is more than a New Age trend ($1,200–$1,900 at homedepot.com). For those with smaller budgets, simple light-bulb ring diffusers are portable and inexpensive. They are circular trays into which a few drops of oil are placed before the ring is set on a standard light bulb ($5–$10). Oils of lavender and chamomile are recommended for relaxation, so buy a few extra for the bride’s dressing room.
What about combining stress relief with the workout? Melissa Kassly, owner of Floored on Grand, has seen many bridal parties cross her studio’s warm caramel-colored hardwood floors. Studios such as hers provide dance classes, as well as yoga and meditation, and private instruction can be arranged for small groups.
“Couples come to learn waltzes for their first dance,” she says, “or just to enjoy the romance of the Latin styles.”
Another private room available for small classes? The one with the pole. Inspired by this popular trend, we, too, agree to buy, use for one month and then swap various flirting-for-fitness–style DVDs—six months of fitness and giggles for the price of one. I am sending my Stripilates DVD ($16.95 at amazon.com) with the Foot Petals Sole Solutionz shoe-insole gift set ($29.95 at amazon.com) and a final suggestion for my friends: Bring dressy flats for the reception. I’m Practical Polly, sure, but hobbling is never attractive.
The Afterglow
I will make my way south to join the girls in June. Looking forward to mint juleps and big-band sounds, I will relax and toss the well-used little notebook into the flight attendant’s trash bag.
Then I will panic and retrieve it. My day will come.
