Our Fabulous Winter Wedding: Primping and Prepping

Following the rehearsal dinner, I rode back home with my mom, step-dad, dad and best friend/bridesmaid T. I stayed at my parent's home–the same one I grew up in. My mom, sister and I stayed up chit-chatting and double-checking the placecards. Nick and I had agreed to exchange cards on the day of the wedding and I set out to write his letter that night and copied it into a nice card the morning of.

My mom and I woke up around 6 a.m. to shower and headed to my Aunt B's house across town to get ready. She volunteered to make myself, my mom and my bridesmaids a light breakfast and let us use her spacious, gorgeous home as the backdrop for my hair and make-up. It was perfect and I got to share the morning with one of my favorite aunts {and surrogate grandmother}! One of our biggest splurges was hiring my long-time hairstylist {and friend} Courtney from Reeda Todd to drive down from Indianapolis to do my hair and make-up. My hair has always been my thing, and I knew I couldn't trust just anyone to do it for my wedding day. It was pricey, but worth every penny.

When I arrived at my aunt's, Courtney had already arranged all of her tools and make-up. She got right to work blowing my hair out and curling it {Courtney and I both despise the feeling of hair that hasn't been washed, so she used a lot of product to make it hold}. In June at my hair and make-up trial, I planned to wear my hair half up, but in the last few months realized I wanted to wear my hair completely down.

I forgot to wear a button down shirt for easy removal. Since I have 10,000 black t-shirts, Courtney just put a slit in this one so I could just rip it off when we got to the church to get dressed. Of course, in my rush to get dressed I totally forgot and pulled it over my head anyhow.

I love the photo below of my mom and aunt observing my make-up being applied. They insisted that there be no photographs of them, but I am so glad Amanda from Turtle Pond caught this one.

I had decided from the beginning to let my bridesmaids decide how involved they wanted to be in our wedding. The ladies live all over the country, but half of them grew up in my hometown. Some of the girls had their hair done, some didn't and all of them did their own make-up. Because of time and budget constraints, Courtney couldn't do everyone's hair and make-up. All of the bridesmaids were invited to hang out with me while I got ready at my aunt's, but most of them chose to get ready at their parents' homes or hotel rooms and meet up with me at the church to get dressed. Bridesmaids T & M hung out with me that morning which was wonderful, and bridesmaids/cousins B & K came after their hair appointments to visit with me and do their make-up.

While Courtney fixed my mom's hair and make-up {no photos of that, mother's orders!}, I transferred Nick's letter into the nice card.

Courtney put the finishing touches on my hair while bridesmaids T and M watched; and we prepared to head over to the church.

I have no idea what I'm cracking up about, but I love this photo. I miss Courtney! She is an amazing hairstylist!

I organized and reorganized my bag to be sure I had what I needed at the hotel for the next morning separate from what I needed at the church that morning. Of course, things still managed to get misplaced and I never located my purse {with lip gloss and camera} that night. After Nick and I left the reception to go up to our hotel room, my poor step-dad had to bring me my overnight bag so I could change. I also totally forgot to have Nate and Amanda photograph my something old, borrowed, blue and new AND our wedding invitations!

I was texting up a storm that morning with my other bridesmaids checking on where they were and how things were coming along. I was also texting up a storm with my lovely day of coordinator Stephanie.

 

Around the time we were getting ready to leave, my {boy} cousin C came by to pick up our "escort cards" (luggage tags) to deliver them to Stephanie at the hotel. After everyone was hair and make-up ready, we headed to the church to get dressed..

--

LOOKING BACK

• I am so glad I splurged on hair and make-up with someone I trusted. My hair looked exactly as I had envisioned and my make-up looked incredible and was perfect in photographs.

• I am happy I let my bridesmaids decide if they want to be there for my hair and make-up on the morning of. I really took the attitude that they could be as involved as they want and it worked out great. No feelings were hurt.

• I wouldn't have stayed up so late the night before the wedding. Waking up at 6 a.m. was rough! I was exhausted. I am telling you if you do one thing for yourself – get plenty of sleep starting a few days before your wedding!

• I will say it again and again, but my cousins are like my brothers and sisters and were a HUGE help. Of course, Stephanie was the glue that held everything all together. She and I spoke just a few times prior to our wedding, but she was a godsend and to top it off – she is hilarious!

Comments

[Heather]

Such beautiful pictures!

[Mary S.]

I LOVE your hair!! So shiney and pretty!

[LiLu]

I love the black and white photos. So pretty!

[The Lil Bee]

I agree...hair and makeup are most definitely worth the splurge. I spared no expense there, and why should you? They make your photos perfection, right?!

PS Thanks for your sweet comment about Feather!! xx

[PinkSass]

I am full on in love with your wedding hair. My sister is getting married next month and wants her hair to look just like yours!

Where is your stylist from????

[honeymoon registry]

Nice photos! great moments captured with style.

[bridal girl]

Love how you look when they were putting make up on you. You don't look like tired though! You still look amazing.

[Sabina]

If only my hair would look like yours

[[email protected]]

Your hair and makeup look amazing...what a beautiful bride!