Thursday, September 26, 2013

Lets Get Weird! : Ashleigh's Bachelorette Party

I can't believe I waited this long to post about the amazing bachelorette weekend we threw for one of my best friends a few weeks ago in Sacramento!

Ashleigh asked me to be her maid of honor in February and from that day on the wheels were turning on where we were going for the bachelorette party. She has eight bridesmaids in total, so it was decided to just have the bridal party in attendance. Coordinating nine girls' schedules was going to be hard enough!

I had to factor in budgets, work schedules, their locations, etc. I thought about many different places, but Sacramento seemed to be the best fit! It was an easy drive for everyone, there was plenty to do, and it still felt like we were getting out of town!

As a planner, my goal was to keep everyone as informed as possible. I'm sure the girls started getting tired of my emails, but I didn't want to spring any extra costs on anyone. I think that is really important for the maid or matron of honor to consider in this process. While we all want to plan the picturesque Las Vegas trip, for most, its just not realistic.

So I literally planned for months, thinking about all the things we could do, reading endless Yelp reviews, finding the best bang for our buck and wanting to make sure that Ashleigh and the girls had a great time!

We managed to keep the destination of the bachelorette party a secret from Ashleigh! My friend Jen and I were driving down with her, letting her know that we were picking up one of the girl's who lives in Sacramento. As soon are we arrive downtown at the Grand Sheraton Hotel, Rachel runs to the car and we all yell, "we're here!" We walk up to our amazing suite and a weekend full of celebration begins!


An afternoon of wine tasting at Downtown & Vine!


Dinner at Zocolo with a mariachi band!


We all wore shirts that said 'Let's get weird' on the front!


On the back they said bridesmaid (or for Ashleigh: bride)


One night we all wore black, while the bride to be stood out in white!


Ashleigh gave us our bridesmaids gifts this weekend! She had sweatshirts made with years we've known her on the back and hangover care kits for the weekend! 
One of the bridesmaids, Amy also made hangover kits for us, as we didn't know Ashleigh was making them too! Needless to say, we were stocked up on amenities to get us through the weekend!


Take a look at some of the great places we visited!

Hotel 

 Food

Bars 




What a FUN weekend it was! We all had a great time getting together to celebrate the wonderful bride to be!

XO,
Brittney

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Wedding hair

One of my biggest dilemmas thus far in the wedding planning process is: hair up or down!!??

I have been asking both past and future brides how their hair was or is going to be. Unfortunately, I've been given a collective answer of about 50/50. Well thanks ladies, that's helpful!

It's a tough decision. If you think about it, you will be looking at your pictures the rest of your life! I do realize that as a cosmetologist I may have a little more concern on what my hair will look like.

Thanks to Pinterest, I have been slowly but surely collecting ideas! Here are some of my favorite looks:
   

         Hopefully these have sparked some ideas!

Here are some helpful tips I have concluded when deciding on your hairstyle for that special day!
  • Pictures, pictures, pictures. Visual references are the best way to convey what style and look you are going for to your stylist.

  • Be you, but be an open you. A little contradictory I know, but when it comes down to it, you are going to pick the style you are most comfortable with. But, maybe instead of your everyday look, go for the one that you have always liked or wanted to have.

  • Don't be afraid to accessorize. There are so many accessories out there to add a little sparkle or unique touch to your hairstyle. A vintage brooch, jeweled barrettes, bird-cage veils, feathers, bows and fabric flowers.

  • Keep up on regular cuts. Regular cuts will ensure healthy ends and your stylist can tailor your cut to be just right for your hairstyle that day. Avoid any drastic color change or cut right before the big day to play it safe.

  • Clean and product free. Have clean dry hair for the trial and wedding day. Avoid using a lot of conditioner, especially a leave-in. Stray away from silkening products that will weigh your hair down or make it hard to work with.

  • Account for change. You always need to keep in mind what the weather may be like that day. Wind, rain and humidity can drastically change a look.  So be flexible and trust your stylist to give you the best look.
I wish you the best of luck on choosing your hairstyle. God only knows I need it!

XO,
Brittney