You've sent out the save-the-date magnets, ordered your dress, enjoyed a cake tasting (or three!) and have even booked your hair stylist and makeup artist for your wedding day. You are well on your way to being the most beautiful bride EVER (cue A Wedding Story theme song).  
 
Before you start to get ahead of yourself though, make sure that you sit down, take a deep breath, and smell the proverbial tea roses. Taking a bit of time to relax and enjoy this time is great for your mind... and beauty! Looking gorgeous on your wedding day takes time. The bridal beauty duo, Alexia Ogle and Ashley Smith of Flower & Gold, are always on top of the latest in bridal hair and makeup trends. The Bay Area based team continually are advancing in the hair and make-up industry, thus are the perfect ladies to look to for tips on how to look flawless on your wedding day.

As a hair stylist, Ashley has worked in top San Francisco salons, and has an extensive editorial and bridal portfolio. She recommends that the preparations start BEFORE the big day. Basically, hair needs nutrients and time to look shiny and lustrous. "When prepping for a bride's most special day, one of the first recommendations I have is to treat the hair with a moisturizing masque to soften and soothe the hair. It is best to ask for this at your salon, so you may have the highest quality in moisture as well as the most professional version of the treatment, as most "take-home" versions will have less potency. My favorite for all brides is the Age Defy Protein Masque by Label M. It offers a lightweight feel, yet delivers deep intense moisture (and it smells divine!)" It is also important that you meet your hair stylist in person for a consultation before your wedding day. Bringing tear-outs from magazines and a picture of your dress, while not necessary, can help you communicate a clear vision to your stylist. During this time, your stylist can also give you important tips on how much time is needed to get the color/length of hair that you desire for the wedding day style that you dream of.  
 
Alexia is an established makeup artist who has worked with prestigious brands including MAC, Stila and shu uemura, to name a few, and been showcased by A-list celebrities and fashion designers alike. "Every bride wants to feel radiant and beautiful on their wedding day. The goal is to be absolutely glowing when you walk down the aisle. Here are a few makeup tips I like to share with my clients before the big day. First thing's first, it is important to learn your skin type and prep your skin accordingly. I recommend seeing a great dermatologist/esthetician a few months before your wedding, and eating plenty of foods that nourish the skin throughout the months that build up to your big day. On the day of, before applying foundation, I love to prime the skin with the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm. Apply the balm on the entire face to help the foundation last longer. It will instantly moisturize, brighten and tightens facial contours so the skin looks rested. The next step is having a versatile illuminator that can work with different types of skin texture my favorite is the Nars illuminator in Copacabana. You can either mix this product in your foundation or apply around the orbital bone and bridge of the nose. Let the radiance begin!"

Each artist is also involved in their own projects. Ashley makes and sells her own jewelry/hair pieces on Esty for brides, while Alexia is involved with an amazing new false lash line Faux Lash. You can keep up with Flower & Gold, and ask them any bridal beauty questions via their website at Flower & Gold.

Joui & Andrew were married last summer at the beautiful Mayacamas Ranch. When she first called the studio one afternoon, she talked to me about what she wanted, and I told her to check out Mayacamas Ranch. She did, and fell in love with it, and she and Brittani got to work on their beautiful wedding. The bride, being a clothing designer, made all the dresses for herself and the bridesmaids. 
 
We're so happy to share the photos by Sabine Scherer that were featured on Style Me Pretty's Little Black Book Blog.

Cheers,

I have been using Pinterest for a while, and it definitely came in handy while planning my own wedding. I know a lot of our clients use it on their own, and now we're starting to share the boards, so what the wedding concept will be and where some of our favorite items are available to purchase are readily available. Some of our clients are overseas, so this has been a huge help! 
 
We're still getting our boards going, and adding more every week, so check out our profile over on Pinterest. Let us know what you think of using Pinterest, and how it has helped you. 
 
Cheers,