Category: Personal

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Things to Do After Getting Engaged

Your partner popped the question, you said yes, and now you’re engaged ! Congratulations! It’s a big moment, and you’re kicking off a totally special time in your lives. But what should you do after you get engaged? The first steps you take after your engagement will really set you up for a successful wedding planning process. From the fun and exciting to the nitty-gritty, we have a few tasks to get you on your way.

Spread the News

Of course the first thing you’ll want to do after your engagement is tell people about it! Start with your VIPs (think parents, siblings, and grandparents), either sharing the news in person or getting on the phone to tell them what’s just happened. Then, once your inner circle is up to date, you can head to social media with the perfect engagement post.

Get Insurance

Romantic? No. Totally necessary? Yes. Whether a stone gets loose or your ring falls down the garbage disposal, having it properly protected is key. Your partner may have already looked into ring insurance with the jeweler, but if he or she hasn’t yet purchased a policy, you’ll want to do that right away.

Get a Manicure

Now that you’re engaged, all eyes will be on your left hand, so pamper your fingers with a professional mani. Clean cuticles and soft skin will make your newest accessory really pop!

Enjoy the Moment

It’s hard to resist the urge to start planning, but try to take a few days—or a few weeks—to simply be engaged. Embrace the romance with regular date nights, an engagement trip, or even an engagement party. Practice introducing your partner as your fiancé, and enjoy all of the congratulations you’ll get!

Dream Big

Before you get into the details, give yourselves time to dream. Write down what you’d love to have at your wedding, whether it’s a barefoot ceremony in the sand or a bourbon bar at the reception, and start putting together a Pinterest board with your vision. Keep an eye out for common themes, which will help you narrow things down later, and start to define your biggest priorities for the event.

Talk Numbers

Don’t book a single thing before you know how much you’ll have to spend on your wedding. Talk to your parents about what they might be comfortable contributing, and start setting aside savings if you’ll be paying for the event yourselves. Another number to consider? Your guest list! Create a draft guest list to get an idea of how many guests you’ll have, which will play a major role in how far your budget can go and which venues you can look at.

Hire A Pro

If you’re going to work with a wedding planner, hire him or her before you book your venue. Go to your planner with the range of dates you’ve specified, then bring him or her along while you’re doing your venue tours. A planner will be able to give you invaluable insight into spaces, and might be able to recommend something you’d never considered before.

Narrow Down the Date

Before you tour venues or interview majors vendors (like your planner or photographer), you’ll want to have a range of dates in mind. Think about what you’re envisioning for your celebration, from a garden wedding in the spring to a snowy mountaintop fête, then look to your calendars to see when you’re both free. Don’t forget to check in with your VIPs to make sure they’re available, too!

Book Your Venue

With your planner secured, it’s time to sign that venue contract! The space you choose will influence everything from your final guest count to the color palette to the design of your dress, so get this locked in early.

Book Other Major Players

After your planner and venue, your next big bookings should be the photographer, alistbeauty and band or DJ—those professionals who can only take on one event per date. The best might get scooped up quickly, so send out inquiries early! This will give you time to browse portfolios and conduct interviews to help you find exactly what you’re looking for—and your planner will be able to help narrow it down and offer invaluable guidance!

Stay Organized

Whether it’s an online planning tool, a printed wedding planning binder, documents from your wedding planner, or templates from Google Drive, keeping on top of the details is key. Create a comprehensive timeline, track your budget, and scan contracts and receipts to keep all of the details in one place.

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Things to Remember to Do the Night Before Your Wedding

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You’ve crossed off one thing after another on your wedding to-do lists. Now, less than 24 hours before you climb into your wedding dress and let out a confident “I Do” to your very own prince charming is a list of 19 things you need to do.
1. Eat a healthy meal.
Although that greasy fast food might be screaming your name, you should stick to the fresh fruit and the whole grains. They won’t have you waking up on your big with a food hangover like a Big Mac and a poutine will on your wedding day.
2. Pack a bag or clutch of personal items.
Put together your reception clutch and your post-reception bag and hand it off to your wedding point person, who can help make sure it’s waiting for you in the bridal suite or in your hotel room.
3. Drink a lot of water.
Keep a cold glass of water nearby and make sure you spend some quality time with it. This will help you avoid any dehydration that stress and running around can often cause.
4. Get a good night’s sleep.
Or at least try to tuck yourself underneath those covers at a decent hour.
5. Turn your phone on silent.
Say goodbye to checking your social media accounts and answering text messages. Turn your device on silent or hand it over to your maid-of-honor.
6. Put any boxes, suitcases, bags to bring to the ceremony or reception in the car.
Pack the car with all the items you’ll need for your wedding day so that you can wake up in the morning and not have to worry about doing any heavy lifting before getting out of the door.
7. Make sure you have cash on hand.
Have a couple of 20 dollar bills nearby in case you need to tip any of your vendors or in case of any last-minute emergencies.
8. Double-check payment for vendors.
Have them sorted out — whether that means your payments are via E- transfer, gathering checks or cash and put them in clearly marked enveloped and hand them off to your point person for the wedding day (whether that’s your wedding planner, bridesmaid, or family member).
9. Gather a survival kit.
Toss a bunch of must-have items into a small tote bag in case anyone needs them. Grab a handful of Band-Aids, safety pins, packets of Advil, and a Tide stick.
10. Print out a list of vendor details.
Be sure to include vendor info . like their phone number, arrival time, and name. Then, pass this list on to your point person so they can check up on them.
11. Write a love note to your groom.
Something short and sweet. A note to tell the man in the tux who will be waiting for you that he is the one you will love forever!
12. Grab a pair of flip flops.
Keep these close by, you’ll want to change into them throughout your wedding day — whether after the morning photos are taken or in the middle of the reception. Your feet are going to need a time-out before you do!
13. Watch something that’ll make you laugh.
In the spirit of putting yourself in a happy and enlightened mood, plop yourself down in front of the TV and watch some funny on Netflix.
14. Enjoy a mani and pedi.
While you’re getting a fresh coat of polish , say “I do” when they ask you if you’d like to add on a 10-minute massage. Pamper yourself — you deserve it!
15. Assign someone to be your morning-after person.
This person’s role will be to collect all the gifts at the end of the wedding and do one final sweep of the venue when the party is over to make sure you didn’t leave anything behind.
16. Say a big “thank you.”
Before the wedding-day chaos kicks in, be sure to thank people in advance for sticking by your side through this adventure. Give an extra hug to your bridesmaids and pop a kiss on the cheeks of your family members.
17. Make sure the shoe fits.
Even better, make sure you practice walking a straight line in them. After that, turn the volume up on your favorite Taylor Swift song and bust out some dance moves. This will help you not only relieve some stress, but it’ll make you see your threshold for when your shoes are going to start throwing a temper tantrum on your feet.
18. Confirm with vendors.
There’s a time and a place for everything. Make sure your outside vendors know when and where to show up. Now’s the time to also let them know the name and phone number of your “point person” that day.
19. Practice deep yoga-like breaths.
End the day before your wedding with 5-minutes of meditation and deep breaths. This will help calm you down before you hop into bed for the last time as a Miss.
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Our on location hair and make up professionals specialize in creating exquisite looks tailored to you and your dream!
We are offering touch ups as our gift to you after your ceremony
Valued at $600.00

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The 6 Costs You Should Cover for Your Bridesmaids

It’s no secret that being a bridesmaid is an expensive role for your friends to take on. They will find themselves paying for pre-wedding events, transportation costs, and of course the dress you’d like them to wear on the big day. So if you’re looking for a way to pick up some of the expenses your bridesmaids may incur , here are 6 things you should pay for, if you can, for your bridal party.

1. A Wedding Survival Kit

Whether it’s a bowl filled with travel-sized toiletries from the drug store or a personalized tote bag filled with emergency items for the day , be sure to equip your bridesmaids with any last-minute must-have items.

2. Their Transportation Home

Since the average wedding day for a bridal party is 10+ hours, be sure to provide your wedding party with transportation home or back to the hotel. You can do this through a taxi service or a scheduled shuttle for all of the guests.

3. Hair and Makeup

If it’s in your budget, a great treat (and gift!) for your bridal party is to pick up the tab on the glam squad, paying for them to get both their hair and makeup done on the wedding day. If you can’t manage to pay for both beauty fees, opt for one or the other. They’ll definitely appreciate the gesture.

4. Bridesmaid Accessories

Any and all items you’d like your bridesmaids to wear on the wedding day to accentuate the dress can be items that you buy for each bridesmaid as the ultimate thank you gift.

5. A Mani/Pedi

There’s no better way to  before the wedding than with a group outing to get a mani/pedi, especially when you’re paying for it! Treat your girls to a fun day at the spa, and get wedding-ready while doing so.

6. Alterations

If you’re asking your bridesmaids to buy their dresses themselves, one thing you can do to help keep the costs down is offer to pay for any alterations that they might need. That way, you can be sure the dresses fit optimally and look stunning in photos on your big day.

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7 Secrets For The Perfect Eyeliner

Alistbeauty helps with 7 Secrets for the Perfect Eyeliner

There are certain skills in life that you could probably get by without (like learning how to poach an egg or knowing how to do a waterfall braid). But getting your eyeliner straight and even is pretty essential to daily life if you ask us—and also pretty damn tricky. So we polled the women we know who always have impeccably lined eyes for their best tips.

EYELINER TYPES LIST

They Use Primer
If smudgy or runny liner is a constant issue for you, try starting off with a little primer . Not only will it create a smoother surface for application, but it will also keep things in place as it wears.

They Know Which Formulas Work Best for Them
Generally speaking, pencils and gel liners are easier to apply than liquids. So if you’re feeling a bit uncertain about your skills, reach for a more forgiving pencil first, and then you can work your way up to liquid liners.

PHOTOS POWER/GETTY IMAGES

They Steady Their Elbows
Before you go in with your liner, find a flat surface to steady your elbows against and then draw. Stable arms equal steady lines.

They Rely on More Than One Shade
Use a darker shade (like black or brown) along the upper lash line and don’t worry about making it perfect. Next, take a slightly lighter shade (like gray or bronze) and blend it along the top edge of the line you just drew to hide any unevenness. Note: You can also do this with eye shadow.

They Work Backward
Instead of lining your eyes from the inner corners out, start with the end point and work your way in for better symmetry. This is especially key if you’re rocking a cat-eye look.

They Use Concealer to Clean Up
Though we instinctively reach for remover to fix mistakes, it tends to bleed into the surrounding makeup (which sometimes means having to start all over again). Use your concealer to do the job instead.

They Replace Their Liners Regularly
Most pros recommend swapping out your liners every two months (if it’s a gel pot, as they tend to trap moisture and bacteria the easiest) or four to six months (if it’s liquid because they tend to dry out faster) and every year (if it’s pencil). Again, perhaps we should all just be using pencils.

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3 Concealer Tricks Every Woman Should Know

Alistbeauty understand the challenges of finding your perfect concealer match. Depending on where you plan on using it (under eyes versus everywhere else), you’ll need more than one type. Here are three quick tricks for pinning down your exact shade and putting it to proper use.

Tip 1 : Test the formula on your collarbone. Whereas your face and neck are often covered by sunscreen or makeup, your décolleté gives you the most accurate idea of your true skin tone.

Tip 2 : To brighten up dark circles , go a touch lighter in color and apply around the inner corners and just below your eyes.

Tip 3 : To cover up any spots (or to clean up any mistakes around, say, the lip line), use your exact match from the first step to get a seamless finish .

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How To Determine The Best Lipstick Color For Your Exact Skin Tone

We all have that friend who can rock a dramatic lip. Why is it that certain colors look gorgeous on her, but heinous on us? You probably already know that your skin color has something to do with it. But did you know your skin’s undertones could be making or breaking that stunning lip look?

Alistbeauty artist let you in on how you can pick the right colour of lip stick for your skin tone. There are three possible undertones: cool, warm and neutral. A person with cool undertones sees pinkish-blue in their skin, while a person with warm undertones sees yellow and gold. Neutral undertones have a bit of both.

There are a couple different methods to help you determine your undertone.  Alistbeauty makeup artist Janet Wilson recommends examining the color of your veins. If you notice green in your veins, you have warm undertones to your skin. If you see blue in your veins, you have a cool undertone. And finally, if you see both blue and green, you can classify your undertone as neutral.

Janet also recommes taking off your makeup and looking at the side of your cheek close to your ear. If you see pinkish-blue, you have cooler undertones. If you see yellow-gold, you have warmer undertones.

Finally, the metal test. Hold up silver and gold jewelry to your skin.

“If you gravitate towards wearing gold jewelry you are likely warm,” the Alima Pure team told The Huffington Post. “Cool undertones usually opt for silver jewelry. Neutral skin tones look great with either.”

So now that you know your undertone, what lipstick color should you pick?  For cool, neutral and olive tones, Janet recommends rosy pinks, berry hues and blue-toned reds.

For beige, warm and olive tones, they suggest peachy pinks, corals and warm reds.

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7 Tips to help you look and feel amazing!

PREP AND SET YOUR FOUNDATION

Always start with a good moisturizer and primer to get a smooth base before you apply any foundation. Al Fortier  Alistbeauty team lead likes to use Murad’s Invisiblur .  Another tip: Go light with the setting powder and apply it only where you absolutely need it. Skip the perimeter of your face altogether, as that’s where you want to keep some sheen.

MASTER THE SUBTLE CONTOUR

The contouring craze is (thankfully) dying down, but the art of subtle sculpting is forever flattering. Stick to cream formulas (which are easier to blend) and make sure you choose a shade of contouring powder that’s only one to two shades darker than your natural skin tone.

TRY A MONOCHROMATIC LOOK

Pick a shade and use it on your lids, lips and cheeks. Not sure which colors to start with? We’re partial to peachy pink because it instantly warms up your complexion and works on every skin tone.

BRIGHT QUARTET BAKED EYESHADOW PALETTE 02

FOCUS ON YOUR BROWS

They frame your entire face, after all. Make your sure your  arches are full and defined but not overly drawn in? You can get a similar effect at home with a brow pencil (using short dashes) and gel (brush the hairs up and out to set them in place).

DON’T BE AFRAID OF DARK LIPSTICK

It’s a statement lip for sure, but it’s not as severe as you might have feared. Just keep the rest of your makeup light and buff your lips beforehand (as the shade can call attention to any dry patches or flakes).

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Makeup Tricks That Shave Years Off Your Look

Makeup Tricks That Shave Years Off Your Look

Makeup should be a friend, not a foe, and as we age there are certain ways makeup can age your look. Here are easy ways to use makeup to your advantage and knock a couple years off in the process.

Use Yellow-Toned Foundation
A foundation with a yellow base instead of a pink one will help cancel out any redness in your skin.

Fill In Your Brows
As women age and lose estrogen in their bodies, they tend to lose eyebrow hairs on the outer corners, creating a shortened look. Use a good brow pencil to feather color onto the tails of your brows to give your face an instantly lifted look.

Use a Light-Reflecting Concealer
As skin gets thinner around your eyes, you want to move away from using a heavy concealer. The best concealer for aging eyes is one that is lightweight and deflects light, like Chantecaille’s Le Camouflage Stylo

Switch to Brown Eyeliner

Oftentimes, black eyeliner can look too harsh and severe. Use a chocolate-brown pencil instead for a soft and beautiful look.

Apply Peach Blush to the Apples of Your Cheeks
Keeping product on the apples of your cheeks instead of under your cheekbones helps to give a youthful appearance to your face.

Choose a Lip Color a Shade Darker Than Your Natural Lip Color
A dark lip can sometimes make you look older, so find shades that are closer to your natural lip color and offer a bit of shine.

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30 Wedding Venue Questions You Should be Asking

Wedding Budget
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There’s more to the perfect wedding venue than just the aesthetics (though good looks are a huge bonus!). There are all sorts of important details you’ll need to cover before you sign on the dotted line. We’ve asked the pros for the key questions to ask your wedding venue you’ll want to ask before you book. You just might want to bring this list with you!

Pricing & Availability

  1. Is my date of choice available? If not, are there any surrounding dates available? Or do you have a wait list for dates?

Pro tip: Try to visit venues before you’ve chosen an exact date. If you have a few options or a range of dates that might work, you’ll be more likely to secure a spot at the venue of your dreams!

  1. How far in advance can I reserve my date?

    3.What are the rates for different days of the week and times (Friday, Saturday, Sunday; morning, afternoon, evening)? What about different seasons!

    Pro tip: If you don’t have your heart set on a Saturday-night wedding in the summer, you may find more available dates on a Friday or Sunday and during the slower season—as well as lower prices!

    1. How many hours are included in the rental of the space? How early can we arrive, and how late can we stay?

    2. Is there an additional charge for extra hours? How much?

    3. How many weddings or events do you host on one day? On one weekend?

    Pro tip: Ideally, you’ll want to be the only event on-site on your wedding day, as having other events happening can result in less set-up time, limited venue access, and confusion for your guests. If you’re not guaranteed to be the only event that day, find out how much it would cost to do a complete buyout, as well as ask about how the staff handles having multiple events at once.

    Payment

    1. How much is the deposit?

    2. How do you structure the payment schedule?

    Pro tip: Most venues will have you pay a deposit upon signing the contract, and the balance in installments between the day you sign and your wedding date.

    1. What is included in the total? Does it cover service charges, gratuity, and cleaning fees, or are those additional line items?

    Pro tip: You may see a “++” on certain items on the bill. Called “plus plus,” that means you’ll be paying tax and gratuity on top of the listed cost.

    1. What is the cancellation policy?

    Pro tip: You’ll want to find out how long you have to cancel and get your money back (or at least some of it).

    1. When is the last possible date to make changes to our reservation?

    Pro tip: If there’s a chance you might need to change your wedding date, find out how long you have to do so without incurring a penalty or fee.

    Vendor Team

    1. Do you have a list of approved or recommended vendors we can use?

    2. Do we have to use your approved vendors? If not, are there limitations or guidelines we need to meet when bringing others in?

    Pro tip: If your venue doesn’t require you to use their vendors, ask if there are any they recommend most highly. A vendor who is familiar with your venue will already know the quirks and challenges of the space, which will make your planning process that much easier!

    Logistics

    1. Is the site handicap accessible?

    2. Are there noise restrictions?

    Pro tip: Many venues are under noise ordinances (town or county rules requiring music to stop at a certain time) or have restrictions of their own. Find out how late you can play music, as well as whether you need to turn it off at that time or just turn it down or move inside.

    1. How many bathrooms are there? Will we need to rent additional portable restrooms?

    2. Is parking available on-site? How much space is there? Will guests be charged for parking?

    Pro tip: Sometimes use of parking is included in your site rental fee, sometimes it isn’t. If there is a fee and it isn’t covered by your rental, ask how much it would cost for you to pay for your guests’ parking for the evening.

    Event Specifics

    1. What is the venue’s capacity?

    Pro tip: Find out how many guests you can fit in the space with and without a dance floor, with a band vs. with a DJ (as a band will require more space), and with round vs. rectangular or square tables to understand which decisions will help you maximize the space and your guest list.

    1. Do you have your own sound equipment and speakers, or will those need to be rented or provided by the entertainment?

    2. What is the backup plan for rain or inclement weather?

    Pro tip: Go look at this space closely, too! While no one wants a rainy wedding day, it happens quite often, so you’ll want to love your Plan B just as much as Plan A.

    1. Are there any décor restrictions?

    Pro tip: Ask about where and how things like lights and drapery can be hung, as well as whether you can use candles with an open flame or if you need to use LED candles instead.

    1. When can vendors arrive for setup?

    2. Will your staff be involved in setting up and breaking down the décor? In what capacity?

    Pro tip: A venue like a hotel will usually have staff available to help arrange and set the tables, then help pack up any rented glassware, flatware, and dishes at the end of the night. Confirm exactly what the venue’s staff will be doing so you can pass that information on to your other vendors.

    Food & Drinks

    1. Do you have an in-house caterer? If so, are food and beverages included in the venue rental fee?

    2. If there is not an in-house caterer, do we have to choose from a list of approved options, or can we hire our own caterer?

    3. Do you have a food and beverage minimum? What are the consequences if we don’t meet it?

    Pro tip: Venues with in-house caterers will often have a food and beverage minimum that you’re required to meet as part of the contract—essentially a minimum amount you need to spend. Find out what happens if you don’t meet it, as well as what upgraded options you might be able to add to your menu to help you meet that minimum.

    1. Do we have to purchase liquor through you, or can we source liquor elsewhere?

    Pro tip: Many venues offer the option of purchasing liquor directly through them (especially if they have an exclusive or in-house caterer), which is super convenient. It can, however, come with a hefty markup. Find out if you can source your liquor elsewhere, which allows you to price-shop, or if you can buy it yourself and bring it to the event.

    1. If we can bring our own liquor onto the property, is there a corkage or service fee?

    Pro tip: If your venue does allow you to buy your own alcohol, they may charge a fee to serve it on the property—which is still often much less than the price of ordering straight through the venue.*

    Production Staff

    1. Who will be our point person as we plan our wedding? Who will be our point person on our wedding day?

    Pro tip: It’s always best if these two people are one and the same, but that’s not always the case. Find out who your contact will be for the planning process, as they’ll be the contact for your vendors as well. But also make sure you get the contact information for whoever will be at the venue on your wedding day, so you can ensure they have all the necessary details in order.

    1. Can we meet them today?

    Pro tip: If they aren’t the person you’re doing your tour with, try to meet these contacts in person ASAP to find out if you get along. It’s not a deal breaker, but having a good rapport will make the process much more smooth, and it’s always nice to put a name and face together!