Makeup Master – Bright Lip

April 19th, 2012

I recently asked the fabulous Bruce Rehbein from MakeupMaster, to come in and makeover three of our lovely brides-to-be with three different, on-trend looks.  Last week’s was the smokey eye and it totally transformed Bronwyn into a glamourous, siren with old world style and sophistication.  I am a major fan of the smokey eye – it really does make a feature of your eyes (even dark brown eyes like mine) and who doesn’t want their eyes to look ravishing on their wedding day?  However not everyone thinks their eyes are their best feature so today’s makeup is the on-trend bright lip.  I know most brides go for pale, natural coloured lipstick on their wedding day – it makes sense , I get it.  But sometimes it looks so bold and fresh to buck the trend and step out in something a little more unexpected.  It could be something you put on as you enter the reception – you know, as you move into the festive part of the day.  I don’t want to sound like a broken record but I think if you have the right shade for you and your skin tone, bright lipstick can really add a great wow-factor.  So when our lovely bride-to-be Karen arrived for her makeover, I was busting to give it a try!  And she looked totally AMAZING!  You are going to love this look!!  So, without further ado, here are the tips and tricks for a bright lip!

Bruce prepped the skin with a great primer – he is a massive fan of primers as they really do offer great staying power to your foundation (and on a day like your wedding day, you don’t want your makeup sliding off your face!).  Once again we talked about how to get the perfect shade and really you just need to test it out on your face in the sunshine to really see if the shade is right for you.  The aim of foundation is to enhance your skin rather than cover it up.  Bruce thinks makeup is all about enhancement – and I do too.  So many girls cover their faces with heavy makeup and it really isn’t necessary.  Good products that are suited to your skin and well applied should be all you need!  With a bright lip, Bruce felt it best to keep all other aspects of Karen’s makeup subtle and low key.  There is this rule that says you should only play up one feature at a time – eyes or lips or cheeks (except in the 80s when we went to TOWN on everything all at once and big big BIG!!! More, more, MORE!!!  BIG IS BEST!  Did you see our shoulder pads? Or our hair?)

One of the biggest tips I got from each of these sessions is to do your brows!  As Bruce was saying they are responsible for framing your face and with an eyebrow pencil you can really define your arch.  I have been doing it since this session and it has made a massive difference to how I look.  Get thee an eyebrow pencil – STAT!  Bruce then put on a simple neutral shadow across Karen’s lids, a little eyeliner top and bottom and applied false eyelashes.  While I have worn false eyelashes before I would probably splurge on my wedding day and go for a full set of mink lashes from Lash Me.  I have done a full post here about them – they are great – light as a feather and guaranteed not to move on your wedding day (and beyond into your honeymoon for extra bonus points!)  Bruce then curled Karen’s lashes and applied mascara by wrapping the wand around them from the roots to the tips.  Both top and bottom – to get fuller thicker lashes!!!

He also swept some bronzer over Karen’s temples nose and jawline for some colour and definition.  You want to go gently, gently with the bronzer – too much and you look dirty.  No one wants cake face!  With everything else covered Bruce started on the lips.  Bleeding and colour loss are the biggest issues with a bright lip.  You want the colour to be precise and perfect all day – through kissing and laughing and talking!  Bruce first outlined the lips with a natural colour lipliner and then  filled in the lips with the liner for more staying power.   He then dusted the lips with a tiny amount of translucent powder so the colour won’t budge.  He also reapplied a little bit of foundation round the outside of the lips with a brush to ensure no feathering or bleeding.  Then he chose this lovely classic red lipstick and applied it with a brush.

I find when I apply my lipstick with a brush my lipstick lasts longer and looks better.  The bristles of the brush seem to massage the colour more into the lip.  At least that is what I think, but who knows?  All I can say is try it – it really does work.  Bruce then did a quick clean up under Karen’s eyes with some concealer and, voila, she was done.

I love how it actually looks really natural but with a great punch of colour – and Karen has such lovely lips it really brings them to the fore.  Karen doesn’t normally wear makeup so this look did kind of freak her out at first but once she got used to it she really liked it.  Now we just have to wait and see if she will wear a bright lip on her wedding day – stay tuned…

Moda Events Portside

April 17th, 2012

How many venues can you say have delicious food, great atmosphere and uninterrupted views of the river?  Not many I can tell you, but one that stands out is Moda Events Portside.  We are luck that we have shot a number of fabulous weddings at Moda Events Portside and I believe me when I say it is one of those venues that has it all!  So when we were lucky enough to be invited to exhibit at the Moda Events Portside Wedding Showcase a few weeks back, we jumped at the chance (after picking ourselves off the floor and looking around thinking,”really, who me???”).  Although this venue really does have it all, one of its major secret selling points (other than the uninterrupted views of the river, did I mention that???) is its wonderful, professional and fun event management staff – Jessica Layton (on the left) and Lucy Wade (on the right).  These women are easy going, relaxed and professional – just the people you need to help you plan and execute all your dreams on your wedding day.  I thought I would ask them a few questions about how they got into the business and what makes them love it so much!

How did you get into events management?

Jessica: My Mum had an exhibition company that she ran from home so I grew up surrounded by it.

Lucy: I started doing events with my Dad back in the UK when I was 14 and I absolutely loved it!  He is a Chef and so we would go to private residences and cater dinners and parties etc. When I came to Brisbane 4 years ago, I was fortunate to fall into the role of working as the Operations Manager at Mirra Private Dining and Events in Fortitude Valley. This was the beginning of my events career in Brisbane.

What does your job entail?

Jessica: Meeting lots of different people from corporate clients to wedding couples to suppliers in all types of fields to achieve one thing – flawless events!

Lucy: With regards to weddings, it’s fairly hands-on, meeting brides, showing them the venue and making them fall in love with Moda!

What are the major aspects of your job – what would a typical day be like?

Jessica: Coffee in the morning followed by responding to emails about upcoming events, a meeting or two with clients or suppliers and sprinkled with phone calls

Lucy: The morning always starts with a coffee and a catch up with Jess which turns into a bit of a pow-wow of ideas that we’re having for the venue and a bit of a debrief on the previous day. Such an important ritual! The rest of the day is pretty full up with emails i.e. enquiries or queries from Brides and a lot of meetings whether it be finer details meetings or site inspections. One of the best parts of our jobs is that we get to meet so many different people every day.

How do you work with brides?

Jessica: We acknowledge first and foremost that this is one of the most special days in their lives and try to be the creative and innovative support they need to make it so. This means listening to what they describe for their perfect day initially then suggesting resources or contacts that I might be able to suggest to help their vision become a reality without breaking the budget

Lucy: I’m told that I’m quite straightforward with brides which I think works well. It allows me to find out what they really want and get all of the necessities of planning done efficiently. Brides today are dealing with so much, on top of a wedding they have full time jobs and some have children already so if I aim to make it as painless as possible to allow them to enjoy being a bride.

At what stage of the planning process should a bride come and talk to you?

Jessica: After a jeweller and a wedding planner, the venue is stage one of the couples journey in pulling their day together. A lot pivots on their venue selection.  The venue choice determines what will and won’t be suitable for extras like event styling, cake, photobooth, honeymoon, hair and makeup and photographer etc. The venue bill will also determine how much money is left to play for all the extras!

Lucy: In our job we usually meet our brides right at the start of their planning process. A lot of couples just want to get the venue booked and locked away before they start on anything else. From then, our door/telephone is always open to queries or concerns of our bridal couples. We like to think that we give a very personal service.

What is the favourite part of your job?

Jessica: This is random but when the bride and groom first return from photos and arrive at Moda we take them up to the bridal suite with their bridal party to relax with canapés and Moet before they come down and hide behind the partition waiting for the MC to introduce them as “Mr and Mrs” for the second time.  The atmosphere in that time huddled area behind the partition is always filled with anticipation.  The bridal party are always introduced first so I take it upon myself to get the brides train on her dress all flat and symmetrical from the back before she swans out and THAT is my favourite moment.  I get to peek out and see the room of happy faces receiving my beautiful couple into the room and the atmosphere is electric! (especially when the bride and groom do a little victory dance or something, always a nice touch for fun.)

Lucy: When a bride falls in love with Moda and wants to book! They get excited and we get just as excited. It’s also nice when we’re there on the day and get to see everything we’ve planned come into place!

What is the worst part of your job?

Jessica: When I connect with a couple in the preliminary stages who are really lovely and I’m excited to work with only to find that we don’t have their date available… This seems to be happening a lot this year! (I agree Jessica, that is our worst part too!)

Lucy: Very rarely we have that horrible phone call where a Bride & Groom have split up and the wedding is not going ahead. It’s every coordinators nightmare!

What do you think are the most important parts of a wedding day?

Jessica: Not filling up the lead up time with wedding planning. I am getting married in early 2013 and a friend gave me this advice which I try to pass on where appropriate: Choose a time frame for one night each week and make it “wedding planning night.” On that night between say 7:30 and 9:00 you both make a commitment to get all your wedding planning for that week out of the way by sharing ideas and giving opinions before switching off and getting back to being you…. Enjoy every moment of the engagement!

Lucy: That’s a tough one, there are so many amazing moments in a wedding day! I can tell you that my favourite part is when I receive the Bridal Party at Moda. I get to show the Bride and Groom the venue all set up for them and then get the goss on their day so far in the Bridal Suite before they are announced into the room. Best of all, I get to see what the Brides wearing!

Thanks guys!  So if you are still looking for a venue then I can highly recommend Moda Events Portside – their next Bridal Showcase is on the 2 May 2012.  It is a great way to see the venue at night when it really shines!  Click here to register. All of the styling in these shots was done by Amini Concepts.  Check out their supplier interview here.

 

welcome

Studio Sixty Photography is Brisbane wedding photographer Jason Starr, and studio manager Sally Ogilvie.

Well known for creative, natural, candid photographs of both local and international weddings, Studio Sixty Photography is capturing now and forever.


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