Mondays with Mindy: Wedding Planner Celebration

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of being invited to Carla David's Wedding Planner Celebration. What an inspiring way to set off the new year!!

Part of the Up-Do's For I Do's Team from Left to Right: Caitlin, Mindy & Dana

Just a few creative designs from Carla

Getting Carla David all dolled up to be the perfect hostess of the evening!

Setting up in the Ballroom at McLean Gardens in DC

The Up-Do's Team applied eyelashes for the Wedding Planners

Carla David after her Up-Do's makeover. Ready to start the party!!

Say Cheese! Paper Props and Life Love Images snapped away with fun and exciting ways to document the event

Brideside not only presented, but displayed beautiful bridesmaids dresses from their online collection experience.

The room was filled with floral and candle arrangements by Romance of Flowers. The perfect ambiance for the evening! 

So many sweet treats from Baklava Couture Catering were passed throughout the evening. The Chocolate cream cones were to die for!! 

Had to catch up with our friends Colleen O'Neil and Evelyn Alas!  

We "inked" our thumbs for this awesome tree and leave guest book!

Blinging in the new year with these flashy favors

Sadly, we missed snapping photos with Amie Burkholder of Bronzed Berry and the boys from Absolute Entertainment

Special Thanks to Carla David for inviting Up-Do's For I Do's to this Fabulous Event!

xoxo Mindy

Mondays with Mindy: Up vs. Down

Before planning your hair trial, there are some things every bride should consider for her wedding day look. The most asked question…”are you wearing it up or down?” This is actually an important question. Here are 5 factors to think about that might help determine your wedding day hair style.

1.) Venue.  Is your wedding indoors or outside? Is it by the water? Do you have far to travel? Hairstyles are really put to the test when immersed in the natural elements. Heat, humidity, wind, etc are all things to think about when choosing a wedding day hairstyle. Also, consider the overall theme of your venue. Is it an elegant ballroom, a whimsical garden, or a romantic beach wedding? Your hairstyle, along with your dress and accessories, should mirror your overall theme and feel of the wedding.

2.) Time of year. Depending on where your wedding is located can determine the type of weather to expect. Is the area prone to harsh winters or even more brutal summers? Again, heat and humidity can do a number on hairstyles.  So if you know you’re getting hitched in July on a Southern Maryland beach at 2 pm, chances are it may be hot and steamy.

3.) Your everyday hairstyle. Do you want to look like “you” on your wedding day or are you going for a more dramatic look. If your go-to daily hairstyle is a ponytail, keep this in mind. If you want to feel like your normal comfortable self at your wedding, an updo may be a more comfortable option on your day. If drama is what you’re going for, wow your guests with luscious waves spilling down your back.

4.) Your hair type.  The texture of your hair can be a definite deterrent or determination for your hairstyle. Is your hair fine or thin and won’t hold a curl? An updo might be a better option.  Once it’s up, you don’t have to worry about your hair. If you have some natural wave to your hair, feel free to rock some curly length on your big day.

5.) Your reception plans. If you’re the life of the party and plan to be belting out Whitney Houston on the dance floor all night, please consider your hair. Dancing and sweating can really take a toll on certain hairstyles. If you choose an all up hairstyle, it may last longer than an all down hairstyle when put to the dancing test.  Trust me, I’m not suggesting being a wall flower at your own wedding but if all up is a must for you AND you plan to be a dancing queen, be prepared for your curls to loosen and get a bridesmaid to pack a few bobby pins in case you need to get your locks out of your way.

Think of these things if you’re stumped on what to do for your wedding day hairstyle or even if you’re trying to decide between two styles. If you’re concerned or have any questions about your hair, please ask your hairstylist at your trial. The trial is put in place to alleviate any anxiousness about your wedding day look, so you feel confident about your day. One less thing to stress about!

XOXO Mindy

Mondays with Mindy: Perfect Wedding Day Hair!

I love what I do. I am lucky enough to make people not only look, but feel beautiful on one of the biggest days of their lives. Half way through my fifth wedding season, I’ve found a few simple tricks a bride can do to ensure perfect wedding day hair.

1.) Before your trial- Knowing your hair. Is your hair thick, thin, coarse, fine? Can it hold a curl or does it go limp in a matter of minutes? Is your hair curly, wavy, or straight? Knowing the answers to these questions can make all the difference in the world when determining your wedding day look. Mix this knowledge with the time of year of your wedding and the typical weather for that time of year and you have the ability to choose the perfect style for your hair! For example, if your hair doesn’t hold curl well and you’re having an outdoor ceremony in July, an updo may be your best option due to the humidity and your hair type. If you have healthy, long hair which holds a curl and your wedding is indoors (or in a controlled environment) your options are a little more open. Keeping these things in mind before meeting with your stylist is such a great idea because your vision is realistic.

2.) Before your day- Trims. Yes, usually brides want the longest hair possible on her wedding day. Today, I am going to bust the myth that having super long hair is best for an updo. This is not the case. If you can get all your hair up, so can we! Obviously, the longer your hair, the more we can do with it when in an updo. But most updos can be created with shoulder length hair.  If half up or all down is the look you’re going for, length is important. But more importantly is the health of the long hair. If the ends of the hair are unhealthy (dead ends), curls have a very hard time staying throughout the entirety of the night. Also, long layers help with these styles. All one length hair is very heavy. This added weight can pull down your curls and leave your hair less curly/wavy by the end of the night. Layers act like “stairs” for each curl to lie on. Getting a tiny trim a couple weeks before your wedding day will give it time to relax after the cut and also leave your ends looking perfectly fresh for the big day. Please go to a stylist you trust and stress it is your wedding day!! Even suggesting a light “dusting” to your stylist can help communicate the importance of receiving the slightest trim.

3.) Day of- Prepping your hair. In order to keep to a schedule, there a couple easy things you can do on your wedding day. When your stylist arrives, please have 100% dry hair. Throughout my experiences, my biggest pet peeve has become damp hair. If the hair has the slightest bit of wetness, our irons can scorch your hair. Plus, it saves so much time if everyone is ready to go! Also, do not flat iron your hair before receiving hair services. Flat irons are so hot and now have ionic capabilities which temporarily erase the memory within the hair strand. Therefore, when a curling iron tells the hair to have circular movement (curl), the hair will want to revert to its former straight state. Trust me, my hair is not a pretty sight with just using a blow dryer or god forbid, by air-drying.  But when we walk in on the day of a wedding and see hair close to its natural state, we are thrilled because we know the style will stay throughout the night.

These very easy, but often overlooked tips can be the key to looking your absolute best on your special day.

P.S. Tell your bridesmaids ;)

Xoxo Mindy

Mondays with Mindy: My New Town

I have lived within a 7 mile radius my entire life. I’m from Maryland, where the steamed crabs are abundant and where “O!” is yelled louder during the national anthem than anywhere else in America! Because my hometown is so small, I usually say I’m from Baltimore. But then I typically get the response, “like where The Wire was filmed??” No. I lived inside the beltway in Baltimore County. I grew up within walking distance to my elementary and middle school. I have vivid memories of getting snowballs with extra marshmallow dipping down my Styrofoam cup, decorating my bike for the local Fourth of July parade, and having more pizza places and hair salons around than people! It was the perfect mix of down-home feel with a dash of city. So, needless to say, when I decided to move to Northern Virginia it was a BIG deal. Yes, it’s not across country but when I told my family and friends, you would have thought I was moving to Denmark.

One thing I’ve learned since moving is Virginia is HUGE! The roads and highways are incredibly wide. There are people walking, running, biking, and driving everywhere. Whole Foods and Targets here are the size of villages. And the trees. The trees are magnificently statuesque. Another thing I’ve learned is you’ll see a lot of this beautifully massive scenery while behind the wheel of your car. Me and my car are now in a serious relationship with one another. Apparently big roads equal bigger traffic. I don’t think I’ll ever understand how something 4 miles away can take 30 minutes to get to or why there’s bumper to bumper traffic on 495 at 10:45pm on a Wednesday evening. Besides the traffic, NOVA (what the cool kids say) has so much to offer. I am having a fabulous time checking out all the different towns. Falls Church, Reston, Leesburg, Old Town Alexandria, Arlington, Tyson’s Corner, and Vienna are all so unique and exciting to explore. I just wish my bank account could handle more of these field trips!

Not only did I move, but my boyfriend, Sean and I decided to get a place together. After countless horror stories about dirty clothes on the floor and toothpaste in the sink, I am happy to say I love living with him:) He is more than I could ever ask for in a boyfriend, friend, and now “roommate”. Now his dog, his dog is a whole other blog post! To add to this monumental time in my life, I helped open the second location of Up-Do's For I Do’s. Our studio is located in the sweet town of Vienna and is stunning! I still can’t believe everything we’ve accomplished and all the amazing things to come. Sky is the limit from here and I can’t describe how immensely happy I am to be a part of it all. Go Team Updos!!

So while I miss the “grittiness” of Baltimore, I have to say I’m liking Virginia more and more each day. While it will never take my hometown’s place, I think it is the perfect area to make new memories in during this crazy thing called life.

xoxo Mindy

 

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