Feature: Cinderella A Fairy Tale Wedding

Wow! The last two days have been a whirlwind and we couldn't be more excited to share what we've been up to. Together an amazing group of event pros (all are listed at the bottom),  Wedding411 On Demand and Brides Against Breast Cancer put on a spectacular runway event. All of the proceeds raised were donated to the nationwide charity. We couldn't have been more proud of our own team to donate their time and tools to this worthy cause. Enjoy! 

The Castle at Maryvale, a perfect setting for Cinderella to walk the catwalk.

 

 We were delighted to spend both evenings helping Miss Maryland Joanna Guy prep for her Cinderella debut!

 

 Each guest had the option to purchase a glass of champagne. With each purchase they had a chance to win a real diamond!

 With back to back nights, our team rotated in and out of the library as we prepped over 15 models. A huge thanks to our UP-DO'S FOR I DO'S team who shared their talents!

A big special thank you to all involved parties! It was wonderful to have an abundance of talent in one big castle!

Absolute Entertainment

Alison Harper & Co

Betsy Robinson's Bridal Collection

Borrowed Blue Photography

Charm City Cakes

Charm City Harpist

Christopher Schafer Clothiers

Ella Pritsker

Excel Lighting Services

Fitzgerald Marketing

Flowers & Fancies

Francesca's Bridal

Fresh! Boutique

Fresh Faces by Cindy

Gala Cloths

Gamberdella Salon For Brides

Ina's Jewelry

Lawrence Howard & Associates

Maryland Academy of Couture Arts

Nelson Coleman Jewelers

Maverick Productions

Party Plus Baltimore

Reliable-Churchill

Select Event Rentals

Signature Catering

Sloane Brown Designs

The Castle at Maryvale

The Little Shoe Box

The Umbrella Syndicate

Tuxedo House

Up-Do's For I Do's

Vanlandingham Design Studio

Wedding411 On Demand

Wessel's Florist

The Venting Bride: Storing your Wedding Dress

Buying your wedding dress is so much fun! Wearing it is even better! After your day is over, what do you do with your dress? I went on a Google search to get my answer :-) I found a great Vogue article by Lisa Gowing. Here are her steps to storing and preserving one of your favorite articles of clothing!

1: DRY CLEAN WITHOUT DELAY
“You need to clean your gown immediately as, over time, stains will set and they will become more and more difficult to remove,” says Gowing. “Ideally, you want someone to drop off your gown while you’re on your honeymoon."

2: WRAP IT UP
“The only way to store your gown long-term is to box it with acid-free tissue paper. Ideally, you want to keep the gown away from anything that could stain it over time so acid-free tissue paper is fantastic and by boxing the gown it seals in the air,” says Gowing. Alternatively, some couture brides frame their gowns and hang them in a 3D shadow box on the wall.

If it is impossible to clean and box the gown prior to the honeymoon, Gowing recommends storing the dress in a 100 per cent cotton garment bag, as plastic cleaning bags don’t allow the garment to breathe. Make sure to hang the dress on a white padded silk coat hanger as opposed to a lacquered wooden coat hanger.

Store veils, accessories and silk shoes with the dress. “I wore a three-metre long veil edged in the same lace as my gown and it’s going to be boxed, as will my silk stole. My sister had shoes made of the same silk and they were wrapped separately then boxed in. Boxing is also a good way to know that everything is all together,” Gowing says.


3: STORE SENSIBLY
“I only deal with natural fabrics, even in my home I tend to gravitate towards cottons, linens, silks and wools, and because they’re all natural you store them quite similarly,” says Gowing. “Store items somewhere that isn’t damp or humid, and out of the sunlight. If we hang a garment under the light in the studio for long enough it will turn yellow as it’s a natural fibre. So store [the boxed dress] under the bed or in the cupboard, and make sure it’s flat.”

xoxo, Lindsay

Feature: Fox 45 Morning News

I can't imagine a better way to kick off the month of October than helping to promote Breast Cancer Awareness! Dressed in pink, we arrived yesterday to Fox 45 studios bright and early to help promote the Cinderella A Fairy Tale Wedding supporting Brides Against Breast Cancer. Tickets can be found here! We hope to see you tonight and tomorrow evening for a *can't be missed* runway fashion show!

 

With fresh coffee on tap, we were ready to prep our models for their TV debut! 

 

Karen Buck (Wedding 411 on Demand) puts the finishing touches on the "Mother of the Bride"

Our team ready to go! 

 

 After a busy morning, a late brunch at Cafe Hon was a perfect idea!

Be sure to stop by and say hi to us at the show! ~ Ashley

Mondays with Mindy: Secrets of a Hairstylist

I can’t tell you the number of times my clients ask me, “Why can’t I get my hair to look the way you make it look?” while styling. Honestly, with the right tools and this easy method, it’s not that difficult. So, here it is. 8 simple steps to achieve the best blow out-hair style.

1. After your hair is shampooed and conditioned, gently towel dry it. Don’t rub the towel against your hair, just use it to absorb the excess water in the hair strands. 
2. Using a large wide-tooth comb, detangle your tresses. This is important. Because hair is at its most delicate state when wet, a brush can actually break your hair. With the wide-tooth comb, start at the ends of your hair and work your way up the hair shaft. This also will avoid breakage.
3. After the knots and tangles are gone, gather your hair into a low pony and squeeze any remaining water out of the hair. Part your hair where you’d like and comb straight.
4. Work a dime-size dollop of smoothing serum, blow drying balm, or styling oil (depending on your hair texture) throughout your hair avoiding the roots. This will help dodge greasy looking roots. Then, I like to add a root boost foam or lifting spray (again depending on the texture) at the roots right where a halo would fall on your head.  Just a few spritzes is plenty. The combination of these two products minimize frizz, allow for shorter drying time, and increase volume at the root. I like to tell my clients that this cocktail of products is similar to a primer you would use on your face before foundation. People often believe these tools are unnecessary, but if you want to do your hair like a pro, don’t skip the products!
5. Now, use the dryer to blast the hair at the roots in the direction you want it to fall. Many people do the upside down, shake your hair everywhere method. That leaves more opportunity for frizz. If you dry your hair keeping it in a similar way you want the end result to be, it’s less work after you put the dryer away. Also, and this will take some practice, but move the dryer constantly. This will help avoid damage as well as add extra air into your hair…leading to less drying time. 
6. Another important tip, do NOT use a styling brush until the hair is about 80 to 90 percent dry. Once you’re there, section your hair. Basically pull your hair from your ears up so it looks like a half-up hair style. Now take the brush and roll it under the bottom layer of the hair. Again, keep the dryer moving back a forth to avoid breakage and damage from direct heat. Once dry, pull down another section from your temples down. Dry this section using the brush. Once its dry, take your hair completely down and dry the top section with the brush. I like to take the crown section and over direct it forward to create extra volume. Everyone thinks the sectioning method will take forever to do, but once you’ve practiced this technique, you’ll find it actually takes less time. 
7. A huge trick to better styled hair is to be sure it’s completely dry before you throw the dryer in the cabinet. If your hair is even the least bit damp, it gives your hair permission to do whatever it wants throughout the rest of the drying time. AKA frizz, frayed ends, wavy roots and mayhem! Be in control of your hair. Just like a child or a dog, if you give them an inch they’ll run a mile. Same with your hair; You are the boss!!
8. If needed, take a flat or curling iron and briefly use the heat to prefect your hairstyle. Section your hair in the same sections as during the blow drying to avoid missing any strands. 

Voila! You now have the tools to style like a pro. Style on, girls. Style on!

XOXO Mindy

Feature: Urbanite Baltimore

Urbanite Baltimore gave us a shout out from this sweet shoot we did with Sweet Bakery and Cafe Boudoir. Check out the Good Enough to Eat article! 

Fun fact #1: She is only wearing icing! Even her necklace! 

Fun fact #2: I used all edible products for her eyeshadow and lips! 

Product of the Week: Urban Decay Setting Spray

We don't just wear makeup for an hour...we wear makeup all day.  So how do you keep that foundation, powder, eyeshadow, etc. on all day without smudging? Use Urban Decay's variety of setting sprays.  I like to describe a setting spray as "hairspray" for your face. 

 

As you can see there are different types. I prefer the All Nighter. This spray accommodates more skin types ~ oily, dry and normal.  The spray should be applied after your makeup is completed. It is the last step in your routine.  Hold the bottle about six inches from your face, spray all over. Allow the product to dry before touching up or adding anything to your face. There is no longer a reason to clutter up your purse with compacts to touch up your makeup! Just make sure you finish your look with your Up Do's For I Do's custom lip gloss!!!

Enjoy! 

xoxo Lindsay

Beauty Crush: Favorite Universal Products!