Monthly Archives: June 2012

HOT! HOT! HOT! Trends in Hair 2012

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There is always a new trend on the horizon when it comes to fashion, and hair is as much (or more) a part of fashion than your clothes. The perfect gown will be an epic fail without the right hairstyle and when you are walking down the aisle, you don’t need your hair to look like it was caught in a time warp.

 Braids. Loose or tight, perfectly coiffed to look somewhat messy, braids are a beautiful way to keep your hair securely off your face. The number one choice is the French Fishtail, a variation of the classic French Braid using only two strands of hair and weaving them in a herringbone fashion.

Ombre. This gradation of color has been very popular this year in gowns, flowers, cakes and now in hair. You can go light to dark or dark to light but, the important thing is GRADATION of color – not a definite line where one color starts and the other one ends. Rather than making your ends look brittle and dry, for some reason the lighter tips give your hair bounce and pizazz. Go figure!

Homemade Curls. Both nostalgic and modern, this girlish and quirky hairstyle gives off a laid back air. If you already have curly hair you can learn how to style curly hair here. Although it is best suited for longer hair – it works beautifully with the right shoulder length cut.

Retro Glam. Want to look like a movie star from the 1930’s? Try a super glamorous, retro style either half up, to the side or all down. Smooth as silk, no fly-aways, perfectly coiffed, this style is the utmost in elegant and not a casual look. If you choose this style, remember the makeup needs to be in sync with the same decade, smoky eyes do not apply here.

Choosing the right hairstyle for your wedding is an important decision. tTy out different styles until you find the look that suits your personal style  the best and do’t be afraid to experiment with something new as long as you have time to correct it if it doesn’t work out. Remember – trends are great…. but, the classics never die!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Pre-Wedding Disagreements & How To Solve Them

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From the time the engagement ring is on your finger until the honeymoon begins, there are arguments lurking around every corner for engaged couples and if you aren’t careful, you can fall into the trap of  ‘agreeing to disagree’. In the beginning, wedding planning is fun; picking out colorful floral arrangements, sampling cake and planning how much fun your friends and family will have together. Then, suddenly you are in the middle of a family squabble over nothing…. literally nothing.

Top 5 Wedding disagreements and how to diffuse them:

1) Location. He grew up in South Carolina and you grew up in New Jersey but you both live in Chicago. If travel is impossible for one side of the family or another, take that into consideration, otherwise you should have the wedding where you both currently live.

2) Family. There are a million scenarios for the underlying problems of family tension, whether it is a rebellious sibling or an intolerant parent. The best thing to do is put your foot down early and tell them how things are going to work.  You may need to remind them from time to time.

3) Prenup. Why are so  many people so freaked out about prenups? Because it makes them feel like they are planning a divorce instead of a wedding. In reality, a prenup will protect both of you from yourselves and each other, and family. Decide if you love the person, sign it and be done with it.

4) The Past. Inviting ex-girlfriends/ boyfriends to the wedding may be fine for some and not for others. Don’t be surprised if this becomes a point for an argument later. There are rare situations where this is okay, otherwise – don’t do it.

5)Budget. The thing most couples (married or engaged) fight about is money.  Whether you have too much or not enough it is always a factor. Set your wedding budget, decide early who is paying for what and do not go over the total budget. You may want to cut corners on one thing to splurge on another but, always make sure the bottom line remains the same.

Whatever the reason for the disagreement, remember that planning a wedding is like a miniature crystal ball into your future. If you are arguing with his family (or vice versa) now – it will not magically change after you are married, if he is not involved now, he won’t be in the future, if you are both caught between bickering family members, this is the way of the future. The only thing you can do is stand your ground, now and don’t let outside factors interfere with your happiness.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

Weddings & Numerology

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 Your wedding should be the most special and wonderful day of your life. Unfortunately for some, getting bogged down with details, family drama, and stress can  possibly bring you to tears. Numerologists suggest that there is more to it than being overwhelmed. They say it is all in the numbers. They also suggest that picking a date that suits your personality will give you a better chance for success on your wedding day.

Numerology is based on the belief that there is a special relationship between mathematical measurements and specific dates. Although there is no concrete evidence to suggest this is entirely true, many spiritualists and numerologsist insist that numbers are the key to happiness.

Although picking  your wedding day  based on numbers will not ensure a perfectly happy marriage, why not line up a date that is aligned properly to give yourself a better chance? According to international numerologist Michelle Buchanan, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

  There are dozens of ways that numerology is used to select important dates,  and none of them guarantee a perfect wedding day but, it can’t hurt – so why not give it a try ….and see how it adds up!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

Summer Weddings – Beating the Heatwave

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There are two months it has never snowed in Chicago: July and August. If you are brave enough to plan an outdoor wedding during the only two months it has never snowed in Chicago, you may need to plan ahead in order to beat the heat. Because there is one thing we know in Chicago; when it’s not freezing cold- it is blistering hot!

Breathe– Plan on wearing a less constricting gown. A tight fitting gown or corset can restrict your ability to fully expand your lungs which reduces your oxygen intake and causes lightheadedness or fainting, especially in this heat. Avoid heavy corsets, tight fitting bodices and cinched-in waistlines in record-breaking heat.

Touch –  Polyester is the enemy. Find a gown made of silk chiffon because it  flows and breathes or silk taffeta because it is smooth and cool.  Gowns made of silk, hemp, rayon, cotton or other organic fabrics will be cooler and you will be more comfortable. Of course a silk gown lined with twenty layers of nylon tulle and polyester lining is not going to be comfortable at all. Something light and airy and comfortable where you look like a goddess would be perfect!

Manage your mane. If your hair goes limp in the heat or if your hair frizzes up in the humidity, make sure you have the right products on hand to correct it. This is why it is important to have a trial hair appointment with your hairdresser so you can discuss these things. 

Hot Feet – Consider not wearing stockings or pantyhose. (GASP) Seriously, although Princess Kate has caused a stir wearing see-through hosiery with non-skid soles remember this:  she has all kinds of restrictions placed on her by Buckingahm Palace and you don’t. You can bare your legs and no one will care. This makes your shoe choice even more important since you can now wear any kind of sandal and show off your tanned, pedicured toes. If you still have your heart set on a delicious pair of white pumps or a peep-toe platform, invest a  few extra dollars and buy shoes that are lined in leather. Fabric on the outside is okay, but pleather or plastic lined shoes will not only make your feet sweat, they will hurt after a very short time causing your feet to swell and if you take your shoes off for even five minutes under the table, you will never, NEVER get them back on again!

Cooling Stations–  Have plenty of water on hand for your guests. Consider having containers of ice filled with bottled water at every table or strategically positioned around the outdoor dance floor so guests don’t have to travel to the bar to be reminded to stay hydrated. Personalized labels make it even better as long as they can stand up to the ice water!

Fan yourself – Another great idea is to have small hand fans at every place setting so guests can fan their faces if they get overheated at any given time. There is one school of thought that says fanning yourself actually makes you hotter. I suppose if you are flapping your arms at warp speed with a heavy object this might be true. However, gently fanning your face to keep the air circulating will help aid in the evaporation of sweat on your skin. Plus, you can cleverly personalize a cute fan and even use them as  programs!

I’m ready for my close-up – Are you really? Are you wearing heavy foundation in mid-July? Are you shiny, sweaty, flushed or speckled from the heat? Ask  a qualified makeup artist to help you decide what kind of coverage you need during hot weather, hire them to do your makeup for the wedding, purchase anything you will need for touch-ups and carry it in your bridal purse. 

The temperature this week could feasibly reach 100 degrees and we are in store for another wave next week. If you are getting married outdo, it’s not too late to implement some of these tips and remember -don’t overdo it!

_Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Open Bar, Cash Bar or Alcohol Free ?

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When it comes to the reception, what kind of bar you will have is a big question. First, there is the expense and then the responsiblity of guests safety when driving home, then personal taste, and what kind of friends and family will be attending. To simplify, there are three types of bar:

Open Bar – is  a bar  at which drinks are served free. The venue will charge a price per person for the bar and you will also have to factor in tax and gratuity. In addition, an open bar that offers all top-shelf liquor will certainly be more expensive than one offering lower-priced spirits. Some couples choose to offer only beer, wine and soft drinks throughout the evening. Others offer a signature drink during the cocktail hour along with the open bar. There are seemingly endless options so make sure you have a detailed description of what you want to be served in your contract.

Cash Bar is a bar where drinks are sold by the glass. basically, each geust will pay for each  drink. You may be tempted to have a cash bar for a variety of reasons, from cutting costs on your already swollen wedding budget to wanting to avoid having your guests overindulge before having to travel home from your wedding.  Be prepared, there may be some feedback since most guests have an underlying resentment about a cash bar. In fact, most wedding etiquette sites insist that a cash bar is considered ‘tacky’ no matter how cute the sign … yikes!

Alcohol Free – This is a reception where there is no alcohol served at all. Your wedding festivities don’t have to suffer due to lack of alcohol, there are many options for beverages other than booze. You can serve fun, fruity beverages and still even have your own signature drink. If you do not drink alcohol or have alcohol related issues, don’t feel bad and don’t make any excuses. You can also sleep knowing that everyone can drive home safely and there won’t be any drunken mishaps during the reception.

Whatever choice you make , it should be clearly listed on the invitation so that guests know what to expect.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Walking Down The Aisle

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In a perfect world, every bride would be escorted down the aisle by a loving father who would then pass off the daunting task of caring for his little girl to her future husband. We all know that this crazy world we live in is far from perfect so, there are many cases when the question of  “Who will walk the bride down the aisle?” is tricky and or even painful.

 What happens when a bride’s parents are divorced and she shares a close relationship with her stepfather?  If the bride is closer to her stepfather, she may want to ask him instead, although if her biological father has stepped up to pay for the wedding, she should take that into account. Some brides have asked their stepfathers to walk them halfway down the aisle, where they meet their father and continue to walk the aisle escorted by him. If your father and stepfather have a friendly relationship, you could ask them both to walk you down the aisle, one on each arm. This is a lovely solution if everyone is in agreement.

What if the bride is estranged from her father for personal reasons or if  her father is deceased or otherwise unavailable? A bride may be escorted by a grandfather or favorite uncle. The bride may also choose to be escorted by her mother. 

What if the bride simply feels that it would be archaic to be given away? One modern solution has the bride being presented at one end of the aisle and then escorted by the groom, who walks down the aisle to meet her. Another solution is for the bride to walk down the aisle by herself.

And sometimes it is only appropriate that both mother and father escort the bride down the aisle.

The worst problems occur when there is a biological father who hasn’t been in the picture and a stepfather who has… then, suddenly the father feel entitled to walk his little girl down the aisle for a tearful goodbye when there have been too many missed opportunities over the years. 

In all cases, the bride needs to decide who, if anyone,  she wants to walk her down the aisle and then inform everyone of her decision… in person. If handled firmly and politely this will be the end of the subject.

No matter what your decision; mother, father, aunt, uncle or solo, it is important to remember that this moment does not have to be the end of a father/daughter relationship. It is only the beginning……

 

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Unconventional (and Unusual) Weddings

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Last weekend, Samantha Kolar and Andy Lee took the proverbial plunge at the Raging Waves waterparki n Yorkville, IL.  After exchanging vows, they slipped off their wedding attire and shared a ride down the Boomerang in an inner tube built for two. This may sound a little odd to you ( and me) but, this type of wedding is gaining in popularity and had not only tongues wagging but news outlets going wild. On a slow internet news day, their wedding was highlighted everywhere from Yahoo to Comcast and The Huffington Post.

From the archives (in no particular order) some more strange and unusual weddings:

Jeroen and Sandra Kippers of Brussels, Belgium, were lifted on a platform by crane up 160 feet in the air for their wedding ceremony. They were joined by the officiant and about 20 guests. Another platform held the musicians. After the vows, they made it official by bungee-jumping over the side!

The couple who got married on a Bung-jump platform – and obviously jumped after saying yes

 Lisa Satayut decided to combine bargain shopping with her excitement over bagging her beau. Explaining that T.J. Maxx is her “happy place,” Satayut married Drew Ellis in the size 8 shoe aisle of a T.J. Maxx store in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. The bride — a self-proclaimed “’Maxxinista” — wore a strapless white chiffon gown, with long black gloves and bright green gladiator-style sandals.

 

The couple who got married at T.J. Maxx

April Pignataro and Michael Curry of New York City got married in June 2010. The bride wore a white wetsuit and the groom wore a traditional black wetsuit as they climbed inside a 120,000 gallon shark tank to take their vows at Atlantis Marine World in Riverhead, N.Y.

The couple who got married inside a shark tank

A couple of bicycle lovers decided to tie the knot in a very unusual but healthy way: by riding bicycles all over the city, accompanied of course by their cyclist guests.

The Russian couple who decided to get married while bicycling

In a skeptical world, with divorce rates near 50%, who are we to say whether these ‘odd’ weddings are right or wrong. If a traditional wedding is not in the cards and you are thinking ourside the box, try something original but, always make sure it is safe and enjoyable for everyone.

Wishing each of these zany couples a lifetime of happiness!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

Randy To The Rescue – Tonight!

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I can think of no two things that have less in common than Randy Fenoli and a Semi Tractor /Trailer. Nothing about bridal gowns, nothing about a bridal makeover, nothing about brides at all reminds me of an 18 wheeler. Until now. Tonight is the premiere of a brand new reality show on TLC,  “Randy to the Rescue” and things are about to change. 

  “Say Yes to the Dress” opened the door for all of America to meet Randy Fenoli and it  parlayed his years of experience into his very own reality show featuring a semi tractor/trailer fully stocked with everything a bride could want to be beautiful on her wedding day including a consultation/ makeover with Mr. Fenoli .

 

There will probably not be any brides throwing things or having meltdowns, the premise of the show is to give three lucky brides the opportunity of a lifetime, to get advice and support from a seasoned wedding professional. The opportunity to look and feel as beautiful as possible, as every bride should.

 

The idea is genius, bringing the game to the fans instead of asking them to come to you. How many brides from Minneapolis are actually going to travel to New York to buy a gown? Probably very few. So, when the Mobile Makeover unit with Mr. Bridal Fashion pulled into their city to film, brides lined up in droves. All the while,  Randy  performs makeovers (in the truck?) and dispenses some valuable advice.

My favorite of  ‘Randy’s Rules’ :

You Should Always Purchase the Gown That Makes You Feel the Most Beautiful

“I personally feel that every woman is beautiful. And on your wedding day, you should FEEL beautiful. The perfect wedding gown will make you feel like you never have before. You should be able to look in the mirror with the confidence of the beautiful woman that you already are.  Don’t buy a dress because when you look in the mirror you say, “This dress is beautiful;” buy the dress that makes you look in the mirror and say, “I am beautiful.”

Tune in tonight,. Friday June 15 at 9 pm on TLC. I know I will be watching!!!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

See Spot Run – Stain Removal Made Easy

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There is nothing worse than putting on a white blouse and then immediately spilling coffee or tea or whatever directly down the front. Actually, there is…. spilling or staining your wedding gown! Although traumatic, there are some very simple fixes.

First, take a deep breath and identify the fabric. What is the main component?  There should be a tag in the gown somewhere. Many times it is in the back by the zipper but, it may be on the inside of the skirt.

Considering the wide array of fabric and stain possibilities, it is best to focus on the main culprits; red wine,  lipstick, blood ( yes) and ink.

Red wine is a bugger. It is tasty, is reported to be good for your heart (in moderate quantities) and is nearly impossible to get out of a white gown. Do not let the stain dry. If red wine is spilled on your gown, moisten the area immediately with water. After that, Hydrogen Peroxide is your best bet. Mix with equal parts water in a spray bottle and spray on the area, blotting with a white cloth (dinner napkin) until the color is gone.  This may take a few minutes, be patient. Club soda will also work but, not as well.

Lipstick is one of those things that can easily be transferred from your lips to your fingers to your dress in an instant.  For this you will need a solvent since it is oil-based. K2R or a Tide stick, whatever you prefer. The key is in the technique. NEVER WIPE….. always blot. Dampen the cloth and blot. Dampen and blot until the stain is gone. It won’t take as long as you think.

Why would you have blood on your wedding gown? Perhaps you got a paper cut or stuck your finger on a pin, just a small drop of blood will dry to a brown stain impossible to remove later. Your best bet is ice!  Grab an ice cube, stick the ice cube on the spot and blot, blot, blot!  Blood breaks down in cold water, not hot.

Ink can easily be removed with two things: patience and hairspray. It doesn’t have to be a fancy spritz pump, either. Simple, aerosol hair spray directly onto the ink, leave for a couple of minutes and blot. The ink should disappear almost immediately.

For your wedding day, the most essential things you need to bring in your emergency kit are: 

 -Small container of stain remover (spray, pen, bottle)

-Package of cotton pads

-Hydrogen peroxide

-Aerosol Hair Spray

With those few items you should be able to tackle almost any stain. But, remember – the sooner you attack the stain, the sooner your chances of removing it completely. He who hesitates is lost…

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Veils Are Back!!

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Just a few years ago women were ditching the veils to go with a simple ribbon headband adorned with crystals of some sort. Although beautiful and perfectly acceptable, there is nothing (including your gown) that will make you feel  more like a bride than the perfect veil. Not the big, poofy veils you may remember ( or have seen in photos from the 1920’s, 1950’s or last seen in the 1980’s, but a more toned down version featuring details from the gown that frame the face to make your wedding ensemble  picture perfect.

Yes, ladies – veils are back and they are modern, sophisticated and you should definitely have one.

Instead of buying two gowns, purchase a long veil that has detail on the train – maybe even longer than the gown itself.  Then, after the ceremony when you remove the veil, it will be an entirely different look.

Try layers of shorter veiling for a flirty, retro look.

Fingertip veiling with exquisite detailing makes a very elegant statement.

The style of veil is up to you. Keep in mind the style of the wedding, your gown and your headpiece. Whether you are going for Art Deco, Old Hollywood, Retro Chic, Vintage or Ultra Modern, the right veil will not only help complete the overall look but, also transform the  woman in a  white dress into a bride.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago