Stacey created an elegant yet relaxed down style with loose curls for Neda’s marriage in Bridgehampton. The fabulous Christian Oth was behind the camera for the wedding, which had the charming backdrop of the Campbell Stables.
To see more inspiration pics from Neda and Taylor’s wedding, check out the feature in Carats & Cake.
Rebecca is a former dancer, so not only is she absolutely gorgeous, she’s extremely stylish too! Everything about her and Thibault’s day was beautiful, from Rebecca’s dress to Thibault’s suit to the florals.
Stacey set Rebecca’s hair in hot rollers to achieve a silky smooth style with body & curls.
Once the hair was set, Rebecca went to work with Stacey’s friend Katie Nova (who glams the Ladies on BRAVO TV). After make up Stacey took her set down and added a full set of blond extensions that were pre prepped for long lasting wear.This style was glamourous and lasted all night on Rebecca.
Photos expertly captured by Brian Hatton Photography.
We love our Destination Brides!
Adrienne & Florian, who currently live in Austin TX, met at work and during a company Christmas party, sparks flew over one too many margaritas. Adrienne is from Iowa and Florian from Germany. Florian always dreamed of going to NYC. He had visted when he moved to the states and loved it. He knew then it was the perfect place for a wedding.
Adrienne chose a perfect dress designed by Sarah Seven.
The bride and groom chose the amazing photographer Steve Moakley, who does the photography for the Texas state capital, to come to town and shoot the big day.
Hair and Make Up is by our master team Deanna and Nicole.
Working on weddings is magical because the day always tells the bride’s unique story.
Every year I like to do a small photo shoot in my salon that tells my story of the bridal season to come. I do it because I love to show my own personal style, which you might not get a chance to see otherwise.
A photo shoot of your own can be a great chance to experiment with styles as you narrow down options for your wedding day. I suggest hiring a photographer and getting together with a friend to have a day at play, with the freedom of trying all the styles you love.
For my shoot this year, I had photographer Joshua Zuckerman come in. I used hair accessories from Hair Comes the Bride, and just styled the day away. Hope you enjoy these shots of the looks I created for my model.
Creating Lizzie’s look for her wedding to Jon at the Plaza Hotel was extra special for me because I’ve been styling her hair for years. After applying Halo Couture Extensions to boost her hair’s length and fullness, I gave Lizzie a chic, simple all-down style. Sofia kept Lizzie’s makeup simple and clean, too, with a soft pink lip that made her look radiant. Our team had a lot of fun styling Lizzie’s big bridal party, because they each chose a different hairstyle, ranging from Dutch-braided updos to flat-ironed all-down styles.
Thanks to Ira Lippke Studios for these shots, which capture the day perfectly.
“I could not have felt any better about how I looked on my most special day!” — Lizzie
This was truly a classic New York wedding: We helped Lizzie and her bridal party get ready at a suite at the Pierre. Then they headed to the Plaza for the ceremony and reception, and had photos taken on the city streets. Lizzie and Jon first met in 2009 but fought their feelings for 5 years as they were living in different cities. They finally started dating in 2014 – and I was delighted when they got engaged just one year later.
A wedding followed by a Saturday evening reception at Cipriani calls for a truly gorgeous look. So the Once Upon a Bride team used Halo hair extensions to create a stunning half-updo for Nicole. For her bridesmaids, we did glam braided updos that complemented their shimmering dresses. The laughs were flowing just as much as the celebratory champagne as we got all the girls ready — Nicole, we loved being a part of your special day!
Nathan at Ira Lippke Studios captured the day perfectly in these pics.
Our bride Alina looked gorgeous on her big day, having chosen one of the more romantic styles of wedding updos, which framed her face with loose curls.
Alex joked that Alina knew everything about her dream wedding the day after he proposed, as if she had been planning it her whole life. They quickly agreed on their venue, 501 Union, in Brooklyn. They knew the rabbi that they wanted to have perform the ceremony. He and his wife were their local community spiritual leaders, who they had come to know very well.
Alina found the dress she wanted at Pronovias and had it altered to cover up her shoulders for their more traditional Jewish ceremony. The men’s traditional headwear, the kippah, were crocheted by Alina for the groom and the fathers of the bride and groom. “I wanted it to be a special item for the men,” says Alina. Another unique, personalized touch to the wedding was that Alina and Alex hired a friend — a local artist who runs NY Drawing Booth — to draw pictures of the entire wedding ceremony and the guests on an iPad. Sean Kim of Sean Gallery captured the day in these beautiful photographs.
All photos by Sean Kim of Sean Gallery.
If you’re considering trialling one of the many different styles of wedding updos, don’t forget to try the classic chignon. We think it was the perfect choice for our bride Danielle when she walked down the aisle in a light-as-air wedding gown and full veil.
Danielle wed her beau, Chris, at Church of Saint Ignatius Loyola on Park Avenue.
“As the doors of the church opened, I could see Chris waiting for me at the end of the aisle with a look of happiness I have never seen before,” says Danielle. “At the same time, the other most important man in my life, my dad, walked me down the aisle past all of the people we love in our life together, and brought me to my husband.
Then they moved on to the reception at The Loeb Boathouse, Central Park. Danielle’s gown was by Anne Barge from Kleinfeld, and Lenox Hill Florist took care of the flowers. These stunning photos are by Brian Dorsey Studios.
Danielle and Chris met in NYC when a mutual friend invited them both out to dinner, where they immediately hit it off. A few years later, Chris planned a weekend in Napa Valley, California, as a surprise birthday gift for Danielle, and the two visited their favorite vineyard from a previous trip to Napa. “Chris found a quiet spot in the vineyard to give me my birthday card,” recalls Danielle. “He wrote the most beautiful card about our relationship and how much I meant to him, and when I finished reading the card, I looked up and he was down on one knee, asking me to marry him. The rest of the trip was spent celebrating…with plenty of wine. For our honeymoon, we stopped in Napa on our way to Hawaii so that we could stop at that vineyard where Chris proposed, which is now a very special place for us.”
Our goal is to make sure that every bride’s wedding day is stress free, enjoyable, and memorable for all the right reasons. Choosing the right wedding hair and makeup artists is a crucial part of that, so we loved hearing this feedback from our bride Allison:
“Working with Once Upon a Bride was one of the best decisions I made for my wedding. I worked with Karen and Angela. They were amazing! Karen and Angela made me and my family look absolutely beautiful. They both are extremely talented. Each of them was able to accommodate anything for everyone’s hair and make-up. They made the whole day go smoothly, which put me at ease. Karen and Angela made the day fun, exciting, and entertaining. I look back at my pictures and am so happy with my entire look! I felt absolutely gorgeous!”
And we agree that Allison looked absolutely gorgeous! Karen and Angela both used their favorite products to achieve Allison’s look. Using Nars, Mac, and Laura Mercier, Karen achieved a glowing, natural look that highlighted Allison’s amazing eyes. Angela used Oribe and Phyto products and set Allison’s hair using a wand to create her chic, long-lasting updo.
Allison’s gown was by Lazaro, her shoes were by Kate Spade, and the wedding was celebrated at the grand, historic Oheka Castle, on Long Island. Ronnie from Giovanni Photographic Artist was the wedding photographer.
As the days grow crisper, I know a lot of you are refining your fall wedding look. I recently did a great shoot with a bunch of wonderful wedding professionals to inspire brides. I styled our model’s hair a few different ways that you might like to test in your own hair trial — a down style pinned at the back with an autumnal hair accessory, another sexy down style with her blonde mane flowing freely, and a soft, romantic updo. Shari, one of our airbrush makeup experts who travels to a lot of destination weddings for our brides, brought a natural peachy glow to our model’s complexion. Love that stunning glossy lip she achieved.
Jennifer Cyr, the photographer who captured this shoot, was not only fabulous to work with, I think she’s one of the most talented wedding photographers out there right now. You can check out more of her work at Cyrience. Grace Park of The Kitchen Table creates truly amazing food for any special event, and Natalie Trento Events plans truly memorable weddings in both New York City and Philadelphia.
Looking for bridal hairstyles for long hair? The glamorous side-swept red carpet style is a great alternative to leaving your hair down. My bride Kristi looked stunning when I styled her golden hair off to the side, using all luxurious Oribe products, for her wedding to Brett at Liberty House in Jersey City.
And in true red carpet fashion, Kristi walked down the aisle in stunning blue Manolo Blahnik sandals. “Brett and I went to Barcelona last spring and he bought the shoes for me there as a surprise because he saw me eyeing them through a local store window all week,” says Kristi. “They ended up being my something blue!”
Photographer: Hechler Photographers
For their reception, our bride Dorie and her beau Chad picked one of the most magical wedding venues NYC has to offer – the American Museum of Natural History. I styled Dorie’s lovely long blonde hair in a classic down style, which was finished off with a circlet of spring blossoms. Keeping with the spring feel, makeup artist Sofia created a fresh, natural look with a pink lip. It all worked beautifully with Dorie’s light-as-air Oscar de la Renta gown. After Dorie and Chad exchanged vows at the Church of the Heavenly Rest on the Upper East Side, the 240 guests (who by the way included Dorie’s friend Emily Rossum) were treated to a black-tie dinner beneath the museum’s iconic whale. Truly a night to remember! The stellar Christian Oth took these photos. You can find more photos over at Carats & Cake, and click here to see a feature about the wedding in Brides magazine.
We loved creating these romantic, elegant, and oh-so feminine hair and makeup looks for a wedding style inspiration shoot by the ultra-talented Cyrience Creative Studios. The shots turned out so beautiful that they were just featured in Well Wed!
Floral Design + Photography: Cyrience Creative Studios | Gowns: Rebecca Schoneveld | Hair + Makeup: Once Upon a Bride| Hair Accessories: Happily Ever Borrowed + Jennifer Behr
The folks over at Well Wed had this to say:
“Fall head over heels for dreamy dresses & swoon-worthy bridal accessories in this stunningly styled fashion shoot from Cyrience Studios & Rebecca Schoneveld! Effortlessly elegant gowns from Rebecca Schoneveld’s newest collection are the epitome of romance, from the lovely lace details to the delicate beading & flowy, feminine silhouettes.
“Fresh-faced beauty for the modern bride abounded in every amorous look from this oh-so-chic shoot. Glittering hair accessories from Jennifer Behr and Happily Ever Borrowed brought a touch of whimsical glamour to intricately braided do’s, while sleek and sophisticated gowns kept things traditionally bridal. Bouquets of fresh-cut eucalyptus, crisp white ranunculus and blossoming garden roses brought an ethereal, garden-fresh air to the contemporary yet timeless shoot.”
A gorgeous inspiration shoot I did with my friends at Orange Blossom Photography has just been featured on Style Me Pretty! For all the brides-to-be looking for beautiful engagement party ideas, a full gallery of images are here.
Photography: Orange Blossom Photography LLC | Cake: Amy At Sugar Flower Cake Shop | Stationery:The Printery | Hair & Makeup: Stacey Weinstein | Event Venue: The Kitchen Table NYC | Table Ware:Good Light Props
On Style Me Pretty, Julieanne Prevete of Orange Blossom Photography writes: This photo shoot will inspire you to bring the charming simplicity of a garden indoors to your table for an intimate engagement party. We took a few style cues from The Great Gatsby with our gold dress choice, and the styling of our drinks. We did a dress change to show an even more light and feminine option.
We focused on the details of showing this new space in New York as an enchanted, yet glamorous, place for a bride-to-be to host an intimate engagement party. We wanted to take the rustic element of the reclaimed wooden table and chairs, and show how you can make it feminine and glamorous. We used elements of gold and textured one-of-a-kind dishes trays and chargers to bring this space to life. We used pale peach flowers and bold bright pink flowers to add femininity to the rustic and masculine space.
The green floral garland running down the length of the table was a key element in the table design by Judy. It softens the space. We decided to create another dimension to the table by making the hanging garland above the table. It really brings the outdoors in. We like the idea of hanging garland instead of building large arrangements on a table which make it harder for people to talk across a table. This helps the environment stay intimate, yet visually interesting. The slice of cake is styled with blackberries to further show the idea of a delicate and pretty environment. Small plates of bite sized food are featured so you can see another aspect of delicate and detail oriented food styling that Judy Kim can do for you at The Kitchen Table NYC.
All of the delicate florals were hand created by Judy Kim, of the Judy Lab. She was also the amazing food stylist. Our two glamorous dresses are by Lovely Bride in Tribecca. Our beautiful and petite delicious cake was created by Amy, owner at the Sugar Flower Cake Shop in Manhattan. Our amazing models hair and makeup look was stunningly created by Stacey Weinstein and her team at Once Upon A Bride. Our classic stationery was custom made by Supattra Samanyaphon of The Printery in Oyster Bay, Long Island.
The Kitchen Table NYC, features an intimate space where you hire your own chef to prepare a custom meal or hours d’oeuvres for your guests. Our goal was to make the space feel enchanted and feminine and bring the outdoors in.
One of our favorite bridal hairstyles for long hair is the half-up, half-down. It shows off long, gorgeous locks in all their natural glory, while looking classically bridal and elegant. We achieved this stunning look recently for our beautiful bride Sarah when she wed Dan at the Tribeca Rooftop. Long-haired girls, for inspiration we bring you these pics of Sarah and Dan’s big day, taken by the amazing Khaki Bedford Photography.
Our gorgeous bride Rachel and her groom, Mark, had a vision to create a New York-inspired wedding – modern, chic, and sophisticated. And thanks to the amazing skyline view from Three-Sixty in Tribeca, and the work of the some of the city’s very best wedding vendors, I think you’ll agree the result was everything they could have hoped for.
I styled Rachel’s lovely brunette locks into a loose, feminine side updo accented at the back with a jeweled clasp, while Nichole created a dramatic smoky eye. Brian Dorsey Studios did an incredible job of capturing the whole day — we always love working with their photographers, and the results are always fantastic.
Rachel wore a gown by designer Peter Langner. We think the choice of black for the wedding party is genius — such a clean, classic, stylish look. The bridesmaids each chose their own gowns, and the groomsmen wore matching Hugo Boss tuxedos and ties.
After dark, the venue was transformed by Frost Lighting — the effect was just magical. Keeping with the black-and-white palette, Cornucopia Flowers created stunning white floral centerpieces. And guests danced all night to the band Carnegie Hill, from Element Music.
Audrey’s Fine Baked Goods made the couple’s cake, which featured adorable Princess Peach and Toad figurines from the Super Mario games — a cute inside joke shared by Rachel and Mark.
It was a joy to create Rachel’s look for her big day, and also to work with all these great wedding vendors — truly among the best in the business.
To see more pictures, go to the full gallery on Style Me Pretty.
We had so much fun recently creating a modern bridal look for the wedding of super-stylish pair Holly and Andy at Liberty Warehouse, in Brooklyn’s Red Hook. A textile designer, Holly made the inspired choice of an opulent, bold and very hip black-and-white pattern for her gown.
I gave her the full brunette bombshell look, leaving her long hair down and bringing volume and sexiness with a loose, natural curl. Makeup artist Veronica made the whole look pop with smokey eyes and a bright splash of color with glamorous fuchsia lips.
“It was so great to have Stacey and Veronica there to make everyone look beautiful!” says Holly.
Andy, a graphic designer, was in on the style act, accenting his snappy suit with a flash of bright socks. And we love the colorful, spring-inspired touches to the outfit worn by the couple’s three-year-old son, Massimo.
“Massimo was the best man at our wedding, making it even more special,” says Holly.
Our thanks to Weddings by Two for these great shots.
Location: Liberty Warehouse, Red Hook
Photographer: Weddings by Two
Gown: Monique Lhuillier
At Once Upon A Bride we simply love the ultimate go-to wedding inspiration site Style Me Pretty. Oh the hours a girl can while away getting ideas for everything from hair and makeup looks through to invitations and table settings — always stylish, always pretty.
So we are super excited that our bride Danielle’s wedding to Josh was recently featured on SMP, complete with these gorgeous images by Brian Dorsey Studios. With all this beauty on offer, something is bound to inspire you. You can find even more pics of Danielle and Josh’s wedding day at the full gallery on SMP.
While you’re at it, check out another of our brides on SMP, Rachel, who wed at Tribeca 360. And our bride Natalie, who was stunning in a pink wedding gown and appears in another indispensable wedding site that you need to bookmark, CeciStyle Magazine.
For brides looking for inspiration on how to use a hair accessory in your wedding-day look, here is a great style created by Angela for our bride Danielle. A pretty jeweled hairpiece by Kate Ketzal adds the perfect finishing touch to a chic side updo, don’t you think?
Danielle married Josh at Brooklyn Navy Yard wearing a gorgeous strapless Romona Keveza gown from Wedding Salon of Manhasset.
“All the girls loved their hair and makeup,” says Danielle.
The bridal party were running a little late — and at Once Upon A Bride we know how stressful that can be on your wedding day, so we always create a calm and fun environment and give you peace of mind. “I really have to thank our makeup artist, Karen, especially, because she was so calming and kept me laughing the entire time,” says Danielle.
As always, Brian Dorsey Studios captured the day beautifully, as you can see from these pictures. And we love the bridesmaids’ fuchsia gowns, which were stunning with their lovely bouquets by Atlas Floral.
It is so important that you feel comfortable with your hair and makeup artist on your wedding day. You need artists by your side who make you feel beautiful every step of the way, giving you peace of mind from the early planning stages right up to when you walk down the aisle.
So we are offering a 25% discount on all hair and makeup trials at Once Upon A Bride until September 1. This is your chance to come in and meet New York City’s top team of bridal hair and makeup experts. Your hair artist will create two signature looks for you, plus a third variation as another option. Then your makeup artist will explore options, starting out clean and natural then moving on to a more smoky and sultry style, so you can see a transition and decide on the perfect look.
Call now and tell us about your wedding and we’ll set you up with an appointment to find the best artists for you. We have a whole team to choose from, depending on your needs and personal style. I’d like to introduce you to one of our top talents, makeup artist Karen, who recently worked on the wedding of Gillian and Noah at Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Karen is an expert at airbrush makeup. It guarantees a flawless look, because it covers imperfections while allowing the skin’s beauty to shine through. “For my brides I use only the highest quality brands, like Temptu and Kett,” says Karen. “It’s a godsend for brides who need to cover scars, tattoos, redness, very oily skin, or hyperpigmentation. And because it’s waterproof, there are never any concerns about tears or humid weather. Your look will last long through the day and a night of dancing!”
“I just have to thank Karen for making me look so beautiful the day of my wedding!” says Gillian.
“In this picture you can faintly see a rainbow. It started to rain while we were taking pictures outside, and when it stopped five minutes later, a rainbow appeared! We believe it was good luck!”
Gillian and Noah’s photographer was Frank Ammaccapane, Owner and Director of Natural Expressions.
A beach wedding might not be the first thing you imagine when you think of tying the knot in New York City. But our bride Christine and her beau Jawad had both a romantic, magical beach wedding and a truly NY moment, exchanging their vows on Pebble Beach at Brooklyn Bridge Park, to the sound of J trains crossing the Williamsburg Bridge. Chris Gifford from Weddings by Two Photography did a fabulous job of capturing the day, as you can see from these shots.
We helped Christine create a suitably romantic, magical look for her wedding day. I used hot rollers and a curling iron to give Christine’s long blonde hair a soft, flowing curl. It worked perfectly with her amazing lace gown by Rivini and gauzy veil.
The style really popped with the addition of a bold jeweled hair accessory.
When it came to makeup, Sofia brought out Christine’s own natural glow, created a soft pink lip, and made her beautiful eyes a focal point.
The result was simply stunning . . .
Photographer: Chris Gifford, Weddings by Two Photography
Dress: Rivini, purchased at Kleinfeld’s
Shoes: Nina
Ceremony: Pebble Beach, Brooklyn Bridge Park
Reception: Galapagos Art Space
We think our bride Morgan was the picture of classic bridal elegance for her wedding to Bud on Park Avenue, at St. Ignatius Loyola church. Her stylist, Stefanie, created a soft and feminine updo to complement her lacy, light-as-air Monique Lhuillier gown. Stefanie added a touch of glamor to the look with jeweled hair accessories. Kate Connolly Photography took these gorgeous shots.
“Stefanie was amazing!” says Morgan. “She did my hair, my three sisters’, and my mom’s – it is a very opinionated, picky bunch, and everyone loved their hair. She was an absolute pleasure to work with. She was so flexible in adjusting the hair style if need be and knew how to make it look amazing in a short amount of time.
“Working with Once Upon a Bride, specifically Stacey, who I spoke with from the very beginning, was also great! Stacey was very responsive and helpful through the entire process. She helped pick the right stylist for us and she couldn’t have been more right!”
Morgan and Bud’s marriage was the culmination of years of long-distance romance. They shuttled back and forth between New York City and Boston, their studies and careers sending each of them to both of these cities — just never at the same time! In 2010 they were finally both able to be in New York City . . . and then Bud’s job transferred him back to Boston and they had to spend another six months apart. The couple have now settled in an apartment in downtown Boston and are loving married life. We are so happy for them and delighted that we could be a part of their special day!
Hair: Stefanie at Once Upon A Bride
Photographer: Kate Connolly Photography
Dress: Monique Lhuillier
Shoes: Benjamin Adams
Getting-ready Venue: The Pierre Hotel, NYC
Ceremony: St. Ignatius Loyola, NYC
Band: Vali Entertainment
Videographer: George Street Video
Our bride Michelle married Forbes at Wave Hill, a beautiful estate on the Hudson River, last September. For brides planning an outdoor wedding, here is some inspiration for your hair and makeup look, captured in these photos by Jeff Zorabedian. Michelle and Forbes’s wedding planners were the amazing In Any Event.
In-house catering: Great Performances
Music: Raphael and Jason of Generation Events
Flowers: Sarah Brysk Cohen of Blossom and Branch
Glassware: Party Rental Ltd
Place cards, menus, table numbers, welcome sign: Ana Dolan of Invitations by Ana
Officiant: Carissa Templeton
When our bride Heather arrived at the altar, her awestruck groom leaned over and whispered, “You look just like a pretty princess.” And we have to agree!
Stefanie styled Heather’s luscious, long red locks into a classic wave, swept gently back from her face. The look worked perfectly with Heather’s lace-trimmed cathedral veil by Sara Gabriel and romantic gown by Amy Kuschel.
“Sofia made me absolutely glow with flawless makeup that lasted throughout my big day,” says Heather, who wed at Essex House, on Central Park. The wedding planner who created the sophisticated look for the wedding was James Abel Events, and Julie Skarrett captured the day in these beautiful shots.
“I am one of the lucky girls who married my best friend. But on my big day, just like every other bride, I was beyond nervous,” says Heather. “Sofia and Stefanie kept things calm and simple, and helped soothe my frayed nerves. They are top professionals in their field in every way.”
“I didn’t know I could feel as beautiful as I did on my wedding day. Every girl should feel like I did,” she says.
Thanks Heather — it was our pleasure to be part of your big day!
How gorgeous is our bride Laura, pictured here on her wedding day to John? She just glows! When she came in for her trial, Laura told her hair stylist, Angela, that she was going for a summer casual, yet chic, wedding vibe. And Laura was thrilled with this half-up, half-down hairstyle with a braid in the back and beachy waves that Angela created. A jeweled hair accessory and veil added a touch of chic.
Every bride expects there to be some inevitable stresses on her wedding day — and for Laura it was the realization that it had slipped her mind to buy her hair extensions. Angela wasn’t fazed about changing styles on the day of the wedding, and the result was stunning. “Angela made me feel relaxed and took everything in stride,” says Laura.
When it came to makeup, Laura asked her artist, Nicole, for a very natural and glowing look. “That’s usually the hardest look to accomplish,” says Laura, “and it came out better than I could have imagined. My makeup was flawless. I didn’t touch up all day because I was too busy celebrating — and it turns out I didn’t need to!”
The couple tied the knot in Staten Island, where Laura grew up. Before they were married, they discussed the tradition of bride and groom buying each other gifts on the wedding day and decided that it wasn’t necessary.
But awaiting Laura when she woke to get ready was a bouquet of white peonies and roses from John. “These were the same flowers I picked for the wedding day, and I never knew he was paying attention to all of the details!” says Laura. “It made me feel so calm and happy that no matter what happened that day we would be getting married and that was all that mattered! It was such a sweet, small surprise that meant so much.”
Glen Allsop from Christian Oth Studio captured Laura and John’s day, and Laura wore a Reem Acra gown and Jimmy Choo shoes.
Our bride Kelcie was simply radiant on her wedding day, with hair by Jamie and makeup by Veronica, in a strapless gown with a gorgeous classic full skirt.
For Kelcie’s hair, Jamie created a classical bridal style with a twist — a loose and romantic, low side up-do. Her makeup palette was natural and fresh, to bring out her own glow.
Kelcie and her groom, Chad, are from Memphis, Tennessee, but when they began planning their wedding they knew it had to be in New York. The city holds a special place in their hearts, because it was where they first met, at Christmas 2009. The River Café in Brooklyn, tucked beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, provided the perfect panoramic backdrop of the New York skyline and harbor.
The couple had kept up a long-distance romance for a year and half as Kelcie completed her college degree in Manhattan, until she graduated and returned to her hometown. “And the rest,” says Kelcie, “is history!”
William O’Connor of William Mason Photography took these beautiful shots of Kelcie and Chad’s wedding day.
Seamless hair extensions are one of the most stress-free and effective ways to create a stunning style on your wedding day. They’re weightless, invisible to the eye, and undetectable to the touch. At Once Upon A Bride we love using them, because they allow us to create a style that delivers an amazing impact, boosting your length and volume — while no one ever needs to know you’re wearing extensions.
Our stylist Angela worked with her bride Erin’s seamless extensions to create this beautiful down style for her wedding to Jason at Manhattan’s exclusive University Club.
Our stylists are experts at applying seamless hair extensions, which are an especially great option if you’re worried about your hair holding its style all through your wedding day. Your own hair may fall, but the extensions won’t! They last for more than a month, from your wedding rehearsal right through your honeymoon.
And as you can see from these shots taken by Shawn Connell of Christian Oth Studio, Erin’s hair style looked as fabulous after a night of dancing as it did when she was getting ready earlier that day at the St Regis.
Our bride Lara has stunning long locks, and we knew she’d look amazing with this sultry down style Stefanie created for her wedding day.
“When I met with Stefanie (hair) and Sofia (makeup) for my trial, we played around with different looks until we found what looked best,” says Lara. “On the day of my wedding, their work surpassed even what they did at the trial, and they made me look amazing! I have never felt or looked more beautiful.”
Stefanie gave Lara a natural, very feminine-looking wave and brought out the glossy rich tones of her dark brunette hair.
Combined with the dramatic eye makeup and luscious glossy lips that makeup artist Sofia gave Lara, she looked gorgeous on the day she wed her beau, Michael, at the luxury Delamar hotel on the harbor at Greenwich, Connecticut.
Lara’s strapless gown was by Anna Maier ~ Ulla-Maija Couture. All of us here at Once Upon A Bride are great animal lovers, so we thought it was perfect that the couple’s pooch Lola was not only at the wedding but even had her own special outfit to match Lara’s!
“In addition to being stellar artists, Stefanie and Sofia are punctual, reliable, and professional,” says Lara. “They’re also versatile. They did not only my hair and makeup but the maid of honor’s and both of the mothers’ (of the bride and groom) as well. Each of these women of different ages, skin and hair types was thrilled with how they looked!”
“I’m so happy to have had the opportunity to work with Once Upon A Bride, and anyone who has the chance to work with them will not be disappointed!” says Lara. We loved working with you, too, Lara — and we wish you and Michael (and Lola, of course!) all the best in your life together.
Anthony Petrozza at Ricky Restiano Photography captured Lara and Michael’s special day.
All you brides looking for some chic bridal style inspiration, here are some gorgeous shots from the wedding of our bride Nicole to Mike at the lavish Capitale, on the Bowery. Nicole’s stunning gown was by Augusta Jones. It had amazing jeweled details, which we accented with a jeweled hair accessory. Casey Fatchett Photography took these shots — to see more, go to Carats & Cake.
When our bride Lisa wed Jeff recently, a loose, romantic, and oh-so-feminine style seemed like the perfect look for her long brunette hair and classic veil.
To achieve this style, I set Lisa’s hair with electric rollers, used a set of extensions (so natural looking you would never know, right?), and used Oribe Volumista for extra luster and volume. Makeup artist Sofia brought out Lisa’s own glow with a natural blush and soft pink lip color, and accentuated her beautiful brown eyes with dramatic smokey makeup.
It was a team event for Once Upon A Bride, with Angela and Karen coming to help get Lisa’s big bridal party ready. By the way, we love the bold, chic black that the bridesmaids wore — very striking against Lisa’s amazing white sleeveless gown from Impression Bridal.
We also love the very cool backdrops Felix from Fred Marcus Photography used, like the bright graffiti on Houston St in SoHo, and the interior of the Soho Grand Hotel. And that view of the skyline is seen from Stage 6 at the Steiner Studios complex in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where Lisa and Jeff tied the knot.
I recently got together with some of the best talent on the New York bridal scene for an amazing photo shoot where we created a garden wedding, Brooklyn hipster style. The result? These beautiful images by wedding photographer Jessica Schmitt, which we hope will give brides plenty of inspiration for their own wedding style.
I created the look of the moment for our model Lilian — a romantic side braid — crowned with fresh flowers. I think it worked beautifully with the whole spring garden feel that floral design company The Wild Ivy achieved with the archway of flowers and petal-strewn aisle.
Here I am putting the final touches on Lilian’s hair style.
If you’re wondering why Lilian and her “groom,” Kayden, look so much like a real couple in the next pic, that’s because they are. It was great to work with them — they’re so cute together, don’t you think?
The setting was the garden restaurant Acqua Santa, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and the designer and planner was Jove Meyer Events. The wedding cake was made by Sugar Flower Cake Shop, and the cake cups were by Alana Jones-Mann. Fashions were from Brooklyn Tailors, Hushed Commotion, Catbird, Chromatic Gallerie, and Comfy Clothing.
Like any bride planning a winter wedding, Stephanie knew she’d have to take the weather into consideration when she walked down the aisle with Bart in Manhattan on February 8, 2013 — but who could have planned for the historic snowstorm Nemo that hit that day? Twelve inches of snow blanketed the city, and along with it came hurricane-force wind.
Yet as you can see from these gorgeous pictures, Stephanie’s hair and makeup were flawless, thanks to Once Upon A Bride’s amazing makeup artist Sofia and stylist Stefanie.
To complement the bride’s stunning Lazaro gown, Stephanie gave her long blonde hair a soft, romantic curl, accented with delicate jeweled headband. Sofia’s long-wearing, natural makeup palette brought out Stephanie’s own glowing complexion. And through the snow and wind and rain, Stephanie looked fresh all day and into the night.
Stephanie and Bart were married at the chic Tribeca Rooftop, with panoramic views of the Hudson River, The Empire State Building, Soho and downtown Manhattan. Di Zhang of Heartfelt Foto took these lovely photos of Stephanie.
I am a total New York girl and love the city in any season — but it was really a joy to hop on the plane for Nicole and Steven’s outdoor wedding on the waterfront in Charleston, South Carolina. Nicole had chosen to go with bold colors for her flowers and her bridesmaids’ dresses. It may have been February, but those splashes of red, pink, and orange made winter seem far, far away.
Style icon Blake Lively was the inspiration for Nicole’s hair. I used Ombré hair extensions to boost length and volume. With my favorite tool, the Sedu curling iron, I created a flowing, natural-looking wave. And then I styled Nicole’s hair into a side ponytail with a stunning bright flower accessory.
Airbrush makeup gave Nicole a long-lasting and flawless look. We went with a pink lip and light eye shimmer in keeping with the springlike colors of the wedding. False lashes added a touch of glamor.
There were a lot of laughs as we got Nicole and her gorgeous bridesmaids ready in their cute kiminos, in the elegant suites at Lowndes Grove Plantation.
And don’t you just love the photos, by Aaron Lockwood, of Lockwood Studios? I think he did an amazing job of capturing the beauty and happiness of Nicole and Steven’s day.
We are so excited to see our stunning bride Samantha’s glamorous wedding to Jake featured this week by our friends at Style Me Pretty. This couple’s story is so romantic: They felt as though they’d known each other all their lives when they met by chance in Puerto Rico while Sam was on vacation. A week after she returned, Jake had come to find her in New York City . . . and so began a long-distance romance that led to this beautiful black-tie wedding at the Mandarin Hotel overlooking Columbus Circle.
Such a romantic story–and the light-as-air Vera Wang gown Sam chose–deserved a romantic bridal hair and makeup look. I added some natural hair extensions and gave Sam soft side braids, securing them at the back with a crystal bridal hair accessory from our collection.
Airbrush makeup accentuated Sam’s own glowing complexion with a flawless, long-lasting finish. We went with a delicate pink lip and smokey eye makeup, and added some false lashes to highlight her blue eyes.
Sue Kessler, of Christian Oth Studio, took beautiful shots that truly capture the day.
I loved the style of our gorgeous bride Megan, who wed Bill on a crisp late summer day, wearing a crisp white strapless mermaid-style gown. Using all Oribe products and my trusty Sedu styling iron to set her blonde hair, I created a romantic low updo — my softer, more playful twist on a classic bridal style. I worked fabric flower hair accessories into the back, to complement the pearls Megan wore and the delicate floral patterned lace overlay of her gown.
Makeup artist Nichole accentuated Megan’s stunning blue eyes with a light champagne smokey eye, dramatic eyeliner, and a soft, natural light pink lip. To create this look, Nichole used a combination of MAC, Armani, and Make Up For Ever products.
Photographer Kathi Littwin did an amazing job of capturing the day, from the moment Nichole and I began preparing Megan, right through to the waterfront ceremony in the gardens of the Wainwright House in Rye, and the reception where the couple danced the night away.
Congratulations, Megan and Bill. Nichole and I are so happy to have been part of your perfect day!
Stacey styles Megan’s hair into a soft, romantic low updo (Photo by Kathi Littwin Photography)
Nichole puts the finishing touches on Megan’s makeup
We love a modern bridal take on classic style, like our bride Lynn’s when she wed Jasen at a church in uptown NYC, followed by a reception at the Bowery’s Capitale, formerly a bank and now a grand, lavish venue.
The wedding was opulent and filled with vintage-inspired details. So it seemed fitting that Lynn’s hair should be a twist on a classic low chignon. Once Upon A Bride’s stellar makeup artist Sofia created Lynn’s smokey eye with glamorous false lashes, teamed with a clean, pale lip.
We incorporated a stunning birdcage face veil with feathers into Lynn’s hair style, echoing the rosettes in her simply amazing Monique Lhuillier gown.
We loved getting to know this gorgeous, happy couple and creating the look Lynn wanted for her wedding day.
The fabulously talented Cappy Hotchkiss took Lynn and Jasen’s wedding photos.
Chilly days are on the way, but summer brides are busy right now getting all their style ideas together for wedding hair and makeup. So here is our gorgeous bride Jennifer, who married Sean overlooking New York’s Hudson River. Makeup artist Sofia and I helped Jennifer get ready at luxurious Soho House, in the Meatpacking District.
Because it was summer in the city, I went with some free-flowing extensions for Jennifer’s blonde locks. A floral hair accessory accented the light and airy skirt of her gown. Sofia complemented this with a natural bronzed shimmery summer makeup look.
The look of the wedding was modern but a bit whimsical. Jennifer and Sean’s palette of black, white, and pink was stunning. And, really, who couldn’t love the fact that their pooch was part of the wedding party and got to wear a pink necklace that matched the bridesmaids’?
With photos like these by Jenny Ebert, using the amazing backdrop of the High Line, it’s no wonder The Knot magazine featured the couple. Thank you, Jennifer and Sean, for making us a part of your day.
Our bride Rachel showed us that for fall weddings, it’s more than okay to go beyond an earthy harvest-time palette and opt for something striking and gorgeous . . . like sapphire blue, in her case. We love the amazing patterned Douglas Hannant gown with bold blue accents that she wore, not to mention those stunning blue jeweled Manolo Blahniks.
Rachel and Zac got married on a perfect fall day at the Vermont home of one their parents. The home has an old stone wall and stately garden, which inspired Rachel and Zac to bring a touch of nature into their wedding style: it was English Garden meets Great Gatsby.
Once Upon a Bride stylist Stefanie worked with the organic floral patterns in Rachel’s gown and put her beautiful long hair into a classic low chignon. Stefanie gave it a modern twist by braiding the sides and adding a fabric flower hair accessory. This wedding hair style worked beautifully with the chic little fascinator Rachel wore for the ceremony.
Our makeup artist Sofia picked up the tones in Rachel’s gown and flowers and gave her a smokey blue eye, complemented with a soft pink lip, for a natural bridal makeup look with a touch of glamour.
The effect Rachel and Zac were going for with their wedding look? Understated elegance. Check out these stunning shots from Daria Bishop Photographers, and I think you’ll agree that they achieved that, and more.
For even more inspiration from Rachel and Zac’s Vermont wedding, go to Style Me Pretty’s gallery.
As inspiration for those who dream of creating a classic wedding hair and makeup look, I want to share with you the wedding pictures of our beautiful bride Meghan. With the Hudson Valley’s Wainwright House — which is modeled on a real 17th century chateau — as the backdrop for her wedding to Marc, it was only fitting that she went with a timeless, elegant bridal style.
We styled her lovely blonde hair in a soft, romantic updo accentuated with a jeweled bridal hair accessory. The effect was stunning with her simply amazing long bridal veil and the train on her Vera Wang gown. For Meghan’s makeup, we went with a natural look and soft pink lip color — so pretty with the roses in her bouquet!
So, enjoy these gorgeous images from Robert and Kathleen Photographers. On Style Me Pretty, they tell a beautiful story about how they witnessed Meghan and Marc’s love for each other on the wedding day, and you’ll also find more of the couple’s wedding pictures if you want to soak up more classic bridal style inspiration!
When inspiration strikes our friends at the boutique wedding planners Bellafare, we know we’re in for a treat. Their vision? To create a modern yet timeless winter wedding shoot with a crisp, stylish black-and-white palette.
Classic New York style with a contemporary twist was the look they were going for, so Once Upon a Bride’s hair stylist Angela worked with the model’s long blonde hair to create this chic updo finished off with a white retro fascinator. The effect was very Audrey Hepburn, circa Breakfast at Tiffany’s!
We love the stunning black bridal gown, which brought a touch of high fashion — just perfect for a shoot at the Lincoln Center, the home of New York Fashion Week. And Jen Huang‘s work as photographer was, as always, amazing.
For more inspiration for a chic bridal hair style à la Audrey Hepburn, or a black-and-white wedding palette, check out Style Me Pretty‘s gallery for this unique shoot.
This past weekend, I headed off with my stellar makeup artist Veronica – you may know her as RaRa from Bethenny Ever After — to that most elegant of wedding destinations, Charleston, South Carolina. (By the way, girls in the Charleston area: Once Upon a Bride has just opened a branch in your beautiful city!)
We were there to style Cagney for her wedding to Zack at the amazing Lowndes Grove Plantation, an historic estate on the banks of the river in downtown Charleston. I love that Cagney had two different hair looks for her wedding day: first I created a classic Southern belle look using long hair extensions with a wave. And when Cagney walked down the aisle we went with a side up-do that complemented her sheer white veil beautifully.
Veronica brought out the bride’s own glowing beauty with a couple of different makeup palettes, especially accentuating Cagney’s eyes with a dramatic look including luscious eyelash extensions.
My new friends at Southern Protocol wedding planners did an incredible job of making this a wedding to remember. The color scheme was exquisite — love the bride’s magenta Queen Anne sofa on the lawn and the flower girls’ tutus! And Paige Winn did a phenomenal job of capturing the whole event.
Thanks for making us a part of your day, Cagney and Zack — you are the sweetest couple. Congratulations!
