Wedding hair trial Archives -

Wedding updos: The classic chignon

Posted on November 30, 2015

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.”

WIN a free hair and makeup trial!

Posted on March 24, 2014

One lucky bride is going to win a complimentary hair and makeup trial at Once Upon A Bride, and it could be you!

To enter to win, just sign up for email updates about our latest discounts, salon news and the greatest hair and makeup products.

You need to love the look your artists are going to create for you on your wedding day, so I train our artists in my own protocol, which ensures that every bride has a successful trial. You will see variations of hair and makeup looks until we find the style that suits you best. Your artists will take detailed notes and photos so that they are ready to recreate the look on the day.

You are always welcome to call me for advice, because I want every bride to get the most from her trial and feel confident and relaxed that everything will run smoothly on her wedding day!

Special invitation: 25% off wedding hair and makeup trials at Once Upon A Bride

Posted on March 10, 2014

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.

Stacey’s Top 10 Bridal Hair Tips

Posted on April 12, 2013

Planning a wedding is stressful enough; the last thing you need is a bad hair decision sabotaging your special day — one that will be documented for eternity. Do you go with an accessorized updo, a braided twist, or loose and luxurious curls? There are so many choices, but it needn’t be overwhelming if you follow my top ten tips for preparing for your hair trial and wedding day. I’m sharing this over at bethenny.com too — everybody deserves beautiful hair on their wedding day!

1. Show and tell.
On the day of your hair trial, bring anything you think will help your stylist understand the looks you love or the style of your wedding. Have a friend take a photo of you in your dress at a fitting. Bring a swatch of fabric if you think that will help. Bring pictures of brides, celebrities, models — anyone whose look inspires you.

2. Enhance your unique beauty.
When you’re finding pictures to show your stylist, try to find ones that don’t stray too far from your own look and style. If you are the kind of girl who loves having her hair down and flowing, maybe you don’t want to go for a sleek updo — and vice versa. I think it’s best to go with the look you normally go for when you dress up for an occasion, and then glam it up a notch for your wedding day.

3. Be open.
Your hair trial gives you the chance to live with a look and discover whether you feel comfortable with it. If your hair artist suggests looks that you hadn’t considered before, don’t feel pressured to follow their advice, but while you have their expertise at your fingertips, you may as well give it your consideration.

4. Accessorize.
There are so many great hair accessories available now to add a gorgeous accent to your wedding hair. It will depend on the look you’re going for. For a more classical look, you might want to wear a Swarovski crystal brooch. Jeweled barrettes can be great. Some of my favorites at the moment are bird-cage veils, feathers, and unstructured fabric flowers, which go beautifully with more flowing, playful gowns.

5. Extend yourself.
Don’t shy away from having hair extensions for your wedding day; it’s way less of a drama than it may sound. And no one needs to know — it can be our secret! Extensions are great if you want a little more length or fullness, or if you or your artist is worried about your hair holding a particular style all through your wedding day. Even if your own hair falls, the extensions won’t.

6. Keep having regular haircuts.
At your trial, your artist can give you guidance on whether you need to grow your hair. If your hair is very long or unlayered, it can be difficult to manage and style, limiting the looks your artist can show you at your trial. Because Once Upon a Bride is based at my full-service salon Loft 26, we can take care of your hair right up until your wedding day.

7. Don’t get your hair cut just before the wedding!
It’s better to be safe than sorry, so avoid having a cut too close to your wedding. Especially avoid a radical change of style.

8. Look after those locks.
Pay special attention to hair care in the weeks before your trial and wedding, so that your hair is shiny and healthy. If you’re unsure of the best products for your hair type, consult with your stylist.

9. Be product-free on the day.
On your trial day and wedding day, have clean, dry hair. Avoid using a lot of conditioner that morning, especially a leave-in one. Stay away from silkening products that weigh your hair down and make it slippery to work with.

10. Be flexible.
Say it rains or a wind suddenly springs up on your wedding day, and that down style you had your heart set on just isn’t working. Don’t worry — last-minute changes can be okay, so long as you and your artist are prepared. When you come in to Once Upon a Bride for a trial, your artist will show you a couple of styles and variations so that you have options on the day.