A Day's Work: Wedding Plans in the Mix!

Exterior

I've been scoping out locations for a wedding ceremony and possible reception for a good friend of mine. I am helping to plan a wonderful medieval theme and we think we found the perfect location. The only problem is that loud music is not allowed, which means there won't be music for the reception...

Inside. I love the arched windows! So many decorating ideas!

To the bride, this is questionable and she has a certain "Their Song" to which she wants to dance with her honey on their wedding day. We shall see. But in the meantime, these are some photos I took of the location.

As you can see, the interior is very rustic and this location has an old medieval church appearance. Voices echo inside, which will add to the effect. 

The front where the vows will be taken.

Last night while I was going over some of the details with her, she said that I should become a wedding planner and open a bridal shop. I would be able to plan out lovely details for flowers, bake for low budget weddings, sing (if I really wanted to), and provide the make-up and all beauty related services. 

It sounds like a wonderful idea, but I would have to wonder how to manage my time and costs. I charge $20/hour now for my make-up services, but as soon as I get my certification from Kandee Johnson, I find that I will have to increase my cost, especially since I will have a professional kit (with products ranging from Make Up Forever and Mac, to Stila and Maybelline). We shall see. As far as the rest of the wedding goes, here are some more of the ideas we have come up with:

Inspiration cake: minus the pearls and patterned fondant.

CAKE: Three-tiered round cakes with three different kinds of cake. All tiers will be covered in white fondant and adhered with buttercream. The ribbon fondant is going to be a light blue, which fits the theme colors of light blue and rose red. The bottom tier is going to be a chocolate cake, filled with whipped cream and strawberries. The second tier is a chocolate cake, filled with raspberries and a chocolate fudge. Their topper is going to be a simple white cake with chocolate truffle filling. To fit the medieval theme, I am going to place delicate single stem red rosebuds around the edges of the cake stand, then at the base of the bottom tier, place fully bloomed red roses. The tiers are going to alternate with the single stemmed rosebuds and fully bloomed roses. It is going to be a gorgeous cake. Because I miss cake decorating, I just might end up making this cake for her wedding, which will be a great honor.

Backside of her dream gown (it'll be light blue)

Inspiration for medieval bridal party.

Front side of her dream gown.

BRIDAL PARTY ATTIRE (of which I belong as a bridesmaid) is going to have a lovely attire. My friend doesn't want a traditional white dress, but prefers to go with a light blue color (much lighter than the dresses shown above for the bridal party) and red roses everywhere. I suggested that we use the theme of red and light blue for these reasons, and the bridesmaids will have rose red dresses with light blue accents, and the bride will have a light blue dress with the rose red embroidery...of course all dresses will be similar in that they will have a non-traditional feel. The front of the dress is going to be lace up corset instead, and the bell sleeves will have a satin rose red interior. Everything is custom made and tailored. When I suggested this to her, she started beaming and got teary-eyed. It felt so exciting to be part of this wonderful day for her. I've known her for almost four years now and I am so proud to assist her in celebrating the happiest day of her life.

Inexpensive Rose Centerpieces.

DECORATIONS: Of course, to get the beautiful effect of the medieval wedding, decorations must be used to create that said effect. Here are some decor ideas I came up with, that can actually be quite inexpensive to use. If we do book the location I showed previously, then I want to get candles in every window arch, but to make the interior look even more authentic, I am going to mix different vases, candles, and possibly hang some Medieval paintings and mirrors up around the vicinity. The way the lighting is during the daytime, and with the trees casting shadows, it will be so beautiful and elegant.

 

As far as other ideas go, we are thinking about digging a pit (if permitted at the reception site) and making a spit and roasting meat in a old European-style feast. (I know Hawaiians do spitfires with a pig, but the food is still up in the air at this point). Everything we do will be updated, but this is the basic ideas I've come up with today. 

Obviously there is a lot more involved than just these items, but this is the basic idea of what we discussed today, amongst other ideas. What do you think? Please leave me a comment and tell me what you think. Should I try my hand at planning weddings? Of course I won't stray away from my make-up artistry, but maybe getting my hand in another field won't hurt? Especially since I'm going to be doing a lot of bridal make-up. If I do end up doing this, I am going to refer all photography to my friend, Kayla, because she is a completely amazing photographer and artist. If you have a specialty (be it with catering, cakes, floral arranging, alterations and dress fittings...etc.) and are in Western Washington State, AND you would like me to consider referring your services, send me a link or email me at emalyce.weiss@gmail.com with a link to some online photos or your web page. Thank you!

The Bellezza in happiness

Bellezza is in everything. Remember to look for it! I'm at a library right now and while dusty books do not sound intriguing to some, I find mysterious love for all these books. It's amazing that they are compiled to depict all that their respective writers have learned to express through these thoughts, these words. Each person has so much to share with the world and for those of you who don't get to travel, you have the world at your fingertips in the library. Imaginations are not just for children. Use yours to imagine what you can dream of, plan out, and finally accomplish. Dreams can only come true IF you take forth the effort to build goals towards them. Pick something small at first; one step closer you'll get, but remember that the world was not created in one day.

Everything has a rhyme or reason for being, but don't let this discourage you. Destinies are fulfilled by pushing forward, not slacking and resting upon the idea of fate. There is no fate. Destiny is what you are supposed to be, but how are you going to grow to be that person if you don't do anything?

Dream big. Our God is bigger and anything is possible through Him, for those who believe.

Remember the Bellezza!

love and blessings to you all,

Em.

Steps to Smokin' Purple

1. Okay, so I started with Urban Decay Primer potion.
2. Then after blended, I added a bright blue eye crayon color, which is from Color Impact. Blended this out with a fluffy square brush from a no-name brand off of ebay.
3. Onto the outer portion of my lid, I added a warm red-plum color from a Giovi 48 color palette. It has a satin finish.
4. Next, I applied Jesse's Girl Ultra Violent pigment to the inner corner, softly blending the two colors together in the center of the lid. The brush I used to apply the shadows is the Bare Escentuals Tapered Eyeshadow brush.
5. Taking my favorite flesh-toned color from the same Giovi palette, I brushed this to my brow bone which blended out the harshness of the purples.
6. I applied lavender, from the same palette, and applied it into the crease and up to part of my brow bone for a little extra depth. I applied this with the tapered brush. 
7. To define my crease, I took a midnight blue color and outlined my 'outer v' and with the tapered brush.
8. I blended this out by taking the flesh tone back to the brow bone, and then the lavender color just over the top to blend the two colors together slightly.
9. I used a large blush brush to wipe away any fallout from my loose pigments.
10. To my lower lashline, I applied Jesse's Girl kohl eyeliner pencil in Grape Expectations.
11. To my waterline, I applied Jordana Color Extend kohl eyeliner in Morning Coffee.
12. I wanted my upper lash line to stand out and look fuller, so I applied Mega Liner Liquid Eyeliner in Black, by Wet 'N Wild, using a very small artist's detailing brush (you can find these at any art supply store).
13. Because I needed a good adherent for my glitter, I used Hot Topic's Glitter Liner in a fuchsia color.
14. Over the top, I applied loose purple glitter, called Jesse's Girl Sparklers (this one is in the light purple shade).
15. I went back with the flesh-toned color and blended a little more the lines of the purple so it would look more dimensional and not so flat. 
16. The mascara I used is a sample size of Benefit's Bad Gal Lash. 
17. Taking a stiff blush brush, I swept away the fallout from the glitter and pigments.
18. I filled in my lashes using a light brown in the Giovi palette and an angled liner brush. These work so well for the eyebrows!
19. I don't have the name of the blush I used as it came from a make-up kit from a gift someone gave me a long time ago, but it is a reddish pink color with bronzing effects. I applied this using the same stiff blush brush and applied it to the apples of my cheeks and into my temple.
20. I lined my lips with Mac's Rosebound and used Benefit's Satin Snap lipcolor. (I think this is DC'd now).
21. For extra shine and the pinking pigmentation effects, I added a small coating of Avon's Blooming Pout lip gloss. This has a plumping agent in it as well. It feels really fizzy in a way.

Done!

Quick 'N Easy Peanut Noodle Salad

Serves 4

Non-spicy version

1 8 oz. package of angel hair pasta noodles

1/2 c. chunky peanut butter

1/4 c. soy sauce

1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

2 green onions thinly sliced

1 carrot, shredded (or a handful of baby carrots)

Spicy version

1 8 oz. package of angel hair pasta noodles

1/2 c. chunky peanut butter

1 tbs. soy sauce

1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

2 green onions thinly sliced

1 carrot, shredded (or a handful of baby carrots)

2 garlic cloves, minced

equal parts cayenne pepper and curry (depending on how spicy you want it)

Directions

1. Cook pasta until it is al dente, (firm to the touch).

2. While pasta is cooking, mix peanut butter, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, and curry. Mix it until it is smooth.

3. Drain pasta, reserving about 1/3 cup of the water. Mix this water in with the peanut butter mixture and mix well. Toss the sauce with the noodles and add in onions, carrots, and garlic making sure that it is well mixed. 

Enjoy!