I have had a LOT of make up on my face over the years. 15 years of community theater…do the math. But while I have learned to do a lot to my face, and while I can put eyeliner on a teenage boy, and make someone look older, I really haven’t had my hair and make up done professionally for anything personal, I wore my hair in pigtails for my senior prom – I’m just that girl.
I booked a few professionals for my own casual wedding – I paid for a wonderful photographer, and I have a florist flying in from NH (a personal friend), and I hired someone to do my hair and make up. Despite my time in the local wedding industry, I hadn’t met her. But I kept seeing her work on facebook and emailed her. I booked her, knowing I would get a trial run, and if I really, truly hated her, I could book someone else and eat the deposit. Not a huge deal. I even considered having her do my hair and make up for the engagement photos, but something else popped up.
Our friend is dating this DARLING adorable, sweet, funny, smart, interesting, well-traveled, amazing woman. We love her. But she’s also the baby of our friends – and just celebrated her 30th birthday. She also wanted an excuse to wear the sari that had been made for her when she was in India, so she threw a Bollywood style birthday bash at a local event space and bar. I not only used this party as a reason to buy a beautiful turquoise blue and red chiffon sari (thank you, eBay), I decided to use my trial run that morning, show up to the party looking my best. Because bitch, I’m not 30 anymore, and I look and feel like it most days!
My stylist lives about 35 minutes away, I drove down to her house, we spent the next hour getting to know each other, talking weddings, relationships, travel. She’s super cute and sweet and friendly and everything you want in a woman who is going to be spending time with you on the day you get married. She felt like a friend, and even understood my irrational fear of curling irons. When she was finished, I looked in the mirror – and was so incredibly excited, relieved, surprised, and delighted. I looked fantastic – I didn’t need or want to change a thing.
before and after, hair and make up by Ahsley of Wink PDX
That afternoon I did some chores around the house, including baking, I even took a nap on the couch (sitting upright so as not to screw anything up), and then went to the party where we laughed, drank, ate, danced, and gossiped with friends until midnight. After 12+ hours my hair and make up still looked great – my hair had fallen a bit, but it was still soft and lovely and if I stay up till 3:30 am after my wedding, 12+hours after it starts, heaven help me. In short, she was fantastic, I felt great, and I am looking forward to getting ready and knowing that I’ll look my best. Hiring a professional? I’m worth it.
dorky requisite selfie, 8 or 9 hours after having hair and make up done
I look like Omar made my sari, but I love this photo of us with the birthday girl – and my hair and make up are still awesome, 11 hours later
