Pre-Wedding Hair Care Tips

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There are avariety of steps that can be taken when it comes to obtaining the mostbeautiful and softest hair achievable for your wedding day. Hot oil treatmentsthat work to penetrate deep into the hair and the hair follicles are one of themost important steps that many women take prior to their big day. There arealso many different benefits to using this particular type of treatment. To lista few of the most beneficial advantages of a hot oil treatment are as follows:

• This is a hair care technique that can quickly turn limp hair that has no body into healthy bouncy hair that appears to be as healthy as can be.

• There are many things that can strip the hair of its natural oils and cause a tremendous amount of damage. Women with hair that has been damaged from coloring, perms and various other hair treatments immediately notice a healthy and shiny difference in the appearance of their hair when a hot oil treatment is used.

• Problems with dry hair that tends to break off rather easily can benefit a great deal from hot oil hair care treatments. It helps to restore the natural elasticity and moisture that is lost, leaving behind a lustrous shine and healthy head of hair.

There are alsoother beneficial pre-wedding hair care options that are available tobrides-to-be. One

of the most popular choices that more and more women arechoosing is known as keratin hair treatments. This is actually one of the mostwidely-used methods of hair care that can quickly get a person’s hair in tiptop shape before the arrival of their big day. A few of the hair types thatthis type of technique can be especially helpful for includes the following:

• Hair that is unmanageable

• Hair that is extremely curly and hard to manage

• Hair that has been damaged and is frizzy

Why Keratin Hair Treatments?

One of thebiggest benefits that a large number of people enjoy about this technique is itinvolves the use of keratin, which is a pure and natural protein. This proteinactually makes up as much as 88% of a person’s hair. None of the hair’sinternal bonding properties are affected with this type of process. This isbecause the protein used in this treatment mixes quite easily with the keratinthat is already found within a person’s hair growth.

This pre-weddinghair care technique provides the hair with an adequate amount of nutrition thatis essential to having strong healthy hair. Not only are the amazing resultseasy to see but they are also easy to feel in the silky smooth texture of thehair.

Important Factors to Keep in Mind When Using KeratinHair Treatments

Before usingthis type of technique often used for pre-wedding hair care, be sure that youtake the time to carefully read the label included on the product. This way youcan make sure there are no harmful or toxic ingredients in the products you areusing.

This article was written for Wedding Highon behalf of Keraplast, a leading innovator of keratin protein technology,working with partners to create products, such as HairRescue, to keep hair healthy, shiny and strong. 

5 Tips for Shaping Up for your Wedding

Guest Post by Jessica Best 

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When wedding bells are fast approaching, one of the biggest worrieson a brides mind is fitting into ‘that’ perfect wedding dress. With all thestress of wedding preparations, it’s no wonder blushing brides-to-be find itdifficult to get the perfect shape up routine in place. Luckily, with a few ofthese basic tips you will be toning and tightening your way to the wedding ofyour dreams!

 Remove soda and alcoholfrom your diet

Yes, before we even get started on the exercise tips addressing theissue of calorie containing, nutrient starved beverages is foremost.Preparation for weight loss, and skin purifying starts with the removal of Sodaand alcohol from your diet. The sugary drinks offer nothing nutritionally foryour body and they can hinder your motivation to work out. Opt for plain water,green tea and fresh vegetable juices which contain great detox and moodenhancing properties. Aim to drink 2L of water a day and extra if you areexercising.

 

Limit your stress

Planning a wedding is no easy feat, so during times of stress andimmense pressure try to remember, this is about the bond between two people inlove. Don’t sweat the small stuff! On the big day it won’t bother you if theflowers are one shade off what you originally wanted. Stress leads to skinproblems as well as over-eating which, we all know causes weight gain. So focuson remaining calm, relaxed and focused.

 

Employ the help of atrainer

Whether you are new to exercise, or a seasoned pro, everybody canbenefit from hiring a trainer for the pre-wedding shape up. Having a personaltrainer will boost motivation and commitment levels, keeping you focused, ontime and ultimately seeing results. A trainer will also tailor a workout toyour specific needs, toned arms are important for a strapless wedding dressesor maybe you are looking to lose 10lb for that honeymoon bikini. Shop aroundand find a trainer that you really connect with, ask as many questions as youneed and never be shy to tell them what you want. Whatever the goal, a trainerwill have you well on your way to looking and feeling great.

 Add swimming to yourworkout routine

If you have time to add some extra exercise into your workoutschedule, don’t go past swimming. Not only is swimming fantastic for toningarms and legs, it’s also a great form of stress relief. Water offers peace andtranquility use this opportunity to think and have space away from the world.

Plan your workout scheduleand menu

Keeping on track is difficult, especially when you’re busy makingwedding preparations. By organizing your time efficiently you know where you’resupposed to be and there will always be enough time to get your workoutcompleted. Planning also lets you monitor your progress, seeing this successwill keep you motivated. By planning your food you won’t be tempted to grabtakeaways or skip meals.

 

Enjoy your wedding!

As the date grows nearer, and the excitement mounds make sure youtake the time to smile, nothing is more attractive than a genuinely happybride, so remember this for the big day. Most importantly enjoy your weddingand the celebration of all your hard work, congratulations!

Guest post by Jess at MAX Fitness College, a school specialising in personaltraining courses for people who are looking at starting afitness business.

I am in love with this Caroline Herrera Wedding Dress

I love many different styles of wedding dresses... and yes I probably am one of those big fairytale princess wedding dress gals at heart, but even I can not get over how amazingly gorgeous and simple perfect and stylish and dreamy and sexy and wonderful this Caroline Herrera Wedding Dress is.

Everything about it is perfection, hat & flowers included! { and you just know what I say about perfection!}

SWOON!

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A Wedding Tatoo, would you?

I've had brides desperately try to hide tatoos they had done in their youth, they've chosen to wear dresses they didn't really want because their aim to cover the 'dreaded thing' { their words, not mine}, came first over their desire for a nice dress. I've had brides make bridemaids wear longer dresses or cardigans or whatever so they didn't show up in photos. But would you actively go out and get a wedding tatoo?

The use of Henna in Indian Weddings is a big and long standing tradition. Its beautiful and intricate and often tells a story. { Of course this type of 'tatooing' isn't what springs to mind when I say would you get a wedding tatoo... but look at this... }

This is what I am talking about when I say would you have a wedding tatoo...

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I think this is beautifully stunning and it is definitely something I would consider on my wedding day. Would you?

The History of Make Up

{ In Brief}

So when I was 'reading' this I was thinking to myself... 'holy cow, I thought the odd 'dye diaster' or 'waxing mishap' was bad... imagine killing your hubby with your face powder? Or dying a slow, painful death from your rogue! Make Up {thankfully} has come a long way - but have you ever given a thought to how it all started?

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Gorgeous Hair Inspiration for your Flower Girls

I think this 'do' is adorable, stylish and a total must if you are searching for a nice hair style for your flower girls.

What do you think?

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6 Sexy, Fabulous Wedding Hair Looks

I must say I totally digging these 6 sexy, 'easy to wear' looks for wedding day hair. What do you think?

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How to Plan for Engagement Photos

By Guest Blogger and Bride Sarah Beckman

My  mom and I love to compare my parents’ 1981 wedding to my upcoming 2011  wedding. My mom wore a dress handmade by my grandma, whereas I tried on  hundreds of dresses at a bridal boutique. My parents’ reception was cake  and punch in the church basement. Mine is going to include cocktail  hour, a seated dinner, and dancing under an outdoor reception tent.

The  differences don’t stop there! When my mom got engaged, engagement  photos were simple head shots used to announce the engagement in the  local paper. Nowadays, engagement pictures are elaborate photo shoots,  complete with multiple locations, wardrobe changes, and props.

My  fiance, Chris, and I had a great time getting our engagement photos  taken, but we found that preparing for them was a little stressful. We  found that it’s all in thinking about the details and making decisions  in advance.

Location

Long  gone are the days of boring photos in front of plain backdrops.  Consider taking your engagement photos at a place that’s special to the  two of you. Is there a park you love to frequent? Or was your first date  at a noteworthy spot? My fiance and I had two locations for our  engagement photos. First we went to a quaint, historic downtown area and  then to a beautiful park. Neither spot was special to us as a couple,  but we knew we wanted outdoor photos.

Outfits

Between  you and me, I am the more fashion-conscious one in the relationship, so  I picked out my outfits first. We decided to do one dressy look, as  well as one casual look. Before I started shopping for engagement photo outfits, we decided we want to wear timeless outfits that aren't too trendy and that reflect our personal style. For the dressy look, I wore an emerald-green  dress. Chris wore grey dress pants and a black polo. For the casual  look, I wore a white, collared, sleeveless top and Chris wore a light  blue button-down; we both wore jeans. Our outfits reflected clothes that  we’d both normally wear -- your engagement photos aren’t the day to try  out a new style! Also remember when it comes to pictures, solids photograph better than patterns.

Makeup

Like  with outfits, the day of your engagement photos isn’t the time to try a  new makeup style. I usually keep it natural when it comes to makeup, and  my engagement photo makeup reflects that. When you're getting pictures taken, it's okay to wear a little more makeup than you usually would, though. Use a matte concealer, foundation and translucent setting powder to give yourself flawless skin, and eyeliner and mascara will make your eyes stand out. Also, here's a makeup tip I once got from a makeup artist: if you're getting photos taken, don't wear shimmery or reflective makeup -- the flash will reflect off your makeup and cause whiteness on your face! I couldn't get any makeup on Chris' face -- but my guess is some guys wear a little powder to get rid of shininess!

Props

I love engagement photo props! I think they're a great way to make your photos fun, unique, and personalized! Some great ideas I've seen are setting up a picnic in a park, toasting with champagne, or using personalized signs. Chris and I had a white milk glass-framed chalk board that we wrote our names on. We also had a small pennant banner that has his last name (my future last name!) stitched in it. I bought both from Etsy. We plan to also incorporate these props into the wedding!

 

It was so fun getting the disc of all our engagement photos, looking through them, and deciding which ones to print. I'm still trying to think of a clever way to incorporate some of the photos into our wedding reception -- please leave your suggestions in the comments!

Author Bio: Sarah Beckman is a editor and blogger at Affordable Scarves. At work, she writes about how to style fashion scarves and get expensive looks for less. When Sarah's not working, she and Chris are busy planning their October 1st wedding!

Fancy being a Guest Blogger on Wedding High too? Get in touch with me at weddinghigh [at] gmail [dot] com

7 Top Tips to Relax and Enjoy Your Wedding Day

By Guest Blogger Andy West

After months and months of planning and hundreds of decisions made, the day is finally here. You're getting married. But even with everything organized and ready to go, it's easy to get stuck in planning mode. The last thing you want on your big day is to be worrying over every detail, constantly double and triple checking to make sure that everything is perfect. You want to enjoy your wedding day. So let go of the worry and relax! If you aren't sure how to do that, here a few things that can help you relax and really enjoy the day.

Plan, plan, plan

Don't leave ANY planning to the day of the wedding. That's just asking for trouble. The night before your wedding double check that everything is in place and everyone is ready to go. Having things all settled the night before will go a long way to helping you enjoy your wedding day. If there are things that need to be done the day of the wedding, like flowers to be picked up and payments to be handed out, delegate. If you have a wedding planner, all of these things will be their job. So let them earn their money!

Morning spa

The morning of your wedding, book a quick pedicure or massage. Spoiling yourself will help remind you that the day is all about you. Massages can also be unbelievably relaxing. If spas aren't your thing, plan something else just for you. Take an hour and do something that relaxes you, be it browsing in a bookstore, watching an episode of your favourite TV show or taking a bubble bath.

Jumping Jacks

If you are a nervous bundle of energy on your wedding day, it'll be hard to enjoy it, let alone stand still long enough to get married. Before heading to the salon or getting ready, try some jumping jacks. Or pop in your favorite fast song and dance around for a bit. The key is to burn off some of that extra energy.

Have a toast

Now, you shouldn't get drunk before you walk down the aisle, but a glass of champagne with your friends before the ceremony can help to calm your frazzled nerves. It's also a great way to toast your day and enjoy the moment.

Deep breathing

If you find yourself getting overwhelmed or panicky, try some deep breathing techniques to calm yourself down. A deep breath in through your nose and then an equally deep breath out of your mouth a few times will help you to center yourself.

Chocolate treat

Chocolate is an amazing mood booster. Treat yourself to a decadent chocolate bar or chocolate treat. Savour it, letting it melt on your tongue. Really take the moment to concentrate on the taste of the chocolate. Your serotonin levels will get a boost and your taste buds will love you for it.

Remember why you're there

If you find that you can't shut your mind off and you keep running over lists and double checking to make sure everything is running smoothly, take a moment to remember why you're there. It isn't because you got the perfect flowers or the best caterer in the area. It's because you're in love and want to spend the rest of your life with your partner. As long as you two are there, the rest is just extra.

There's very little sense in spending a lot of money and time planning a wedding and being so stressed out on the day that you don't enjoy or remember it. The tips above will help you to relax and really enjoy your big day. 

Andy West is a freelance writer on many topics including tungsten wedding bands and other wedding related subjects.

If you too would like to be a Guest Blogger on Wedding High please do drop me an email at weddinghigh [at] gmail [dot] com 

Right here: Awesome Wedding, Colour, Fun & Frolics!

This is one awesome wedding. I love everything about it. Its fun, relaxed, colourful, gorgeous, magical... great inspiration... what do you think?

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Can you help: Brides Against Breast Cancer?

I read an article this morning, Brides Against Breast Cancer, and it got me thinking; what an amazing idea and why can't I do this here?

Basically Brides Against Breast Cancer do large [sometimes travelling] Wedding Dress Sales across the US to raise money for Making Memories, a foundation that makes wishes come true for Stage 4 Cancer Patients; a noble and worthwhile cause I'm sure you'll all agree. The wedding dresses are largely donated from brides with no further use for them, or from bridal shops or boutiques. The event is free for brides to attend and try on the dresses and buy them, although they do normally do a 'Pre-event' the night before the main event for those who want to get in early. They charge $35.00 per person and serve nibbles and champange... again another fab idea! [Maybe even include a mini fashion show?]

Not one to sit on my ass, [ok I do a little], I've already emailed Making Memories to see if this is something I can do in Ireland, under the name 'Brides Against Breast Cancer' and that if it can benefit Irish Cancer Patients.

Either way, I'm going to do something like this and so, this is a big call out to:

• Brides who would like to donate their dresses to a worthy cause. 
• Venues who would like to host such an event. 
• Graphic Designers & Printeres who will help with posters/ leaflets and flyers 
• Wedding Advertising Agencies who will offer free promotion
• Dress Shops who will donate dresses and time to help brides try on the dress [and dress racks too]
• Stores with racks, mirrors, curtains etc... 
• In fact anyone who has any product/ service or time that can benefit such an event!

I'm thinking mid-late September would be a good time to 'put this on' - but further planning and thought is needed! Please do get in touch if you are interested in being part of the project! weddinghigh [at] gmail [dot] com.

Thanks!

15 Gorgeous Blue Wedding Dresses

I've a friend who up until recently has never really expressed an interest in marriage. Its not that she wasn't interested in love, or that she didn't want children, of even that she was a 'career girl', it was just something she never expressed [at least to me] a big interest. Cue 'Mr. Right'; he landed on the scene some time ago, but love blossomed [and I mean really blossomed] overnight and now, well now, she talks about getting married ALOT!

I've no idea what she imagines or envisages for her big day, but the girl loves blue. She looks fab in blue. Blue is definitely her colour and so, to show her [incase she was wondering], blue is definitely a option for her wedding dress... cause well... white... white just might not cut it ! :)

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Ok. This is not blue... but wow...

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10 Fab Wedding Headpieces

I love veils, I do, my own was over 15 feet long... yes I had two flower girls assigned just to take care of it... but sometimes, sometimes its nice to see something a little different on top of a bride's head. Here are 10 fab wedding headpieces! Enjoy!

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Hair How to: Maiden Braids

I love experimenting with hair! [I do love my hair dresser; you rock Steve!] [But] I get a real guilty pleasure from saving myself a few bucks and mastering something totally gorgeous! I haven't tried this one yet, I've literally just found it and had to share!

I want to hear from all you, who try and conquer!

Happy Hair Dressing!!

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16 Fairytale Wedding Dresses to inspire you!

To make your Monday's a little more magical!

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