There is one major factor that can help you immediately separate the worthy artists from the crowd: they should be able to customize classic bridal make-up palettes to suit the individual. This is crucial because without the ability to properly modify bridal make-up looks to a bride’s specific features, colouring and taste, the artist can wind up creating more problems than they correct.

Luckily for Vancouver brides, La Novia Bridal has solved the problem of finding a make-up artist who can make the most of what you’ve got. With our three customizable signature looks we have taken all of the guesswork out of putting your best face forward, and will work with you to create a look that captures your personal beauty.

Girly Girl brides can be some of the most challenging make-up clients because their look often revolves around one colour and one colour only: pink.

As the colour of femininity, innocence and romance, pink is a not only highly popular, it is also somewhat of an make-up enigma. In order to pull off a pink palette, a make-up artist has to be able to achieve a perfect balance of tones, shimmer and blending; for this reason, many make-up artists will try to steer already rosy or olive-skinned brides away from a pink palette. However, La Novia Bridal has made the pink palette accessible to all brides by finding just the right balance between pinks and browns for each particular skin tone.

The key to pulling off the Perfectly Pretty is a light touch and exact tone matching of the pinks used on cheeks and lips to create a soft and demure effect. This look is special because it allows focus to be drawn to different parts of the face at once: eyes are soft, cheeks are flushed and lively and lips are shimmery- a perfect combination that is sure to please even the girliest bride.

Are you the kind of bride who wants to look like she’s walked straight out of a long, relaxing sun drenched vacation and into her wedding ceremony? You aren’t the only one. There is a reason why bronze-based make-up palettes like our Bronze Babe look are so popular: they can instantly transform any bride into a glowing, radiant beauty.

La Novia’s talented artists up the ante by creating luscious, dewy skin and then pinpointing exactly where to best apply copper, metallic grey and gold shades to showcase a bride’s best features. For example, gold shadow can draw attention to beautifully almond-shaped eyes while camouflaging dark, unflattering shadows.

The best part about the Bronze Babe look is that there is a shade of gold that best suits every bride. Be prepared to outshine the sun at your summer wedding if you choose this signature look.

Let’s face it, working with blue, grey and purple eyeshadows takes skill. In the wrong hands, you can wind up looking like you have huge bags or even bruises on your eyes; this is a shame, especially since these colours are stunning when used correctly.

At La Novia Bridal, we understand the intricacies of shades and tones- that’s why we are able to read your complexion and pick up all the subtle variances that indicate how to best tailor this gorgeous look to your benefit. When applied by our skilled artists, this palette will even your skin tone to porcelain luminosity, bring out the subtle hues in your eyes and add a touch of drama without looking overdone.

Berry hued lipstick transforms even the thinnest lips into a plump, juicy pout that any groom would be pleased to kiss. The overall result is that of a doe-eyed sophisticate, a unique and gorgeous look.

Contact us to book a consultation, and we’ll show you how to adapt any of these looks to help you become the most beautiful bride you can be. All you have to do is walk right in, choose your look, and we’ll customize a palette that is sure to be the envy of brides everywhere.
The above looks were created by La Novia Bridal artist Kelsey Dickson. To book an appointment with Kelsey e-mail lanoviabridal@gmail.com

Forget everything you thought you knew about bridal make-up- forget the smoky eye, forget the red lips and forget matte foundation being your friend. Why? Because in 2011, bridal make-up is also about the bare-faced look. Don’t think that this is an easy look to achieve, though, bare face beauty depends on achieving  flawlessly radiant perfection. Don’t worry, La Novia is here to show you how.

There are four pillars of luminosity. Follow our tips and you’ll be glowing in no time!

1.Concealer

Unfortunately, the barefaced look isn’t really barefaced at all and depends on a flawless and even-toned complexion. Unless you were born with perfect skin, you’ll have to fake it with concealer. The trick is to use light application of a high coverage but somewhat translucent concealer: it should cover, but not cake. Apply concealer under eyes, around the nostrils and on top of any blemishes and blend well. Add a light application of tinted moisturizer and you should be good to go. Make sure your shades match your skin perfectly, otherwise you’ll have a blotchy face in photos, and no bride wants that.

2. Shimmery bronzer

For added luminosity, nothing does the trick like a good pink or bronze hued shimmery bronzer. Applied to the temples, cheekbones and along the bridge of the nose, bronzer will give you some colour and make you look like you just got back from a very restful vacation. Take care to use the correct shade, gold based is best for medium and dark skin tones, and pink is best for fair. Don’t apply too much or you may end up with a mismatched face and neck/decolletage.

3.Gold eyeshadow

Gold eyeshadow is a great all purpose must have for any bridal kit. For the bare look, you want to do a light dusting across eyelids from lash line to brow bone, blending carefully. Then, add a dab to the inner corner of eyes, this will make them look more open and will bring out any gold based tone in your eye colour. Finish off with an application of the most natural black mascara possible, making sure to get rid of any clumps and separating any stuck-together lashes. Leave the eyeliner alone, this bridal make-up calls for an understated approach. Don’t overdo eye make-up or you’ll throw off the balance of the rest of your face.

4.Groomed Eyebrows

Brows should stand out on a bare bride face. Make sure that you have brows waxed or threaded a week before your wedding day to a medium width and thickness. On the big day, tweeze away any strays and coat with clear mascara so that they have a slight sheen to them, but not so much that they look stiff and crunchy. If you have bare spots or sparse brows, fill them in with a pencil that is one shade lighter than your natural brow colour with short light strokes, we don’t want your brows looking tatooed on.

Put these four pillars together and you end up with a polished, dewy, shimmering face that makes it look like you put in very little effort but gained huge results. The best part is that you never ever have to tell anyone how much work it really is to look like you’re wearing barely any make-up. Don’t worry, we’ll never tell, it’s our little secret.

If, by any chance, you feel like doing your own make-up perfectly and on trend on your wedding day is too much for you to undertake, that’s no problem at all. At La Novia, our make-up experts are well versed in the art of the bare face. To book a consultation, contact us and together we’ll work on a wedding day look that’s perfect for you.

Without further ado, here is guide for the 2010 bride on how to build a celebrity calibre wedding day look:

1. Incorporate unusual details into your wedding gown

Mayumi dress: La Novia Asiana Collection

Colourful appliques or even painted motifs on a wedding gown make a sophisticated and stylish statement like that seen on this one from La Novia’s Asiana Collection. This wedding gown, for example, combines the super-flattering trumpet shape with the unexpected addition of colour and texture in just the right place: this strategic placement draws the eyes to the feminine curve of the waist. If you want to look like a star on your wedding day, then you have to learn to play up you best assets. This dress achieves that.

Variations of this idea:

A non-white wedding gown: blush, black, or even green are increasingly being incorporated into wedding gowns.

An interesting neckline: a novel neckline show off lovely clavicles, which is subtly sexy.

An unusual hem: scalloped, uneven or threadbare are all edgy options.

An unlikely pattern: floral, damask and narrow pinstripes are patterns that express individuality.

2. Add flair to your hair

In this day and age, there is no reason to follow 2010 wedding trends when it comes to bridal hairstyles; why not start your own trend? This hairstyle, designed by La Novia’s very own Caroline Webber, takes the classic chignon, places it higher up on the head, and adds a flower and pink tassel. Try experimenting with different accessories to achieve a bridal style that makes a personal statement, or better yet, consult the La Novia Bridal team, they have all kinds of original ideas up their sleeves!

More possible bridal hair accessories include:

Fresh or silk flowers: the effect can be vintage or very modern, depending on what kind of flowers you choose and how many you wear. For example, orange blossoms worn as a crown is very vintage while a peony bloom tucked into a messy braid is a nice personal touch.

Ribbon: Ribbon can be blended into large barrel curls or worn as a wide headband tied at the nape of the neck.

Lace netting: Brides with long hair can gather it into a delicate silk net that is at once  low-maintenance and Victorian.

Enamelled chopsticks: This option is ideal for bride who wants an asian-themed ceremony or to incorporate world culture into her wedding hairstyle.

3. Be brave with your bridal make-up

Most brides choose neutral make-up on their wedding day, but why not try something a little more striking like the shimmery pink make-up seen here? This look was created by La Novia’s Lucy Anne Botham and the effect is truly ethereal. Instead of the usual browns or peaches, Lucy used an array of blush tones on eyes and cheeks and added pale pink lipstick, making the look nearly monochromatic but in no way boring.

Other palettes that a build brave monochromatic make-up looks:

Plums: flattering on darker skin tones

Oranges: becoming on fair skinned brides, especially blondes

Brick reds: done properly, brown based reds are complimentary to any complexion

There you have it, the La Novia kit to building your own  celebrity 2010 bridal style. For more dress choices, see our fabulous Jason Matlo Collection, available exclusively at La Novia Bridal.

Chignon

Easy to achieve (although not by yourself), the chignon is the pinnacle of bridal hair chic. Many brides wear this hairstyle when they don’t want anything to compete with their wedding gown or accessories. The best part about this hairstyle is that it is extremely low-maintenance, so you won’t be popping in and out of the ladies’ room for hairspray touch-ups when you would rather be on the dance floor with your guests.

Loose Chunky Braid

For a bride who wants something uncomplicated but slightly avant-garde, this hairstyle is a perfect choice. It is at once pretty and daring, so even if it is a little unorthodox, most people will be able to find something they like about it. If nothing else, it is quite the individual style statement and everyone knows that Vancouver brides are all about individuality.

Long Waves

What bride doesn’t want to look like Venus emerging from the half-shell on her wedding day? If that’s your goal, then this is most likely the hairstyle for you. With a trumpet style dress, this flowing ‘do makes any bride look runway ready. Evoking playfulness and nonchalance, loose waves are a bride’s best friend even in the most formal setting.

Finger Curls/Waves

Haven’t seen this one yet? Well, maybe you’ll be the first bride you know to rock this 1920′s favourite. Finger curls are making a big-time comeback with brides who really want to wow the jaded wedding fashion set at their nuptials. There is a formula you can follow if you want to make this look screen siren sexy: Jason Matlo dress, baby doll eye make-up and a cupid’s bow mouth. Get ready to hear gasps of admiration as you float down the aisle. Ideal for the bride who has always fancied herself somewhat of a tastemaker. Make sure you  get an expert to help you with this style, it’s impossible to perfect unless you’ve had training. Luckily, the beauty team at La Novia is here to help.

Mad Men style is being seen everywhere; from Louis Vuitton’s fall collection to the full-skirted dresses found on the racks of H&M, it seems that this polished, sophisticated  retro style is making a major comeback. However, this trend is not specific to mainstream fashion, it is also increasingly evident in bridal make-up trends. For brides who desire a classic look with a little bit of edge, this look a perfect way to express your inner vamp without offending Grandma. However, there is a right way and a wrong way to wear this look. In order to keep you on this side of goth, La Novia Bridal has broken the look down into three essential elements to help any bride master her  retro wedding-day face:

1. Cat’s Eye

The Cat’s Eye is the hallmark of Mad Men bridal style and consists of drawing a sweeping line from the inner corner of your upper eyelid  to just past the outer corner and finally adding a little upward flourish at the end for drama. This technique has the added benefit  of making your lashes look thicker when the make-up is applied close enough to the lash line, allowing brides to avoid having to use the false eyelashes that are inevitably cried off during the ceremony. It is best to use liquid eyeliner, which is more pigment-rich and less likely to slide off your face by the end of the night; but beware, application can be tricky- make sure to practice before the big day.

2. Red Lips

Everybody loves a good red lip and, luckily, there are more choices out there than ever before. Women of all colours can now easily find their perfect shade, which depends on skintone. The best way to determine skintone is to check the veins in your wrist:  if the skin inside your wrist shows red, orange or brown undertones, your skin tone is warm. If your undertones are peach, yellow, gold or olive, your skin tone is neutral. Blue and pink undertones mean your skin tone is cool. You should choose a red lipstick that has the same undertones as your skin. For example, people with warm undertones will want to choose a red lipstick with brown or orange tones in it for the most complimentary look. If you have a hard time distinguishing tones, ask a professional to help you find the perfect shade for your wedding day.

3. Powder

Nothing says bridal sophistication like an even, matte complexion. The Mad Men retro look requires a good dusting of a high-quality translucent powder to keep your make-up in place for the entirety of your wedding day and create a flawless. As a result, your wedding photos will show no trace of  the dreaded shine suffered by many vancouver brides who are vulnerable to our city’s legendary humidity. As a result, you will appear poised, comfortable and effortlessly beautiful.

And because you deserve to be pampered on your wedding day, La Novia bridal offers full wedding day make-up packages for brides, their attendants, family members and friends. Retro bridal make-up happens to be our specialty, so come to the best in order to look your best for the most important day of your life.

For the most stylish and avant garde presentation possible, check out our Jason Matlo collection of  bridal gowns to find the perfect gown to complete your look.