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

Feel free to rock a short wedding dress if it suits your style.

Lately, we here at La Novia have been receiving all kinds of wedding-related questions that we have not yet addressed on the blog. It seems that brides, their attendants and their families are struggling with etiquette and style concerns since the wedding world of 2010 is firmly rooted in the new “anything goes” tradition. Since we are so much more than just a collection of gown designers, hair stylists and make-up artists, we are more than happy to help you out with you little conundrums. Here are our Top 3 questions in no particular order; after all, we’re the experts!

Q: Is it possible to wear your hair down and still pull off the traditional look, or is it too casual?

A: This question is interesting because it has a long historical precedent. Back in medieval times, women wore their hair down up to and including their wedding day as a sign of carefree girlish innocence. However, more recently, the 1950′s for example, women wore their hair mostly down until their wedding day when they put it up to signal the transition into womanhood. The 2010 bride is lucky because today it depends mostly on personal style. Is your wedding gown formal or does it have intricate beading in the back? You might want to wear your hair up. If you are getting married on the beach, leaving your hair down is a nice touch. That said, it is very much a personal choice and, whatever you decide, we at La Novia are equipped to give you the look that you want.

Q: Can I wear a short wedding gown to my church wedding?

A: This is a tough one because it really depends on the policy of the church. If it doesn’t matter to them, then a shorter wedding gown would be fine. For a retro look, wear a tea length gown (mid-calf to ankle length) and pair it with a short veil. For something more avant garde, wear a dress with interesting applique.

Q: Who is supposed to throw the shower for the bride?

A: This is an easy one. Tradition says that it is the maid of honour, but depending on your cultural background and size of your wedding, it can be whomever you choose. The easiest way to take care of the wedding shower is to form a small committee and assign tasks. That way, anyone who wants to can be involved including aunts, parents, bridesmaids and friends. When the big day comes, make sure you bring everyone who helped with your shower along for some pre-wedding pampering at La Novia, they earned it (and so have you).

There you have it, Vancouver brides. We love to help, so feel free to leave any other wedding, bridal or photogrphy questions you may have.

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.