One beach-y bride

What a day for Lauren--sun shining, large, billowy clouds, slight breeze. It was a wedding day made for our beach-y bride.

Lauren was getting married at Mount Hope Farm in Bristol. It's  a perfect place for a bride who walked in and proclaimed as she sat in my chair, "I just got back from surfing and I feel great!"

Lauren looks like you might find her coming out of a surf shop in San Diego, getting ready to go catch some waves. She has this amazing long, sun-kissed blonde hair so I was pretty excited.

Lauren found our salon on another blog...our friends at Snap! Photography. Mariah and Trish had met us for a "Snap & Chat" series in February, where we transformed Trish into a 1920's glamazon.  

Jamie Rego caught this cool shot of Lauren's antique brooch that has been in her family for years.

Pam styled Lauren's mother...what a great smile!

Curls, curls, curls!

Yes, Jamie Evenson is using a FLAT iron to make some waves (no pun intended:o). 

The CHI straightener is our all time favorite flat iron.

The technique can be pretty tricky to learn, but the result is perfectly natural looking texture.

Can you even believe this hair?

The family heirloom.

Time for make up with Leah...Lauren wanted to look like she was wearing make up but not wearing make up. We get it!

It finally feels 'real' when the veil is put on...

A fresh and natural bride.

Lauren is pretty amazing...before she and her new husband whisked off to Thailand for their honeymoon, she made sure to send a note and a picture...YES!!

This is Lauren and Dave canoodling in front of Cove Cabin at Mount Hope Farm. 

Thank you, Lauren! Congratulations and I hope there is plenty of great surf in Thailand...

As my father says, "A bad day at the beach is better than a good day at work!"

Well put, Dad, well put.

Dazzling Daria

So our sun streak finally ended last weekend...we knew it was too good to last forever! Our fabulous bride, Daria, was all smiles on her wedding day--she didn't seem to mind a bit. I guess given the past few weeks of New England weather, we really should be happy we went 8 for 8. And we all know what they say about a rainy wedding day (but don't ever mention it's "luckiness" to a bride if it happens to be sprinkling...please.)

New Leaf's beauty team kicked off early for Daria--8:00 a.m. to be exact! Her ceremony was at 11:00 in Providence so there was not a minute to waste. 

Amy works on Daria's sister while her hair sets...

She gets the "J-Lo treatment", as I like to say, while Jamie Rego and Amy beautify her at the same time...we don't mess around when there is a groom waiting for his bride!

Don't you wish you had a hair and make up team each morning? Things would go much smoother...

This series of photos shows the progression of a bridal style...how it begins and ends is pretty amazing!

Pam backcombs like a madwoman...All great updos must start with big hair--expect to be sitting in a hairspray haze looking like your 1980's class photo at some point during the process.

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

And wow.

A great photo of Daria's beautiful veil and Amy... 

...and since Daria needed to be somewhere pretty important, we didn't want to pester her for our 'after' shot, so she remains a mystery. 

I'm pretty sure her father, who waited patiently in his very dapper tuxedo while we primped his wife and two daughters, wanted to walk Daria down the aisle on time. We understand completely!

Congratulations, Daria! We hope you had an amazing day, rain or shine...If you happened to be late to the ceremony, I know you were WELL worth the wait:o)

Stay tuned...

Blithewold's Beautiful Bride

After a week of solid rain, the skies cleared for our bride, Caroline. Our sun streak makes us 8 for 8...I guess we have to take weeklong bouts of miserable rain so our brides have beautiful days...no problem! 

Caroline and her fiance, Rob, were having their wedding at Blithewold Mansion

Blithewold is a gorgeous mansion on the water in Bristol. Besides having incredible views, Blithewold's grounds are filled with different gardens, including a unique bamboo garden--great for pictures!

Caroline came in for her trial wanting a style that transformed her fine blonde hair into a thick, wavy, sleek updo. She asked, "can it be done?" I told her anything is possible:o)

Hair miracles are possible. Well, as long as you have hot rollers, a curling iron, a lot of hairspray, and the ability to backcomb  or "tease". 

I was so excited when I saw that Caroline went lighter! Hair color photographs darker so it's always best to lighten up a bit, especially around the face. An added bonus for me? Blonde updos always look fabulous because you can really see every detail.

And the hairspray begins... 

Caroline's wedding party was a PARTY...we styled 9 ladies! 

Here are her girls getting some ideas from our style book.

How cute is Caroline's bridesmaid, Laura? She kept calling our stylists "hair wizards" which I thought was so funny. Jamie Rego is practicing her "wizardry" on Laura.

I like this photo because it looks like Caroline and her sister are having a 'moment'. Apparently, the Ettman gene pool not only creates beautiful people, but also very smart...and humble ones at that. When I asked Caroline's sister where she was going for college, she answered, "New Jersey." Caroline laughed. She is really off to Princeton in the fall and feels funny telling people. New Jersey can be pretty funny, I guess, especially if you watch The Real Housewives, a dirty little secret of a show on Bravo! 

But I digress....

Ashley is working on Caroline's other sister...three girls...between college and weddings...whew!

Here is the beautiful style Jamie Rego created for Laura...so beachy and soft!

Pam just took out a hot roller set on Caroline's bridesmaid, so the hair is so much easier to work with...and check out those dimples!

Caroline has this antique brooch that we added...such a great touch! Of course, there isn't a picture of it...but Caroline promised she'd send her photos!

After Leah worked her make up magic, Caroline posed with her sisters.

 I love how Hollywood glam Caroline looks! Now if you could only see her in her dress...

They're off to a wedding! Rob is a very lucky man...Caroline is also pretty lucky to have such great girls surrounding her on her big day.

Caroline was so sweet--she stopped by the salon on Monday to thank us again. She brought her camera so we could sneak a peek of her with her dress on...She looked incredible! 

Thanks to Caroline and her entire wedding party. We hope the fun at the salon was just the beginning...Congrats!

Belle Fiance!

 The sun streak continues and what a day for a wedding! Pam Smith, a loyal New Leaf client, asked me last year if I could do her daughter's hair for her wedding. You see, Pam was doing a ton of planning for her daughter's wedding because Kerry was living in France, where her fiance is from. I know, how glamorous!? I think I love my job because I can live vicariously through clients...

Anyways, Kerry and her fiance officially moved back to the States just two weeks before the wedding. Talk about extra stress before the big day...whew!

All of Kerry and Pam's planning certainly paid off and everything came together for the wedding at Glen Manor House in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Glen Manor is a waterfront mansion that is spectacular for any type of event. Imagine having a cocktail under the covered patio...

Kerry's wedding was on a Sunday, when New Leaf is usually closed. We will open for special occasions, and I'd say this wedding qualifies as "special"! Sunday weddings are pretty neat because the salon feels so private and relaxing.

Amy loves to accommodate everyone and she was more than willing to beautify Kerry and Pam on Sunday. Both ladies don't typically wear much for make-up so they both wanted to feel very natural.

Here is Amy at work...

This is Kerry's childhood friend, Jill, on the other side of the salon. As crazy as the 'process' looks, it's amazing how the style always comes together in the end. Jill and I thought this look was reminiscent of the George Washington wig era....

I don't know what Jill was saying or doing in this photo but it looks like I thought it was pretty funny. Isn't Kerry's expression so cute here? She is getting the 'George Washington' too...

Hands at work.

It was so fun...Kerry's family and friends stopped by to see how things were going. This photo brings up an important lesson...

Pam said she always closes her eyes in pictures. The solution? Look at the photographers forehead when s/he is snapping. This was our practice shot for Pam and it worked!

I love this shot of the parents watching Kerry transform...

This photo is a mirror reflection of a great moment between Kerry and her father. It was so sweet...as soon as he walked in and saw Kerry in the chair, he started to cry (shhhh.....don't tell anyone!). Kerry is their only child so this day was very meaningful.

Kerry hamming it up for everyone taking pictures...

It always comes together in the end.

Awwwwww....mother and daughter. We were practicing for ALL the photos that would be taken that day. I am sure the Glen Manor's grounds are a bit fancier than New Leaf's shampoo area. 

Thanks Pam, Kerry and Jill for being so easy to please! I joked to Pam that she couldn't come in for her next appointment unless she had a picture of Kerry in her dress in her hand (but I wasn't really joking..she's so pretty, I really need to see it!)

I took Spanish in high school (which, by the way, I was really terrible at) so it took some research to find out how to say 'beautiful bride' in French...If Google is correct, it's 'belle fiance'...ooh la la!

Congratulations, Kerry! 

Stay tuned for more...

Alison Squared!

Meet our other bride named Alison...there were two Alison's in Bristol getting married on 6.6.09! Lucky them...they both picked perfect days! Her gorgeous wedding party extended our wonderful weather streak to 6 out 6...come on, lucky 7's!

Alison Meyer was getting married at Mount Hope Farm.

Mount Hope Farm is an amazing wedding venue. It's an expansive country setting in Bristol, located on the water. Alison's reception was in The Barn--and not the kind with pigs and chickens...check it out.

 

So Bristol...there is also Cove Cabin where you can see the boats go by!

 

Planning a wedding can be 'kind of' stressful. What better way to relax than with a manicure and pedicure before your big day? Alison was a smart girl and took advantage of our Bridal Package. It includes a hair and make-up trial (always recommended!), a manicure and pedicure, and your wedding day hair and make up.

Alison came in the day before to pamper her fingers and toes. Hey, there is going to be something pretty sparkly on her hand...she must have perfect nails! 

Cynthia working away... 

What is better? A cup of tea and your feet soaking in foamy, warm water. Sounds great to me!

It's the wedding day! Alison brought her mom, Carol, and two sisters. We had so much fun with them. 

Leah first set Alison's hair in hot rollers. If a 'set' sounds old fashioned, I challenge you to dust off those hot rollers from the bottom of your closet (or your mother's) and try them out. They give unbelievable volume and very soft curl. One suggestion: toss those silly wire clips that always come with the rollers and get some clips instead. They save so much time! We love the Babyliss Professional Set (which comes with the roller clips).

While Alison's hair  sets, Leah whisked her off to the magic make-up chair...

Love this shot.

I promise Leah is not hurting our bride..she is just making sure her brows are in shape!

Look at those baby blues...

Here I am blow drying Carol's hair. She had this great thick hair that she wanted very natural, and not too 'coifed'. SO many mothers of the brides worry that they won't look like themselves walking down the aisle. We always make sure to really listen to what our clients want. 

Ashley is blow drying Alison's sister's hair...looks like they are having fun while she's at it.

Pam puts in a fabulous headband the girls brought with them. Their dresses were pale green with pink sashes...so summery and pretty. I absolutely love this headband idea!

Someone was getting 'fancy' with the camera and caught this great photo of Amy working in the mirror...

I love this headband too--such a great detail.

The whole Meyer family!

Simply stunning.

I love Alison's peaceful expression in this shot. I wonder what she is thinking...maybe about her groom waiting to marry her! She looks so beautiful, he's a lucky guy...

Thanks to Alison and her family. You were a pleasure to work with and we were so happy to be a part of your day. 

Stay tuned for more...