Rain is Good Luck, Right?

Okay, so maybe all this bravado while blogging about "perfect" wedding weather has finally caught up to New Leaf. We talked a good game. Overconfidence never pays off. A hurricane swept into town and it was mad. It was angry that every weekend, brides kept having sunny days and outdoor venues. Well, not this time.

I knew Gretchen Babyak's wedding was at Blithewold but I was really praying that she was NOT planning on an outdoor ceremony. She is a smart New Yorker so rest assured, her ceremony was in a church--whew!

Weather aside, she had 8 of her girlfriends and her mom with her so a little rain (and wind) was not going to put a damper on her day. New Leaf's Bridal Lounge was a perfect spot to hang out, unwind, and drink some mimosas before it was time.

Gretchen wins a new award at New Leaf. For what, you ask? For having the most hair. EVER. I haven't seen anything like it. Put your hands together to create a circle. That's how thick her ponytail was, I swear. Luckily, it was gorgeous hair.

First thing's first, roller set. It helps to give bend to the hair and makes it more cooperative.

She's off to the magic make up chair with Amy. She is adding some individual lashes for a dramatic eye-opening effect. Amy always recommends it and, hey, no one will ever know. Not even your husband. Trust me.

Gretchen's bridesmaid has this fantastic curly blonde hair. Ashley creates her hurricane-proof look...

LOVE all this texture.

Usually, extra hair is needed for this classic chignon. The first chignon at the trial actually came out too big! The challenge for hair as thick as Gretchen's is having it stay in place because it's so heavy. I was up for the challenge.

The finished product...

I LOVE this hairpin.

Gretchen told me a funny story about it. She searched in all these fancy places for something for her hair and found the prices outrageous. She went to Chinatown in New York and the man told her $20. Gretchen, again, a savvy New Yorker, knows to never pay full price in Chinatown. She said $10. He said $20. She left.

She kept searching and came up empty. Hoping the pin was still there, sheepishly she went back to the same store, to a different clerk and got it for $10. Now that's a bargain-hunting bride(and quite lucky too)!

Amy's make up wand strikes again.

Audrey Hepburn meets Natalie Portman, right?

The sky literally FLOODED the streets of Bristol as I drove home, but 6 o'clock rolled around and I can't say that I saw the sun, but it looked like it was trying really hard. Hopefully, Gretchen and her husband were able to sneak outside for some photos on the Blithewold grounds.

Thanks Gretchen for choosing New Leaf, and if you decide to take your photographer up on the offer to "recreate" the wedding photos on a sunny day, you know where to find us;-)

Congrats!

New Leaf's Wedding Weather Protection Program

Julie Ciarlone couldn't have dreamed of a better day in August to get married at Blithewold Mansion!  The sunny, 83 degree temperature was well-deserved after our "summer that wasn't". I shouldn't whine. We really have had some stellar weekends--it's part of our New Leaf Wedding Weather Protection Program. Know a future bride who is already obsessing about the weather? Enlist in our program today:-)

The wedding team gets their game faces on...Love the lounge!

Wow, my game face really IS on...I have been told I make a really serious face while styling...apparently so!

Julie has the most beautiful thick, chocolate brown hair. She also has what many women have. You know those tendrils in front of your ear that NEVER seem to grow longer than 2 inches? Those can be pretty stubborn when trying to get them to stay put all day long. 

Solution? I wove them into rope braids that were hidden under her half up style. Wisps--okay. Tendrils--bad. 

A cool shot of Jamie Evenson beautifying Julie's mom, Peg. A fluke? I think not...maybe Mariah's photography advice last week did help after all. 

Peg was so pretty. We think she should try modeling. She laughed at us but I could picture her in a Chico's or J Jill catalog for sure!

I said in Sarah's blog a few weeks ago that you might see us in some strange pretzel like positions while styling. Check out Jamie Rego's contortion act!

How bad do you want to know what story Jenn was telling in this shot? Me too.

Hey, hair is an expressive art! I just love this photo.

(how pretty is Julie's sister in law?)

Amy, smiling as always, while making over Jen...

I couldn't resist snapping this shot. Arianne loved volume. I mean LOVED. She couldn't get enough of it. Well then, we love Arianne. 

Who couldn't use a little extra height? 

Unless you are Katie Holmes, marrying Tom Cruise. She would probably not want any volume....But I digress, as usual. 

Pam is a yoga-fanatic. I think she is trying to 'one-up' Jamie Rego's pretzel contortion act as she pins Arianne's hair. Downward Dog? I think not...we'll call this yoga pose the Sideways Stylist. Pam will be so proud.

Arainne's an A-Lister now.

I think I am going to dig out my eyelash curler. Amy says I should. She says it's a beauty staple, especially for those of us who need 3 coats of mascara to leave the house. Not that I do that. Okay, I'm lying, I am a mascara junkie...Cargo's Blu-Ray mascara is my drug. 

It's designed for high-definition photography. It's creamy yet quick-drying...it lengthens, curls, volumizes and separates. Perfect for mascara addicts like me. 

We tried a swept-up style and a half up one at Julie's trials. I am so glad she chose this one. Her hair is just too pretty (plus her husband loves it down...bonus!)

The gang.

Julie and her mom...beauty sure runs rampant in this family. 

Stunning.

Thanks to Julie and her whole wedding party! Congratulations...we hope you are drinking a pina colada somewhere!

Principe Perfection

It's always very special when one of our New Leaf clients gets married. Joanna Principe and her mother, Marcia, have been faithful New Leaf-ers since the doors opened in 2001 so we were pretty excited when Joanna and Walter got engaged...

Joanna and Walter have been together for more than 11 years--whew! Patience must be Joanna's #1 virtue. Joanna has a big italian 'familia' so we knew her wedding would be a pretty big deal.

If you follow this blog at all, you might notice that I am slightly obsessed with the weather for brides. Needless to say, I was checking the 10 -day forecast for Joanna's wedding. I know, I know, overcast days are best for photos. But people are always in such great spirits when it's a beautiful day so who wouldn't want to be surrounded by all that happiness on their wedding?

Anyways, it was drizzly in the morning when they arrived, and sunny by the time everyone left...yipee! The New Leaf touch.

It was not a secret that it had to be a nice day for Joanna and Walter. Rain was simply not an option. You see, they were getting married at Blithewold in Bristol. It's an outdoor venue under a tent. The amazing grounds must be seen to be believed. 

Given the lack  of air conditioning, Marcia, Joanna's curly haired mom, was a tad concerned. As a curly haired girl myself, I understand the phobia of humidity. Humidity can make waves turn to frizz and fine hair fall flat. Fear not though, New Leaf will come to the rescue!

Here is the adorable Joanna with her birthday mimosa (yes, she got married on her birthday...neat, right?) LOVE that gorgeous grin!

Making sure the volume is just right....

Leah and Amy painting their canvases...

I love this shot of Joanna's bridesmaid! We promise that no one has to walk down the aisle like this:o)

Much better....

Meet Shade, pronounced Sha-Day. She was a major cutie-patootie. Ashley was in charge of making her a spotlight stealer...but I don't think Shade needed Ashley for that! 

Apparently, Shade told her mom that she was tired of people saying how beautiful she was and that she wished they would stop. We all agreed that it is a problem we all wished we had!

The 'fancy' Shade and her mom take a moment to relax.

This is a very hot style right now for bridesmaids. We can thank Jessica Alba and Jennifer Aniston for rocking the side-braid to red carpet events. Sometimes, a celebrity trend takes right off!

How gorgeous are all Joanna's ladies?!?

This wedding was extra fun because another loyal New Leaf-er was in Joanna's wedding. Michea and Joanna have been friends since they were in diapers. She is so pretty and has this amazing long, thick hair that she had never worn 'up' for anything before. I was up to the challenge!

We decided on a natural, bohemian kind of style with plenty of hair left around Michea's face. If you tend to wear your hair down a lot, having some softness around your face in an updo might make you feel more comfortable and not so exposed.

Finalizing Joanna's textured chignon...

Leah working her magic before the reveal...

And AFTER the reveal...Can you say gorgeous???

Everyone seemed to escape after their make up was done without us assaulting them with our camera (I know, again...we are going to have seriously consider holding our wedding parties hostage until their pictures are taken!) 

To see all the girls, you HAVE to check out our fabulously talented friends at Snap! Photography. They have the best blog, so fun to read. To see Joanna getting ready, check out  the snap! To see Walter and Joanna canoodling at Blithewold, click here.

Thanks Joanna, Marcia, Michea and all the ladies...such a blast! Congrats and hope you are having a fantastic time on your honeymoon. See you when you get back!