Hurricane Danny

When I first met Danielle Demarco, she was this statuesque beauty who spoke so eloquently that I started to make sure I pronounced all my R's and didn't say 'wicked'.

Turns out, she is an incredible Pilates instructor (perfect posture explained) in Providence and was born and bred in Miami, Florida (lack of New England dialect explained). The beauty comes from her Cuban heritage. Lucky.

Anyways, hurricanes slam Florida all the time, right? When is the last time a hurricane hit New England? Well, Danielle gets married the day Hurricane Danny rolls into town. Oh, the irony!

The reception was at the Bristol Harbor Inn right around the corner. They have this beautiful location in the harbor where the boats go by and the sunsets are amazing.

Everyone usually thinks of Bristol Harbor Inn as a place to stay but check out this tent all set up for a reception...

Can you find New Leaf and Bristol Harbor Inn?

If you follow the blog, you know we love volume. However, Danielle is one the few people who can look this glamorous with such a sleek style.

Oh, to look this pretty before any make up...

Leah created this soft style for Danielle's bridesmaid, Sarah.

Love the roses.

I don't know where Leah finds her inspiration, but I love the braided texture in this style.

Because of the driving rain, Danielle was nervous to put her veil on at the salon and walk back to the hotel. An umbrella really only does so much!

I stopped by on my way home to put on her veil. Danielle and her girls were getting ready at the penthouse at the Inn...the view is not too shabby, right?

All her bridesmaids were wearing these t-shirts. So cute.

On the left is the 'before'. On the right is the 'after'.

How adorable are Danielle's bridesmaids? They look like they are ready to go!

In the year of soft and natural texture, it was so fun to create such a sculptured look.

Danielle was nice enough to send some photos with this note:

"Hey Courtney,

I have received numerous complements about my wedding day hair. Both you and your staff did an amazing job with everyone's hair styles. You were a pleasure to work with. Thank you for making my experience memorable.
Best,Danielle"

Love the wink!

Gorgeous.

Thanks Danielle for the photos and for being such an amazing bride! We hope Hurricane Danny just made your wedding day more memorable (and ironic)...congratulations!

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!

Timeless Beauty

With a hurricane on it's way, Megan O'Brien sure had luck on her side. The day was sunny, crisp and fall-ish...not what you'd expect for an August wedding!

Megan had a vintage-theme in mind for her hair and make up. She brought in a Jessica Simpson image to inspire me:

I urged Meg not to be horrified as a teased and curled her hair. I told her that a New Leaf bride would never walk out the door with "pageant hair"...GASP!! I just needed to make sure it lasted all day and night and this is how the magic happens...

Here are Ashley and Amy beautifying the moms together...how sweet.

Ashley is a double threat because, like Leah, wears both hats...a hairstylist and a make up artist. It must be nice to be so gifted;-)

Danielle added this beautiful orchid in her Allison's hair. I just love flowers!

After Meg described her dress and I saw her veil, I thought we had to make the style a bit more vintage-y (That's a word, right?)... I pinned one side and she had the most beautiful white orchid to put in during the reception.

Can you believe Megan doesn't color her hair?! It's rare to feel hair so healthy and shiny. Oh, to be natural...

Megan is a classic, timeless, beautiful bride. I love when we create a style that doesn't reveal a decade.

There are so many (too many, if you ask me) choices out there for brides. It's confusing and overwhelming.

My hair and make up advice for brides is this: Choose a style that you will love in 10, 20, even 50 years. Think about how beautiful your grandmother looked on her wedding day. You wouldn't want your grandchildren laughing at your crazy hairstyle or your over-the-top make up.

Any 1980's bridal magazine is evidence:-)

Thank you Megan for reminding us of this 'simple' lesson. Congratulations and we hope the hurricane didn't delay the honeymoon!

Pretty as a Pearl

Leah and Amy hit the road for Caitlin Slodden's Newport wedding...they prepped Cailtin and her family at the Pearls , a swanky boutique style hotel that's off the beaten track of the typical Bellevue Avenue mansions.

How classic and modern is this style that Leah created for Caitlin? We really do LOVE blondes for wedding hair.  We have nothing against our chocolate-hued tresses. Trust me, I'm brunette.

It's just that all the details of a swept up style really show on blonde hair. That's why we suggest that our brides add (a few/some/or hey, a LOT) of highlights before the big day. The lighter tones help to add dimension and really show off a gorgeous 'do.

Like this one... 

Caitlin had the most amazing skin...a flawless canvas for Amy to paint. 

A girl can dream, right? We can at least be jealous;-)

Uh oh, dueling photographers...I think Leah won out on this one. Aren't the stephanotises in Caitlin's hair so pretty? Nice touch.

Amy is using Cargo's blu ray high-definition lip gloss as her finishing touch. Some glosses look too 'wet', this one photographs beautifully.

Whenever I see a bride with extra glossy smackers, I always wonder about the aftermath of the first kiss during the ceremony. Think about the poor groom!

A great photo. Caitlin wasn't being prompted to gaze out the window. I think this is just a random moment of solitude. Beautiful.

Congratulations, Caitlin, and thanks for inviting  New Leaf to Newport!

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!

Snap-tastic!

We know a good thing when we see one. 

That's why when our friend Mariah at Snap! Photography was 'snapping' Jennifer Resnick's Linden Place affair, we default to the professionals. 

Snap!'s collection of Jenn's photos IS the reason why every bride needs to hire a professional photographer. For this reason, I will not post our sad little pictures because we will surely be shown up by some fantastic competition!

My version...

And check out the incredible Snap!'s version...and more of the gorgeous Jenn and all her fab ladies (and gorgeous mom) at Linden Place! Like romance? Check these out.

Congratulations Jenn and thanks for being a dream bride. Have a BLAST in Portugal!

Bristol meets Boston

Katie Hewett was truly one of the sweetest brides we have ever met! Although she lives in Boston now, to our pleasant surprise, she grew up right here in Bristol (locals call themselves 'Bristoleans'...cute, right?)

How much fun does it look like she is having with her girls?

Ahhhh...just relaxing, reading some celebrity gossip while getting primped.

Love the height!

Jenn just making sure there is not a hair out of place...

A few of the afters....

Leah adds some texture to Katie's fine hair...

Katie must feel like a star having all these paparazzi snapping pictures of her...

Leah adding her finishing touches before she heads to the make up chair!

Katie's wedding party was in a hurry to get their day started, so you will just have to imagine what she looks like;-) OR, Katie could send us some fabulous photos and we'll update our blog!

Thanks Katie for being a dream bride...we hope your day was everything you imagined. Congrats!