Hair and make-up are two essential needs for every woman put on
display. Well, the one day you are sure to be noticed is on your wedding
day, so it is extremely important to make sure you look just perfect!

First thing that is a must is to research hair and make-up
professionals that are available to you. Ask yourself: “Do I need the
hair & make-up artist to come to my home or am I willing to drive to
them?” This is a very important question because while some brides feel
that they have the time to take a trip to their hair or make-up salon
of choice, others have too many butterflies to even think about leaving the
house that day.

Also, if your usual salon is open on the day of your wedding, you may
not be able to have your stylist or make-up artist come to your home
due to their business hours. This is when you may choose to either go
there or look into beauty consultants that specialize in coming to
your home. If you do choose to find someone who can come to your home,
this is where the research begins.

Who are the best critics for a hair and make-up artist? Brides of
course! Any recent bride you know has already been there and done
that. If you see a bride and love how they looked on their wedding
day, then ask them which hair stylist and make-up artist they used.
Every bride has a different view on what they want to look like, and
if you see a bride that catches your attention in the beauty
department, then definitely find out who made them look so beautiful.
Recent brides are always happy and willing to share their bridal
secrets!

Once you have the names of a few potential choices, the next best
thing to do is use these stylists/artists for other parties and events
that you need to attend. It can be for an engagment photo-shoot,
another wedding that you are in or invited to, or even a fun night
out. It doesn’t matter how you choose to “try out” your options, as
long as you get a chance to try them all.

Once you find your favorites, book them quickly! Hair and make-up
artists are usually extremely busy on the weekends, and you want to
make sure you have first dibs. You may need to put a deposit down as
well.

Before your wedding, be sure to make an appointment for a hair and
make-up trial to get the perfect wedding day look. You definitely
don’t want any uncertainties on the morning of your “I do’s.” A hair
and make-up trial will cost you, so budget your time and money. It is
definitely well worth it.

I have already scheduled my hair and make-up trial appointments and am
looking forward to seeing what we all choose for my official wedding
day look. My beauty consultants are a great team and work together all
the time, which was also very important for me! It always helps when
you have a dynamic duo on your side. Good luck finding your
beautifiers and remember to do your research!

On a side note: I can’t believe I have been blogging for one year
already! The time has truly flown by, just as being engaged has!

One thing I have always loved is pictures. I feel that photographs capture moments in our lives that are truly special and important to document. Although, I may not have a picture for everything I have done throughout my wedding planning, I do have the most important ones. The day Rob proposed, our summer engagement photo session and our engagement party are all documented in albums. I love to look at these albums and think about all the wonderful things we have been blessed to experience during our engagement. One thing I always say is, “A person can never have enough pictures!”  With technology today it has made it possible to store thousands of pictures in an organized manner, with easy access to each saved album. It also makes it easy to make a photo-album with your favorite snap-shots. With my love for pictures, comes the enjoyment of taking pictures with the one I love. 

When we booked our photographer back in Spring 2010, one of the first things I asked was if we would be able to have two engagement photo-sessions. The first one would be done during the summer, 3 months after our engagement and the second one would be about 7 months before the wedding, during the autumn season. Our photographer, Dave, told me that it could definitely be arranged.  I was happy that we would be able to have pictures from when we first got engaged and then right before we were married. Well, from my previous blog written months ago, you can see that we had an amazing time at our first engagement photo-shoot. The pictures were incredible, and Rob and I really enjoyed choosing our favorite photos.  A year and 4 months later, we were once again posing in front of The Studio Photographers’ camera. Since the beach was our first setting, Central Park in the fall seemed like the perfect opposite. 

Dave is such a wonderful photographer and our newest engagement/pre-wedding pictures in Central Park came out just as beautiful as the first time we took our engagement pictures at the beach. I am so happy we were lucky enough to do a second photo-shoot, and I’ve already ordered all of my favorite pictures! These are the times when a couple is able to enjoy one another, and if you can document special moments throughout planning, it is an amazing memory to have.

This blog is dedicated to my beautiful maid of honor, Stefanie. For a bride, choosing a maid of honor is usually a very easy task. This person can be a sister, close family member or best friend. Stefanie is my first cousin, but our bond is more like sisters. Ever since she was born, I felt that I had the little sister I always wanted, and we have been extremely close no matter what the age difference is.

My fiance, Rob, has also known Stefanie all of her life. Since he has known my aunt and uncle through the close friendship his aunts and uncles have had with them throughout the years, Stef would be around whenever there was a party or weekend at the shore. He considers her like a real cousin to him, not just through marriage, and has watched her grow up into a beautiful, young woman, the same way I have.

When Rob and I began dating, Stefanie was more than thrilled to finally see us as a couple. She couldn’t wait for us all to be down the shore together, or have Robert at family functions. As time went on, she then couldn’t wait for us to get engaged because she loves Robert and loves us together. The day Rob popped the question, Stef had made me a cute shirt that read “Future Mrs. Scimeca.” I put the shirt on instantly and loved it so much—not only is it adorable, but it was made with genuine happiness and love.

I instantly asked Stefanie to be my right-hand girl, a.k.a. maid of honor, as soon as the ring was on my finger. At the bridal party mixer last spring, I gave Stef a pair of Tiffany earrings and card, officially asking her to “Please be my maid of honor” and say “thank you” for being there for me throughout this journey and always.

From helping me find my wedding gown and continuing to come with me every time I need to go back to visit the bridal shop in New York City, Stef always has the best opinions, advice and style tips. Whenever we go to the city, we make sure to enjoy the whole day out. These are very special moments that I will never forget. Even when shopping for bridesmaids dresses, she never complained about trying on a bunch of dresses until we found the right one. From one store to the other, Stef was finding styles and giving me her honest opinion. When the final one was chosen, she came to both nights of dress measurements for the bridesmaids. She loves to be involved with the wedding planning and that makes me feel really happy and lucky.

Stefanie is always there for me and she knows I am forever there for her. We both get so excited when talking about the wedding and I am so happy to have such a positive sidekick. Rob and I love her very much and want her to know that she is appreciated! I know Stef will be reading this blog so I just want to say, “I can’t wait to have you standing by my side as my MOH the day Rob and I say ‘I do’ and I wouldn’t want it any other way!”

Wedding invitations are a very important part of your big day. The invitation will set the precedence for your wedding day and guests are always curious to see what you have chosen. The invitation is the first indication of what your wedding is going to be like. Your theme, style, tone and personality should always be shown in the invite!

For months, we have been working with both my wedding planner and stationary designer, trying to perfect my invitation vision. Throughout the process, we have constantly added and changed our ideas to have the perfect invitation come to life. Last week, I was so happy to receive the final digital proof of the invite. Along the way, this invitation has been worked on with opinions and input from my mom and dad. Each of us has had a say in what we expect and want, and I feel that it is so important that we all love what we will be sending out. My parents are very involved in the wedding invitation process because all of our guests will be invited by them. It is a tradition in our family that the bride’s parents request the honor of their guests’ presence and it is just as important for them to make sure we have a beautiful invitation as it is to me and Rob. One of the best things about designing this piece of stationary was how involved my dad was. We were all impressed by his great ideas and input, and I have to say him and I are always on the same page with what we like best.

We have had some experience in the past year and a half with stationary styles and what to look for. Our engagement party invitation was absolutely beautiful and we received so many compliments from our family and friends. We put a lot of hard work and great ideas into that invite, so it was even more important to do that for our wedding invitation. I always had a specific style I loved for weddings, and discussed that with The Finishing Touch planners even when creating our engagement invite. We knew that what I chose then and what I wanted for the future would not look similar in any way, and decided to make a formal piece of stationary for the engagement party as well. In the end, we were all in love with the final product and I feel that we are once again headed in that direction.

I can not wait to visit the TFT office and see my entire sample in person. We now have the complete digital mock-up design, along with pieces and small samples of what we want to incorporate, but the final product will soon be revealed. Once the invitations are complete, the reality of how close our wedding is will definitely set in! I love this design so much because it was made with ideas from my parents, Rob, and me and a lot of love and thought has gone into our wedding invitation!

When Rob and I were first engaged in April 2010, I had so many different plans in my mind that I couldn’t wait to get started. I knew exactly what I wanted and how I would like everything to be done, but one thing that I never expected to come up in my plan was to be chosen as (201) Bride‘s bride blogger.

You can plan ahead for what you may want to have and do, but you can never plan for the unexpected events and opportunities that arise when doing something as wonderful and exciting as planning your wedding. This opportunity is something I was really happy to be chosen for, and I enjoy writing about the experiences I have encountered within the past year and seven months. Sometimes the best things happen when you don’t plan for them at all. As I have mentioned in the in a previous blog, I love having all these wonderful memories documented in a fun way and unique way.

One reason I love writing this blog is because it has started a routine that happens twice a month between me and Rob. After I finish writing my blog, Rob will read it, and we then have a small discussion about what he thinks or what picture I should choose. Finally, it is sent in to the wonderful editor at (201) Bride. Although this may seem like a diminutive and unimportant routine, compared to all the massive things we are planning for and doing, we love and enjoy this because it is something that we will look back on after we are married and add to the memories of “wedding planning past.” Even if you don’t have a blog or scrapbook of memories, every bride-to-be should take a look back on the different experiences she has had throughout planning to become a Mrs.

When there are only months left before you say “I do,” it is important to remember what happened right after you said “Yes!” Do not let those little moments in between the proposal and wedding be pushed too far in the back of your mind, even though there are so many things going on during the months leading up to your wedding day. Although I never expected to have this awesome opportunity to write about planning my wedding and represent Bergen County brides, it has added to the incredible memories that are being created during this time in our lives. These moments can never be replicated and if you remember that, then you will be sure to cherish and appreciate every special day of being an engaged couple!

With a little less than eight months to go, our wedding planning is well underway. Rob and I are having a lot of fun planning our special day, but the most fun we have together is when we are planning for beyond the wedding day. Once we are Mr. and Mrs. Scimeca, and the wedding and honeymoon are all over, we will have our beautiful home to come back to, and every home has a few essential needs.

Recently, Rob and I have started the task of furniture shopping, and it has been so much fun. Thankfully, we both have the same taste in home decor so it has been very easy for us to agree on what we don’t like and what we love. Visiting different furniture stores has had its ups and downs. Some stores had amazing service and furniture, and others, unfortunately, were a let down, promising more than what they have. I would highly recommend doing your research, the same way you research vendors for your wedding. This is the furniture and decor that will be in your home, and that every couple must live with each day and night. You both must make sure that you absolutely love what you see, and it’s best not to rush into making any quick decisions.

With the variety of furniture brands and designs, every couple is sure to find their favorite home pieces. Depending on your style and price range, there are hundreds of options to choose from. While some pieces of furniture can be customized to your liking, others can be ordered just the way they are presented. Think about what your needs will be as a couple, whether you are looking for a comfortable sanctuary, planning to entertain for the holidays, or to one day have children.

So good luck planning beyond your wedding day! Rob and I love and enjoy doing all these amazing things with one another—things that we have never experienced before. Each day brings us closer to finally being married and enjoying the rest of our lives together.

Last week Rob and I booked our honeymoon and we are both very excited! For months, we have been contemplating a variety of island destinations and resorts, and it feels great to have made a final decision. Our travel agent is extremely knowledgeable and has been very helpful in giving us her opinion, first-hand advice, and the necessary reviews we needed to make a confident choice.

About a month ago, I was browsing through my Winter 2011 issue of (201) Bride in search of more honeymoon ideas. The issue had information and pictures on some popular and beautiful honeymoon spots, and that is when I first saw the resort that had exactly what we were looking for. Once we discussed it with our travel agent and weighed out the other options, there was no question that we found the perfect getaway.

The Gansevoort Turks + Caicos is a tropical island paradise on Grace Bay, which is known as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It also has been named one of the “World’s Top 10 Trendiest Hotels” and “World’s Top 10 Relaxation/Spa Hotels” by Tripadvsior. With only 96 rooms and private beach beds, this resort offers it guests privacy, tranquility and a chance to happily indulge and be pampered.

With a little more than 8 months left, we have accomplished another huge wedding task and booking our honeymoon has been one of the most exciting yet! Now, not only are we counting the days until our wedding, but our plane ride to the luxurious Gansevoort Turks + Caicos also has its own separate countdown!

Every wedding would not be complete without giving your guests a fabulous favor to take home at the end of the night. There are hundreds of adorable gifts to be given, such as delicious desserts, kitchen tools, personalized items and decorative home pieces. Besides for all of these great choices, there is a current trend that is rapidly growing, and it is by far one of my favorite!

Donating to a charity, special cause or fund is an amazing idea for a party favor. There is no greater gift than sending a donation to the charity of your choice. This type of wedding favor truly comes from the heart and all of the guests at your party are sure to feel the same way when receiving their donation card.

For our engagement party last September, Rob and I knew that we wanted to make a donation to the American Heart Association in lieu of a traditional favor. This was something very close to all of our hearts and we all felt that it would be such a wonderful thing to do in his honor of his father. After we budgeted the amount of money we would spend on favors, we sent the amount to the charity. A few days later, the American Heart Association sent us a certificate and card which stated that the donation was made in his honor.

Each of our guests received two favor boxes. The top box contained the traditonal Italian confetti candy, which represents good luck, and the second box had a customized heart-shaped cookie with pink and silver icing (created by our cake designer), along with an American Heart Association card, which stated that we had donated in honor of Robert’s father.

Forget about the other boring trends that come and go! Join “the charity trend” and do something that makes a difference in the lives of others!

You can donate to the American Heart Association by clicking here. Be the first to start the trend in your circle of friends!

Photo: Perfect Wedding Guide

Every former and current bride-to-be I have met has spoken about a little something called “stress.” Yes, that word we all use extremely often during the most busy times in our lives, such as the holidays, long days at work and, of course, wedding planning. No matter who you are or what you are planning on doing for your big day, the emotions a future bride feels are very strong. Happy, anxious, excited, nervous and overwhelmed are the array of feelings that a single person can feel while planning one of the most important events of her life.

My advice? Don’t let the planning overwhelm you, and definitely do not let it stop you from seeing the “big picture.” Keep in mind what your wedding day is truly meant for, and how extremely special and spectacular it is going to be. Your fiance is your support system, along with family, and those awesome bridesmaids you’ve chosen. Everyone around you is going to be there for you because after all, you are the bride and it is really one of the most amazing times in your life!

Some days it feels as if the list of “to-do’s” is much longer than you thought, and other days you realize you have been quickly checking off your “to-do’s” with each week and month that passes. I am always checking my lists and making sure I am on track with my wedding timeline, which I have received from Candice. You can also make your own timeline on websites such as theknot.com and weddingchannel.com. I think it is great to have everything listed and in a specific time frame. When you do begin feeling a bit overwhelmed, you can take a breath and read over your timeline and see exactly what needs to get done and how much time you have left.

Remember, in the end it will all come together and you will miss the months planning your perfect day. Enjoy every second (even the stressful ones) because this is one of the best times in a couple’s relationship. Let your fiance help you with what you need to get done, talk to your future hubby when you are feeling anxious, and split up some of the vendors between one another. Rob and I have taken an equal amount of responsibility when it comes to vendors and it has helped so much when planning and organizing meetings and appointments. Always try and appreciate every aspect of this journey because your wedding day is quickly approaching and will be here before you know it!