Tag Archives: wedding

5 Things You Must Ask Your Wedding Makeup Artist

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I recently got an email from a bride asking me for advice on what to ask makeup artists before she chooses one.  So I got to thinking and came up with a list of five things you absolutely must ask a makeup artist before hiring them.

Indian Pakistani Wedding Bride Makeup Jewelry

via Pinterest

1)  Ask the artist for photos of brides they’ve done makeup on

This will help you see their work, a photo speaks volumes of a makeup artist’s ability and I recommend asking to see examples of past work.  You wouldn’t buy a wedding dress without seeing the designer’s quality of work, so don’t make the same mistake with your wedding makeup artist!

2)  Get a trial

If you can, get a trial!  Usually, brides start scheduling their trial appointments 6 months prior the wedding, and more in advanced if the makeup artist is in high demand (particularly in the Pakistani/Indian wedding industry).  You can negotiation to have the trial cost discounted or included in the day-of rate if you end up going with the artist.

3) Ask what brands makeup is used

This may or may not be important to brides, but, I would like to know what kind of makeup will be used.  I asked if an artist airbrushed and also made sure to find out what my eyelash options were.  My favorite brands for face are: Make Up For Ever, MAC, Nars, and Bobbi Brown (they have great colors for Indian/Pakistani skin tones).

4) Ask them how they would do your makeup (Face Chart!)

Urban Decay Face Chart

Urban Decay Face Chart

If you have the misfortune of living far from the wedding site or simply don’t want to pay for a trial, ask them to fill out a face chart with the colors they would use on you.  Ask them to tell you how they would accent your face and highlight your features.  If they can confidently tell you they will “slenderize” your nose by using xyz highlight techniques, they kudos to them.  (I still highly recommend trials if you can get them!)

5) Ask how many weddings they have done in the past year

It’s important to know how many weddings an artist typically does because the more experienced in-demand artist is probably better at their art.  This is also important so that you can talk to brides who have used the artist to find out how they felt about the makeup artist.  You wouldn’t hire an employee without a reference… don’t hire a makeup artist without one either!
I hope this list helps out.  Do you have anything else you would add to this?  If you’re a makeup artist, what would you add to this list?

How to Ask for “No Boxed Gifts”

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One of the most popular posts on this blog is the one where I explain No Boxed Gifts and what this phrase  means.  It was something my non-South Asian guests surely were puzzled with at first, and was awkward to bring up to them.

Now, while many people might have no idea what this phrase means, you’re welcome to see this post here to get a quick explanation on what this phrase means and how to approach it.  To surmise:  it simply means that the couple prefer cash or gift cards over traditional gifts.  They have opted not to register for whatever reason.

There are some great ways to approach this and to spread the word among your guests.

On your wedding website, you can create a brief explanation such as “Having lived on our own so long, we’ve amassed everything we could possibly need for our home.  As such, we kindly request no boxed gifts.”

OR

“As we are planning on moving across the country, we kindly request no boxed gifts.”

I have seen this on both wedding websites and on inserts.  Now if you’re not moving across the country or you haven’t lived on your own… there are other options!

If you do not want to create a wedding website, you can opt instead to place a variation of the following sayings in your wedding card ensemble:

-The Bride and Groom Kindly Request No Boxed Gifts

-We Kindly Request No Boxed Gifts

-While we appreciate your love and prayers above all, we kindly request no boxed gifts.


These are just some ideas you are more than welcome to borrow if you choose to ask for “No Boxed Gifts.”

Now, on the other end of the spectrum I’ve seen it done very distastefully, so I urge all brides and grooms to AVOID these:

-NO BOXED GIFTS (written in all caps as if they are truly trying to make a point!)

-No Boxed Gifts (where’s the please?)

-Cash Only, Please (are you a merchant requesting payment?)

I took a page from my super proper cousin’s book in which she included an insert with her invitation card.  Mine had information regarding our valet parking, wedding website, and at the bottom “The Bride and Groom Kindly Request No Boxed Gifts.”  While adding an insert certainly adds to the cost of a card ensemble, I personally don’t see anything wrong with putting this information at the bottom of your wedding invitation card instead.  Some people balk at the idea of placing any gift information on the card whatsoever (ask the bridal party to spread the word instead, they suggest) so if you truly want to follow wedding etiquette but don’t wish to spend money for an extra insert, perhaps place your wedding website address at the bottom of the card and be sure to include a tab explaining gifts to wedding guests.

How has asking for “No Boxed Gifts” worked for you?  Did any guests make any comments regarding this, or were they happy to oblige?  Have you seen it any worst than what I’ve written here?  Sound off in the comments, I’d love to hear what people thought!

9 Things You MUST Consider Before Choosing a Photobooth

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Photobooths have been a hot trend in weddings these past years, and why not?  They are a great, fun item to incorporate into your wedding to keep guests entertained throughout the evening.  Moreover, it can also serve as a party favor!  We have the silliest and most amazing photos from my wedding, seriously I was cracking up when I saw one at the wedding of my uncle and his colleagues, the best photo ever 🙂  And the one where our sheikh is wearing a a jester hat & huge clown glasses (true story!) makes us laugh every time we see it.

After doing lots of research, I decided to have a photobooth at my wedding (it was a total surprise to everyone–including my husband!).  Pakistani weddings are typically not that exciting, so I decided to incorporate this into our wedding so there could be something people will remember it by.  I was very concerned about how our Pakistani guests would react to the booth since no one in recent knowledge had one at their wedding, so, I was pleasantly surprised when it was so well received.  I did a lot of research on pricing and saw things from $800 up to $1400, but had no idea where things differed between companies.  I went to a few wedding shows and saw that there truly was a difference in the quality of the booths, so I learned a lot before making my choice.  I’ll share that knowledge with you!!

Something all brides should know: Not all Photobooths are the same!  This is so essential because while everyone assumes that all photobooths are created equal, they definitely are not!  Be as picky when you choose your photobooth as you are with every other vendor!

Here Are 9 Things You MUST Consider Before Choosing a Photobooth:

1)  Quality of the photos:  If you cannot physically try out the booth, ask the vendor to send you copies of photos from the booth.  This will let you see the brightness of the camera, the quality of paper they use, and the photo quality.  Most companies are happy to mail you a physical copy of photos they print.
2)  Layouts Offered:  Sometimes companies will offer you “Double Prints” but not clarify that the double prints really mean one 4×6 print cut in two to print off 2 strips.  It was my preference to have two 4×6 copies printed and sometimes companies charge extra for this feature.  DGEvent offered many different layout options which is why I went with them.
3)  How Many People Will It Hold?:  This was something that was very important to me– I didn’t want a booth that was restricted by walls and held only 2 people and could maybe squeeze in 3 people.  I wanted the booth to comfortably seat up to 5 people, which it did.  Be sure to ask and see samples!
4)  How Fast Will it Print:  This is VERY important to ask.  You don’t want a backup at the booths, and you want to ensure that your guests get their prints quickly.  There is nothing worst than having to wait over a minute to get a print (fine there are worst things…. but you get my point!).
5)  How Much Space Do You Need?:  This is also something that is very important to consider, so remember to ask and remember to clear it up with your venue!
6) Friendliness of the Attendant:  Almost all companies will send along an attendant to make sure the booth runs on time, so, talk to the attendant and make sure they will provide you with the best customer service.
7) Online Gallery: Where is It Hosted?:  I was shocked to learn that some company’s idea of an online gallery was to host them on a Facebook page.  Always ask.  It doesn’t cost them much to host the photos for a year, so, ask the company where the photos are hosted, and, ask to see existing galleries.  Some companies like RedCheese offer password protected galleries.
8) Scrapbook:  I love my scrapbook, but I do wish my attendant asked everyone to place their photo in the scrapbook.  Many pages of my book were empty because the attendant did not ask guests to leave a copy at the booth–if this is important to you, ask your attendant to request guests leave a copy along with a note.  I find that increasingly, the scrapbook is taking over the Guest Books’ job!

Photo via Mint Photo Lounge

9)  Type of Booth:  I have heard of people making their booths look “too DIY”…. be careful.  You just want to know what you’re getting into.  It is essential to see what the booth looks like.  I personally love Pipe & Drape booths like Mint Photo Lounge‘s chic booths (right), but, make sure you know what you’re getting!

Overall, the photobooth is a really fun element to a wedding.  Some say it is a trend that is slowly dying out, and while that may be true, if you want something a little out of the ordinary, just do it!  I think it is definitely a trend that South Asian Weddings can use, and I predict a lot more weddings will have this in the coming years.   So, have fun and I encourage brides to add this aspect to your wedding!

Did you have a photobooth at your wedding? How did your guests like it?