Elegant bridal hair for a chateau estate wedding

We had the pleasure of styling Kimberly’s hair for her marriage to Stephen at the stately Park Chateau Estate. The black-tie affair is featured on Style Me Pretty!

Summer Wedding Romance at Park Chateau Estate Brimming With Blooms

From the couple… Our wedding at Park Chateau Estate was an elegant garden, black-tie affair, that took place on a perfect sunny summer day. The spectacular chateau-style venue inspired many of our decor decisions. We had our sweetheart table place directly in front of the fireplace. Every inch of both were covered in flowers.

A Hamptons Wedding

Stacey created an elegant yet relaxed down style with loose curls for Neda’s marriage in Bridgehampton. The fabulous Christian Oth was behind the camera for the wedding, which had the charming backdrop of the Campbell Stables.






To see more inspiration pics from Neda and Taylor’s wedding, check out the feature in Carats & Cake.

Rebecca and Thibault’s Classic Park Hyatt Wedding

Rebecca is a former dancer, so not only is she absolutely gorgeous, she’s extremely stylish too! Everything about her and Thibault’s day was beautiful, from Rebecca’s dress to Thibault’s suit to the florals.

Stacey set Rebecca’s hair in hot rollers to achieve a silky smooth style with body & curls.
Once the hair was set, Rebecca went to work with Stacey’s friend Katie Nova (who glams the Ladies on BRAVO TV). After make up Stacey took her set down and added a full set of blond extensions that were pre prepped for long lasting wear.This style was glamourous and lasted all night on Rebecca.

Photos expertly captured by Brian Hatton Photography.

Adrienne & Florian’s Perfect NYC Destination Wedding

We love our Destination Brides!

Adrienne & Florian, who currently live in Austin TX, met at work and during a company Christmas party, sparks flew over one too many margaritas. Adrienne is from Iowa and Florian from Germany. Florian always dreamed of going to NYC. He had visted when he moved to the states and loved it. He knew then it was the perfect place for a wedding.

Adrienne chose a perfect dress designed by Sarah Seven.
The bride and groom chose the amazing photographer Steve Moakley, who does the photography for the Texas state capital, to come to town and shoot the big day.
Hair and Make Up is by our master team Deanna and Nicole.

Maria and Peter’s Brooklyn Destination Wedding

Maria & Peter live in England, where they have been dating for 13 years. After baby Flynn arrived they decided it would be lovely to get married in New York. Baby Flynn was one of the most adorable highlights, but another was Maria’s gown, which was custom-made by her brother, a costume designer in London!

This beautiful and fun couple chose The Diety in Brooklyn, which is a very romantic and special place. This unique venue has 5,000 square feet of exposed brick, and its industrial luxury was perfect for Maria and Peter.

Stacey was the perfect hairstylist for Maria, since Maria has curly hair and that is Stacey’s specialty! Using her favorite products- Hairstory & Phyto -Stacey created a more polished curl to glam her up. Daniella gave Maria a soft and natural make up look using her new favorite products by Tom Ford & Beauty Counter.

Romy and Niels’s Beautiful NYC Elopement

Romy and Niels live in Hamburg, Germany and decided NYC would be a wonderful place to elope… & it was!

Stacey worked Romy’s hair into a beautiful bohemian braided updo, using her favorite products from The OUAI & Hairstory.
Daniella created a pretty and natural look for Romy’s make up with a light eye application and a soft set of lashes. She used Temptu Airbrush make up so Romy was able to go the whole day without a touch up!

Romy spent the day taking photos all over NYC & Brooklyn with the wonderful photographer Frerk Hopf, who specializes in capturing the extra special moments of NYC elopements and City Hall weddings.

Glam Hair and Makeup for a Glitzy New Years Eve Wedding

It doesn’t get better than a New Year’s Eve wedding at GATO NYC, and Janna hired only the best hairstylist for her big night!

Janna desired a really sexy hairstyle to go with her gorgeous short wedding dress, so Stacey designed long flowing waves that enhanced her whole look. She first set Janna’s hair with electric rollers to make sure the waves lasted the whole exciting evening. Once the hair was set for 45 minutes, Stacey then added clip-in extensions and re-worked the waves with a curling wand to add texture. Extensions add volume and length and are a simple and effective way to get the perfect, sexy wedding day hair style.

Janna’s wedding was captured by iNsYnc and these photos are spectacular.

A special treat was Chef Bobby Flay helped plan the food options a for the first wedding at his Noho Restaurant!

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Elegant Curls for an Essex House Wedding

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Tasteful and timeless. That’s the look Melissa wanted for her ceremony and reception at Essex House. So we created loose curls and pulled back one side to frame her face, and used a natural makeup palette. She looked as fresh and lovely as those delicate flowers embroidered on her gown, don’t you think?

Thank you, Carats and Cake for featuring this classical wedding — and congratulations to Melissa and her husband, Heath!

Photos by Ira Lippke Studios.

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A chic bridal look for a classic Plaza wedding

Creating Lizzie’s look for her wedding to Jon at the Plaza Hotel was extra special for me because I’ve been styling her hair for years. After applying Halo Couture Extensions to boost her hair’s length and fullness, I gave Lizzie a chic, simple all-down style. Sofia kept Lizzie’s makeup simple and clean, too, with a soft pink lip that made her look radiant. Our team had a lot of fun styling Lizzie’s big bridal party, because they each chose a different hairstyle, ranging from Dutch-braided updos to flat-ironed all-down styles.

Thanks to Ira Lippke Studios for these shots, which capture the day perfectly.

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“I could not have felt any better about how I looked on my most special day!” — Lizzie

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This was truly a classic New York wedding: We helped Lizzie and her bridal party get ready at a suite at the Pierre. Then they headed to the Plaza for the ceremony and reception, and had photos taken on the city streets. Lizzie and Jon first met in 2009 but fought their feelings for 5 years as they were living in different cities. They finally started dating in 2014 – and I was delighted when they got engaged just one year later.

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Wedding Hairdos: Curly and Romantic

Jennifer and David got married at her parents’ gorgeous weekend home in Bedford, NY. Jennifer’s dress was Angel Sanchez, shoes were Manolo Blahnik, and hair and makeup were by Stacey & Sofia. Jennifer’s large bridal party had beauty services with our other top artists Destiny & Karen.

From Jennifer: One thing that I was anxious about all day while we were getting ready was that it’d been pouring that morning and raining since then on and off. I was so nervous that we’d have to find spots inside the house to take portraits and that everything I’d envisioned for our outdoor wedding would be ruined. Thankfully, it stopped raining just as the boys were getting to the house from the hotel where they’d been getting ready and when we’d been scheduled to start portraits. David and I were able to do our first look outside, and we were able to take bridal party portraits outside, and the night went off without a hitch. It wasn’t raining as we processed into the ceremony tent, started raining during the ceremony while everyone was covered, stopped raining in time for the outdoor cocktail hour on the patio and then rained a bit during the reception, which was tented. It was fate!

Photographer: Art Group Weddings

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Wedding updos: The romantic

Our bride Alina looked gorgeous on her big day, having chosen one of the more romantic styles of wedding updos, which framed her face with loose curls.

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Alex joked that Alina knew everything about her dream wedding the day after he proposed, as if she had been planning it her whole life. They quickly agreed on their venue, 501 Union, in Brooklyn. They knew the rabbi that they wanted to have perform the ceremony. He and his wife were their local community spiritual leaders, who they had come to know very well.

Alina found the dress she wanted at Pronovias and had it altered to cover up her shoulders for their more traditional Jewish ceremony. The men’s traditional headwear, the kippah, were crocheted by Alina for the groom and the fathers of the bride and groom. “I wanted it to be a special item for the men,” says Alina. Another unique, personalized touch to the wedding was that Alina and Alex hired a friend — a local artist who runs NY Drawing Booth — to draw pictures of the entire wedding ceremony and the guests on an iPad. Sean Kim of Sean Gallery captured the day in these beautiful photographs.

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All photos by Sean Kim of Sean Gallery.

Wedding updos: The classic chignon

If you’re considering trialling one of the many different styles of wedding updos, don’t forget to try the classic chignon. We think it was the perfect choice for our bride Danielle when she walked down the aisle in a light-as-air wedding gown and full veil.



Danielle wed her beau, Chris, at Church of Saint Ignatius Loyola on Park Avenue.

“As the doors of the church opened, I could see Chris waiting for me at the end of the aisle with a look of happiness I have never seen before,” says Danielle. “At the same time, the other most important man in my life, my dad, walked me down the aisle past all of the people we love in our life together, and brought me to my husband.


Then they moved on to the reception at The Loeb Boathouse, Central Park. Danielle’s gown was by Anne Barge from Kleinfeld, and Lenox Hill Florist took care of the flowers. These stunning photos are by Brian Dorsey Studios.










Danielle and Chris met in NYC when a mutual friend invited them both out to dinner, where they immediately hit it off. A few years later, Chris planned a weekend in Napa Valley, California, as a surprise birthday gift for Danielle, and the two visited their favorite vineyard from a previous trip to Napa. “Chris found a quiet spot in the vineyard to give me my birthday card,” recalls Danielle. “He wrote the most beautiful card about our relationship and how much I meant to him, and when I finished reading the card, I looked up and he was down on one knee, asking me to marry him. The rest of the trip was spent celebrating…with plenty of wine. For our honeymoon, we stopped in Napa on our way to Hawaii so that we could stop at that vineyard where Chris proposed, which is now a very special place for us.”

For a stress-free day, choose the right wedding hair and makeup artists

Our goal is to make sure that every bride’s wedding day is stress free, enjoyable, and memorable for all the right reasons. Choosing the right wedding hair and makeup artists is a crucial part of that, so we loved hearing this feedback from our bride Allison:

“Working with Once Upon a Bride was one of the best decisions I made for my wedding. I worked with Karen and Angela. They were amazing! Karen and Angela made me and my family look absolutely beautiful. They both are extremely talented. Each of them was able to accommodate anything for everyone’s hair and make-up. They made the whole day go smoothly, which put me at ease. Karen and Angela made the day fun, exciting, and entertaining. I look back at my pictures and am so happy with my entire look! I felt absolutely gorgeous!”

And we agree that Allison looked absolutely gorgeous! Karen and Angela both used their favorite products to achieve Allison’s look. Using Nars, Mac, and Laura Mercier, Karen achieved a glowing, natural look that highlighted Allison’s amazing eyes. Angela used Oribe and Phyto products and set Allison’s hair using a wand to create her chic, long-lasting updo.

Allison’s gown was by Lazaro, her shoes were by Kate Spade, and the wedding was celebrated at the grand, historic Oheka Castle, on Long Island. Ronnie from Giovanni Photographic Artist was the wedding photographer.

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Fall wedding looks: Love is the spice of life

As the days grow crisper, I know a lot of you are refining your fall wedding look. I recently did a great shoot with a bunch of wonderful wedding professionals to inspire brides. I styled our model’s hair a few different ways that you might like to test in your own hair trial — a down style pinned at the back with an autumnal hair accessory, another sexy down style with her blonde mane flowing freely, and a soft, romantic updo. Shari, one of our airbrush makeup experts who travels to a lot of destination weddings for our brides, brought a natural peachy glow to our model’s complexion. Love that stunning glossy lip she achieved.

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Jennifer Cyr, the photographer who captured this shoot, was not only fabulous to work with, I think she’s one of the most talented wedding photographers out there right now. You can check out more of her work at Cyrience. Grace Park of The Kitchen Table creates truly amazing food for any special event, and Natalie Trento Events plans truly memorable weddings in both New York City and Philadelphia.

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Bridal hairstyles for long hair: the red carpet look

Looking for bridal hairstyles for long hair? The glamorous side-swept red carpet style is a great alternative to leaving your hair down. My bride Kristi looked stunning when I styled her golden hair off to the side, using all luxurious Oribe products, for her wedding to Brett at Liberty House in Jersey City.

And in true red carpet fashion, Kristi walked down the aisle in stunning blue Manolo Blahnik sandals. “Brett and I went to Barcelona last spring and he bought the shoes for me there as a surprise because he saw me eyeing them through a local store window all week,” says Kristi. “They ended up being my something blue!”

Photographer:  Hechler Photographers

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Beach wedding hair and makeup: Stacey Weinstein’s top 5 tips

A summer wedding means beautiful weather, a relaxed vibe, warm sand, and crystal blue water. But for brides, it can also mean hair hassles and makeup meltdowns thanks to the wind, sun, and humidity. So Stacey recently shared her top 5 tips for making sure you have the perfect beach wedding hair and makeup over at New Beauty – a fantastic resource for brides for beauty products and services.

Wedding Style: Romantic, elegant bridal hair and makeup inspiration

We loved creating these romantic, elegant, and oh-so feminine hair and makeup looks for a wedding style inspiration shoot by the ultra-talented Cyrience Creative Studios. The shots turned out so beautiful that they were just featured in Well Wed!

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Floral Design + Photography: Cyrience Creative Studios | Gowns: Rebecca Schoneveld | Hair + Makeup: Once Upon a Bride| Hair Accessories: Happily Ever Borrowed + Jennifer Behr

The folks over at Well Wed had this to say:

“Fall head over heels for dreamy dresses & swoon-worthy bridal accessories in this stunningly styled fashion shoot from Cyrience Studios & Rebecca Schoneveld! Effortlessly elegant gowns from Rebecca Schoneveld’s newest collection are the epitome of romance, from the lovely lace details to the delicate beading & flowy, feminine silhouettes.

“Fresh-faced beauty for the modern bride abounded in every amorous look from this oh-so-chic shoot. Glittering hair accessories from Jennifer Behr and Happily Ever Borrowed brought a touch of whimsical glamour to intricately braided do’s, while sleek and sophisticated gowns kept things traditionally bridal. Bouquets of fresh-cut eucalyptus, crisp white ranunculus and blossoming garden roses brought an ethereal, garden-fresh air to the contemporary yet timeless shoot.”

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Bridal hairstyles for long hair: The half-up, half-down

One of our favorite bridal hairstyles for long hair is the half-up, half-down. It shows off long, gorgeous locks in all their natural glory, while looking classically bridal and elegant. We achieved this stunning look recently for our beautiful bride Sarah when she wed Dan at the Tribeca Rooftop. Long-haired girls, for inspiration we bring you these pics of Sarah and Dan’s big day, taken by the amazing Khaki Bedford Photography.

Once Upon A Bride: half-up, half-down
Bridal hairstyles for long hair: Once Upon A Bride NYC
Once Upon A Bride: half-up, half down
Bridal hairstyles for long hair: Once Upon A Bride NYC
Bridal hairstyles for long hair: Once Upon A Bride NYC
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Tribeca Rooftop wedding: Once Upon A Bride NYC
Tribeca Rooftop wedding: Once Upon A Bride NYC
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Bridal hairstyles for long hair: half-up, half-down
Bridal hairstyles for long hair
Bridal hairstyles for long hair: Once Upon A Bride NYC

Rachel and Mark’s chic Tribeca wedding

Our gorgeous bride Rachel and her groom, Mark, had a vision to create a New York-inspired wedding – modern, chic, and sophisticated. And thanks to the amazing skyline view from Three-Sixty in Tribeca, and the work of the some of the city’s very best wedding vendors, I think you’ll agree the result was everything they could have hoped for.

I styled Rachel’s lovely brunette locks into a loose, feminine side updo accented at the back with a jeweled clasp, while Nichole created a dramatic smoky eye. Brian Dorsey Studios did an incredible job of capturing the whole day — we always love working with their photographers, and the results are always fantastic.


Rachel wore a gown by designer Peter Langner. We think the choice of black for the wedding party is genius — such a clean, classic, stylish look. The bridesmaids each chose their own gowns, and the groomsmen wore matching Hugo Boss tuxedos and ties.





After dark, the venue was transformed by Frost Lighting — the effect was just magical. Keeping with the black-and-white palette, Cornucopia Flowers created stunning white floral centerpieces. And guests danced all night to the band Carnegie Hill, from Element Music.


Audrey’s Fine Baked Goods made the couple’s cake, which featured adorable Princess Peach and Toad figurines from the Super Mario games — a cute inside joke shared by Rachel and Mark.

It was a joy to create Rachel’s look for her big day, and also to work with all these great wedding vendors — truly among the best in the business.

To see more pictures, go to the full gallery on Style Me Pretty.

Once Upon A Bride styles for Kleinfeld, the premier bridal gown salon


We feel so honored! The legendary New York bridal gown salon Kleinfeld asked Once Upon A Bride to style hair and makeup for their latest shoot showcasing this season’s gowns. We loved every minute of creating beautiful looks to complement the work of the top designers across the United States and Europe.

Kleinfeld, now a household name because of Say Yes to the Dress, has been a top name in the bridal world for decades. It’s no wonder they sell more designer bridal gowns than any other store on earth — they are just so professional, have a huge selection of gowns, and the owners, Ronnie and Mara, really do treat their brides like family.

Their Chelsea salon takes up over 30,000 square feet, and it’s filled with stunning gowns, shoes, and accessories. And to make sure your gown looks perfect on you, they have 200 staff, including bridal consultants, custom fitters, sewers, beaders, embroiderers and pressers.






A bold, modern Brooklyn wedding: Holly and Andy

We had so much fun recently creating a modern bridal look for the wedding of super-stylish pair Holly and Andy at Liberty Warehouse, in Brooklyn’s Red Hook. A textile designer, Holly made the inspired choice of an opulent, bold and very hip black-and-white pattern for her gown.

I gave her the full brunette bombshell look, leaving her long hair down and bringing volume and sexiness with a loose, natural curl. Makeup artist Veronica made the whole look pop with smokey eyes and a bright splash of color with glamorous fuchsia lips.

“It was so great to have Stacey and Veronica there to make everyone look beautiful!” says Holly.

Andy, a graphic designer, was in on the style act, accenting his snappy suit with a flash of bright socks. And we love the colorful, spring-inspired touches to the outfit worn by the couple’s three-year-old son, Massimo.

“Massimo was the best man at our wedding, making it even more special,” says Holly.

Our thanks to Weddings by Two for these great shots.

Location: Liberty Warehouse, Red Hook
Photographer: Weddings by Two
Gown: Monique Lhuillier

Bridal hair accessory style ideas: a chic side updo

For brides looking for inspiration on how to use a hair accessory in your wedding-day look, here is a great style created by Angela for our bride Danielle. A pretty jeweled hairpiece by Kate Ketzal adds the perfect finishing touch to a chic side updo, don’t you think?

Danielle married Josh at Brooklyn Navy Yard wearing a gorgeous strapless Romona Keveza gown from Wedding Salon of Manhasset.

“All the girls loved their hair and makeup,” says Danielle.

The bridal party were running a little late — and at Once Upon A Bride we know how stressful that can be on your wedding day, so we always create a calm and fun environment and give you peace of mind. “I really have to thank our makeup artist, Karen, especially, because she was so calming and kept me laughing the entire time,” says Danielle.

As always, Brian Dorsey Studios captured the day beautifully, as you can see from these pictures. And we love the bridesmaids’ fuchsia gowns, which were stunning with their lovely bouquets by Atlas Floral.

Special invitation: 25% off wedding hair and makeup trials at Once Upon A Bride

It is so important that you feel comfortable with your hair and makeup artist on your wedding day. You need artists by your side who make you feel beautiful every step of the way, giving you peace of mind from the early planning stages right up to when you walk down the aisle.

So we are offering a 25% discount on all hair and makeup trials at Once Upon A Bride until September 1. This is your chance to come in and meet New York City’s top team of bridal hair and makeup experts. Your hair artist will create two signature looks for you, plus a third variation as another option. Then your makeup artist will explore options, starting out clean and natural then moving on to a more smoky and sultry style, so you can see a transition and decide on the perfect look.

Call now and tell us about your wedding and we’ll set you up with an appointment to find the best artists for you. We have a whole team to choose from, depending on your needs and personal style. I’d like to introduce you to one of our top talents, makeup artist Karen, who recently worked on the wedding of Gillian and Noah at Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Karen is an expert at airbrush makeup. It guarantees a flawless look, because it covers imperfections while allowing the skin’s beauty to shine through. “For my brides I use only the highest quality brands, like Temptu and Kett,” says Karen. “It’s a godsend for brides who need to cover scars, tattoos, redness, very oily skin, or hyperpigmentation. And because it’s waterproof, there are never any concerns about tears or humid weather. Your look will last long through the day and a night of dancing!”

“I just have to thank Karen for making me look so beautiful the day of my wedding!” says Gillian.

“In this picture you can faintly see a rainbow. It started to rain while we were taking pictures outside, and when it stopped five minutes later, a rainbow appeared! We believe it was good luck!”

Gillian and Noah’s photographer was Frank Ammaccapane, Owner and Director of Natural Expressions.

A romantic, magical beach wedding, NYC style: Christine and Jawad

A beach wedding might not be the first thing you imagine when you think of tying the knot in New York City. But our bride Christine and her beau Jawad had both a romantic, magical beach wedding and a truly NY moment, exchanging their vows on Pebble Beach at Brooklyn Bridge Park, to the sound of J trains crossing the Williamsburg Bridge. Chris Gifford from Weddings by Two Photography did a fabulous job of capturing the day, as you can see from these shots.

We helped Christine create a suitably romantic, magical look for her wedding day. I used hot rollers and a curling iron to give Christine’s long blonde hair a soft, flowing curl. It worked perfectly with her amazing lace gown by Rivini and gauzy veil.



The style really popped with the addition of a bold jeweled hair accessory.


When it came to makeup, Sofia brought out Christine’s own natural glow, created a soft pink lip, and made her beautiful eyes a focal point.


The result was simply stunning . . .



Photographer: Chris Gifford, Weddings by Two Photography
Dress: Rivini, purchased at Kleinfeld’s
Shoes: Nina
Ceremony: Pebble Beach, Brooklyn Bridge Park
Reception: Galapagos Art Space

Classic bridal elegance on Park Avenue: Morgan and Bud

We think our bride Morgan was the picture of classic bridal elegance for her wedding to Bud on Park Avenue, at St. Ignatius Loyola church. Her stylist, Stefanie, created a soft and feminine updo to complement her lacy, light-as-air Monique Lhuillier gown. Stefanie added a touch of glamor to the look with jeweled hair accessories. Kate Connolly Photography took these gorgeous shots.


“Stefanie was amazing!” says Morgan. “She did my hair, my three sisters’, and my mom’s – it is a very opinionated, picky bunch, and everyone loved their hair. She was an absolute pleasure to work with. She was so flexible in adjusting the hair style if need be and knew how to make it look amazing in a short amount of time.

“Working with Once Upon a Bride, specifically Stacey, who I spoke with from the very beginning, was also great! Stacey was very responsive and helpful through the entire process. She helped pick the right stylist for us and she couldn’t have been more right!”


Morgan and Bud’s marriage was the culmination of years of long-distance romance. They shuttled back and forth between New York City and Boston, their studies and careers sending each of them to both of these cities — just never at the same time! In 2010 they were finally both able to be in New York City . . . and then Bud’s job transferred him back to Boston and they had to spend another six months apart. The couple have now settled in an apartment in downtown Boston and are loving married life. We are so happy for them and delighted that we could be a part of their special day!

Hair: Stefanie at Once Upon A Bride
Photographer: Kate Connolly Photography
Dress: Monique Lhuillier
Shoes: Benjamin Adams
Getting-ready Venue: The Pierre Hotel, NYC
Ceremony: St. Ignatius Loyola, NYC
Band: Vali Entertainment
Videographer: George Street Video

Romantic wedding-day style fit for a princess

When our bride Heather arrived at the altar, her awestruck groom leaned over and whispered, “You look just like a pretty princess.” And we have to agree!

Stefanie styled Heather’s luscious, long red locks into a classic wave, swept gently back from her face. The look worked perfectly with Heather’s lace-trimmed cathedral veil by Sara Gabriel and romantic gown by Amy Kuschel.



“Sofia made me absolutely glow with flawless makeup that lasted throughout my big day,” says Heather, who wed at Essex House, on Central Park. The wedding planner who created the sophisticated look for the wedding was James Abel Events, and Julie Skarrett captured the day in these beautiful shots.



“I am one of the lucky girls who married my best friend. But on my big day, just like every other bride, I was beyond nervous,” says Heather. “Sofia and Stefanie kept things calm and simple, and helped soothe my frayed nerves. They are top professionals in their field in every way.”

“I didn’t know I could feel as beautiful as I did on my wedding day. Every girl should feel like I did,” she says.

Thanks Heather — it was our pleasure to be part of your big day!

5 Easy Steps to a Fashion Favorite: the Fishtail Braid

Blake Lively with a fishtail braid. (Pic: Just Jared)

Those gorgeous fishtail braids worn by celebrities on the red carpet might look super-complicated, but you can create the look yourself easily by following five simple steps.

I shared the secret recently for fans of bethenny over on her website, and the response has been huge.

So here you go, ladies — start experimenting with this versatile and easy braid. Tousled and bohemian, it’s a great look for all types of long hair.

 


STEP 1
If you want a high or side fishtail braid, make a ponytail. Otherwise gather your hair at the base of your neck. Then, separate the hair into two chunks.

 


STEP 2
Take a thin strand of hair from the right side and braid it into the left side: cross the strand over the right chunk and under the left chunk. The strand needs to be thin — you’ll be doing this several times, so you need to make sure you have enough hair to work with to get all the way down to the end.

 


STEP 3
Take a thin strand from the left side and braid it into the right side.

 


STEP 4
Take a thin strand from the right side and braid it into the left. Continue this pattern until all hair is braided.

 


STEP 5
Tie hair off at the end and pull the braid apart with your fingers to separate the strands a bit. It should look tight but slightly mussed, like “bed head.” Finish off with hair spray, and you’re good to go!

Once you’ve got the hang of the basic fishtail braid, try experimenting — as you can see from these celeb pics, the possibilities are endless…

Rihanna rocking a red fishtail (pic: Getty Images)

Nina Dobrev with a glam red carpet fishtail (Pic: Getty Images)

Dianna Agron takes the fishtail to the next level, creating a romantic updo (Pic: Getty Images)

Seamless hair extensions for the ultimate wedding-day look

Seamless hair extensions are one of the most stress-free and effective ways to create a stunning style on your wedding day. They’re weightless, invisible to the eye, and undetectable to the touch. At Once Upon A Bride we love using them, because they allow us to create a style that delivers an amazing impact, boosting your length and volume — while no one ever needs to know you’re wearing extensions.

Our stylist Angela worked with her bride Erin’s seamless extensions to create this beautiful down style for her wedding to Jason at Manhattan’s exclusive University Club.

Our stylists are experts at applying seamless hair extensions, which are an especially great option if you’re worried about your hair holding its style all through your wedding day. Your own hair may fall, but the extensions won’t! They last for more than a month, from your wedding rehearsal right through your honeymoon.

And as you can see from these shots taken by Shawn Connell of Christian Oth Studio, Erin’s hair style looked as fabulous after a night of dancing as it did when she was getting ready earlier that day at the St Regis.


Chic Bridal Hair and Makeup Inspiration

All you brides looking for some chic bridal style inspiration, here are some gorgeous shots from the wedding of our bride Nicole to Mike at the lavish Capitale, on the Bowery. Nicole’s stunning gown was by Augusta Jones. It had amazing jeweled details, which we accented with a jeweled hair accessory. Casey Fatchett Photography took these shots — to see more, go to Carats & Cake.

Lisa and Jeff’s summer city wedding

When our bride Lisa wed Jeff recently, a loose, romantic, and oh-so-feminine style seemed like the perfect look for her long brunette hair and classic veil.

To achieve this style, I set Lisa’s hair with electric rollers, used a set of extensions (so natural looking you would never know, right?), and used Oribe Volumista for extra luster and volume. Makeup artist Sofia brought out Lisa’s own glow with a natural blush and soft pink lip color, and accentuated her beautiful brown eyes with dramatic smokey makeup.

It was a team event for Once Upon A Bride, with Angela and Karen coming to help get Lisa’s big bridal party ready. By the way, we love the bold, chic black that the bridesmaids wore — very striking against Lisa’s amazing white sleeveless gown from Impression Bridal.

We also love the very cool backdrops Felix from Fred Marcus Photography used, like the bright graffiti on Houston St in SoHo, and the interior of the Soho Grand Hotel. And that view of the skyline is seen from Stage 6 at the Steiner Studios complex in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where Lisa and Jeff tied the knot.




Style inspiration: Brooklyn hipster garden wedding shoot

I recently got together with some of the best talent on the New York bridal scene for an amazing photo shoot where we created a garden wedding, Brooklyn hipster style. The result? These beautiful images by wedding photographer Jessica Schmitt, which we hope will give brides plenty of inspiration for their own wedding style.

I created the look of the moment for our model Lilian — a romantic side braid — crowned with fresh flowers. I think it worked beautifully with the whole spring garden feel that floral design company The Wild Ivy achieved with the archway of flowers and petal-strewn aisle.

Here I am putting the final touches on Lilian’s hair style.

If you’re wondering why Lilian and her “groom,” Kayden, look so much like a real couple in the next pic, that’s because they are. It was great to work with them — they’re so cute together, don’t you think?

The setting was the garden restaurant Acqua Santa, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and the designer and planner was Jove Meyer Events. The wedding cake was made by Sugar Flower Cake Shop, and the cake cups were by Alana Jones-Mann. Fashions were from Brooklyn Tailors, Hushed Commotion, Catbird, Chromatic Gallerie, and Comfy Clothing.

Bethenny’s girls get a summer makeover by Stacey

Bethenny always loves the way I do her hair, so she recently treated her sweet assistants Jackie and Leslie to cuts at my salon Loft 26. Jackie had let her hair get very long, so she needed some length taken off, while I gave Leslie face-framing balayage highlights. The girls were so happy with how their hair turned out — healthier, brighter, and ready for summer!

Ready, too, for life to get oh so busy when bethenny starts filming her new daytime talk show in New York — I’m looking forward to creating all of bethenny’s favorite looks before she steps in front of the camera!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCDxf8K2sNg

July discounts, specials, and news

We love July, as our summer brides get ready to walk down the aisle. And at Once Upon A Bride’s home base, Loft 26 salon, we’re also busy getting girls ready for all the parties and events going on around the city.

Learn to style your hair like a pro

If you’re about to head off on vacation or your honeymoon and wish that you could re-create all your favorite hair styles even when you are far from your salon, Stacey is available for private one-on-one sessions. Whether you want to learn how to create your favorite celebrity style, do the perfect blowdry, achieve beachy waves, or do a quick but professional-looking updo for a night out, Stacey or Angela will break it down into simple steps for you. Learn which products are best for your hair type, and which tools to use and why. Each session is 1 hour long, personalized according to what you want to learn, and takes place at Loft 26 salon. Leave with a goody bag of products, notes, and step-by-step photos of the lesson.

Stacey: $100 for 1-hour lesson
Angela: $75 for 1-hour lesson

Featured Product: Rough Luxury Soft Molding Paste by Oribe

Oribe products are flying off our shelves this summer. Many of you are popping in just to get Oribe at 10% off, and it’s always a pleasure to see you. Keep coming in and enjoying the free samples with products! This month we’re offering a 10% discount on the ultra-pliable molding paste Rough Luxury. It smoothly slips through hair before taking hold for definition, texture, and shine, lending a soft touch to short cuts and long layers alike.

July Special: $20 discount

Hope you had an awesome July 4th! We’ve declared the rest of the month a celebration, too, by offering  $20 off your next visit to Stacey’s salon, Loft 26. Just mention “JULY SPECIAL” when you book. Call 212.414.2626.

Stacey’s News

Hot new social media site Archetype Me featured Stacey’s advice on the latest hair and makeup trends and tips for brides, wedding parties, and guests. For all the site’s “Fashionistas,” Stacey shared the lowdown on the big bridal look of the moment, braids, retro glamour à la The Great Gatsby, the latest in hair accessories, and the hair styling essentials you simply must have in your evening bag this summer. Check it out at Archetype Me.

Happy Hour

Summer has really only just begun, and Happy Hour is still going strong. Come get a sexy blowout or have gorgeous makeup done for your night out. Bring a friend and sip Skinnygirl cocktails while our professional hair and makeup artists pamper you.

July through August, Tuesday to Friday
4pm to 7pm
Price for each service: $40

Stephanie and Bart’s stylish winter wedding

Like any bride planning a winter wedding, Stephanie knew she’d have to take the weather into consideration when she walked down the aisle with Bart in Manhattan on February 8, 2013 — but who could have planned for the historic snowstorm Nemo that hit that day?  Twelve inches of snow blanketed the city, and along with it came hurricane-force wind.

Yet as you can see from these gorgeous pictures, Stephanie’s hair and makeup were flawless, thanks to Once Upon A Bride’s amazing makeup artist Sofia and stylist Stefanie.

To complement the bride’s stunning Lazaro gown, Stephanie gave her long blonde hair a soft, romantic curl, accented with delicate jeweled headband. Sofia’s long-wearing, natural makeup palette brought out Stephanie’s own glowing complexion. And through the snow and wind and rain, Stephanie looked fresh all day and into the night.

Stephanie and Bart were married at the chic Tribeca Rooftop, with panoramic views of the Hudson River, The Empire State Building, Soho and downtown Manhattan. Di Zhang of Heartfelt Foto took these lovely photos of Stephanie.

Stacey shares wedding hair and makeup trends with fashionistas on “Archetype Me”

Hot new social media site Archetype Me just featured my advice on the latest hair and makeup trends and tips for brides, wedding parties, and guests! So here’s the lowdown…

Braided updos
Adding braids to your updo is a trend that’s going strong, especially for more fashion-forward girls going for an unconventional romantic look.

Marion Cotillard and Jennifer Morrison going for unconventional romantic looks with braids. Photos: Getty Images.

Retro glamour
Thanks to The Great Gatsby, vintage-inspired hair is very popular. Girls who wear their hair down are going for stylized, Veronica Lake waves, and Art Deco hairpieces add a great finishing touch.

Jessica Chastain and Eva Longoria with Veronica Lake-style retro waves. Photos: Getty Images

Hair accessories
If you’re doing your own hair for the big day, add a hair accessory. It instantly makes your hair look special. Blow your hair out and fashion it up with a headband. My favorite designers are Jennifer Behr and Dauphines of New York. And check out Once Upon A Bride’s selection of gorgeous accessories.

Emmy Rossum and Lydia Hearst adding effortless touches of glamour to their looks with hair accessories. Photos: Getty Images

Dry shampoo and texturizing spray
No matter what style you choose, it’s usually best not to wash your hair on the morning of your wedding. Instead, remove grease and freshen up your hair with René Futurer Naturia Dry Shampoo, and have Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray on hand. You can use no other products, and this will make your hair stay, even if you’ve chosen an updo.

Nicole Ritchie and Naomi Watts going for flapper-era looks. Photos: Getty Images.

Be prepared
Stash an emergency packet of bobby pins and invisible hair ties in your bag, so if you get hot, you can pop to the bathroom and create an instant updo. And carry a travel-size hairspray to keep your hair in place all night.

June Discounts, Specials, and News

Summer is here, along with great discounts on products and services at Stacey’s Loft 26 salon in Chelsea, known by our brides as the home base of Once Upon A Bride. Come in and get your hair in perfect condition for your wedding and honeymoon. (And all those summer party nights and beach days, of course!) We even have the guys covered this month, with discounted gift vouchers for men’s grooming and products to celebrate Father’s Day.

Seamless Extensions
The trend this season is for long-hair gals to go for organic balayage highlights, while those with short styles are opting for seamless extensions to create a bohemian look. Seamless extensions are the newest, and most innovative and unique, hair extension system on the market today. They are weightless, invisible to the eye, and undetectable to the touch. You get the length and volume you want, and no one will ever know you’re wearing extensions. We guarantee you’re going to love the experience! Call 212-414-2626 for a complimentary consultation.

Featured Product: Imperméable Anti-Humidity Spray by Oribe
10% off in June!

Oribe’s Imperméable anti-humidity finishing spray prevents frizz on the sultriest of days (and nights), protecting sleek blowouts and perfect curls alike. Receive a 10% discount on Imperméable at Loft 26 throughout June 2013.

Father’s Day Special: Discounted men’s gift certificates
Treat your man to a gift certificate for grooming at Loft 26. He can come in for a great summer haircut and head home with new luxurious haircare products. Throughout June 2013, buy a man’s gift certificate for $60 and he’ll receive $80 value of services and products.

Happy Hour Continues
Girls are making the most of our summer Happy Hour services, getting ready for their nights out with shiny, moisturized blowouts and shimmery makeup. Come in, bring a friend, and sip Skinnygirl cocktails! Happy Hour continues through August, Tuesday to Friday, 4pm to 7pm; $40 for each service.

Stacey’s News
Hair this summer is all about headbands, hats, and barrettes that add the final touch to your outfit. Stacey, who is Bethenny Frankel’s longtime stylist, shared her top picks for this season’s hottest hair accessories over on Bethenny’s site. Check it out to get some inspiration for your summer look.

Schedule your next appointment now by calling the salon:

Loft 26 Salon
122 West 26th St.
New York, NY 10001
12th Floor

212.414.2626

info@loft26salon.com

Romantic bridal style: Ashley and Zach’s South Carolina wedding

Our bride Ashley chose a classic, romantic bridal look for her wedding at the elegant Sanctuary hotel at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. Her gown was amazing, with a lace bodice and skirt with flowing, frothy ruching. A soft, romantic updo was the perfect choice to complement the dress and her veil.

A pearl brooch at the back of her hair teamed beautifully with her pearl bridal jewelry and the light, creamy tones of her bouquet.

On this October weekend at the South Carolina seashore, I knew humidity was likely to be an issue. So I went prepared with all my luxe Oribe products, especially the anti-humidity hair spray Imperméable, which prevents frizz in even the sultriest weather.

Ashley’s makeup artist was Veronica — you might know her better as “Rara” on “Bethenny Ever After,” as we work together as Bethenny’s hair and makeup stylists. Veronica went with a clean, fresh palette and light pink lip for Ashley, with a smokey eye for a bit of drama.

 

 

Bridal hair trends, tips, and tricks: Stacey’s expert advice to Oribe

Because it’s so important that a bride’s hair is in perfect condition on her wedding day, we use Oribe luxury haircare products. Our stylists swear by Oribe’s line of conditioning gels, oils and sprays that hold, and skincare-grade shampoos are all lightly scented with specially commissioned French perfumes.

So we are honored that when Oribe wanted to find out the latest bridal hair trends and tips, they called upon Stacey. Now we’re letting you in on their Q&A session. Find out what to watch for in the coming seasons, and how to get your hair in gorgeous condition for the day you walk down the aisle . . .

What are some of the top bridal hair trends for summer 2013?

Braids are still really in, with fishtails being the most popular. Brides are opting for side parts over center parts and hair that’s clean, youthful, and smooth. We’re also seeing a lot of sleek updos that lie low on the nape and don’t have as much texture as in previous seasons.

How do you determine what style to do on a bride?

I first get to know her personal style—what she wears as an everyday look and what she does for the weekend. You don’t want to stray too far from who she is. I then look at the dress and figure out something that matches both the style of the gown and the bride’s personality.

What do you do if a bride asks for a look that you don’t think will work for her?

A style can look completely different depending on the person’s face shape, hair color, texture and more, so what works on a celebrity or a friend may not work for you. I ask my clients to only bring in pictures of people with at least their same texture and hair color. If they bring in options that won’t work, I try to present similar styles that I think would complement them and their dress.

What styles work best for various dresses?

If the dress has a high neck, hair should be up or off to the side. I suggest a low ponytail, chignon, or side braid. For a sweetheart neckline, I like to see the hair down to minimize the amount of skin showing–too much skin can distract from the beauty of the dress. When a dress has an asymmetrical top, it’s important to maintain balance. Contrary to what you may think, you want to style the hair on the side that has the strap or the most weight so that you don’t confuse the eye and force it to choose where to look.

How can brides inject some personality into a more traditional look?

Accessories can really help add a bit of the bride into the hair. Flowers or something meaningful like an antique brooch can add a special, symbolic touch.

What about bridesmaid hair? How can the bridal party’s style complement the bride’s?

The bride’s hair should dictate her bridesmaids’ styles. I like for everyone to have a similar vibe but with slight variations. For example, if everyone is wearing their hair half up, you can modify the look with braids, twists, and more.

What are some of your tricks for keeping hair in place from the walk down the aisle to the last dance?

First of all, brides should always arrive with day-old hair; styles stay in better when the hair has some oil, and overly washed hair can be slippery. If a bride’s hair is too silky, the stylist should use Dry Texturizing Spray to add some texture and cut the gloss. It makes it much easier to work with the hair and helps secure pins.

How can brides prevent helmet head from too much hairspray?

Everything should be done in prepping the style so that the hairdresser doesn’t have to “shellac” it at the end. Using the right products and tools while prepping the hair is essential to getting a style that looks natural and stays in all night. You should only need a light misting of hairspray at the end.

How can brides prep their hair for the big day?

I give the bride shampoo and conditioner samples at our initial meeting and encourage her to use quality products to get her hair into great shape for the wedding. If the bride needs cut and color services, I recommend doing those two weeks beforehand—that allows time for any necessary fixes and gives you time to re-book if your stylist or colorist happens to get sick and cancel your appointment.

How can brides prep for bad weather?

Always go into your wedding day with two options that you love—one for good weather and one for bad. A lot of girls will go for something slicked back out of fear that it will be humid and their hair will frizz, but it may not necessarily be the style they’ve been dreaming of. Make sure your stylist knows both.

How can brides touch up their hair throughout the night?

If hair starts to fall out or fall flat, have a few products handy to refresh your style. I like to give my clients Oribe purse-size sprays for touch-ups.

Stacey’s Top 10 Bridal Hair Tips

Planning a wedding is stressful enough; the last thing you need is a bad hair decision sabotaging your special day — one that will be documented for eternity. Do you go with an accessorized updo, a braided twist, or loose and luxurious curls? There are so many choices, but it needn’t be overwhelming if you follow my top ten tips for preparing for your hair trial and wedding day. I’m sharing this over at bethenny.com too — everybody deserves beautiful hair on their wedding day!

1. Show and tell. 
On the day of your hair trial, bring anything you think will help your stylist understand the looks you love or the style of your wedding. Have a friend take a photo of you in your dress at a fitting. Bring a swatch of fabric if you think that will help. Bring pictures of brides, celebrities, models — anyone whose look inspires you.

2. Enhance your unique beauty.
When you’re finding pictures to show your stylist, try to find ones that don’t stray too far from your own look and style. If you are the kind of girl who loves having her hair down and flowing, maybe you don’t want to go for a sleek updo — and vice versa. I think it’s best to go with the look you normally go for when you dress up for an occasion, and then glam it up a notch for your wedding day.

3. Be open.
Your hair trial gives you the chance to live with a look and discover whether you feel comfortable with it. If your hair artist suggests looks that you hadn’t considered before, don’t feel pressured to follow their advice, but while you have their expertise at your fingertips, you may as well give it your consideration.

4. Accessorize.
There are so many great hair accessories available now to add a gorgeous accent to your wedding hair. It will depend on the look you’re going for. For a more classical look, you might want to wear a Swarovski crystal brooch. Jeweled barrettes can be great. Some of my favorites at the moment are bird-cage veils, feathers, and unstructured fabric flowers, which go beautifully with more flowing, playful gowns.

5. Extend yourself.
Don’t shy away from having hair extensions for your wedding day; it’s way less of a drama than it may sound. And no one needs to know — it can be our secret! Extensions are great if you want a little more length or fullness, or if you or your artist is worried about your hair holding a particular style all through your wedding day. Even if your own hair falls, the extensions won’t.

6. Keep having regular haircuts.
At your trial, your artist can give you guidance on whether you need to grow your hair. If your hair is very long or unlayered, it can be difficult to manage and style, limiting the looks your artist can show you at your trial. Because Once Upon a Bride is based at my full-service salon Loft 26, we can take care of your hair right up until your wedding day.

7. Don’t get your hair cut just before the wedding!
It’s better to be safe than sorry, so avoid having a cut too close to your wedding. Especially avoid a radical change of style.

8. Look after those locks.
Pay special attention to hair care in the weeks before your trial and wedding, so that your hair is shiny and healthy. If you’re unsure of the best products for your hair type, consult with your stylist.

9. Be product-free on the day.
On your trial day and wedding day, have clean, dry hair. Avoid using a lot of conditioner that morning, especially a leave-in one. Stay away from silkening products that weigh your hair down and make it slippery to work with.

10. Be flexible.
Say it rains or a wind suddenly springs up on your wedding day, and that down style you had your heart set on just isn’t working. Don’t worry — last-minute changes can be okay, so long as you and your artist are prepared. When you come in to Once Upon a Bride for a trial, your artist will show you a couple of styles and variations so that you have options on the day.

Create your favorite Bethenny hairstyles: Stacey shows you how

Girls ask me all the time how they can achieve the same looks as the gorgeous Bethenny Frankel, whose hair I have been styling for years for her photo shoots and TV shows. So I shared my secrets over on bethenny.com, and now you can create the same styles at home.

Photo: Forbes.com

I wanted Bethenny to have luxurious looking hair, so I went old school and used electric rollers. They are best when used on clean and dry hair. Take 1-inch sections, spray the section with a wet hairspray to dampen, and then put in the electric rollers. Spray the set with a strong hold hairspray and let the rollers stay in for 30 minutes.

Trick: The wet spray will allow the hair to form the shape of a large round curl while drying on the roller.
Favorite products for this look: Paul Mitchell Sculpting Spray, Sebastian Shaper Hairspray

 

Photo: Getty Images

On wet hair I applied a clear gloss so my basic blow dry would be shiny. I added a root lifter to give a slight lift at the root, so hair would not be flat. I dried hair 80% and then used a round wooden brush in large sections to achieve a smooth, basic blow dry.

To keep her trendy and stylish, I added hair extensions that were 2 shades lighter than her hair color.

I placed a few throughout her hair so I could achieve an ombre highlight (dark to light). This is a bit more edgy for Bethenny to wear on a regular basis.

Trick: Buy clip-on hair extensions (easy to use) one or two shades lighter, and only use a few pieces. You won’t harm the hair with bleach and can create a new look in seconds.
Favorite products for this look: Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Oil, Oribe Shine Light Reflecting Spray, Oribe Root Lift

 

Photo: Bethenny/Warner Bros.

To achieve the best sexy waves, I always ask Bethenny to show up with day-old hair. Hair then has some texture already and will not be so clean, slippery and fresh. I spray hair with a hairspray to get the hair prepped and texturized. Add a dry shampoo spray at the roots for a clean boost.

I use my wand iron throughout the hair and alternate my section size. For instance, the first row, I take an inch section and then the next row I take a 2-inch section. This allows the hair to have more of a flow. I use a wand and not a regular clip iron to achieve waves because when using the wand you will not curl the ends. If you only have a regular iron, then you want to leave at least one inch from the bottom out of the iron so the ends are straighter and not curled. To achieve the prettiest waves, you want to remember to always wrap the hair away from the face on both sides.

Trick: Freshly washed hair and over-conditioned hair make it harder to get waves and won’t hold or last. Work on dry, one day old hair.
Favorite product and tools for this look: Rene Furterer Naturia Dry Shampoo, Sedu Blow Dryer, Sedu Wand Iron

 

Photo: ©PA Images/Scott Gries/Invision for Skinnygirl/AP

This style is great when you have time to indulge and pull out all of your tools. I start with wet hair, and apply a root lifter and gloss to the ends of the hair. I use a large round metal brush in big sections so I can achieve a full body blow dry. I use electric rollers on the top section to get a full voluminous look.

I then section hair in horizontal rows and alternate two sizes of curling irons. After I wrap each section on the iron, I wrap the hair up in a barrel curl and clip at the root and let sit in a set. Once I am done, I spray hair and let set for at least 30 minutes.

Trick: I use a 1-inch and a 2-inch iron.
Favorite products for this look: Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Oil, Oribe Root Lift, Oribe Hair Spray

Bright spring color inspiration: Nicole and Steven’s Charleston wedding

I am a total New York girl and love the city in any season — but it was really a joy to hop on the plane for Nicole and Steven’s outdoor wedding on the waterfront in Charleston, South Carolina. Nicole had chosen to go with bold colors for her flowers and her bridesmaids’ dresses. It may have been February, but those splashes of red, pink, and orange made winter seem far, far away.


Style icon Blake Lively was the inspiration for Nicole’s hair. I used Ombré hair extensions to boost length and volume. With my favorite tool, the Sedu curling iron, I created a flowing, natural-looking wave. And then I styled Nicole’s hair into a side ponytail with a stunning bright flower accessory.

Airbrush makeup gave Nicole a long-lasting and flawless look. We went with a pink lip and light eye shimmer in keeping with the springlike colors of the wedding. False lashes added a touch of glamor.

There were a lot of laughs as we got Nicole and her gorgeous bridesmaids ready in their cute kiminos, in the elegant suites at Lowndes Grove Plantation.

And don’t you just love the photos, by Aaron Lockwood, of Lockwood Studios? I think he did an amazing job of capturing the beauty and happiness of Nicole and Steven’s day.

 

Romantic bridal beauty: Megan & Bill, Rye, New York

I loved the style of our gorgeous bride Megan, who wed Bill on a crisp late summer day, wearing a crisp white strapless mermaid-style gown. Using all Oribe products and my trusty Sedu styling iron to set her blonde hair, I created a romantic low updo — my softer, more playful twist on a classic bridal style. I worked fabric flower hair accessories into the back, to complement the pearls Megan wore and the delicate floral patterned lace overlay of her gown.

Makeup artist Nichole accentuated Megan’s stunning blue eyes with a light champagne smokey eye, dramatic eyeliner, and a soft, natural light pink lip. To create this look, Nichole used a combination of MAC, Armani, and Make Up For Ever products.


Photographer Kathi Littwin did an amazing job of capturing the day, from the moment Nichole and I began preparing Megan, right through to the waterfront ceremony in the gardens of the Wainwright House in Rye, and the reception where the couple danced the night away.

Congratulations, Megan and Bill. Nichole and I are so happy to have been part of your perfect day!

Stacey styles Megan’s hair into a soft, romantic low updo (Photo by Kathi Littwin Photography)

Nichole puts the finishing touches on Megan’s makeup

 

 

Lynn & Jasen: Classic style at Capitale

We love a modern bridal take on classic style, like our bride Lynn’s when she wed Jasen at a church in uptown NYC, followed by a reception at the Bowery’s Capitale, formerly a bank and now a grand, lavish venue.

The wedding was opulent and filled with vintage-inspired details. So it seemed fitting that Lynn’s hair should be a twist on a classic low chignon. Once Upon A Bride’s stellar makeup artist Sofia created Lynn’s smokey eye with glamorous false lashes, teamed with a clean, pale lip.

We incorporated a stunning birdcage face veil with feathers into Lynn’s hair style, echoing the rosettes in her simply amazing Monique Lhuillier gown.

We loved getting to know this gorgeous, happy couple and creating the look Lynn wanted for her wedding day.


The fabulously talented Cappy Hotchkiss took Lynn and Jasen’s wedding photos.


 

Jennifer & Sean’s modern NYC wedding

Chilly days are on the way, but summer brides are busy right now getting all their style ideas together for wedding hair and makeup. So here is our gorgeous bride Jennifer, who married Sean overlooking New York’s Hudson River. Makeup artist Sofia and I helped Jennifer get ready at luxurious Soho House, in the Meatpacking District.

Because it was summer in the city, I went with some free-flowing extensions for Jennifer’s blonde locks. A floral hair accessory accented the light and airy skirt of her gown. Sofia complemented this with a natural bronzed shimmery summer makeup look.

The look of the wedding was modern but a bit whimsical. Jennifer and Sean’s palette of black, white, and pink was stunning. And, really, who couldn’t love the fact that their pooch was part of the wedding party and got to wear a pink necklace that matched the bridesmaids’?

With photos like these by Jenny Ebert, using the amazing backdrop of the High Line, it’s no wonder The Knot magazine featured the couple. Thank you, Jennifer and Sean, for making us a part of your day.

Fall wedding inspiration: Rachel and Zac’s Vermont wedding

Our bride Rachel showed us that for fall weddings, it’s more than okay to go beyond an earthy harvest-time palette and opt for something striking and gorgeous . . . like sapphire blue, in her case. We love the amazing patterned Douglas Hannant gown with bold blue accents that she wore, not to mention those stunning blue jeweled Manolo Blahniks.

Rachel and Zac got married on a perfect fall day at the Vermont home of one their parents. The home has an old stone wall and stately garden, which inspired Rachel and Zac  to bring a touch of nature into their wedding style: it was English Garden meets Great Gatsby.

Once Upon a Bride stylist Stefanie worked with the organic floral patterns in Rachel’s gown and put her beautiful long hair into a classic low chignon. Stefanie gave it a modern twist by braiding the sides and adding a fabric flower hair accessory. This wedding hair style worked beautifully with the chic little fascinator Rachel wore for the ceremony.

Our makeup artist Sofia picked up the tones in Rachel’s gown and flowers and gave her a smokey blue eye, complemented with a soft pink lip, for a natural bridal makeup look with a touch of glamour.

The effect Rachel and Zac were going for with their wedding look? Understated elegance. Check out these stunning shots from Daria Bishop Photographers, and I think you’ll agree that they achieved that, and more.

For even more inspiration from Rachel and Zac’s Vermont wedding, go to Style Me Pretty’s gallery.











Classic Bridal Style: Meghan & Marc

As inspiration for those who dream of creating a classic wedding hair and makeup look, I want to share with you the wedding pictures of our beautiful bride Meghan. With the Hudson Valley’s Wainwright House — which is modeled on a real 17th century chateau — as the backdrop for her wedding to Marc, it was only fitting that she went with a timeless, elegant bridal style.

We styled her lovely blonde hair in a soft, romantic updo accentuated with a jeweled bridal hair accessory. The effect was stunning with her simply amazing long bridal veil and the train on her Vera Wang gown. For Meghan’s makeup, we went with a natural look and soft pink lip color — so pretty with the roses in her bouquet!

So, enjoy these gorgeous images from Robert and Kathleen Photographers. On Style Me Pretty, they tell a beautiful story about how they witnessed Meghan and Marc’s love for each other on the wedding day, and you’ll also find more of the couple’s wedding pictures if you want to soak up more classic bridal style inspiration!
















Wedding Hair Inspiration from Style Icon Audrey Hepburn

When inspiration strikes our friends at the boutique wedding planners Bellafare, we know we’re in for a treat. Their vision? To create a modern yet timeless winter wedding shoot with a crisp, stylish black-and-white palette.

Classic New York style with a contemporary twist was the look they were going for, so Once Upon a Bride’s hair stylist Angela worked with the model’s long blonde hair to create this chic updo finished off with a white retro fascinator. The effect was very Audrey Hepburn, circa Breakfast at Tiffany’s!

We love the stunning black bridal gown, which brought a touch of high fashion — just perfect for a shoot at the Lincoln Center, the home of New York Fashion Week. And Jen Huang‘s work as photographer was, as always, amazing.

For more inspiration for a chic bridal hair style à la Audrey Hepburn, or a black-and-white wedding palette, check out Style Me Pretty‘s gallery for this unique shoot.





















Cagney and Zack’s Southern style, Charleston, SC

This past weekend, I headed off with my stellar makeup artist Veronica – you may know her as RaRa from Bethenny Ever After — to that most elegant of wedding destinations, Charleston, South Carolina. (By the way, girls in the Charleston area: Once Upon a Bride has just opened a branch in your beautiful city!)

We were there to style Cagney for her wedding to Zack at the amazing Lowndes Grove Plantation, an historic estate on the banks of the river in downtown Charleston. I love that Cagney had two different hair looks for her wedding day: first I created a classic Southern belle look using long hair extensions with a wave. And when Cagney walked down the aisle we went with a side up-do that complemented her sheer white veil beautifully.

Veronica brought out the bride’s own glowing beauty with a couple of different makeup palettes, especially accentuating Cagney’s eyes with a dramatic look including luscious eyelash extensions.

My new friends at Southern Protocol wedding planners did an incredible job of making this a wedding to remember. The color scheme was exquisite — love the bride’s magenta Queen Anne sofa on the lawn and the flower girls’ tutus! And Paige Winn did a phenomenal job of capturing the whole event.

Thanks for making us a part of your day, Cagney and Zack — you are the sweetest couple. Congratulations!