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

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.

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.