{Conversations With a Pro} Makeup By Pam

Image by Ryan Parker Photo

Makeup artist Pamela Pierce is a superb talent. Putting the "Pam" back in "pamper" since 2009, she has had many a satisfied, no, make that deliriously overjoyed, bride wearing her art on their wedding day! When I first met Pam, I had zero intention of hiring a makeup artist for my own wedding, but just chatting to her and witnessing her passion and enthusiasm for her craft changed my mind completely! Needless to say, I chose to hire Pam to make me gorgeous for my Big Day - and didn't she make me feel like a queen and look even better! I can now safely say, with absolutely no bias, that when it comes to makeup, I will use no other! And never again will I consider doing my own makeup for a special event. I am officially converted!

I've asked Pam to share a little about herself and her business with me, with us, so enjoy!

{Inspiration} Cotton Candy

We all know that a wedding is about the bride - if a groom manages to get his say in at all, he's learned the noble art of making his wife-to-be believe something is her idea! And so, this is a board for the girly girls out there! A soft palette of pastel pinks and purples and blues and greens to make any girl swoon and make any groom feel like he's fallen into a barrel of cotton candy! This uber-feminine palette is complimented by a gorgeously frilly cake, shabby chic bunting and soft, floaty bridesmaids dresses that any girl would be dying to put on! Add in a few fun elements, like twine-wrapped champagne glasses and cotton candy for dessert and you're sure to have a hit event!

The Perfect Bridal Shower: {Part 3} For the Fun-Loving Bride

Wrapping up this (albeit short) series of posts, let us not forget our friends who love a good party! Many brides out there would love to dispense with the formalities of a sit-down lunch and rather let loose with their girls and just have FUN without having to worry about offending Aunt Maude. If this is an option for your bestie (I know it wasn't for me - God forbid if I'd chosen to exclude the older generation!), here are a few ideas to give her a send off that will thrill her!

{Luau Party}

15 Superbly Elegant Centrepieces

I'm not going to say too much... Have some wedding centrepiece inspiration!

{Inspiration} Sage & Cream

I just love toying around with vintage elements - it is one look that just works! - and this board is no different. If you've been following, you'll have seen this gorgeous green and ivory bridal gown before (click here!), and it was too much for my delicate sensibilities - I just had to build a board around it! Sage is such a beautiful colour - just rich enough to be interesting, and just subdued enough to not be an assault on the eyes - and paired with cream, it is a match made in nuptial heaven! I've kept flowers simple with baby's breath and roses in the palest pink, et voila! A classy affair fit for any time of year!

The Perfect Bridal Shower: {Part 2} For the Traditional Bride

For some reason many bridesmaids tend to steer clear of more traditional bridal showers but, for the life of me, I can't understand why! I know that today's world dictate that we all be "so different", but in trying to be so different we all end up being the same! So I say why not try a more traditional approach to your bestie's bridal shower? It worked for generations past, so why not us?

There are still many brides out there, despite what magazines may have you believe, who perhaps don't yet live with their betrothed, and who would love to have a simple kitchen tea or the like to stock them up for their future home. So why not lavish your bestie with a shower suited to her. Too many bridesmaids make the mistake of customising the shower to their own tastes, forgetting that the day is about one person, and one person only - the bride! Just because you may enjoy throwing back tequila shooters, doesn't necessarily mean your bestie does! Maybe her idea of fun is shopping for a new colander or pot set. (I don't judge - kitchen appliances get me there!) So think about it before you book that stripper!

{Trend} Ombré: Yay or Nay?

ombré  (adj) \ˈäm-ˌbrā\  :  having colors or tones that shade into each other —used especially of fabrics in which the color is graduated from light to dark

It is unbelievably difficult to browse Pinterest nowadays without coming across at least 3,482 examples of ombré wedding elements each time! Before I joined Pinterest, I'd never even heard of this trend but, then again, Pinterest has an uncanny knack for uncovering and popularising the oddest of things...

I've thought long and hard about whether or not I subscribe to this particular trend, and my answer is as such - everything in moderation! I do believe that if one is going to create a whole wedding of ombré elements, we may as well take a trip down to Sesame Street, but a few touches here and there can add quite the impact to one's event.

{Inspiration} Romantic Red

When I was younger, I always loved the idea of a red wedding. The colour, especially in its darker hues, has forever been so striking to my eye! I used to say that when I got married I'd have a red, black and ivory wedding with touches of silver and millions of candles... Alas, when I found out that my sister-in-law was keen on a red wedding, I bowed out of the idea; but it is still a fast favourite of mine.

I thought I'd put together a board of the wedding I would have had were I to have married five years earlier than I did. It is often fun to reminisce, even if it is about things that never happened. 

And so, here is the would-be wedding of one Tamlyn Ghobril.

The Perfect Bridal Shower: {Part 1} For the Decadent Bride

It is no secret that when it comes to planning that perfect bridal shower, most maids of honour start to sweat bullets! If you've ever been bestowed this particular honour, you'll remember how you wanted to be the perfect maid! But planning the perfect send-off is often so much more difficult than we give it credit! What will the bride like, what is within that all-important budget? The questions never end! But once the theme is nailed down, things start to move a lot more smoothly...

I have been a maid of honour twice, and am now scheduled for my third go-around as a bridesmaid! But, as the universe would have it, I have not been responsible for conceptualising any bridal showers - that has been taken care of by brides, over-bearing mothers of brides, and of course, a very stressed maid of honour! But that doesn't mean I haven't had a few ideas of my own floating around in my head!

10 Irresistible Wedding Bouquets

One really can find the most spectacular things on Pinterest! 

Here are just a few of the gorgeous bouquets that I've come across on my travels through cyberspace! 

Don't worry, there are plenty more where these came from, and I have every intention of sharing them!

Enjoy!

{Inspiration} A Vintage Affair

A gorgeous vintage affair! Use a blend of soft pastels and old world elements to create an ethereal atmosphere.

Moroccan Chicken with Chickpeas and Apricots

It's recipe time!

See, I have this deal with Kes' dad, John - a newly established deal, not really set in stone, but a nice challenge nonetheless. Our washing machine broke about a month and a half back, and since the things are so damn expensive - and I refuse to take one on terms because it adds about R2,000 to the total price - we are currently without said Western luxury! But D-Day is nearing - the end of this month we will be getting my new baby!

This is where the deal comes in. As I've said before, love is a bestie letting her bestie come over to do her washing when her washing machine breaks. And this is what Kes did - it must be love! So for the past 6 or so weeks I've been heading over to Kes' place about once a week to do some washing. John is a big lover of food, and she happened to mention my Greek-style liver dish to him - and he was only too keen I make it! So I obliged. As we were finishing up dinner (which was a huge hit!), he discovered that I'd been been making use of their washing machine, and so has "demanded" a new recipe every time I go over as recompense. Since I go about every week, this is a bit of a challenge! Like I said, he loves his food, and he can be fussy! But I think I have one for this week - my Moroccan chicken with chickpeas and apricots.

15 Gorgeous Centrepieces You Can Do Yourself

If you've ever planned a wedding or special event, you know how costly they can be! One of the biggest numbers on your budget spreadsheet is bound to be flowers and decor. We all want our event to look fabulous, but not all of us can afford the luxury of high-end flowers and decor... That's why I always say, if you want something to fit your pocket, just do it yourself!

I've scoured Pinterest (my most trusty research database!) and come up with 15 gorgeous and inexpensive centrepieces you can do yourself! Enjoy and feel inspired!