Her Big Day: Bridal inspiration

Showing posts with label Bridal inspiration. Show all posts

Thursday, July 21, 2016

The Natural Hair Bride

'Naturalistas' have taken hair inspo to a whole new level with stunning, natural hair styles for the most memorable runway a girl will ever walk- down the aisle to 'I do.' We recently came across natural hair bride, Nakyia, and HAD to share her stunning pics with you!

On June 11, 2016 Nakyia married her beau Jay in Punta Cana with perfect white sands and clear blue waters. The only thing more beautiful than this serene backdrop to their wedding was this flawless bride and her gorgeous, 'naturalista' bridesmaids! We love a bride who is her truest self on her big day, and this one is no exception!

Are you considering going natural or keeping your natural hair on your big day? We'd love to hear from you! In the meantime, hear from the bride herself on how she accomplishes her perfect tresses and be prepared to swoon over these pics!

"It was important for me to be myself on my special day just like any other. I'm proud to be a woman of Afro descent and I broadcast that fact with my hair. I have majority afro textured hair so achieving an afro is as simple as waking up in the morning. But to assure that it's fresh and moisturized I usually do the LOC method (leave-in conditioner, oil, and cream moisturizer) and either a flat twist out or two strand twist with perm rods on the ends. From that, I wake up in the morning pick out my hair and go. I don't spend much on products like I used to when I first started going natural but I do still try different products (just not the expensive ones). Right now my staple products are Cantu Moisturizer, LottaBody Moisturizer, Ms. Jessie's Leave In Conditioner, and any type of oil I can get my hands on. I ALWAYS have raw virgin coconut oil on hand for my hair and I eat spoonfuls of it as well."

Bride: Nakyia Whitty Groom: Javonte (Jay) Davis
Wedding Date: June 11, 2016
Location: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Photographer: HDC Photo

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Culture Fusion in Jamaica

Hi Bellas! We came across Muneera's wedding on social media and fell in L-O-V-E with all of the bright colors, the culture fusion and the beautiful backdrop of Jamaica's beautiful beaches, palm trees and skyline! This bride did such a fabulous job with everything- not only did she choose the perfect destination but everything from her wedding gowns, her bridesmaids' turquoise dresses, her stunning headpiece and the bindi (forehead decor worn in India) and henna that each of her bridesmaids were adorned with. This is by far one of our fave weddings (on social media of course, because we weren't there; but looking at these pictures will definitely make you wish you were there)!

Enjoy, xo.

Thank you, Muneera for allowing us to share your gorgeous pictures! They are so inspiring!!

Professional Photographs by Dwayne Watkins Photography (TeamDWP).

Originally published on Bella Bride Africa.

Sunday, August 23, 2015

How Will You Style Your Hair For Your Big Day

Hi Bellas! If you are at all like me (or most woman I know, for that matter), your hair is always a big topic...and it's an even bigger topic on your big day! So think about how you will style your tresses way in advance, so you are not stressed just weeks before the wedding.

The first question you should ask yourself is: what type of wedding is it? Will you have a traditional ceremony with a traditional veil (your hairstyle might determine the type of veil you wear, if any)? Also, will it be an indoor wedding or outdoor wedding, what are your wedding themes, etc. This might help narrow down your options when looking for different hair styles.

Second, how do you normally like to style your hair? Do you have certain 'habits' like side bangs, front bangs, etc.?
Also, are you planning on putting in clips (extensions) or a partial/full weave? Or will you use your natural hair?
When you answer these questions, it might be easier to narrow your search for different hairstyles.

For my wedding, I let my bridesmaids just leave their hair down with curls in it. I didn't want to choose a particular hairstyle because I wanted them to be comfortable with their normal hairstyles. Also, I am not a fan of the “polished look” so I asked that they stick to hairstyles that they are accustomed to- and of course they all went for the simple, hair down, look with some of them sweeping their bangs to one side.

For myself, (for the ceremony) I pulled my hair back in a loose, curly back bun and left my side bangs (I was going for a traditional look). The inspiration for this look was from a Jessica Alba pic I saw on the internet. I loved the romantic curls and twists that looked like a fancy bun with intricate weaving. To upgrade the look, I added crystal pins to the sides of my hair, near the bun and suddenly it was a sophisticated wedding day look! Thanks to my hairstylist, Rigat Habte of Hands of Artistry, we made this work!

For the reception, I went with a simple half up/half down style! The part of my hair that was up was very loose and fun! The inspiration of this simple hairstyle was from a Carrie Underwood pic that I came across online! I don’t think it was necessarily a ‘wedding’ inspiration pic of her, but I loved the look and it was perfect for me (she had the side bangs as well!).

If I can make any suggestions, based on my own experience- if you choose the loose, fun look, don’t forget about fly-aways! Make sure to use a good product that will keep your short pieces down in the heat or wind without making your hair hard. Remember to discuss this with your hairstylist during your trial!

Most importantly, during your trial, don’t be afraid to try out a hairstyle that you normally wouldn’t do- This is the time to explore and see what works best for you! Have fun with it!

One of my favorite places to look for hair inspiration is the RED CARPET! You will find everything from polished looks to fun and flirty looks!

Enjoy these looks, xo.

Originally published on Bella Bride Africa

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Turquoise Wedding Inspiration

Hi, Bellas! Turquoise is such a beautiful color with it's magical blue-green shade that not only looks good on all skin colors, but makes for a swoon worthy wedding color! Turquoise decor in flowers, linens and bridesmaid gowns are lovely; and even more lovely when paired with other complimentary hues!

Check out this Turquoise wedding from Betty and Dr. Bereket's Houston wedding held at the Bayou City Center.

Photo Credit: Sara Solomon-Kwende | Wedding Coordinator: Debora Yemane | Makeup by: AlexisBaddoo@gmail.com

Here is another example of how Turquoise can be beautiful with other bold colors such as purples and blues. Here is an example of how two bold colors can work really well together! Love this inspiration from our featured bride Selam.

And for a more Spring'ish look and feel, Turquoise pairs REALLY well with peach, coral and yellow hues! Check out this beautiful collage inspiration.

: Coral and turquoise statement necklace

And how about a Pop of Turquoise in this vintage lace wedding gown....!

: Peek-a-boo Turquoise

Fun Fact: did you know that Turquoise is French for "Turkish" as this valuable gem or stone was originally imported from Turkey. Also, in many cultures, the Turquoise gemstone has been cherished for thousands of years as a holy stone and a bringer of good fortune. Sweet! (Source)

Get Inspired, Bellas! xo

Did you have a wedding with a splash of Turquoise hues? Share your Turquoise inspiration with us here or email them to info@herbigday.info

Monday, August 10, 2015

A Same Day Surprise Proposal & Wedding

"I didn't want to say 'I love you' without being able to back it up with every fiber of my being." .... Meet Ryan Leak- 27 year old young man who pulled off the most amazing proposal of all time! A proposal followed by the actual wedding! Yes! The actual wedding! After 5 years of dating, Ryan told his girlfriend Amanda Roman he loved her for the first time, proposed to her and married her...all in one day!!

Just exactly how did he pull this off? Pinterest! Yes, Ryan found his girlfriend's wedding board, where he found the ultimate pot of Gold....more than 200 pictures of wedding ideas and inspiration that would become his guide to planning her dream wedding!

So over a period of one year, as his girlfriend updated her wedding board, Ryan stayed on top of her latest wedding inspirations and paid extra close attention to the details that she had desired.

In accordance with Ryan's plans, 100 guests flew out to Miami for the surprise wedding. In addition, Ryan flew out Amanda's favorite hair and makeup artist (simply amazing!) to get his bride ready for their special day!

So when Ryan finally got on one knee, the big question wasn't will you marry me, but will you marry me today!

Watch this amazing documentary and be prepared to bawl your eyes out! Grab your box of kleenex and enjoy! xo

One Day Habesha Weddings - A New Trend?

On July 27th, 2014 Bethlehem & Esrom tied the knot at the beautiful TPC Snoqualmie Ridge Golf Club while 200 of their family and friends witnessed a breathtaking ceremony as the couple became a part of the scenic masterpiece that comprised the beautiful Cascade Mountains of the Northwest!

As every wedding is unique and special in its own way, almost all Habesha weddings tend to follow the tradition of having a two day wedding affair; asserting the Eritrean or Ethiopian traditions and culture.

I believe there has been a turning point in how we celebrate Habesha weddings, especially with our generation, and the two day weddings just may be the first to be shelved. With creativity and a vision (and superb planning, of course!), I believe it is very much possible to successfully execute a one day Habesha wedding, incorporating the meaningful details of the culture into the day.

I believe Bethlehem & Esrom's wedding will be the wedding that is talked about for years to come! The simplicity, elegance and charm was just timeless! More importantly, not only did they make a sound financial decision, but they managed to step outside of the traditional norm (and stringent expectations) to appease their desires and thoughts for a dream wedding!

Hear from the bride herself about their decision to have a one day wedding, the difficulties it posed and how they managed to execute. Also, Bethlehem tells us her top Pros & Cons as well as whether or not she would do it all over again.

Find out what she said HERE!