*pronounced mah-BOO-hi and is an expression used to exclaim “long live”.

It’s hard to believe that six months ago I introduced myself and Mark to the Weddingbells online community and now I’m saying my farewell. In that time, you’ve learned quite a bit about our Filipino heritage from the ceremonial traditions to the superstitious beliefs. You’ve followed me through the gong show that was the hunt for my dress, hopefully received some makeup inspiration and learned about the difficulty of coming up with a cake design.

When I entered this contest, my head was still floating high in the clouds from the proposal. You know what I mean: the perma-smile plastered on your face, you walk as if you were part of a ballet and you find every excuse to talk about the proposal. I couldn’t help but jump at every opportunity to tell my proposal story and this contest was just another chance to relive the proposal. I was completely gobsmacked when I was contacted by the Weddingbells staff and the rest is history.

This has been such an amazing experience; one that I will cherish forever. Almost every bride has given me the same advice, “Enjoy your wedding planning and take it all in. It’s over far too soon.” Well this experience has not only given me a place to document my wedding planning, but to help me really appreciate so many little things in life that we often take for granted. In preparing my dedication post for Mark, I spent quite a few days looking back at how our relationship had begun and how it evolved. A few posts later, I was dumfounded that 20 years ago, Mark and I were in the same church dressed in similar outfits as we’ll be wearing on our wedding day – it was fate!

As this journey has been shared with Mark, he’s written a few sentences of thanks:

Hello everyone, this is Mark. I just wanted to say a brief thank you to everyone. To all of Judith’s faithful readers, we appreciate you all following along for the last six months. Judith and I are nothing but thankful for all the support you have given us. Whatever the outcome of this contest may be, this has been a great experience for us both.Thank you all again!

To the staff at Weddingbells: Thank you for such an amazing opportunity. You’ve given me such a great wedding gift; one that I can proudly say is one of only seven across Canada, the chance to document such a crazy journey. May the next 25 years be filled with great success, ever growing popularity and prosperity. Thank you.

To the readers: Thank you for sharing this journey with me! It has been so much fun interacting with you. I will truly miss it.

To the six bloggers: CONGRATULATIONS ladies! Your posts were so entertaining to read and I’ve learned so much from them. I wish you all the best for whatever the future holds and may your marriages be filled with an abundance of laughter and the “butterflies in your stomach” kind of love.

To my friends and family: I LOVE YOU ALL! The amount of encouragement either in the comments or in person have truly humbled me. I could not have done it without your encouragement and support. Maraming, maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat.

To my daughter and Mark: I cannot thank you enough for loving me like you both do. I am looking forward to such a bright future and I’m so excited that it is with you both, that I get to share it with. Love you Bey and Booger :).

“I would thank you from the bottom of my heart, but for you my heart has no bottom.”  ~Author Unknown

Many of the other bloggers have expressed the importance of finding a photographer that will not only fit your budget and style, but will also deliver stunning photographs that you can enjoy for many years to come.  Pink Elephant Photography and Design not only delivers the style we were looking for, they are also friends of the family. Casey and Jojo (yes, just like one of my favourite R&B groups) are a husband and wife team whose unique style caught our eye. Not only do they take great photographs, their artistic use of photo-manipulation was what sold us on these two.

I knew right from the day we were engaged where I wanted to take our engagement photos: at my work! Okay, as lame as that sounds, the building I work in is a state of the art, eco-friendly building that’s won many design and ‘green’ awards all over the world. Mark thought I was crazy but after seeing the building, he agreed. Manitoba Hydro Place is Manitoba Hydro’s brand new building in downtown Winnipeg. This building uses the latest technologies in sustainable energy which makes it not only functional, but aesthetically pleasing in a minimalistic/simplistic style which is very much “us.”

Our first meeting with Casey and Jojo had us questioning the need to have an engagement session as we both were trying our best to keep costs down. Here is what they had to say:

Judith & Mark: Why are engagement photo sessions necessary? Is it just a way for photographers to make more money or is there a practical use for them other than having photos for ‘stationery’ use (i.e. Guest book, Save-the-dates etc.)?

Pink Elephant: Engagement sessions (E-sessions) are a great way to get to know the photographer and help the couple become comfortable in front of a camera. Couples are far less nervous about having their pictures taken after their e-session. For us it’s definitely not a money grab by any means; e-sessions are included in all of our wedding collections because of how important it is to create that bond with our clients.

It’s also nice just to have that memory of being engaged as most couples seem to let that time go.  E-sessions are a great way to forget about the planning and just enjoy each other while documenting the love between the couple that they can cherish for years to come.

J&M: Can the couple come up with their own concept? Or is that decided by the photographer?

PE: Concepts and locations should ultimately be the couples’ decision, however photographers have a great deal of experience and would be more than happy to help you make your decision. It’s always great to discuss this with your photographer ahead of time so that everyone is on the same page.

J&M: What is the best location for an engagement shoot?

PE: Try to play up your personalities. Outdoor shots in natural light are timeless. Natural light is great because there is no need for extra lighting along with the overhead that comes with that (extra equipment, set up, light adjustments etc.). Sometimes the weather just doesn’t want to cooperate so be prepared to have a back-up plan or reschedule. For indoor locations, select a location with many points of interest: bright colours, great architecture and big windows. A great photographer can make any location work and if you’re unsure, talk to your photographer for ideas. They are a wealth of knowledge.

J&M: Any other tips?

PE: Speak up if you have a vision or idea before or during a shoot.  Your photos are going to be memories that will last long after everything else has faded so work with them to ensure that the photos are exactly what you wanted. Lastly, have fun!

Casey and Jojo are talented photographers who are so easy to work with. We felt so comfortable with them that almost the whole entire shoot, Mark and I were giggling and joking around with each other. We are so pleased with the photographs that we are excited to see what our wedding photos will look like. Thank you very much Pink Elephant!

We are entering the final stretch of this wonderful contest and there’s one more post left. Is there anything about me and Mark that you were wondering about before we say our good-byes?

For more of our engagement shoot, please check out Pink Elephant’s Blog.

{Some of Charlie’s beautiful creations.}

It’s not a secret that one of my biggest passions in life is art in every form. So when it came to our wedding cake, it was only natural for me to want to design it. I had the craziest idea that I would make our wedding cake until Mark got concerned that I may be biting off more than I can chew. I tried to argue but when he said to let Charlie take care of it, I was sold on the idea.

Chef Charlie V., owner and head chef of Charlee’s Restaurant, is a close friend of ours for many years with Mark having gone to school with him since high school. We love his food and you can often find us dining and hanging out at his restaurant. What sold me on the idea of Charlie making our cake was the thought of just how much I LOVE his cupcakes! He makes the meanest, the moistest base and pairs it with a light, fluffy and not-too-sweet icing. Not only is he a whiz with food, he’s also hard working, easy to get along with and an all-together good guy.

My cellulite icing and the cover-up

Unfortunately, Mark couldn’t make our appointment, so, equipped with ideas from our conversation the night before, my daughter and I met with Charlie at his restaurant one evening. Sitting down with Charlie and answering some of his questions proved to be such a difficult task. When he asked, “What is one thing that sums up your relationship with Mark” I couldn’t give him just one answer. Why? Our relationship can’t be symbolized by one thing because there isn’t just the one thing. For some couples it’s a sport, others it’s a place or team or animal but for us—it’s everything. Mark and I are complete opposites in so many ways that we enjoy different things and live really separate lives during the week. This duality made it really difficult for Charlie and I to come up with a concept. It also didn’t help that my answers were very ‘yin and yang.’ We wanted simple and traditional or completely off the wall and unique. We didn’t want feminine looking patterns, yet we wanted some form of abstract decorations. We wanted elegant yet fun. As frustrating as it was to use these things as inspiration to design a cake, this is exactly who we are.

After a long brainstorming session, Charlie came up with a great design that got me very excited. The concept will be “our journey” and will mix traditional shaped tiers with pops of fun and abstraction. So put simply it’ll be half-traditional, simple and subdued and half wild, crazy and fun loving. I love it! It completely captures who we are. As for what it will taste like, we decided to go with vanilla cake and fresh berries. We are so excited to see what he’s going to come up with!

The food at Charlee’s Restaurant, nestled in the heart of Elmwood, can be described as classic, contemporary, comfort food. So what’s next for this awesome Chef? He may open up another restaurant having either a more formal, elegant feel or he could go down the route of ethnic fusion. Who knows, he may just follow his passion for patisseries and open up a store filled with sweet confections. Whatever he does, we’re sure to follow because when Charlie is in the kitchen, you are guaranteed to leave full and satisfied and you can expect to be craving his next creation mid-week.

What inspired your wedding cake? Is there one thing that absolutely speaks of the two of you?

Thank goodness Mark changed my mind because my first attempt at a cake started off as a disaster complete with cellulite looking icing but I was still able to salvage it. It ended up looking great—Godson LOVED it—and it actually tasted quite yummy. But it was stressful—Mark was right! Good call Bey!

{The centre of my Universe.}

I can say with complete certainty what my greatest achievement in life would be my daughter. I once read the following phrase and have since lived my life by it, “God gives not what you want, but what you need.” I was blessed with her presence at a time I thought was far too soon only realizing many years later that her life was exactly what I needed; when I needed her. She is the driving force behind my drive in life and to be a better person. While she may only be in her ‘tweens’, she has taught me lessons in humility, sacrifice and above all, unconditional love. My daughter is my hero and is the reflection of everything I am and everything I have only dreamed of becoming. Marrying Mark was not only something I’ve been looking forward to, it’s also been my little girl’s hopes for many years. The following is a little interview I had with her while snuggled up in bed together. *Please note that I may’ve had to change a little bit of our conversation so it made sense. She speaks ‘tween’ most of the time… haha!

She’s so selfless that she decided to donate her hair for cancer care.

What does it mean to you that Markies and I are getting married? *Markies is what she’s always called Mark.

One of the best things that will happen in my childhood. I’ve known Markies all my life; actually, I can’t remember when he wasn’t in my life and you’re FINALLY getting married.

How do you feel about Markies?

He’s very important to me. He’s fun, teaches me about sports and games. He teaches me what to do and what not to do. He encourages me to try new things and I know he loves you and me very much.

What are you looking forward to when I marry Markies?

We’re finally going to have a family. He’s going to be my step dad and I’m very happy about it. Having a step dad makes me feel like I’ll finally have my own coach. I’m also finally going to have a brother or sister. Oh! Getting my own room!!

Is there anything that scares you about the wedding or the marriage?

It worries me that you’ll run into mean people during your honeymoon. Punishment: I don’t know if it will be different. Oh and if you guys have a baby—DIAPER CHANGING! It will also mean we have to move away from Nana and Tata (Grandma and Grandpa) and I’ll miss them very much. *My daughter and I have always lived with my parents.

Anything else you’d like to say?

I’m extremely happy for you, mom. I know how much you really love Markies and he really loves you. It makes me very happy to see you happy. AND… I get my own room!!!

Mark and I have figured out a way to give her a very special role in our ceremony. When I walk down the aisle, I will have my mom and dad on either arm with my daughter in front of me, guiding my way to Mark. I’ve often called her my light; a beacon of energy that guides me through life, so it only makes sense that she should be the one to lead us to our future.

Do you have kids, special people or pets that you’ll be incorporating into your ceremony? I’d love to read about the special role they will play in your wedding.

My daughter is a loving, thoughtful and THE most generous child I’ve ever known. I love you my darling daughter.

*I chose to omit my daughter’s name for her protection and I ask those that know us to please also omit her name from your comments. Much appreciated.

{Proof that we were destined to be married.}

*We’re not really getting married in a chapel; I just really like that song. I was actually singing it after we met with the priest…hehe*

It was important for both me and Mark to be wed in a church so what better a church than the one that plays a big part in both of our lives? St. Edwards Roman Catholic Church is not only the church that my family has been attending masses at all my life, but it is also where Mark attended elementary school. Can you believe that Mark and I actually had our first communion’s together and had no clue? It’s true! A few years ago, I was flipping through Mark’s childhood photo albums and when I got to the photos of his first communion, there was something strangely familiar with the photo. I visually scanned the photo and sure enough, I found my young self in the very same picture! Many years since that photo, Mark will once again be in a white tuxedo and I will once again be in a white dress and veil; walking down the very aisle that has been the central point of my day dreams since I was a little girl.

After booking the church and being filled with elation, everything else was just a bonus; we could’ve gone to McDonald’s for the ceremony and it wouldn’t have mattered to either of us. However true that might be, our wedding will not just be a celebration of our union but also the union of our two families. Unfortunately, I don’t think there’s a McDonald’s that has a dance floor and can accommodate the number of guests we’re expecting.

{The Skyview Ballroom set up for our best man and bridesmaid’s wedding.}

Grand windows cover two sides of the room and many beautiful chandeliers adorn the Skyview Ballroom at the Marlborough Hotel. Mark and I chose this venue for its central location, its capacity to comfortably accommodate the number of guests we’re expecting, the big dance floor, their flexibility in allowing us to bring our own cultural dainties for the late night snack and last but not the least, for the breathtaking view. With all the curtains drawn, the quaint room is transformed into an opulent ballroom. The changing colours of the sky, the twinkling lights of the city and the stars will be the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable evening filled with tears of joy, laughter and crazy antics with our closest friends and family. It’ll be beautiful! Sorry McDonald’s.

Being a crafty person and wanting to minimize costs, I had it set in my mind to make all the bouquets, boutonnières, corsages and

Neil F. delivering a great speech with the beautiful prairie sky as the back drop.

centrepieces. In preparation for this post, I had made arrangements to take photos of the ballroom and thought it would also be a great idea to take a picture of the table with a sample of my DIY centrepiece. The week of the photo shoot, my DIY project was not coming together the way I was hoping and it left me in a state of panic. I was so emotionally spent over the centrepiece that I was in tears as I complained to Mark over the phone. So I took my photos without my centrepieces and tried my very best to just move on. As so many things in life, one door closed and another one opened. A week later, Mark and I had an appointment with a florist whom my MOH gave amazing reviews about. Monica is the florist and owner of Timeless Florals which she runs out of her home. Within minutes of beginning our meeting, I was amazed at how accommodating and wonderful she was. I came unprepared for the meeting except for a rough idea of what I wanted my bouquet to look like. She knew exactly what flowers I was talking about and quickly zoomed through every role in our wedding party making great suggestions along the way. “Centrepieces: What are you doing about your centrepieces?” Yikes! That was a touchy subject for me that week. I just made a funny face—or at least I felt I did—and just looked at Mark. He read me so well and decided to ask the questions for me as he rubbed my back to ease my anxiety. He told her what I was planning to do and what kind of a nightmare it proved to be. Monica looked at me and smiled as I tried my best to hide my mix of emotions. She made me an offer I couldn’t refuse; Monica would make me the centrepiece that I was wanting, rent me the vase and the rocks with set-up and take-down for much less than half the price it would’ve cost me to make it. How do you not accept that offer? Not only was it much cheaper than what my DIY project would’ve cost me, it will be stress-free. I can have my sanity back! Monica’s beautiful arrangements and great customer service will cost us a small fraction of what a retail florist would charge for all our floral needs and centrepieces for the wedding. Monica’s so great to work with that she agreed—and was even excited—to make me a sample of my bouquet and centrepiece using silk flowers so that I can photograph them for this post. Aren’t the beautiful? Thanks Monica!!

Did any of your DIY projects fail horribly only to find an even better or less costly solution?

*Writing this post and preparing the photo of our first communion has sent my heart a flutter. I can’t wait to marry you crazy pants—it’s truly fate and now there are photos to prove it. Love you!*

My beautiful mom trying her best to smile through the pain. They’ll be celebrating 32 years together.

My mom has always been the strength in my life. She may be tiny—standing at a whopping 4’11″—but boy can she make you shake in your booties when she’s angry. But she’s also a comedian whose laugh is contagious and we’re very close. One night, my mom and I were going through her things to see which pieces Mark and I could use in our wedding—I’m a little bit sentimental that way— and we got to talking about her wedding. “Look at my pictures, I’m so mad!” she says as I’m looking through her things. “Why would you be mad mom? You should’ve been happy!” Sure enough, some of her photos show her dressed beautifully in a white gown but with a huge frown. “Oh I was happy! It’s just that your Titas (aunts) made me put coins in my shoes! I was in pain from having to wear high heels to catch your dad (she meant so she wouldn’t be dwarfed by him), and in even more pain because I was stepping on coins, ALL DAY!” This led to a long conversation about traditions and superstitious beliefs that have been handed down through our family.- Coins in the bride’s shoe; my mom was told by her sisters that this symbolized prosperity.
- It is bad luck to try on your wedding dress and shoes. They say that it’s like “counting your chickens before they’ve hatched.” During the wedding ceremony:
1. The candle sponsors will light a candle (as described in a previous post of mine), that represent the bride and groom. Should one of those flames burn out during the ceremony, the corresponding individual will likely die first.
2. When the priest asks the couple to stand up or kneel down, the bride should always do so before her husband. This is to ensure that the husband is not completely dominant over her—a wish for an equal partnership.

My mom and I laughed the whole time discussing these very old superstitions. I found quite a few more on this blog that had me nodding at having heard them before. Do I believe or will I do any of these?

- The coins in the shoes would be too painful even though, unlike mom, I will be wearing ballerina flats; so that’s not happening.
- As for the wedding dress, I guess it’s too late for that since I’ve already tried on my dress. It’s a good thing I don’t believe in that specific superstition. I do believe—and Mark agrees—that he shouldn’t see me in my dress until the ceremony. That’s more of a want as opposed to a superstition.
- I’m not too sure how I feel about the candle light symbolizing who will die first; that would be the last thing on my mind on our wedding day.
- I don’t think I’ll have any issues with dominance from Mark because our relationship has always been balanced.

In my previous blog—Go Big or Go Home—I described some of the Filipino traditions that Mark and I will be incorporating into our Roman Catholic wedding ceremony so I thought I’d continue with even more traditions.

Bouquet Toss

There really isn’t a tradition here; it’s more of an observation worth sharing. When the DJ or MC announces the bouquet toss, all the women go in hiding. I kid you not. Women decide to employ the “If-I-don’t-make-eye-contact-I-won’t-be-called-on” strategy. *I see you! Nodding your head and giggling—you’ve done this before haven’t you!! * After some coercing, the bridesmaids make their way to the dance floor to help encourage all the single women to come up. Once the bouquet is finally tossed—it’s like the red sea parting—all the women scatter AWAY from the bouquet as if it were the plague. After much giggling, the bouquet is then forced into the hands of the woman that is secretly being set up with the guy who caught the garter. Sneaky match making skills hey?

Pièce de Résistance

The liveliest part of the evening; the garter toss. The music begins, “I’ve been really trying, trying to hold back this feeling, for sooooo long and if you feel, like I feel baby.. let’s get it on…” This is the part of the whole wedding that grooms are dreading! Not so much the act of removing the garter from his wife’s thigh in front of so many eyes, but in dreaded anticipation of what he knows is coming after the toss. All the men gather—single or not—around the groom, roll up their sleeves and start pushing each other making primal battle noises. The DJ or MC counts down and the groom is nervously gripping onto that garter for dear life. 3-“God please make this painless.” 2-“If I run now will they catch me?” 1-“Help!” The garter is thrown. Like it was in slow motion, there’s a moment of peace on the groom’s face before the harsh reality slips in and he is tackled to the ground by brute force. Men crowding around the groom, the groom scrambling to get loose and for a brief moment he thinks he’s free.  Then someone grabs his shoe, then another. Within seconds, the grooms shoes are flung in opposite directions, someone’s claimed his pants, swinging it in sweet victory above his head and the poor groom is left standing—in his underwear. Sounds a little rough right? Well I guess once a groom’s been through it, the next wedding is payback—men!

Weddings are a time to celebrate the new couple and wish them well in their new marriage and for us, it’s also a great day filled with tradition and crazy antics. There’s never a dull moment and we are really excited for our big day!

Does your family/culture have some unique wedding traditions and/or superstitions? Please share them with me as I’m always so fascinated by other family and cultural traditions.

One of the things that make Manitoba and its social scene quite unique is something that most provinces don’t normally do: the wedding social. If you have family, friends or have lived in Manitoba, I’m sure you’re quite aware that the wedding social is just like snow to Manitoba; they come hand-in-hand. In talking to some friends who were born and raised in beautiful British Columbia I realized that the whole concept of having a social is very misunderstood to outsiders. So here is an insider look at “The Winnipeg Wedding Social.”

A wedding social is one big party with food, drinks (non-alcoholic and alcoholic), silent auctions and sometimes entertainment. While a wedding social is normally held to raise funds for your wedding, it would also give Mark and me a chance to party with everyone as we are blessed with a huge family and many friends; raising funds is just a bonus.
I’ve put together some wedding social planning tips which I’ve recently learned as we’re heavy into our social planning.

Venue
When looking for a venue for a social, be sure to ask the following:
- What is the capacity (as stated by the Liquor Control Commission)?
- When are you able to have the venue for set-up time? This is important to know as there are many things that require setting up; the DJ equipment, auction prizes, food and ticket selling tables as well as any decorations
- What is included in the cost of the venue rental? For example: cups, ice, bartenders (and how many), set-up, take-down, alcohol drink mix, security, etc.
- Is outside food allowed in the venue?
- Do you have use of a kitchen?

These are just a few important questions to ask when searching for a wedding social venue. Mark and I knew which venue we wanted as we’ve been to quite a few over the years. The venue we decided on has ample free parking, it’s quite spacious and dealing with the manager has been great. Did I mention that capacity is 600?

Silent Auction Prizes
Silent auction prizes can be acquired through many different means: purchasing prizes yourself, accepting wedding party donations and approaching local businesses for prizes. Mark and I have decided to purchase the “Ultimate Grand Prize” as well as a few other prizes. We’ve also been quite fortunate to have many members of our wedding party volunteer to make a donation. When approaching local businesses for prizes, it’s a good idea to give them a donation letter when you introduce yourself. The donation letter typically has the following information in it: what the social is for and for whom, when does it take place, what you are asking for, contact information and a sample of your social ticket.

The prizes can range quite a bit; from a perfume basket and a lottery tree all the way to a front loading washer and dryer, to a car! I don’t know how either of the last two prizes are feasible, but I’ve seen it! Here’s a list of the typical prizes:
- Regular prizes: camping package, golf package, his and her packages, etc
- Grand prizes: big screen TV, gaming consoles, airline gift certificates, etc

You’re probably wondering what our “Ultimate Grand Prize” is? I guess you’ll have to just come out to our social and see. Hehe!

Food
A wedding social is not complete without food. The typical food fare for wedding socials are trays of cold cuts, veggies and dips and little finger sandwiches. Throw in the flare of our Filipino culture and you get a near endless buffet of yummy dishes stretching many long tables; very typical for a Winnipeg-Filipino wedding social. The food alone is well worth the cost of the ticket (which is normally $10). Curious about the spread? Well get ready for a mouth watering list: egg rolls, pancit (Filipino noodles), ensemada (butter and sugar covered pastries), fried rice, fried chicken and the list goes on and on. As both our families don’t show up to a party empty handed, they will be providing and coordinating our scrumptious feast. Another option would be to approach food vendors with your donation letter and ask if they’d be willing to donate a tray of food.

A sample of our social ticket.

The Party
The DJ will be spinning amazing tracks all throughout the night. Having a great time helping to sell alcohol, prize tickets and 50/50 tickets, our wedding party will be seen looking fresh in their custom designed, easy-to-spot matching T-shirts. It’ll be one great celebration with a bit of rowdiness, a lot of laughter and lots of dancing.

A wedding social is quite a lot of planning, possibly almost as much as the wedding itself, but in the end, it’s worth it. Ours will be a chance to celebrate our upcoming marriage with everyone who has ever been a part of our lives. Manitobans are quite a generous lot and when someone gets married, it’s a community event. We band together and support each other in any way possible—THIS is what Manitobans do!

There’s just one last detail that I’m still flipping and flopping about: Should Mark and I get dressed up in formal attire to stand out from the crowd or should we go casual and comfy? I’m leaning towards shorts and a custom Tee with funky sneakers but my girls want me to get dolled up. What do you say?

*Thank you to our best man, Wesly and his wife—our bridesmaid Elirose, for letting me use photos from their social. A special thank you to Caren and my SB girls as well—many thanks xoxo!

In the early stages of wedding planning I made a decision on something that seemed outrageous to some: I’ve decided to do my own wedding day makeup. How can I possibly have the courage to endeavour such a huge task? Simple: I enjoy and am actually obsessed with makeup application and products. This is kind of ironic and I’ll tell you why. Growing up in a predominately male family (two brothers and many male cousins), I was the girl that wore ripped jeans, T-shirts and runners and could be found chasing after my older brother: climbing trees, playing sports on the street and being the dummy for him to practice his wrestling moves on. Who would’ve thought that I would grow up loving anything remotely girly? You also couldn’t tell from looking at me that I enjoy playing with makeup since I run out of the house most days wearing glasses and not even a smidge of foundation. I’m not sure when I first became interested in makeup but I do know when it turned into an obsession—the year my BFFs gave me a M.A.C. gift card for my 20-something birthday. Ladies, I blame this all on you! Hehe, LOVE YOU!

For some women, applying makeup can be very intimidating so I’ve put together 10 tips that I’ve learned through my years of experimenting that I thought would help:

1. Spend some time researching. This could include:
a. Researching the best products for your skin type and complexion.
b. Read reviews on products from both makeup artists and regular women.
c. Watch makeup application tutorials on YouTube. I have spent quite a few hours watching many tutorials. What’s great about these videos are that they are shot by regular women so it’s easier to find videos that are very similar to your skin type/tone, ethnicity and face shape. **WARNING**: This is quite addictive and you may end up spending more time than you originally wanted to spend. You have been warned! Hehe.
2. Build your makeup kit a little bit at a time. You do not need to have every product all at once.
3. Samples are a great way to test out a product. Ask for samples, as most of the makeup counters will be happy to assist you.
4. To maximize your hard earned cash, purchase eye shadows in duos or quads. This is a great way to ‘test drive’ colours for about the same price as one colour. It also takes away the guess work of wondering which colours work well together.
5. If you’re an absolute beginner, begin with neutral colours or colours you’re comfortable with and work your way to more bold and daring looks.
6. Brushes can make a difference.
7. Don’t be afraid to experiment. Take your time and don’t rush your application.
8. You are beautiful! Makeup is meant to enhance your beautiful features and not disguise you. Play up the features that you love.
9. Practice, practice, PRACTICE!
10. Have fun!

I hope that these tips and tutorials will spark your creativity and encourage you to start experimenting. Every woman deserves to feel beautiful and it’s truly amazing what a little makeup can do to boost your self-esteem. Almost forgot to ask you something—Which of these three looks should I use for my wedding day: Neutral (first or second variation), Glowing or Purple (first or second variation)?

Good luck and have fun!

For more information on the products I’ve used in these tutorials, please check out my personal blog under the category “Bridal Tutorial.”