What lip color did you choose for the wedding day?
I chose a pinkish nude shade with a matte finish for my lips to stay true to the “no makeup” makeup look I was going for.
What was in your wedding day makeup kit/pouch?
I didn’t want to worry about holding anything but my bouquet during my wedding day so I didn’t have a purse/bag with me. I had my HMUA on standby for the entire day to do some touch-ups during the photoshoot and before the reception. And since she used airbrush, the makeup stayed put until I had to take if off for bed!
What were the preparations you did for your skin prior to the wedding day? Did you go to a skincare center regularly? What kind of services did you have done? Is this something you would recommend to other brides-to-be?
I have been doing regular monthly facial sessions even before I got engaged because I have acne-prone skin, so I just continued to do that as a prep for my wedding. In addition to the regular facial sessions, I also invested on a good skin care set from a Korean beauty store. I would definitely recommend this to brides-to-be, especially because stress in planning can cause break-outs. Good skin makes a good canvas for your makeup artist.
“Good skin makes a good canvas
for your makeup artist.”
What’s the inspiration behind your wedding look? Did you have any hair and makeup pegs?
Simple and fresh would best describe the look I wanted for my wedding which is why I went for the “no makeup” makeup look. For my hair, I remember specifically wanting to have it in an up-do during the church ceremony but had my HMUA do a style that can easily be transformed to loose curls for a more relaxed feel during the reception.
Who designed your wedding gown, and how did you come up with the style? How long did it take to create or find the perfect wedding dress?
I had this one and only peg for the wedding gown I wanted and sought the help of my good friend, Ana Vitangcol, to tweak the design and create the gown as she sees best suits my personality. The silhouette of my gown is a mermaid cut so I really wanted the fit to be perfect. Good thing Ana is an expert in making dresses look like your second skin! Like my hairstyle, my wedding gown was made to have a second look for the reception. It converts to a tube dress by simply removing the sheer body suit with laced sleeves that is worn under the dress. It took five months to get the gown ready for the big day – long wait but worth it!
How did you choose your hair and makeup artist?
My HMUA was one of the suppliers we booked during a bridal fair. Luckily, we saw Jeanne Lu’s booth giving away a free trial that day so I decided to go for it. I loved how I looked so we booked her right away.
Did you have your nails done? If so, where? Would you recommend this nail salon to others?
I got my nails done in Dashing Diva. I went for a nude color for my nail polish and light blue for my toes to serve as my “something blue” for that day. Gel polish was used for both my hands and feet to avoid chipping. I do recommend Dashing Diva because they really know how to take care of nails, they have hygienic tools – everything is sterilized and the foot scrub is disposable. The salon itself is very clean and chic too!
What was your biggest takeaway from your wedding day? Do you have any beauty-related tips you’d like to share to upcoming brides?
Learn when to let go because you can’t control everything and not everything will go as planned. Just relax and enjoy every bit of your special day because more hard work would be needed moving forward!
As early as possible during the planning, it would help to be specific and know exactly what you want and how you want to look like during your wedding day. This way you’d have ample time to prepare for your skin, fitness, and in booking the right suppliers that will help you achieve the look that you’re going for.
What was the best beauty advice you received that helped you prepare for your wedding?
Best advice that I got would be to live a healthy lifestyle – get enough sleep, eat right, exercise, and always stay optimistic. It will help you have a clear mind and a good disposition, which you would need a lot of while planning a wedding.
How about in terms of fitness? What did you do months before the wedding to stay in shape and make sure your wedding dress fit perfectly? Did you enroll in a gym or fitness center? What was your diet like?
I focused mainly on eating healthy, avoiding sweets and salty food. I also enrolled for a gym membership in Anytime Fitness. I liked that they’re open 24/7 so I can go there super early in the morning or late at night. I also enjoyed the experience because I got trained by my then fiancé – now husband – Miko. It was a good bonding and a distressing activity for us during the wedding planning.
“Learn when to let go because you can’t control everything and not everything will go as planned.”