Getting Engaged

If you havent got that Diamond yet...Here's one way!

Right and I have been engaged for many months now, and it’s giving us time to prepare for the wedding, adjust to each other’s idiosyncrasies, and figure out how to keep the future mothers-in-law on an even keel.  One way that’s a no-brainer was to make sure they got a Christmas gift that makes them feel special.  For the sake of diplomacy, we decided to give them the same three-stone Leo diamond pendant.  We got the fathers-in-law tickets to a NY Jets game. And  Right and I gave each other a weekend at the Ritz Carlton in Coconut Grove . ( I’m hoping he hands me a glass on champagne on New Year’s Eve that has some sparkle added to the bubbles.)

So, I feel really spoiled and really happy that I’ve found the love of my life.  My sister, the Diamond Diva, is still on the hunt.  But frankly, I think she likes it that way. The fact that she doesn’t have her eye on a guy she’ll spend the rest of her life with doesn’t seem to bother her.  Single and gorgeous in Manhattan -- thanks in part to spas like Bliss , workouts at Equinox  and haircuts at Frederick Fekkai Salon   -- doesn’t exactly leave her at home alone every night drowning her sorrows in espresso and brioche from Bouley Bakery .  But she’s just posted a new blog about a very successful matchmaker (if you’ve got the big bucks) in NYC that would lead me to believe she’s thinking of new ways to find love. 

If you’re still looking for love, don’t hang around the diamond counter at Kay Jewelers  , or Jared, or Tiffany, or anywhere else, because those guys are already taken.  Check out my sister’s new discovery… www.diamonddiva.typepad.com  and maybe, your New year will be happier that you ever imagined!

A Pearl of an Engagement Ring?!?

I’m a little worried for all you guys who are planning to get engaged around the holidays – or rather for the woman you’re planning to propose to.  I’m worried that you may be influenced by Leonardo di Caprio’s new movie, Blood Diamond, and get some crazy notion into your head that you shouldn’t be buying diamonds.

I can tell you this.  A pearl engagement ring won’t elicit that swooning response you’re hoping for.  And besides, according to the research my sister, -- the Diamond Diva   -- did more than 99 percent of diamonds are now conflict-free.  So, a lot has happened to prevent the trade of conflict diamonds since the 1900s civil war in Sierra Leone.

But don’t take my word for it.  Check out my sister’s blog and she’ll tell you where to go to find out all the facts about what the United Nations has done to prevent the trade of conflict diamonds.  And she may give you a good laugh at the same time. 

“Will you marry me” was, is and always will be best said with brilliant diamonds!   

A Guy's Guide to Diamond Buying

Ladies, we all know that at times our male counterparts can be a bit clueless. And not just in the “sorry-honey-I-forgot-to-put-the-toilet-seat-down” kind of way. But in the well-intentioned “I just don’t know what women want for Christmas” kind of way! Lately, I feel like I’ve been the “go-to girl” for helpless guys on the loose in the stores!

It started with a slightly panicked call from my father, who was out shopping for a present from my mother. The stakes are high this year, and he has to do serious damage control, since last year he presented her with a flannel robe and slippers! I wish I were kidding…I’m surprised they are still married! I told dad to stay put and we could meet at Starbucks for coffee to come up with a game plan.

Dad knew he had some serious ground to cover, so I told him the most appropriate gift would be diamonds. (By the way my mom is not an expert in the art of subtlety! She’s been dropping hints about diamonds in front of my dad left and right since Thanksgiving!)  I know many men may be in this position, and after being married so long it can be hard to come up with a perfect gift. But, trust me; you can never go wrong with diamonds! Not only do they express long-lasting love and commitment, they make a woman feel so special and fabulous. After I finished my peppermint chocolate latte, we decided to start the search for the perfect diamond present. Once we got to Jared’s, we found a gorgeous and irresistible five-stone eternity ring. Perfection for a woman he’s loved for eternity! I hope I get a ring like that brilliant and beautiful one from Right once we’ve hit the 30-year marriage mark. But right now, I’m happy to show off my brilliant Leo diamond engagement ring!  As I told Dad, you can get your wife that gorgeous scarf she’s been eyeing from Hermes  for her birthday—Christmas and Hanukah are the times to pull out all of the stops!

After I was done with dad, I was ready to go home and curl up into bed to avoid the cold weather and put on a chick flick (along the lines of Sweet Home Alabama) when I got a call on my Treo from Right’s friend Tommy.  He was desperate for a Hanukkah gift for his girlfriend.  With so much pressure from the eight days of gifts, he wanted the last one to be the clincher—something to take her breath away!  Again, I told him diamonds would be the perfect gift, but he needs to know something about diamonds before he puts his money down! I directed him to this handy guide to buying diamonds that he can download from the net.

After my day of helping out the men in my life, I couldn’t help but wonder who Right would be calling on to help with my Christmas gift. There are plenty of people he could rely on (like my sister, the Diamond Diva,  in case my hints for a three-stone diamond pendant weren’t clear enough. (In case your men are in the same position as the men in my life—I’d suggest talking to your girlfriends and pointing out the diamond ear studs that you’ve had your eye on!

But, while I think it’s easy enough to get us women presents, I’m under the belief that it is much harder to shop for your man. I’m lucky, Right’s not very picky and he is happy with any gift he gets—clothes, sports tickets, you name it he’ll like it. But I wanted to get him a really special gift as this is our last Christmas before we’re married, so I decided to go with a watch, since he’s been wearing the same plain leather timepiece since I met him. That way he’ll know it’s always time for diamonds!

The Holiday Compromise (With Diamonds, of Course!)

Holidays are always a joyous time, but they can be so stressful as well! It seems like there is so much to worry about—What to get dad for Christmas, which Nicole Miller dress to wear to the holiday party, how to survive the season without gaining 15 pounds. But, after you’ve got your Leo diamond engagement ring from Mr. Right, a whole other layer of stress is added to the equation…Whose family do you spend the holidays with?

Last year, Right and I tried to be a little too fair and split our time on Christmas between our two families. But, traveling back and forth was so exhausting that we barely got to enjoy our day! (Well, I may be exaggerating a bit here, I absolutely adore the Leo diamond studs  Right surprised me with!) But, I realized this year we were just going to have to pick a family and stay put! We decided whose family would win the mature way—rock, paper scissors. And so after losing three times in a row, it was decided Thanksgiving would be spent with my folks and we would spend Christmas at Right’s. So at Thanksgiving dinner, in between trying to keep our crazy Aunt Louise away from the wine bottle, and living vicariously through my single sister’s stories,  I managed to slip in the fact that I would be missing from this year’s Christmas celebrations. When my mother heard the news she put down the stuffing and was in complete shock that for the first time I would miss our Christmas party. I felt horrible because truth be told, I don’t know if I’m ready to make that sacrifice either! I mean, don’t get me wrong, I adore my in-laws—they are absolutely wonderful people and last year they even gave me the cutest pink digital camera  for Christmas—but being engaged (or married for that matter) is all about sacrifice and compromise.

We made it through the rest of the day just fine.  After our feast, my sister and I flipped through the pages of the my Modern Bridal magazine  since I’d like to get my bridal party gifts during the good Christmas bargains, and the boys gorged themselves on turkey and football. But, I still couldn’t shake the horrible feeling that I was abandoning my family on Christmas! So the next day, along with the millions of other Black Friday shoppers around Manhattan,  I dragged Right out at the crack of dawn to experience the busiest shopping day of the year. (He’s a lucky, lucky man isn’t he?) After a few hours of poking around Macy’s  for gifts for his family, I figured out the solution to my Christmas dilemma. Although it wouldn’t completely exonerate me from ditching the family on Christmas, we could surprise my mom with a beautiful piece of diamond jewelry to make up for it! So, a few hours and a lot of diamond browsing later, we found an exquisite three-stone Leo diamond pendant  that I know she will love. (Maybe in a few years, we’ll be able to afford the Ashoka diamond earrings  that have been on my wish list for what seems like eternity!) I know, giving my mom beautiful diamonds won’t make up for the absence of my smiling face on Christmas morning, but it can’t hurt, right? And next year when we spend the holidays with my family, we can go diamond shopping for Right’s mom. Sounds like the perfect arrangement to me! I think if Right and I can continue compromising (with diamond presents, of course,)  we will surely have a long and happy marriage!

Tom and Katie's Fairy Tale Wedding (Complete with Diamonds, Gowns and A Castle!)

Remember way back in 1998 when a young Katie Holmes confessed to Seventeen magazine, “I thought I would marry Tom Cruise when I was a kid”? Talk about a dream come true! Katie’s wish came true on Saturday when the overjoyed couple exchanged white gold Cartier diamond wedding bands in a majestic ceremony at an Italian castle.  (I’m sure her wedding band will beautifully compliment her five-carat oval-cut diamond engagement ring). With its many A-list celebrity guests and lavish setting—this is set to be the wedding of the year and I’ve got all of the details, down to the diamonds, of course! (My personal choice would have been a Leo, but nobody asked me.)

Let’s start with the famous guests who began trickling into Rome this week. The powered celebrity couples who flew in for the event included Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, David and Victoria Beckham, Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez, Jim Carrey and Jennifer Lopez and Brooke Shields and Chris Henchy. (I can only assume that my invitation was lost in the mail!) The couple’s families were also in Italy to celebrate.  Katie’s sister, Nancy was the maid-of-honor and Tom’s children Isabella and Connor were in the wedding party. Candles lit the perimeter of the 15th century Odescalchi castle and as these guests arrived in limousines to the sunset ceremony. Everything about this evening seemed to be absolutely picture perfect.  If you’ve logged on to any of the celebrity gossip sites, you have surely seen the stunning wedding picture the couple gave to the press. The bride wore a simply breathtaking off-the-shoulder Armani gown  with an ivory silk train adorned with Swarovski  beaded embroidery. (He couldn’t afford real diamond, like Elexese?  She also wore an ivory tulle floor-length veil and ivory silk shoes adorned her feet. The groom wore an Armani navy blue tuxedo. Even baby Suri was dressed in Armani—I wonder if she had baby Leo diamond ear studs  for the occasion!

After the ceremony, the party began. The night was kicked off with cocktails (my favorite part of most weddings,) then Italian hors d’oeuvres were served followed by a multi-course meal. For dessert, their wedding cake, a five-tiered white chocolate cake decorated with marzipan roses and studded with white chocolate chips, was served, and my mouth is watering just picturing the delicacy. Then the couple danced the night away with their nearest and dearest to the tunes of Italian singer Andrea Bocelli. To top off this amazing night, fireworks blasted off from the top of the towering castle, but were apparently lost in the fog.

After a whirlwind wedding week, Tom and Katie left the castle at dawn and headed off to their honeymoon in the Maldives. I know the couple has been the subject of intense media scrutiny from the time they came out as a couple in (where else but) Rome in April 2005. From Tom’s couch-jumping escapades on Oprah  to the birth of their daughter, Suri, it seems the press (myself included) has been poking fun of the pair any chance they get. But, maybe I’m becoming a softie because the details of the wedding has made me want to ditch my Free Katie t-shirt and jump on the TomKat bandwagon, because let me tell you, it seems like they aren’t going anywhere! By all accounts they are blissfully happy and if Nicole Kidman can wish them a “lifetime of happiness together,” so can I!

With all of this wedding talk,  I’m left to contemplate my own big day. While a lavish ceremony in a foreign castle would be an incredible place to tie the knot, to tell the truth I wouldn’t mind if I got married at the Little White Chapel (www.alittlewhitechapel.com)  in Vegas, as long as I had two things: a supportive and loving husband and a sparkling, brilliant Leo diamond engagement ring! While I may have to wait awhile before that magical day, I’m off to Bloomingdale’s for some retail therapy with my girlfriends.

Diamonds and Your (CHEAP!) Victor & Rolf Designer Wedding Gown

As I was walking down 5th Avenue today, casually window browsing for the beautiful diamond jewelry pieces on display in all their glory, I heard a dull roar coming from one of the blocks on 5th Avenue. As I drew nearer, I began to wonder where all the noise was coming from. Was Harry Winston showing off its holiday jewelry? Did Fortunoff bring their new model Petra Nemcova in to stir up excitement for their new diamond collection? But as I passed each of the stores, and continued to follow the noise, I realized the noise was coming from H&M on the corner of 5th Avenue and 51st street. As I neared the store, I asked one of the bystanders what was going on. She turned to me slightly aghast at my ignorance and with huge eyes said, “Viktor & Rolf are premiering their H&M line today, people have been on line for hours to be able to get in and buy their collection. They even have a wedding dress for under $400!”

Now I’m as excited about a good deal as the next person, so I rushed to my office to find out what all the details about buying a designer wedding gown for under $400! New York Magazine clued me in. Apparently people have been waiting in line since 2 am to buy one of four wedding dresses. Desperate to see the dress, I checked out H&M’s website. Now, I am generally a huge fan of H&M. I’ve purchased so many great outfits from the store over the years that I’ve worn for every occasion: work, weekend, dinner cocktails etc. But a wedding dress?!?! This I gotta see. So I signed onto H&M. All I can say is wow. Their website is great! They feature tons of great outfits, reviews of the hottest season’s trends and a whole section dedicated to Viktor & Rolf for H&M. I eagerly clicked on the picture, and there, as a small icon, was a wedding dress. I quickly clicked on the wedding dress, excited to view it as a larger image. And then I saw it. A hazy, gauzy, blousy cloud-like dress with a huge bow in the front. Not my style, but very designer, and VERY Viktor & Rolf. And all for the low price of $349. Those four women are very lucky. Lucky, but also determined. After all, standing in line at 2am to purchase such a dress takes A LOT of determination and motivation. Motivation such as buying your designer wedding dress for $349. Because after all, if you spend so little on your dress, you’re left with tons left over for your wedding day Leo Diamond Jewelry! Leo Diamond ear studs with a Leo Diamond three-stone pendant would complement my Leo Diamond engagement ring beautifully. Are you listening, Right?

From Diamonds to Digital

As you know, it all begins with the diamond, in my case the brilliant, sparkling Leo Diamond.  After that, the wedding preparations begin, and Right and I are well into that process now with our own wedding only six months away. I thought I’d thought of everything down to the party favors on the table, and then I read this from the Wall Street Journal:

To Thee iWed: Sizing Impact of Blogs,
Webcasts, Music Players on Nuptials
November 7, 2006

It is getting easier for brides to come up with the obligatory "something new" to round out their wardrobe on their wedding day. With iPods, Webcasts and wedding-themed blogs, nuptials are going high tech. How is the huge U.S. wedding industry greeting these changes? Usually with enthusiasm, though some ambivalence gets mixed in, too, judging by a chat with Diane Forden, editor in chief of Bridal Guide magazine.
* * *

So how is technology changing weddings?

I think technology has shaken up the traditional wedding. For example, a lot of couples today create their own wedding Web sites, so their guests can keep informed about the wedding plans. And many couples use the Internet for bridal registries. The beauty of doing so is that guests don't even have to leave their home to get gifts for the couple. We're also finding that the wedding Webcast is becoming quite popular. Couples will broadcast the ceremony on the Web to people who aren't able to be there. It is making weddings a global affair.

Is there a problem with that?

A wedding Webcast can be tricky. I don't think it should replace having your guests with you. I wouldn't recommend that couples say, "Let's just go off and get married and broadcast the wedding, because we don't want to have this huge, expensive wedding."

What about digital music?

A trend now is for couples to create their own playlists on their iPod, and use it for the music and dancing at the reception. I think this would work if it's a smaller, intimate wedding. But I think if you have a large crowd and you really want to have some fun, there is nothing better than having a live band or a DJ. It's much more interactive than you could get from an iPod.
But don't wedding bands and DJs play the same things at every wedding anyway?
There's probably a standard list of songs that are crowd pleasers. But you can work with your band leader or DJ and say, "Look, I really don't want you to play "The Macarena.' "
The wedding industry is often accused of trying to keep people spending lots of money on weddings. Some of the examples you have cited, such as using an iPod, are ways that people can keep costs down.

I think they are OK if you have a very limited budget and you want to have music at your wedding but it's not that important to you to have a DJ or a band. If it's going to be cost effective, then by all means do it. But think of what's important to you, and the kind of atmosphere you want. I certainly don't think couples should go into debt, or take out loans, to pay for a wedding.

With cameras and the like, people routinely go online to price shop. Is that happening with things for weddings too, such as gowns?

Sure. People are using the Web for just about every detail of a wedding. Brides are definitely doing comparison shopping.

Has that changed the economics of the business?

It's changing things. For band leaders and DJs, I am sure they aren't happy with couples starting to use iPods. And I think there is more competition among vendors. The savvy bride knows she can shop for better deals. She will still spend her dollars, but she will spend them more wisely. At the same time, don't forget there are about 2.4 million marriages a year. There are still going to be a lot of couples that will use a DJ or buy that Vera Wang dress.

Personally, I’m saving my iPod for the rehearsal dinner music.  As for webcasting the wedding… I think I’ll just send out a few more invitations!

How To Get A Leo Diamond of Your Own

My single friends, who are constantly oohing and aaahing over my Leo Diamond engagement ring, keep asking me how to make it happen for them.  I mean dating is one thing, but what really prompts a guy to take the plunge and make the big proposal?  Sure, he’s madly in love, but what actually gets him to that point?

1. She makes him want to be a better man
Stop making that face... any man who has a great girlfriend or wife will tell her that she makes him want to be a better man. She doesn't have to say or do anything; it just is that way. If he suddenly feels bad about how he treated her sister or finds himself trying to get his finances in order, he might want to think about his motivation for doing so. It could be love.

2. She loves him
If he has found a woman who loves him for who he really is and not who he pretends or try to be sometimes, he’ll want hang on to her. A woman who doesn't try to change him is hard to find. Of course, every guy has his slightly annoying habits, but if she really loves him, she’ll cope.
Another way to know if she really loves him is by observing the way she looks at him and treats him on an everyday basis. If the sight of him doesn't seem to faze her either way, and she doesn't really seem to care about what he has to say, she's either playing very hard to get, or sees him as just some guy. But if a surprise visit or phone call from him makes her light up, there's no denying that she loves him.

3. She gets along with friends and family
A great girlfriend will not only help his mom in the kitchen, listen to his dad's stories and hang out with his friends, but she will enjoy it. She'll make a real effort to get to know and love the most important people in his life. And she won't try to get him to ditch his best buds.
She'll actually empathize with his brother being dumped and suggest that they take him out to cheer him up. Not only that, but his friends won't roll their eyes and moan when he mentions that she'll be joining them when she gets off work (yes, women like this do exist).

4. She's nagless
There is nothing worse than a nag! A great girlfriend knows this and chooses her battles wisely. She knows when to speak up and when to let it slide. He doesn't want a girlfriend who will give him hell for leaving a couple of dishes in the sink occasionally.
However, if they live together and he stays out all night without calling her, and she lets him have it, then he's setting himself up for disaster. This is a situation that nobody would let slide not even a great girlfriend.

5. She lets him be a man
It is vital that he doesn't get involved with a woman who tries to get him to eat cottage cheese and fruit for breakfast and insists that he give up his poker night with the boys. He will end up resenting her more than he can imagine. If she's a great girlfriend, she'll even bring him and his pals a couple of beers and make them some of her famous sandwiches.
She has to understand that men and women are different and should allow him to be himself. Just like he wouldn't deprive her of going shopping with her best girlfriend, she shouldn't expect him to give up the guys for her.

She respects him
This is a biggie. His woman must respect him. This means that she listens to him, even if she doesn't necessarily agree with what he's saying. And, of course, she never tries to demean or belittle him in any way, shape or form.
A great girlfriend won't ever cause scenes in public or in front of his friends and family, and will always wait to discuss matters with him in private. If she respects him, chances are that she will behave in a tactful and diplomatic manner in most situations, which is definitely a good thing.

7. She's beautiful
I know, this one is kind of obvious, but important nonetheless. A great girlfriend will not only want to look good for him, but also for herself. She should always look her best and be well put together - matching lingerie is a definite plus.
He has to be proud to have her on his arm and enjoy the sight of her in any light. And this doesn't mean that she has to be a Heidi Klum  clone. Remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so if he thinks her full bottom or uncontrollable curls are beautiful, he's allowed.

8. She's sexy
While we're on the topic, a great girlfriend has to be sexually compatible with him. For instance, if he's into S&M and she's more the 'fluffy lingerie' type, that's a problem. The two of them have to be on the same page. Of course, this doesn't imply that she has to know all the right moves from night one; it simply means that he and she have an undeniable attraction towards each other, and are able to communicate their desires verbally (or with physical cues). It is important they please each other in the bedroom, or on top of the dryer whatever the case may be.

9. She's intelligent
Everyone knows that the bimbo routine gets really old, really fast. Instead of being the one in total control, he'll find himself trying to figure out what she's really thinking behind those glazed eyes of hers - or if she's actually thinking at all.
An intelligent woman will constantly surprise him and keep him on his toes. She won't let him get bored with her.

10. She's independent
No one wants a girlfriend they have to baby-sit. Once in a while, like if she's had a rough day at work, it's great to be her shoulder to cry on, but if she can't seem to function without him and is constantly after him, she will eventually make him feel like he's suffocating, which is a surefire way to get him running out the nearest exit.
On the other hand, if she has her very own personality and opinions, can stand on her own two feet, both financially and emotionally, and is able to enjoy time away from him - while still missing him, of course - then she must be a great girlfriend.

P.S. While you’re learning this stuff, why not treat yourself to a diamond right hand ring to practice your independence or Elexese diamond ear studs to make yourself even more beautiful or even a Leo diamond pendant  to get give him something to look at when you’re wearing that very little black dress this season.?

Engagements, Like Diamonds, Should Be Forever

I have sad news, dear reader: Aaron Carter, pop star, brother to ex-N’SYNCer Nick Carter (also known as Paris Hilton’s ex),and soon to be reality-show star  has broken his week-long engagement to his girlfriend, actress Kari Ann Peniche. After proposing to her onstage at one of his concerts, he now says that “"I got caught up in the moment and proposed. I then realized it was a hasty thing to do and I am not ready for marriage quite yet."

Sigh. What is it with celebrities and broken engagements. Or actually a better expression of the trend would be celebrities and quickie engagements. First it was Paris and Paris, then Nicole and DJ AM, followed by Kimberely Stewart and Talan. The list just goes on and on. May critics say that such actions are generally publicity stunts, pulled when the person in question has some type of work coming out, others might feel that they are simply spontaneous, young people who when the music fades and the lights go out realize that they made a mistake.

Whatever the reasoning, it has to stop! Getting engaged is a serious matter, deserving of serious thought. There are many people who get engaged very quickly and have a happy successful marriage. However, for every success story, there are dozens of horror ones. Why get engaged if you’re just going to end it! Yes, it’s very exciting to be proposed to, to get a Leo Diamond ring, and to have friends shower you with gifts and attention (if you’re the type that enjoys that), but getting engaged is a serious matter. It deserves a lot of thought and emotion.

Alas. But there is hope at the end of the tunnel for celebs. Recently, yet ANOTHER celeb couple got engaged.  This time however, I’m tempted to put my cynicism aside and have hope for this couple. Why? Well the couple in question (Jaime Pressly and fiancé Eric Cubiche), are firstly old enough to legally buy alcohol vs. the under-25 ex-engaged sets I previously mentioned, and secondly (and most importantly), they have known each other longer than the requisite one month Hollywood celebs seem to deem necessary before popping the question. According to US Magazine, they only started dating one year ago, but that they had been best friends for nine before prior. Gotta love those stories! (I do!)

According to Jaime, the couple is going to the jewelry store this weekend to pick out their engagement ring. The article didn’t mention what style ring she likes but I’m curious to know what her style is! If it’s anything similar to her character’s style on My Name Is Earl then I’d be a little frightened! But something tells me she’s quite different, more classy, elegant and streamline. I would guess that she will probably go for a classic, simple style, with the focus on the quality of the diamond, probably something like my Leo or maybe a beautiful Ashoka diamond ring from William Goldberg. I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

Mirror Mirror on the wall...How to dazzle like Diamonds on your wedding day

For my big day (I almost feel like it’s my coming out party), it’s all about how I look.  Choosing the right hair and makeup puts the finishing touches on my Vera Wang gown and sparkling Leo Diamond.  I have to stand out – I don’t want any of my bridesmaids to show me up!  What really got me thinking about this was watching Britney Spears being interviewed by Matt Lauer  on Dateline a few weeks ago.  To be frank, saying she went the “au natural” route for the interview is a huge compliment.  What was she thinking?  Going on national TV, without a stitch of makeup – you’d have to be crazy.  Although one must question someone married to Kevin Federline and having his second child.  So forget being in front of cutie Matt Lauer, even more so on my wedding day in front of everyone important to me (Right has already seen me at my best of times and worst of times), it’s crucial I look my best.

The million dollar question - how do I know what look is best for me on my wedding day?  I think it’s important to try out different hair stylists and makeup artists beforehand.  You don’t want to end up looking like Frankenstein’s wife on your wedding day.  Asking friends for recommendations (of course those friends whose style you trust) is helpful too.  Start taking notes at the next party you’re at – whose hair and makeup you liked and where they got it done.  Just like all the diamond research  you did before getting engaged, dust off your notepad because it’s time to get cracking.  Hard evidence, that’s what it’s all about.

Just as I did, I’m sure every bride-to-be is guilty of buying any and every wedding magazine on the newsstand (along with the latest issue of In Touch ), flipping through them incessantly and taking notes of the do’s and don’ts of wedding beauty. But beware, just because a look suits Heidi Klum on Project Runway  or in any one of her zillions of magazine shoots, doesn’t mean it will work for you.  Instead, tear out these pages and when you talk to your chosen stylist, show them your ideas and they will find a way to make these styles work for you – customizing your own look, it can’t get any better than that.

Celebrity magazines will do the trick as well.  Check out how the stars look and copycat that.  However, let’s be realistic girls, don’t expect to come out looking like Angelina Jolie  (unless you plump up your lips among other body parts for the big day – wedding day plastic surgery, a whooooole other topic), because your Right already knows what you look like and thinks you’re the most beautiful woman in the world, or at least that’s what he’s supposed to tell you.

I wonder if Katie Holmes is pulling out magazine pictures as she’s home caring for Suri before her wedding day??  And if someone says that you don’t need to go crazy over your hair and makeup for the big day, they’re lying!  We can all use the help!