It’s short on text, but a picture is worth a thousand words, and each post features a photo that’s sure to intrigue and inspire.

Here are some of my favorites!

photo via erin hearts court

vintage stockings from here

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NYC wedding in the rain! Let the umbrellas be accessories! Cup of Jo’s blog

wedding accessories from j.crew bridal boutique

Deep purple, velvet Ralph Lauren bridesmaids dresses. I kind of like it!

Halloween wedding inspiration from little dailys

How about escaping the cold, and having a greenhouse wedding? Photo source

Can’t get enough? Head over to little winter bride for more!

In the weeks and months leading up to the wedding…

Plan your procedures ahead- it’s easy to get caught up in the craziness of tastings, fittings and appointments and forget to schedule facial treatments until the last minute. Don’t be tempted to get cosmetic lasering or chemical peels within 10 days to a month of the event, depending on the exact type of laser or peel. Even something as simple as a facial should be given a solid week for skin to normalize, especially if any extractions will be performed. Call well ahead of time and discuss this with the technician.

Practice good skin health- stay hydrated and eat healthfully leading up to the event. Don’t try new skincare products, or anything that may irritate your skin. Anticipate your skin’s history, and treat it accordingly depending on changes your skin may experience in the climate or weather that’s expected at the venue.

For the big day…

Start with a good base- be sure that your foundation is the right color and formulation for your skin. You may feel like you should use a heavy cream or stick foundation since you’re being photographed, but heavier formulas will look caked on and are more likely leave a line of demarcation around the neck and hairline that’s tougher to blend away. Just stick with the liquid or powder that works for you, and be sure it’s properly matched to your color. No one wants to look washed out, but it can also age you a bit if your base is too dark for you. Color correcting concealers, like green or yellow for redness, and peach or yellow for undereye circles are a much better choice than simply layering on more makeup. Remember that redness will be easily picked up in photographs so take care to balance that out, and stay away from more pink based foundations.

Avoid the shiny look- glitter will reflect too much on camera, and shouldn’t be worn to a nice event like a wedding anyway. Radiance-enhancing or shimmery foundations make faces look too slick and shiny for photos, so if you must, only keep the sheen on cheekbones and the cupid’s bow for highlighting purposes. Always finish the t-zone with powder, which is especially important to balance any highlighting applied. If you know you’re more oily, pop pressed powder in your bag so that you stay shine free.

The eyes have it- keep in mind that darker eyeshadows and heavy liner make eyes look smaller. A matte or pearl shadow formula will be universally flattering and especially in warm, earthy tones. To keep eyes looking big and bright, highlight the inner corners and brow bone with an off-white, light pink or pale gold shadow or crayon. The older you are, the more important it is to stay fast to the no shimmer rule, as it tends to bring attention to fine lines. Black eyeliner can also look too harsh for older women (same goes for liquid liner) and fair blondes are more suited for eyeliner and mascara in the brown tones. Don’t forget to make sure brows are properly framing the face- everyone looks better and younger with defined brows. Fill the arches with powder or if using a pencil, blend with a brush. Brow color and size are important considerations here, so don’t forget to use a light hand and blend.

Consider your venue and lighting- do take the time to stop and think about if the event/ photos will be taking place indoors or out, and at what time of day. Indoor photos will be taken with flash, so it’s important to use powder to combat shine and to also be sure foundation is matched well. If outdoors, soften makeup a bit as it can easily look too heavy or harsh. Also adjust your makeup look for more formal locations, and later times in the evening. When considering these factors, you will want to use more color and definition over simply adding more makeup.

Keeping these ideas in mind, remember its always most important to look like yourself and feel comfortable on your wedding day. These techniques will help ensure you look flawless both in person and in photographs for years to come.

Content provided by Sarah Logan on behalf of ASI, which is an aesthetics school offering classes in waxing, facial treatments, cosmetic laser training, and medical aesthetics

feature image from Bridal Wave: Beauty, Hair, Makeup

Think of anything you’d like– candy bars, ice cream sundaes, even rice crispy treats– and then take it to the next level! Here are some ideas that your sweet tooth (and your inner child) are sure to go crazy for.

Whatever the Weather…

The time of year is one easy way to pick a desert.  Banana splits (or in this case a a roasted plantain topped with coconut ice cream, dulce de leche syrup, and toasted coconut) for a yummy summer treat. For spring time, individual cupcakes topped with sugar flowers are a sweet ending to your wedding meal. Espresso is an elegant way to warm your guests up before sending them out into the winter night (especially one like this, sprinkled with edible gold leaf and spiked with hot chocolate and vanilla-infused liqueur). Photos & ideas from Brides.com.

Not Just For Kids…

Your favorite childhood treat has a newer, chic-er cousin. Here we’ve got nuggets of Rice Krispies Treats sprinkled with hazelnut praline and surrounded by crème fraîche.  If Jell-O is what you fancy, try jelly with green tea and mint, garnished with kiwi and lemon peel. Crackerjack fan? Try the grown-up version made from caramel corn and vanilla cola sorbet with crème anglaise and sponge cake layers. Yum!! Photos & ideas from Brides.com.

It’s all in the Presentation

Even the simplest of ideas can be dressed up in a way that makes it stand out from the crowd.  Below, the humble honeydew is given a new look with sprigs of fresh oregano and a stylish margarita glass. If pecan pie is where your heart lies, you will love these mini-chocolate bourbon pecan pies, topped with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce! Are you thinking cheesecake? How about a petite cheesecake (mini things are always fun) served with crème fraîche, fresh berries and mint! Photos & ideas from Brides.com.

Can’t go Wrong with Candy

Depending on your style, your candy selection can be glamorous enough for even the most upscale affair, or familiar for your casual event. For something impressive (and organic!) try these sugared jelly candies (called “vellies”) made from vegetables, fruits and herbs. Your guests can indulge their sweet tooth with an assortment of candies in old-fashioned jars or contemporary displays. Choose your favorite colors and types, from jelly beans and candied fruit to rock candy and M&M’s!

When trying to come up with the perfect ending to your wedding dinner, The Knot has some great  ideas to think about that might provide your inspiration:

• A special dessert at  your favorite restaurant.
• A regional specialty that symbolizes where you live/ grew up.
• Your favorite childhood candies or candy bar.
• Your favorite comfort food.
• A delicious discovery you made while traveling.
• Something from your ethnic background.

For a gallery of even more gorgeous, mouth-watering wedding dessert ideas, click here to visit Brides.com!

1. You don’t look silly! “Realize that even though you feel stupid while you’re getting pictures taken, they’re turning out great. If you can just laugh and go with it, the images will reflect your personalities and show the connection between the two of you. You can be in a crappy location, but as long as you’re in a good mood, your pictures are going to rock.” —Genya Garrett, Vue Photography, Panama City, Florida

2. Clean up your room! “If you want your ‘getting ready’ pictures to look their best, keep the place clean. That room becomes the basis, the background, for all of your pictures. If you have ten girls dressing and undressing in the same room, it will show in your photos. The room should be clutter-less. I get the best pictures when I walk into a room that someone has intentionally kept neat.” —Brian Dorsey, Brian Dorsey Studios, New York, New York

3.  Hire a make-up artist! Although you may be tempted to do it yourself, hiring a professional will pay off in the long run.  “Do-it-yourself brides look fine for the first hour or so, but then the makeup wears off. Or they wear very subtle makeup that doesn’t photograph well: Nothing pops.” —Cathy Short, Devonshire Photography, Wilbraham, Massachusetts

4. Photos First! If you don’t care too much either way, it may be a good idea for the bride and groom to see each other before the ceremony. “It gets the jitters out of the way and gives me time to get some fun, unique images. When portraits are taken after the ceremony, it’s hard for the couple to focus. They don’t want to miss the party!” —Sarah Maren, Sarah Maren Photography, Sacramento, California

5. May I have this *entire* dance? “Don’t cut your first dance short or have your bridal party join you halfway through it. This decreases the amount of images I can get of just the two of you during your reception. If you dance for the entire song, you’ll end up with more sweet, intimate photos.” —Alison Conklin, Alison Conklin Photography, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

6. Light up the dance floor! There are so many images you want captured during a reception, and the lighting will play an important part in how the pictures turn out.  “Ask the DJ or band to light themselves and the dance floor. Or, if it’s in your budget, look into a lighting designer, who can add uplighting to the room and give it extra pop. Lighting makes the space look cooler and preserves the ambiance.” —Anne Ruthman, Anne Ruthman Photography, Boston, Massachusetts

For more wedding photography & video tips, visit Brides.com!

Marry Me in Colorado features many couples doing just that. If they’re not saying their vows under a chilly snowfall, at the least they’re brave enough to be taking artistic pictures in the cold, white stuff! And you gotta love the beautiful cover-ups some brides are wearing. Here are some great shots!

Ya, you gotta be crazy not to be all bundled up!!

OK, they are crazy!

A little less extreme but no less romantic, these photos from Once Wed of a rainy day wedding are amazing!  These photos are from Braedon Photography, of an adorable couple who were married in an old rustic barn on a not-so-sunny California day.

Another bonus: low centerpieces are easier to DIY than higher, more ornate ones. They can also be a more cost effective, but still gorgeous, option!

Here are some pretty ideas to get you inspired! And remember, centerpieces do not have to be flowers only. See how others incorporated things like sea shells and live fish in glass bowls!

2 images above from Manolo

10 images above from the Knot

photo here via Your Best Wedding

Enter the photo booth!! It’s a little station you set up to entice your guests to pose for their very own photo session! You can put your photographer in charge, ask a friend to man the booth, or just hand out disposable cameras and ask everyone to be sure to stop by the booth and snap a few shots.  You can get as fun and creative as you like with backdrops, props, and costumes, and leave the smiling and posing to your friends!

More ideas and inspiration for your Photo Booth:

To ensure that they would have unique keepsake photographs of their guests, the couple set up an outdoor portrait studio made up of lengths of bright floral fabric draped over a clothesline. The photographer chose the background best suited to each subject’s outfit, mixing unlike but complementary patterns to create a jubilant, richly textured collection of pictures. (Martha Stewart Weddings)

Create your own photo booth with an oversize canvas backdrop. You can dowload the design below and take it to a copy center (like FedEx) that can print the large file. Then hang it up at your reception and have your photographer or friends capture candid moments that you can add to your guest book.  Get the Photo Booth Backdrop Clip Art

You can rent an actual photobooth and have invite your guests to use it. The added privacy may help encouraged spontaneity!

If renting one is beyond your budget, try this makeshift DIY photo booth tutorial from the things we think but do not say via Manolo. You’ll get awesome shots like these:

Take your photo booth to the next level with an interactive family photo wall (via Manolo) featuring snapshots of family members and family members’ weddings. Guests can pose in empty frames, becoming “part of the family history.”

More creative backdrops… a wood pile sculpture (photo credit here via Green Wedding Shoes):

… and some more fun fabric backdrops from Green Wedding Shoes:

The poses are only as fun as your guests choose make them… here are a few people having a grand old time! Photographer Dennis Drenner set up this mini photo studio against the wall of the beautiful old Tuscan villa where the guests were staying. Sometimes Dennis took the photos, sometimes the wedding guests took the photos themselves using a cable release.

Some simple props, like a fun backdrop, a plain white picture frame, and some mustaches will help get your guests in the spirit of things! (marifray via flickr)

A couch, some hats, and sunglasses make for great pictures too! (Poof Photobooth on flickr)

Sometimes, you don’t need much of a background or props to get people to act goofy… (MugShots photo booth from wdphoto)

Planning your Engagement Session

You want to show off your relationship and also your personality, so it’s a good idea to put some thought & planning into your engagement session. One of the best ways to do that is through your clothing and accessories. Here are some tips for adding a little flair!

• Scarves, belts, hats, shoes, jewelry, etc all add to your look & will help create some amazing images for you. Bringing in some of your personal style helps the photographer to be a lot more creatively inspired!
• Think about having a couple of outfits to change into. Stick with clothing that you are comfortable in.
• Schedule your hair & makeup trial on the same day as the engagement session, if possible, to ensure you’ll look your very best in the engagement photos.
• Coordinate his & her outfits together. When choosing clothing for the two of you, think of the different pieces of each outfit, so that everything works well together.
• Location, location, location! Whether in your home or a nearby park, the key is to be creative and have fun. The you can incorporate your surroundings and each other, the better your pictures will be.
• Albright creative Imagery.com suggests that you take 30 minutes before the shoot to just focus on each other. You want the focus your attention on just the two of you so that during the shoot your connection to each other will be strong. These sparks will be permanently recorded in your pictures.

Check out the accessories in the following photos, such as the hot red shoes, guy’s hat, and flower in the girl’s hair. If you consider what type of vibe you want in your photos, whether it’s romantic, sensual, sweet, or fiery, your choice of color and accessories will make a big impact.

Flirt with the camera

Most couples feel a little nervous and shy when they start their session, and it often take at least 20 minutes to warm up to the camera. But a big way to get the most out of your session is to play up your relationship to the camera. The idea is to capture the real relationship between the two of you, and the best way to do that is to act naturally with each other, relax, and have fun. “If you are typically goofy with each other, then show that to the camera,” Geoff advises. “If the two of you tend to be more intimate, then go ahead and snuggle up, hold hands, embrace, look into each other’s eyes. If you are very romantic and tend to be more on the sensual side, then don’t be afraid to show it! I’m a big fan of making out on camera!”

Props can add a unique touch to your photos, so consider using something that’s meaningful to both of you, or whatever catches your fancy during the photo shoot. A car, a tree, or even a pet…

Images from Geoff White and albrightcreativeimagery.com

Poses

There are many ways to pose for engagement photos, so you should consider your own preferences, as well as how you’d like to present the photos to family and friends. You can have your photographer take some formal poses of you as well as some that are more causual or dramatic.

Formal:

Fun:

Dramatic:

A friend of mine got married last month and she just sent me some pictures from the wedding. The back lighting in some of them was so amazing I just had to share them with you. It creates a vibe that is super dramatic in some pictures, and lighthearted in others… but each one unique! Here are some of my favorites! (I will have to find out who the photographer was, to give credit where credit is due…)

I loved this style so much I looked around online to see what else I could find. Here is a gorgeous back-lighted photo from Bloglalicious: a philipene photo odyssey. I love the blue tone in this one…

This one uses natural outdoor lighting, which illuminates the sky, but leaves the bride’s features in shadow. (from Flickr user katbphotos)

Here’s another beautiful bride from photo.net, this time with the natural light coming in through a window. The fact that it’s in black & white creates such a peaceful feeling of sweetness and anticipation…

This one is from Flickr user DARK-O-krizmanic, and I LOVE how their silhouette is barely lighted around the edges. Magical!

And a really fun one from digital pro talk… I love the red glow and the pattern reflected on the bride’s dress:

If you are a photographer and want to learn more about using this technique, you can visit the digital pro talk blog for more info. David points out that the light can’t be too close to the subject: The “magic” distance is from 12 – 15 feet behind the subject about 4 feet off the ground. There’s a lot of techincal talk about flashes, lenses, and shutter speed, which I don’t understnad, but I DO understand this: Back-lighting is one of the fastest, coolest ways to add “Dramatics” to your wedding images. This image is a “money shot” every time. Our clients love it.

I can totally see why they do!

Wouldn’t it be nice to include your guests in the parts of the ceremony they may have missed? Think about moments like early morning preparations, close up’s from the ceremony, and artistic shots of the bride and groom. Maybe you can include earlier memories, like the proposal. A large computer screen or projector displayed on a side table with a few flowers is a perfect platform for a rolling slideshow, making a great conversation piece for the cocktail hour or for after dinner.

Ask your photographer if they offer this service or one like it. It’s a great advertising tool for the photographer as well; alongside the screen they can set out a few business cards. Gabelli Photography in Vernon, New Jersey, is one studio that offers the instantaneous slideshow option.

Photo below is from cbmproductionsdjs.com: