Our Aussie couples always have so much style (and fun)! Nhu and Norman came from down under with their adorable 1-year old daughter to celebrate their elopement in Paris. They went all out with a lovely pink bohemian theme incorporating tons of pink florals and some fabulous large balloons for their photo session. The bride wore a beautiful, airy silk gown with a dreamy train, which she paired with glamorous pearled sandals. For her hair and makeup, she decided on a loose romantic chignon with a single bright pink peony and some baby’s breath and gorgeous pink lips to match.
The couple exchanged vows on a quiet cobblestoned street near Notre Dame officiated by our fabulous officiant, Igor. Amelia, who was dressed in a pretty white ruffled dress and darling floral crown to match her mother’s flowers, was there to toss some rose petals as confetti in celebration of her parents love. Following the ceremony, the adorable family traveled around our lovely city of love for some photos with our amazing photographer, Olivier before finishing their fun-filled day with a delicious meal at one of Paris’ famed restaurants.
Just before leaving, Nhu sent over this very thoughtful note to say thank you…
“Just wanted to drop you a brief email to say THANKS for everything! Our wedding was amazing and It was perfect for us! Olivier [photographer] was awesome and we can’t wait to see the pics!! Christina [babysitter] was also fantastic with Amelia! And Amelia loved her! Shame about the cherry blossom trees, but Olivier made it work! The quiet street we got married at was really cute and Igor [officiant] was great too! We loved his words Norman was very impressed in the end so as long as he is happy then we have both done a great job! Haha. But it was mainly all you! Thanks again for organising everything, we are both so happy with how everything turned out Everything was perfect.”
We met up with the lovely Muriel, our favorite hairstylist, to get her expert advice on bridal hair for our destination brides in Paris. She recently worked with one of our clients at the Shangri La hotel; creating a different hair style for the bride and each of her three best friends. Despite never having met any of these lovely women from New York City before, the results exceeded all expectation. Everyone was thrilled with her work!
We love Muriel because not only is she an amazing stylist but also extremely fun to work with. She is also very flexible and calm under pressure – what more could you ask for? Q. Tell us a little about your career: I’ve had a long and interesting career, I worked at the Ritz for 15 years styling VIP clients including members of royal families. I style clients hair for many different occasions but I really love styling hair for weddings, and making sure the bride feels beautiful on her big day.
Q. Are there classic wedding hair styles that never go out of fashion? The chignon will always be the most classic wedding style, having the hair up shows off the dress and gives a beautiful formal look. When I started as a hair stylist there weren’t many people specializing in bridal hair but chignons quickly became the staple look on the market.
Q. Are there any popular trends right now? Young girls are much more interested in fashion now so they ask for a variety of different styles. The chignon is still popular but becoming more undone, people are also experimenting with more intricate ways of creating it and adding different accessories. More brides with long hair are also wearing their hair down in loose curls; I’d say the general trend over the past 5-6 years has been towards a messier less structured look.
Q. Do you have any advice for future brides? The dress is the most important element; you need to know exactly what you’re wearing before you can think about how you want to style your hair. It’s important to choose something which is in keeping with your look and will show off the dress. Also try it out in plenty of time before the big day so you know everything will go perfectly. One time a stylist hadn’t fixed a chignon properly and the bride’s hair fell down as she was leaving the church which was a disaster. Make sure you have extra hair spray and clips to keep the style perfect for photos in all weather conditions.
Q. How many trials does it take before getting a brides hair perfect? When I started out brides were generally happy with their hair the first time, but nowadays it can take up to 4 or 5 trials. That’s why it’s so important to practice far in advance. You should know yourself, and have an idea of how many times you think you’ll want to try before you’re completely satisfied.
Q. Is there a big difference between doing French and American Weddings? I think there is a very noticeable difference between French and American weddings. Americans are much more ceremonious than the French which I like. I’ll do the hair for the whole wedding party and it gives a harmony to the overall look.
Q. How do you differentiate your service from other hairstylists? I have years of experience in doing weddings, I know what brides want and can create a chignon without thinking. Even though I’ve been around a while I also keep up to date with new trends, and tailor the look to exactly what the bride wants. There are a lot of stylists doing bridal hair now though which can make it difficult for clients as they have so many options and decisions to make.
When it comes to your wedding hair, choosing the perfect style for your big day can prove to be just as difficult as finding your dream dress! With so many styles to choose from it may feel hard to decide on justone – do you want elegance and class or flowing and ethereal? Maybe you simply have no idea where to start when it comes to your locks and we don’t blame you! So to give you some inspiration we’ve put together the top five bridal hairstyles of the moment; you can give the pictures to your hairdresser or try putting your own personal spin on them. Whatever your style, we’ll cover everything from intricate professionally produced styles to simple, elegant looks you can achieve at home.
1. Chignon
Photography Copyright Studio Impressions (c) 2010
Chignons are up-dos that generally sit at the nape of the neck… and that’s where the rules stop! This look is all about contrasting your hair to your dress, for example with a heavily embellished dress you might choose to have a sleek, simple style that doesn’t distract from your gown or you could add a deep side parting to create a vintage look. But the options don’t stop there! Chignons can be made more intricate by adding curls or more casual by keeping the chignon loose. They are extra popular with those of you who have chosen a dress with detailing at the top or embellished straps, as your hair won’t block the view! Oh and one last thing: sweeping the hair away from the neck means more focus on your jewelery… so now you’ll have to buy that diamond necklace!
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2. Half-Up
Martha Stewart Living via www.everythingfab.com
Having your hair half-up, half-down is a popular choice among bridal hairstyles because your hair is kept away from your face (always an advantage if the weather’s windy!) yet the length and movement of your hair are maintained. Try creating a quiff at the front of your hair and leaving the rest straight and long for a modern look or clip the front of your hair to the sides and curl the rest, à la Kate Middleton, for a softer and super flattering style. This “do” is great if you have a fringe, as you can keep your hair down without having too much going on around your face.
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3. Loose Curls
Photography Copyright (c) Elizabeth Messina
Getting married barefoot on a beach or surrounded by lanterns in the woods? Loose curls look delicate and natural and are the easiest look to create – simply curl the hair in sections and brush through, then add salt-spray for a more matte, windswept effect (here’s a tutorial) or shine serum for high-gloss curls (tutorial) et voila! This is the perfect hairstyle if you want to wear a headpiece that’s outside the box such as a headdress or perhaps a floral crown… keep your dress plain and let your accessories do the talking!
Perfect for brides with a vintage theme or just those who want to add a touch of old-Hollywood glamour, 1920’s waves are a classic look and once they’re set they’re guaranteed to stay in place all day (thank the hair Gods!) If you have short to mid-length hair try following one of the many easy internet tutorials and set your hair in finger waves. For those with longer hair try a deep side parting with the hair swept over the opposite shoulder for the perfect Great Gatsby look. The 1920’s was all about the sparkle so complete your look with a sequined or diamante hair band.
5. Braids/Plaits
Photography Copyright (c) 2013, Victoria Phipps
Braids are a versatile, fashion-forward look that can be tweaked to suit your own style. You can wear a French braid simply vertically or be more daring and style it diagonally across the head or to one side. A fishtail braid can be worn sleek in a pony or back-combed and messy to create a gorgeous boho look. Braids can also be incorporated into other hairstyles such as up-dos and half-up dos by creating a horizontal braid across the head, incorporating as much hair as you want. If your dress is plain (or even if it isn’t!) adorn your braid with flowers or sequins for a dreamy, fairy tale style.
There are so many hairstyles out there for brides, but all of our five most popular styles are easy to make unique to you. Try them out yourself or take a picture of a more intricate look to your hairdresser, and don’t be afraid to try out more daring styles – there’s nothing wrong with a little trial and error! Always make sure you take into account the cut/style of your dress, your accessories and your make-up, but the most important thing is to find the style in which you feel and look most comfortable… and trust us, once you’ve found it you’ll know it’s the one!
Q. Tell us a little about your career: I’ve had a long and interesting career, I worked at the Ritz for 15 years styling VIP clients including members of royal families. I style clients hair for many different occasions but I really love styling hair for weddings, and making sure the bride feels beautiful on her big day.
