Dina contacted us last year about helping with her Paris wedding plans and earlier this month the big day finally arrived! Dina and Jason along 28 of their closest friends and family joined them at a lovely stone church overlooking the Seine river for an intimate ceremony. The pastor created a wonderful text and Dina’s sister included a special poem, “I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart)” by e.e. cummings. Following the ceremony, the elegant couple was whisked away in a stunning luxury town car for some photos around the City of Light with our wonderful photographer, Olivier Lalin of WeddingLight Photography. After a few hours of snapping shots all around town, Dina and Jason once again joined their group in a private salon for a traditional French dinner at one of Paris’ oldest restaurants.
It was certainly a pleasure assisting Dina and Jason and we so happy that enjoyed their wedding in Paris! Many congratulations!
You can find more of Dina and Jason’s breathtaking photos on our photographer’s blog here and here.
Every bride wants to look their absolute best on their wedding day and rightly so! It’s one of the most memorable and special times in a bride’s life. (Not to mention the amount of photos that will be taken that day — no pressure!) So having a professional makeup artist create your favorite look and make sure it lasts throughout the day can make all the difference. We caught up with Fred, one of our favorite makeup artists, to hear what he says about bridal makeup and what it is like being a professional makeup artist.
Q:When did you know you wanted to be a makeup artist? How did it become your passion?
A: Actually, it began with my passion for perfume. When I was around 18 or 20 and was doing some promotion for perfume companies. There were makeup artists that came to do promotions as well and I loved watching them. Eventually, I began doing makeup there, too. After that, I had many internships to keep perfecting my craft.
Q: What is your favorite part about doing a brides’ makeup?
A: I like taking care of her (the bride) — really looking after her wellness and satisfaction. Brides are usually very stressed on the day they are getting married. So I like making them feel beautiful and when they feels happy with what I did, than that is pure fulfillment.
Q: How do you make a bride feel special on her wedding day?
A: Brides are very sensitive to the mood of the atmosphere. Most of the time they didn’t sleep well the night before because of nerves. So when she is with me, I like to make her feel relaxed and allow her to de-stress. Murielle (WLE Hair Stylist – blog post to come!) and I usually work together, so we know how each other operates and that makes things easier and is more helpful for the bride.
Q: Are there any lasting or classic styles that will always be popular with brides?
A: Brides usually tell me that they want “something soft.” This means they are wanting a classic look: nude lips with a sheer gloss, light eyes, and sometimes adding false lashes. They don’t want to change their daily makeup style to look different from how they normally do. Brides just want something simple, but with a little more sophistication than their everyday look.
Q: Do you have any memorable moments or great stories on the job?
A: Jewish weddings are probably the most memorable for me. We get to see them four times throughout the day: at the town hall, for the oriental service, at the synagogue and then for their evening party. You really get to know them when you see them so many times! Most of the time they invite me to stay for their party and I’ll have a cocktail with them.
Q: Do you have any helpful tips or advice for our fabulous brides?
A: Have a good night’s sleep. Make sure to moisturize, do a mask, a body scrub… everything. Nice makeup is made for nice skin. It is also very important to have nice eyebrows. The shape and style are essential for the overall look of the bride’s makeup. So it’s best to leave it to a professional — they always do them better. And maybe get a facial a week or up to four days before the wedding.
Q: Ok, last question! Do you have any favorite products?
A: I have many favorites. But, I really like products that get rid of dark circles under the eyes. YSL’s Touche Eclat Radiant Touch is great for that. Carmex is also really great for soft lips.
Getting to Know Fred Just a Little More: With over 15 years of experience, Fred has firmly established himself in the world of luxury makeup. Not only has he worked with some of the most fabulous makeup companies in the world (e.g. Chanel, Guerlain, Givenchy, Dior, etc.), but he has also had extensive training with some top of the line brands to make sure that his techniques are absolute perfection, his knowledge of products and tools sharp and thorough and to help him focus on his own creativity and personal touch.
To contact Fred about booking your makeup services for your perfect Paris elopement, wedding or other special event, please email us at info@weddinglightevents.com.