Everything you Need to Know About your Bridal Trial Run

With October turning out to be a busy month full of new Brides reaching out to me about their 2019 weddings, I'm finding myself having a lot of conversations about the Bridal Trial Run Appointment. While you may find some similarities across the board when researching your options, I can tell you that all beauty teams are unique, and have created the processes that they feel work best for their Brides. Here, I will share with you ALL the answers to my most commonly asked questions about the Bridal Trial Run with Beauty by Ann Krause.

Q. How does the Trial Run work?

A. The trial run is an appointment that is all about YOU. This is when you get to see in person, exactly how your Pinterest inspiration translates into reality, and confirm that you love it. We begin your appointment with a conversation about the inspiration you have found and help you to narrow down the ideas you are considering. Throughout the process, we check in with you and make sure that you are happy with the progress. When we complete your look, we ask for feedback and make any needed adjustments. I follow up with you a couple of days later to see how everything worked out for you after our time together and if there are any notes, or changes that should be made for your wedding day

Q. When should I have my Trial Run?

A. I recommend having your trial run 2-3 months prior to your wedding. At this time, your hair will be approximately the length it will be on your wedding day, and it will be easy to commit to these details of your wedding day look. In the past, Brides have booked appointments a year before the wedding and end up changing their preferences because of all of the new inspiration they are seeing.

Q. Do you offer any discounts for a Trial Run because you are trying to book a Bride?

A. No, we do not offer discounts for the trial run. This is a very valuable service, which requires more time and work than the wedding day because of our detailed consultation and the adjustments that are made to perfect your look. Generally, our Brides decide to book their wedding day hair and makeup up to a year in advance, and schedule their trial run for 2-3 months before the wedding. When a Bride prefers to have their trial before committing to use my team for her wedding, that is her choice and is perfectly fine with me. In this case the trial is booked immediately, as I am not able to hold the wedding date without her contract and retainer. I am also willing to meet with, call, or even see a Bride for a blowout in order to set her mind at ease before she books us.

Q. Does the cost for my Trial Run count towards my Wedding Day totals?

A. The cost for your Trial Run does not count towards your Wedding Day totals, as it is a separate, and invaluable service where two artists are taking the care to help you design your perfect wedding day look.

Q. How many looks do I get to try out at my Trial Run?

A. Your artists will help you to narrow down your choices at the beginning of your appointment. If you are torn between two hairstyles, we can give you a really great idea of how each would look on you. However, if they are two intricately detailed styles, you won't see them both fully executed in order to be time efficient. Expect to see an over-all vision of the volume, shape, and silhouette to help you make your decision. In relation to makeup, we tend to begin your application on the lighter side to leave the option to go more bold if you choose to do so. The complete trial run will take place within 2 to 2 1/2 hours.

Q. Can I book my Trial Run the same day as my Bachelorette Party or my Engagement Photo Shoot?

A. Before choosing to book on one of these dates, please make sure that you don't want to keep your wedding day hair and makeup a surprise from your friends/family/groom. While your makeup application may be perfect for either of these occasions, you may not be able to take your hair down (based upon the hairstyle you choose) and have a desirable style for rest of the day. This is due to the back combing, pinning, and braiding that generally goes into making an updo. With that said, we are happy to accommodate if this works for you. We book trial run appointments on Friday/Saturday afternoons and evenings, but not in the mornings because we are with our Brides at that time.

Q. What if I need a second Trial Run?

A. While we are with you, we take great care to make sure that you get the results that you want so you can be confident in your wedding day look and know what to expect from us. I am happy to say that I haven't had a Bride tell me she was dissatisfied with her trial run. However, in rare circumstances, a Bride will end up changing her preferences before the wedding date. This may be because she purchased a different wedding gown, she saw something new on social media, or she has a mother or grandmother who feels strongly about how she should wear her hair or makeup. In this case, we are happy to accommodate you with an additional appointment, which will be at the same rate.

Q. How do I prepare for my trial run?

A. First of all, be sure to do your homework and know in advance what you like and don't like. Also have handy any hair accessories, veil, or hair extensions that you intend for us to incorporate into your hair style. Wash your hair either the evening before or the morning of your trial run, and have minimal product in your hair. Have a clean face with no product. Lastly, be ready to relax and be transformed into a Bride!

Happy wedding planning!

-Ann

Three Hairstyles you Should try this Fall

This past week or two we have been living in that late summer/early fall phase that has me looking forward to wearing the coziest sweaters, watching the changing of the leaves, actually enjoying an outdoor workout without the fear of heat exhaustion, and dare I say tasting that infamous fall coffee flavor that is popping up in another food item every day! To celebrate this refreshing and welcome change, I would like to share with you my three favorite hair styles (in no particular order) for this fall. I hope that you enjoy them as much as I do and finish this read feeling inspired to try something new for yourself!

The Ponytail with a Twist

For me, taking a ponytail beyond gym functionality is a bit out of my norm. However, with heat waves behind us, I am ready to ditch the topknot as my go to style! This look started off with dry texture spray on second day waves and then a considerable amount of backcombing at my roots. I formed a ponytail with all but the top of my hair, and then added that top piece in by twisting and wrapping it around the ponytail and securing it with a bobby pin. This look would be perfect to wear from the office to happy hour.

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The Glassy Lady

This style was inspired by the Hollywood trend that is glass hair- smooth, sleek, and generally at bob length. Although this bears a loose resemblance at best (due to my longer length and the fact that I have layers) , I knew I needed to experiment with styling a low volume look with a polished feel that is nothing like the current standby of beachy waves. To achieve this, I gave myself a round brush blowout with a smoothing lotion and then curled my hair under and (gasp!) toward my face with a 1 1/4" barrel iron and a generous amount of flexible hairspray, before smoothing it all with my paddle brush. Clearly, this goes against everything we've been instructed to do since 2015, and perhaps that is why I am loving it! I would wear this style out to dinner or for a special date night.

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The Side Slick with Serious Texture

I am so happy to see that fancy bobby pains are making a big comeback for everyday wear! I like to create a texture more intense than the typical loose waves to really emphasize the asymmetry that happens when one side gets pinned back. To achieve this, I used a standard crimping iron starting at my roots and going about half way down the hair length, while making certain to end the crimping in each section on a different distance from the ends (think; nothing too uniform, here). I skipped about 1/2 inch from my front hairline so that the crimping would not be seen around my face. Then I brushed it all out to have insane volume and puffy hair. After this, I used small sections and wrapped them around a 5/8" barrel iron. I layered my dry texture spray and flexible hairspray throughout the crimping and curling process. Finally, I messed it all up a bit before sweeping one side tightly over my ear and securing it with my bobby pins. To make things really convenient, the added texture really gives the pins something to grab onto and helps them stay in place. I would wear this for a night out with the girls.

Note: the pins pictured here work incredibly well, and are available from Riley Rose for under $5. for the set! They are available in store and not on the retailer's website.

Happy Hair Styling!

-Ann

Should you use a Bridal Team or a Salon?

Among the many decisions to make as a Bride to be is the choice to use a full service salon, or to find an independent artist(s) to provide the beauty services (makeup and hair styling) for you and your party. There are definite advantages to each option and I am here to highlight them for you. As you find out while wedding planning, there is no shortage of options out there. I believe that there is a perfect option for everyone, you just need to find it!

During my career, I have worked both in salons and on bridal teams. The first salon I was employed in did a considerable amount of weddings, and being a person with a background in Hospitality Management before that, I was always trying to understand what was happening behind the scenes and not just focusing on showing up and doing the hair and makeup. A few years have passed since then, and I now have been able to build my own bridal team. I pride myself in putting to use the best practices I have gathered along the way as well as my desire to constantly find ways to run things more efficiently, and create an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

Creating the foundation for Alexandra's Bridal Up Style.

The Benefits of Booking in a Hair Salon

I do have a lot of good things to say about booking your wedding day hair and makeup in a full service salon. Hair salons can be a great way to one stop shop! Perhaps the stylist whom you know and love, and have worked with for the past five years happens to be an amazing Bridal stylist, and that could be a done deal for you! When he/she does your consultation/trial run, they can help you to prepare for your wedding day with referrals to a great nail artist to execute your ideal nude mani/pedi, and to an esthetician who will help you up your game on facials and get your brows shaped perfectly. All of these preparations can now happen in the one location you are already familiar with.

Salons will accommodate bridal parties of smaller sizes. If you only need hair and makeup for yourself and your mother because you are not having a bridal party, booking with a really great salon could be the best option for you. Bridal teams will have minimum numbers of guests per party/a minimum spend because a wedding they book in most cases will need to make their whole day in order to compensate for travel and set up time. A salon will book your artists with other guests before and after you on a Friday or Saturday, so there is no need to require a minimum (your artists will have a full and profitable day regardless of the size of your group).

In a Salon, you will most likely be able to have your entire party accommodated within a short period of time. A group of ten people, may be accommodated by five salon employees, and you can all get in and out within two hours. Talk about efficient!

Kim giving Shawna the finishing touches before her May wedding at the Langham.

The Benefits of Working with a Bridal Team

I love working with my own Independent Bridal team and I can share several reasons why Brides love this concept as well. For starters, you will get to have all of your wedding day hair and makeup performed in your own space. In most cases, Brides choose to host the wedding morning preparations in a hotel suite. Ladies enjoy the vibe that is created when they get to have all of their party in one room without having strangers around. Imagine being able to sit around in your robes and have your brunch catered in while listening to your own Spotify playlist and making mimosas. You can start the day relaxing/getting excited and sharing all the funny stories and memories with your girls. Also, your artists will be committed to and focused on you and your party for the day! You will not have to worry about your artists popping back and forth to other clients who are not a part of your group, and taking time away from you.

Another benefit to my brides is direct communication. When a bride contemplates the details of her look, for example purchasing an accessory to add to her hair, she can email, call, or text me and we will have a conversation about it. I do this often, and I am happy to do it. You are not dealing with a booking agent, or manager whom is a middle man. This open communication makes for a great experience for my brides.

Booking with a Bridal team in your hotel suite generally means less running around once your hair and makeup is complete. Most Brides have their photographers begin taking photos while their hair and makeup is being completed, then they get dressed, and then head to have their first look on site in the hotel lobby. This means that you don't need to travel back to your hotel and expose your hair and makeup to the elements more than necessary before your ceremony.

Working with an independent bridal team means that you get to know the actual individual(s) you will be spending the first half of your wedding day with, and this begins with the communication that happens before you even book them. You get to experience more genuine interaction and the development of a relationship, as opposed to feeling like your wedding day is a business transaction. As a Bridal Artist, I am honored to have the privilege to spend more time with a wedding party than any other vendor (aside from perhaps the photographers and videographers). It is important that you feel that your Bridal Artist(s) not only really get you, but also that they are the kind people you will enjoy spending the morning with on the most important day of your life!

Lastly, working with a Bridal team means that you have chosen to have your hair and makeup done by someone who is passionate about weddings. There are many different niches within the beauty industry, and the professionals who work on Bridal teams are those who have made a commitment to focus their energy and education efforts on this exact area!

Perfecting Gwen's curls to complete her romantic Bridal Up Style before her Spring wedding.

Happy Wedding Planning,

Ann