Lester Molina Photography

Tampa Wedding Photographer | Ginger + Jeff {We're Married!!!}

2011-06-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

This week I have the pleasure to bring you the wedding of Ginger + Jeff. They are now husband and wife. They got married at a local restaurant, Ceviche Of Tampa, where the food is absolutely delicious. I can't express enough how easy Ginger and Jeff were to work with. I thank you for the honor of being your wedding photographer, and wish you guys many happy years together. Well, without further ado, here are some pics!!!

White Dress, Black Tux?

2011-05-26T05:04:00.000-07:00

In today's post, I have the pleasure of featuring a guest blogger, and good friend of mine, Rv. Judith Guasch. She shares her thoughts in regards to white wedding dresses, black tux, and non-traditional wedding attire. Enjoy!

White Dress, Black Tux?

Every wedding has its own “feel” whether you are purposefully planning a theme or allowing the setting to set the flavor. So, why not take that feel or flavor, and also let it influence your attire selection. Look at it this way, the breezes of a beach wedding lend themselves to a groom in khaki’s and a short sleeve shirt and a bride in a flowy dress rather than a poofy princess gown and a black tux.

          Now, go a step further, and have fun with it.  Put your own personal stamp on your selection of attire, and don’t let what you think you are SUPPOSED to wear be your only deciding factor.  Not every girl looks good in bright white, and not every setting is the perfect place for black shiny shoes and a tuxedo.
          What if your favorite color is blue?  Is a white gown your only choice?   Of course not!  The bride in this photo had an absolutely STUNNING blue gown with black lace and beading.  And recently another of my brides opted for a red gown with silver beading for her second wedding.

          And why should the groom’s attire options be limited?  This groom had a kilt and Prince Charles tuxedo jacket custom made in Scotland in his family plaid ~ just for the wedding.  Or perhaps one of you, or your attendants are in the military, why not opt to wear dress uniforms?

          And what about the whole theme wedding option?  Maybe you are getting married on Halloween, or at a Renaissance Faire, why not dress the part like this couple did?

          It is the personal touches the two of YOU put on your day, which your guests will remember.  So have at it, and have fun!

Want to read more from the author, here's her site: http://www.lovely-uniqueweddings.com/

Tampa | Sarasota Wedding Photographer | Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

2011-05-19T06:08:00.000-07:00

Danielle and Tommy were married at the beautiful Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota. Such a sweet couple and full of love for each other. It was a true pleasure being at their wedding as their Tampa wedding photographer.

Tampa Wedding Photographer | Emely & Frank {We're Married}

2011-05-13T10:29:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of photographing Emely & Frank's wedding. They are such a nice couple, fun, laid back, and a breeze to work with. The said I Do on May 5th, 2011 at The Palmetto Club @ Fishhawk Ranch in Lithia, Fl.
Tags: Tampa wedding photographer, tampa engagement photographer, The Palmetto Club at FishHawk Racnh. Tampa Photographer.

Tampa Engagement Photographer | Katie & John {We're Engaged!}

2011-04-26T07:31:00.000-07:00

Katie and John are such a wonderful couple to work with. They chose to have their engagement session at University of Tampa, and Ybor City. They are getting married at The Rusty Pelican in Tampa Bay.

Lakeland wedding and Engagement Photographer

2011-03-27T19:06:00.000-07:00

2011-03-14T18:35:00.003-07:00

Table concepts by Catering By Robert, of Tampa Bay.

2011-03-01T07:23:00.000-08:00

This week I have the pleasure to feature an excellent catering company based out of Tampa Bay. Catering By Robert. http://www.cateringbyroberttampa.com

Besides cooking delicious meals, they have come up with some concept table designs that any bride would die for. Check them out below.
If you would like any of these designs featured at your wedding, simply check out their website, and give them a call.

Hilton St.Pete Wedding!

2011-01-21T07:38:00.000-08:00

Lester Molina Photography: Who's on your vendor list?

2011-01-15T06:04:00.000-08:00

Lester Molina Photography: Who's on your vendor list?: " Just like the title says: 'Who's on your vendor list? Do you have the most important ones? A recent poll in a popular bridal forum, as..."

Who's on your vendor list?

2011-01-15T05:38:00.000-08:00

Just like the title says: "Who's on your vendor list? Do you have the most important ones?
A recent poll in a popular bridal forum, asked brides to rate the most important vendors on their list, from 1-10, 10 being the least important, therefore 1 being the most important. The following are the actual options the brides were given to vote on.

1 Food and Service
2 Beverage and Bartenders
3 Reception Venue
4 Photographer
5 Dress and Alterations
6 Videographer
7 Reception Decorations and Centerpieces
8 DJ
9 Cake and Cutting Fee

Your order may be a little different, depending on what's more important to you, but, look closely, do you see something missing? You will, if you are planning to walk away from the wedding with a marriage certificate. The Officiant. These brides were so focused on what they wanted for their wedding, they overlooked the one vendor they could not have a wedding without. Other vendors, such as photographers, videographers, florists, caterers, dj, planner, and others, are more of a want, than a need.

What do you absolutely NEED for your wedding? Well, the officiant. Without one, or at least a public notary, you'll not be getting married any time soon. Although the Officiant is technically the most important, other vendors are just as important, if you wish to make your wedding, the most memorable day of your life, at least until the birth of your child. See, weddings are a rather complex event. A lot of coordinations is needed to make it work like you want it to. That's why hiring a planner is the best way to go. You also want your guests to have fun, and enjoy your wedding day (in the end, the reception is just a big party you throw your guests, so they can celebrate your wedding with you), therefore you need food, drinks, a nice wedding cake, and a place to hold all this in. Caterers, bartenders, bakers, and a venue is needed to achieve this. That's only the food part of the fun, now comes the dancing part of the fun, so a good professional dj, or at least a band will make sure to keep the guests on their feet, and from leaving early due to a boring reception. You'll also want a florist to decorate the venue, make your bouquets, boutonnières, and other floral arrangements so your wedding looks just like you envisioned it.

This will also help you get beautiful wedding photographs, and wedding video, because you do want to have something to look at and remember your wedding, right? Then you'll need a professional wedding photographer, and videographer. So you see, one is really not more important than the other. On your wedding day, we all come together and chip in, to make your wedding exactly what you dreamed it to be. So, next time, think about what you'll be missing if you decide to leave a vendor for last, or excluded at all, and make the right decision. If you don't, you'll regret it after the wedding, I guarantee it!

Gina & Patrick's Engagement Session!

2010-12-23T05:10:00.001-08:00

Is your venue The Right Venue?

2010-12-16T19:07:00.000-08:00

Ok, you got engaged, now you need to start looking for a place to get married at. (if you're going that route). In the following article, I will go more into detail about what you should be looking for in a venue.

1. Price to Value.
The most important thing you can do at this point is Research. Find out prices for at least 3 venues. If considering more than 3, try to narrow them to 3. This is where Price To Value comes into play. Compare the potential venues to see what they have to offer, and for how much. Always make sure to ask exactly what's included in that price. Remember, more expensive does not always mean Better!

2. Reviews and Referrals.
How many couples have they hosted? What do the have to say about the venue you're considering? If this venue is a well established one, they will most likely be a member of a wedding website such as http://www.weddingwire.com/, where they receive reviews of their work. Checking these reviews out will allow you to see how many of them are positive and how many are negative (if any). The more positive reviews a particular venue has, the more chances there are that it is the right one for you, but don't make a decision just yet.

Does the venue match the style of wedding you desire?
Do you wish to have a garden wedding? Maybe a more traditional wedding? Or even a beach wedding? Whatever style you choose for your wedding, make sure your venue has the necessary things to accommodate it. Consider what type of design the building is, and how can it be better decorated to suit your needs. Also look at what surrounds the venue. How's the scenery? Is it easily accessible for your guest, and other vendors you may have? Take a tour of the venue you are most interested in to make sure you are 100% pleased with it. Ask yourself one question: "Do I See Myself Getting Married Here?". If the answer is not a quick "YES", then probably not.

Here are some words from Kathy at Earle-Harrison House & Pape Gardens....a beautiful wedding venue in Waco, TX.

Earle-Harrison House & Pape Gardens is a nonprofit historic house and garden in Waco, TX. Wedding and reception rentals help us to preserve and maintain a 6-acre garden and circa-1858 house; an added benefit is that the guests can tour the home and enjoy the gardens as a part of the event experience. Because our location is a historic property that must be carefully maintained for future generations, we do most of the event work in order to appropriately care for our location. We’ve hosted over 250 garden weddings and receptions during our six years of renting the property – it’s from this hands-on experience that I share a few questions to ask. Prior to touring properties, in order to better define what you want & need:

(1) visit venue websites and blogs

(2) request a copy of the venue’s rental packet

(3) Check open dates prior to scheduling a tour.

(4) Expect that a signed contract and nonrefundable retainer must be received to reserve a venue date.

Most venue dates are booked 6-12 months prior to event dates, having a few potential event dates provides you with some flexibility. Critical for guest comfort and your sanity: is an inclement weather backup plan available on site? Will the backup plan accommodate your guest count? What inventory does the property rental include? Appropriate location for wedding and/or reception; tables, chairs, tents, linens, dressing areas, bathrooms, electrical, lighting, parking, security, water, linens, PA system, decor…… it can be a very short or long list that can significantly affect your budget. What services does the property rental include? Setup, tear down, cleanup, coordination and/or planning (ask how they define each term) If off-premise catering is allowed what setups are permitted? Does the rental include use of a catering kitchen or outdoor work area? Are tables, linens, tents or garbage cans provided by the facility and setup/removed for the caterer? Does the venue limit vendors? Are there setup/tear down time-frames or restrictions? Is any inventory provided to vendors? Will your venue contact be on-site the day of your event? Read reviews, and talk with friends or others who have held their weddings/receptions at the venue. Earle-Harrison House & Pape Gardens is located in Waco, TX. To learn more about this beautiful location visit: http://earleharrison.com/ and http://earleharrison.wordpress.com/

Now, you may be asking yourself: "Why is a photographer offering advice about wedding venues? Well the answer is simple. Do you want your wedding photos to show that you got married at a place you didn't really love? Probably not.
Your photos will be an extension of you, who you are, and how you want to remember your wedding day. As photographers, we can use our talent and creativity to take beautiful photos. One thing is certain though, we can't change the way you feel about your venue, and it will show on your photographs. Trust me, it will.

Final Thoughts.
Do not make a decision until you are 100% sure about it. Pick the wrong venue, and it will be a mistake you will regret it your entire life.

Author: Lester Molina
http://www.lestermolinaphotography.com/

Collaboration: Earle-Harrison House & Pape gardens.
http://www.earleharrison.com/

Tips on choosing the right Photographer!

2010-11-29T08:54:00.000-08:00

When it comes to hiring the right vendors for your wedding, specially photographers, there are several things you should be aware of, and that I encourage bride to ask the photographer about. These things will ensure you hire the right photographer for your wedding. Let's look at some of these things.
1. First impressions. That, is the feeling you get in your gut, when you meet someone for the very first time. As you may already know, first impressions are very important, for they let you know you should be careful, if not sure about the person, or can also boost your confidence on a person, if the impression is a good one.
Watch how the person behaves, speaks, and how confident they are. These things, for the most part, will give you an idea of how professional they are about their business.

2. Experience. Your photographer may have years of experience, or not to many. In any case, ask to be shown any samples they have available. Ask to be shown samples from different weddings, so you can compare how consistent the photographer is, on achieving good photographs. If they do not have many samples, this may not be a bad thing, as long as the samples they do have, are of your liking. If they do have plenty of work to showcase, compare it, and decide if the person's work shows a consistent style, picture quality, and proper use of backgrounds.

3. Equipment. With technology now days, camera manufacturers are producing more high quality cameras, at very reasonable costs. So, needless to say, anyone can have a DSLR. What couples need to be focusing on, is the quality of lenses the photographer works with. In the photography world, there is sort of a rule of thumb that says: Invest 1/3 of your budget on the body, and 2/3rds on the lens. High quality lenses will produce high quality images. Your photographer should have at least 2 lenses that produce high quality images in low light (f/2.8 aperture or lower). Many photographers will give a list of the equipment they use, if asked nicely. If you are given such list, check around, and find out exactly what it means.

4. Value. Value is the next thing you should look into when hiring a wedding photographer. I do not mean Price, I mean value. What are you getting for your money. Be sure to sit down with they photographer, and ask to be given a detailed list of what you should expect with your wedding photography package. Remember, a high price does not mean you will receive a ton of things included in your package. Do your research, and compare wedding photography packages from one vendor to another, and figure out which one offers the best value, keeping in mind how experienced the person is.

Remember, these things do not only apply to wedding photographers, but any other wedding vendor you might be looking to hire. The most important piece of advice I can offer, is to DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

Author: Lester Molina
http://www.lestermolinaphotography.com/

Newly re-designed Website!

2010-11-05T05:35:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally got around to taking the leap into a paid website design company, http://www.photobiz.com/, and I have to say, I am very satisfied with the result. Check out my new page HERE.

Erica And Joseph's Wedding Pictures!!

2010-09-30T20:28:00.000-07:00

Low Budget and DIY Weddings! Do's and Don'ts

2010-09-16T13:17:00.000-07:00

I was inspired to write this article after a few colleagues expressed their concerns about brides having lower budgets for wedding vendors, and going the DIY route.
The main question that comes to mind is: "What is causing brides to have lower budgets for certain vendors?
I can think of three things that can influence brides to go the less expensive route:

1. The Economic Crisis.
2. The DIY trend. (Do it yourself)
3. Lack of Research/Knowledge of the industry.

Let's go more into detail about these three things.

1. The Economic Crisis. It is very true that the decaying economy is pushing everyone to think twice about where/how much money they spend. However, cutting back on certain wedding vendors can prove to be a terrible mistake. I will go more into detail on the advantage of hiring industry professionals for your wedding later on.

2. The DIY Trend. Its has come to my attention, that more and more brides are taking the DIY (Do it yourself) route. While this can be a good way to save money, it is also a good recipe for disaster if not done properly. DIY is not for everyone, there are cenrtain things you will need to consider before you try to venture into doing your own wedding invitations, flowers, etc. I have heard of brides distributing disposable cameras at the wedding, and having the guests take photos of the event, the same photos the bride will keep for years to come, to help her and her husband remember their wedding day. The problems is, these photos taken by non-professionals, with inadequate equipment, will not capture the full beauty and artistry of a wedding celebration, that a true professional will be able to capture.

3. Lack of Research/Knowledge. It seems as if today's brides are choosing vendors solely on price. There is more to it than how inexpensive a vendor may be. Brides need to start researching the vendors they are considering, to see if they are a good match as far as personality, experience, shooting style references, etc. These are aspects of wedding industry professionals in general, that brides should be aware of before making a final decision. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Remember, there are no stupid questions, only questions that do not get asked. You are paying us your money, so make sure we have the personality, experience, skills, and tools needed to provide excellent service.

Now, let's discuss more about the things you should consider when attempting to DIY your wedding, or just a portion of it. Below are some contributions from actual professional wedding vendors of their respective fields. The first one is actually from a DIY Bride, who tells the story of her DIY wedding.

"The Behind the Scenes Story of a Real DIY Bride"

I have always been a “do it yourselfer” and, to be quite honest, can often be a control freak. For my wedding I was sure I didn’t need any help. I could do it all myself and save a bundle…boy, was I wrong!

Don’t get me wrong, I still fully believe that DIY has it’s place in the wedding world. Everyone has that one thing they really want to do themselves and that differs for each bride and groom, however, sometimes you need a professional.

During the planning process I never considered what all would have to be done and all of the pieces that would need to fall into place on my actual wedding day. I had fun planning on my own, making my favors, printing invitations, and even making all of the food. I had several close friends offer to greet people at the doors, guide them to the guest book, and even one person offered to coordinate everything on my big day. However, those people spent their time mingling, showing up late, and I never saw the “coordinator.” I spent the entire day setting up the site, putting out the food and drinks and making sure that there was enough for everyone, and that everything ran smoothly.

While I was running around trying to make sure everything was just right, I missed everything. I had to rush through pictures, cake cutting, the father-daughter dance, and even our first dance. I never even got to see our groom’s cake, because it was devoured while I was cleaning up a mess in the kitchen. Once it was all over, everyone else left and I, along with my groom, was left to clean everything up…in my wedding dress. Let’s just say, pasta sauce is a wedding dress’ worst enemy!

After looking at the pictures of our wedding and realizing how much I missed and how little I actually got to enjoy, I went back to the drawing board. I hated to think that any other bride would spend her wedding as I had spent mine. I went to school to become a certified bridal consultant and have been working to make wedding days perfect for all of the brides that have hired me.

Your wedding day should be a wonderful, stress-free day. Everything should just fall into place and you should simply arrive without a care to a perfectly decorated venue, with delicious food, and you should leave with memories you’ll cherish for the rest of your life.

If you do nothing else, be sure you hire a day-of coordinator. They will be there to take care of everything. Do your research and don’t cut corners simply to save money. While your budget will be a major issue in your planning process, weigh out each decision so that you are not left regretting anything on your special day!

Congrats and remember to enjoy your big day!

Alina Thompson

Owner/Wedding & Event Planner

Any Way You Want It

Weddings & Events

From Celia Milton, Celebrant:
" Uncle Phil may have the perfect toast for Thanksgiving, or the most amusing anecdotes at the family get together, but it doesn't mean that is is capable of creating and performing your wedding ceremony. Even if his online ordination is legal in your state (it is not in many), there is much more to a perfect wedding ceremony than its legality.

A great ceremony is more than a sum of parts cut and pasted from the Internet. It is an articulate, inspiring and entertaining experience that touches each person in attendance in a different way. It may be a gracious blending of ethnic traditions, religious rituals and personal anecdotes that gathers the families and friends in a singular celebration. And must be a well performed, professionally delivered speech that is as compelling as it is unique. Unless Uncle Phil has written and performed a hundred or so weddings in his spare time, he probably isn't up to the task. Let him do a reading or walk you down the aisle, but consider the expense of a professional officiant money that is very well spent."
Do you feel that your ceremony is the centerpiece of your wedding day?

Do you hope your ceremony will be personal, creative and inspiring?

Do you want a celebrant who will be your partner and friend in the planning?

http://www.weddingwire.com/vendor/vendorviewrating Featured on TLC's "Four Weddings" and "201 Magazine"
http://www.celiamilton.com/
201-563-5544

From Hip Ink Custom Invitations:
There are a few caveats. Will you be saving enough money with your DIY wedding invitations that it is worth all of the time and effort that you will put into designing and creating the perfect invitations for your wedding or event? DIY invitations may cost up to 50% less than custom invites, but its also important to consider whether you have a reliable printer, printer ink, extra paper supplies to compensate for those inevitable boo-boos, good adhesives and the experience, time and patience to take on such an ambitious project. Contd

From Dj Jerry B:
I think there a few situations in which a DIY approach makes a lot of sense. First, if you have no desire (or don’t expect) to have dancing at your wedding, and are just looking for background music, then an iPod or a pre-programmed play list on your laptop is a reasonable approach. Second, I think that doing your own music would be preferable to hiring a really bad DJ. At least you know what will be played if it’s your music. It is also a perfectly logical choice if you are doing your entire wedding on a shoestring budget.
What is NOT reasonable is the presumption that there is no difference between an iPod and an experienced professional disc jockey, since they both play music. That whole thought process is flawed. I like to use the analogy of the stone mason:
Imagine that a truck delivers a load of field stones into a pile. You could probably, without any experience at all, take the stones and form a wall of some type. It may not be perfect or stable or beautiful, but it would technically be a wall. A talented mason can take those very same stones and, with his experience, build a wall that is eye catching, memorable and will last a lifetime. Is there a difference between the two? You betcha!Contd

From Photo and Video By Media Concepts:
Hiring a pro videographer vs. "do it yourself" Quite often the professional videographer is the last vendor hired, almost an 'afterthought' to the entire wedding planning process. When this happens, it's usually one of two reasons that the couple finally 'gives in', either one of their parents insists on a pro videographer or the 'friend with a video camera' fell through. If only we could educate the couples on the importance of hiring a professional from the beginning, there would be no last minute scramble to find an affordable and available professional. Why hire the professional videographer and not attempt to have a friend film your wedding? (or even worse, not have any filmed record of the day?) If you have seen just one professional, well filmed and edited wedding video, you will have your answer. You can not expect a wedding guest to be responsible to film everything the pro vendor will- it wouldn't be fair to your guest to expect that of your guest, and it's not fair to you, either. Nor will you get the quality that your most important day deserves. As tempting as it may be to buy a camcorder and hand it off to a guest, that money would be well spent toward a professional videographer. There are people who have no interest in a wedding video, professional, amateur, or in between. And that's ok! But for those who think they want a video, or are sure, there is no substituting the professional. While the term "professional" can be used loosely, it's up to the couple to find the wedding professional who is up to their standards. http://joegoldsberry.com/

From Longrunners, LLC:
I make table linens and many brides and event planners hire me because they don't have the time for DIY, plus I am able to purchase the fabrics at wholesale prices and am able to pass on the savings to the customers. If they purchase the fabrics at retail prices, it would cost a fortune. I guess you could say I have a niche product, and it's much more efficient to hire me to provide this service as opposed to the diy aspect. I believe 100% in leaving the professional work to the pros. Some things are not worthwhile to do yourself.
http://www.longrunners.etsy.com/

Furthermore, wedding professionals are prepared to tackle any issues that might arise at the event. For example, having cousing George film the wedding on his brand new video camera is great, but what would happen if George was to trip over a rug, or extension cord, and caused one of your guest to get hurt , or he breaks something at a venue, or worst case scenario the place catches on fire? That is why videographers, and every other wedding vendor carries liability insurance, to be prepared to cover the damages, if something occured at the event.

That brings me to my next point: Why do wedding vendors charge what they charge? Well, just like any other type of business, we have to pay for business licenses, insurance premiums, equipment maintenance/update, office supplies, our pay, etc. So while the price of a certain vendor may seem high, keep in mind that the price you get quoted, is not the amount of money that goes in our pockets.

Final thoughts. If you are a bride, that is working on a tight budget, or wish to DIY some aspects of your wedding, and your mind is set on doing so, then by all means give it a go. Before you do so though, understand that your wedding can go in two directions: It can be the best wedding ever, or, you'll regret not hiring pros before the day is over.

Lester Molina

Lester Molina Photography, LLC

http://www.lmweddingphotography.com/

Pinup for Pitbulls

2010-08-28T21:27:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, here are some pics of the Pinup For Pit bulls that took place at the Don Vicente Hotel & Restaurant, in Ybor City, Tampa this Saturday. The event was organized to raise funds for the pit bull foundation. Every one was dressed Pinup Style, and was the coolest event ever. Shorty Rossi from Pit Boss, a show on Animal Planet made an appearance too. He is the man in the last pic. I hope you enjoy the pics, Thanks.

2010-08-23T16:13:00.001-07:00

2010-08-23T16:10:00.000-07:00

2010-08-08T12:41:00.001-07:00

2010-08-07T06:07:00.000-07:00

Special Package Pricing

2010-08-02T16:19:00.001-07:00

Guest Blogger Makeup Artistry by Lori shares some of her knowledge when shopping around for the right makeup kit.

2010-07-28T20:37:00.001-07:00

Hello Ladies!

This post was requested by a few of you, So Lets talk makeup!
For some of us its second nature to see an eyeshadow palette or blush ect and just know without even a test, that it would be great for your complexion,hair color or eye color.
But, For others this can be a true challenge, and some of you may of speant countless hours either at your local drug store examining boxes, exhausting your options ( no testers provided) until you leave either empty handed or with a bag full of cosmetics that end up being the wrong shade, texture ect...

So, I wanted to send some ideas your way that can help you along your makeup journey.

One option if in your budget is to hire a makeup artist, Like myself in your area to help you out with this , by visiting you at home, finding out about your likes and dislikes, your rountine ect.. A good makeup artist can make a face chart and document everything customized just for you, shades , name brands she may of used that you like and where you can find them.

Another option is to visit your local department store cosmetic counter or Cosmetic store such as Sephora or Ulta and visit with them and have them do a complimentary make over, keep in mind, although they may be happy to have you in their chair, they usually do expect that you buy at least a few items :) I know this from back in the day.

But, in my experience, the following hair/complexion/eye colors go best with these shades.

Brunnettes
Eyeshadows- we are the lucky ones! we can wear everything from cool to warm..
Plums/Mauves combos Browns/bronze tones combos or the smokey eye utilizing the greys/blks/silvers. If you happen to have an olive complexion you can even go a little brighter or bolder and use more dramtic applications.

Black eyeliner works best..deep browns for a softer look and if you are a brunnette with soft brown hair or hightlights. Navy blue looks nice as well, Plum is also a choice.

Blushes- Again.. from peaches to pinks to bronzer large variety to chose from!

Lip shades... stay youthful and stick with lighter shades such as sheer pinks/mauves/peaches/nudes with a clear gloss on top. If you line the lips with a pencil this helps the lip color stay longer and helps to avoid bleeding in some cases.

Blondes-Warm tones..but if tan or have an olive complexion you can go with some cool tones.
Depending on your eyecolor, eyeshadows that are most flattering are
the browns/bronzes/gold tones.. with another option being the mauves/pinks or carefully chosen plum family... But avoid the greys/silvers as they can tend to appear like someone punched you in the eye a few too many times...If you have a tan complexion you can try to get away with it though on a night out on the town and with a nude lip this can be very sexy.

Eyeliner can be dark brown for a softer look or black..whichever you prefer and for whatever occassion.. for daytime soft brown or dark brown may work best , depending on your eye color and just how blonde you are.

Blushes... Peaches and pinks... and ofcourse bronzers.. but avoid berry or mauve as they may be too harsh.

Lips.. again soft/sheer.. nudes,pinks,peachy tones work best.. avoid berry or red or dark colors as this is a very dated look unless its a night out on the town with a little black dress,, then by all means break out the red!

RedHeads...I personally feel like redheads look best in warm tones.

For eye shadows..
warm browns/cinnamons/bronzes/neutrals all work well.
In my opinion going with cool tones throws everything off...avoid blues/greens/pinks/mauves..as they will clash with your coloring especially if you have blue or green eyes ( light eyes)

Eyeliner..can be black if applied correctly..But dark brown is best.. avoid blue or colored eyeliner..again this clashes.

Again, if you are tan you can play around with a smokey eye for a night on the town but be mindful of making sure the lip is light or nude toned.

Blushes- bronzer ( light) and peach or warm brown blush works best.. pinks can be used but lightly..stay away from berry/red/or bright red tones.

Lips.. go warm!!!! light tan/nudes/peaches/ and you can get away with sheer pinks.

Mascara- My opinion.. black works best for everyone...Dark brown or colored mascara just doesn't flatter most women, remember these are my opinions.

Best Wishes!!

Featured Guest Post: Tip from NikaPaperworks, LLC

2010-07-09T07:32:00.000-07:00

When it comes to your invitations take some time to find one that really represents the vision of your perfect wedding day. Your invitations are so much more than paper and ink, they really set the expectations and excitement for your day. Give your guests your best first impression!
http://www.nikapaperworks.com/