Travel – Polished Makeup & Hair

10 Things I learned from my Fusion Hindu – Christian Destination Wedding

Team Polished — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 03:27:00 +0000

Are you in the process of planning your destination wedding? Is your wedding a fusion of cultures? Mine was! I learned so much from my 3-day Indian wedding, I have to tell my fellow brides in planning!

Here are my 10 tips to keep in mind when planning your destination wedding.

At a glance:

Choose your outdoor ceremony time wisely
Have an unplugged ceremony
Fake flowers vs real flowers
Hire vendors you trust
Make a photo list
Schedule private time
It’s all about what the couple wants
Don’t stress about the small stuff
Divorced parents
Getting the bill

1. Choose your outdoor ceremony time wisely

I really wanted to soak up all the beautiful sun and lush jungle around us, so I wanted to have as much of the wedding festivities in the sun as possible. But wow did that come at a cost.

We started our wedding day events with The Barat at 2pm, and wow was it HOT!

I knew it would be hot but I didn’t think it would be that hot! It seemed alright in the shade but unfortunately there weren’t many shaded areas where my hubby has his Barat.

Then we moved to the garden where we melted in the sun under our mandap. Our guests were melting.

That was rough, especially draped in all of of our heavy traditional Indian Bridal attire.

Luckily, we were in a garden area that had a little shade move in after some time. Our guests could move into the shade and have some ice cold water, watermelon and strawberry infused waters, it was delicious. Our wedding coordinator also brought a few umbrellas to the mandap to give us shade.

Thinking back, I think it would have been great to give our guests some kind of cold treat during our Hindu ceremony to cool them off.

Thank goodness for the team of people at our resort, they made it a truly seamless and beautiful experience.

2. Have an unplugged ceremony

We had an unplugged ceremony because we didn’t want everyone with their phones out in our photographer’s photos.

I recommend having a designated friend or family member to hold your phone (or use their phone) to sneak some photos and videos during the ceremony. You’ll be so happy you did!!

3. Fake Flowers vs Real Flowers

You wouldn’t be able to tell by just glancing at the photos, but most of our flowers were fake!

This was a recommendation from our wedding planner and florist.

The Bougainvillea flowers we wanted were super fragile and would quickly wilt in the summer heat.

So we went with fake flowers for the mandap, photo area and bride and groom table.

We used real flowers for the centerpieces, our Varmalas and bouquets.

4. Hire vendors you trust

Hire vendors that you trust and vibe with. I cannot tell you how important this is. Our 90 person destination wedding was a seamless dream all thanks to our amazing wedding vendors.

Our wedding planner and coordinator was provided by the resort and did an outstanding job. From the planning process to the actual events, it was all a wonderful experience.

We got to indulge in it all.

Picture this: Its your wedding day and your getting ready in a beautiful tropical paradise. When your ready, all you have to do is leave your bridal suite, walk down to your wedding event space and enjoy every moment with your closest friends and family. That’s what it was like and we couldn’t have done that without our coordinator guiding every thing for us.

The other most important vendor we hired was our travel agent, Vagablonde Travel. Let me say, my head probably would have exploded if I didn’t have Jen and Josh taking care of our guests travel details.

Vagablonde created a web page for our guests where they could choose their room and book their stay at the resort where our wedding was. They kept in contact with each guest to make sure they had their airfare booked, transportation to and from the airport, passport details and anything else they needed in regards to their travels. Did I mention we had a total of 90 people traveling for our wedding in Mexico?!

They didn’t stop there, Vagablonde also has an app that all of our guests can download that will keep them updated on their flight and transportation details, and a schedule of all 3 days of our wedding events. All these details right at the tip of our guests fingers, what a fantastic system! This made sure our guests were lounging around on the beach when they are supposed to be at an event and it kept everyone from asking us a million questions.

Thank you Vagablonde!

5. Make a List for Group Photos

Our Hindu ceremony, Christian ceremony and reception all had to happen simultaneously. Everything outside had to end at 11pm to respect the other guests in the resort. That meant we had to stay on schedule because the sun was going down.

One things I heard from my sister in law was that photos look quit a long time and cut into the reception so we wanted to make sure we were efficient in getting out photos with our guests.

Give your friend or MC and photographer a list of groups for photos and have them call out the names to keep the timeline moving.

This worked super smoothly with our 88 guests.

We also met with our photographer and planner before the events started so we could give them a list of the photos we wanted, like a group photo at each event, candid photos, getting ready photos, first look photos etc.

6. Schedule in private time for the couple

A piece of advise a lot of our married friends and family told us was to make sure we schedule in private time for the couple.

We scheduled in 3 private times on the wedding day.

1. 1st look before our Hindu ceremony

2. 2nd look before our Christian ceremony

3. Our private vows before going to our reception

My husband and I both have talked about how special those moments were to us, because outside of that we were surrounded by our loved ones at all times of the wedding day.

7. It's all about what the couple wants

Do what you want, and I really mean that. For example, we did 2 religious ceremonies back to back, 3 first looks after each outfit change on our wedding day, did our vows privately, we didn’t cut the cake and we had no bridal party. It was awesome.

Call us crazy but we wouldn’t change a thing.

8. Don't stress about the small stuff

Don’t stress about the small things like a wedding Playlist

I stressed about the music list for each event because we didn’t want to play things like YMCA, Cupid Shuffle and other songs like that. We have a different style, plus we had 3 events we needed songs for so we needed a lot.

We created the playlist in a short amount of time, having it ready like a day or 2 before the wedding. And then? The DJ didn’t even play our playlist!! He played very similar songs in the same genre but looking back I remember there are specific songs he didn’t play.

Moral of the story, I wouldn’t have stressed about it had I known he just wanted to know our vibe and didn’t necessarily want an exact playlist to play at each event.

9. Divorced Parents

A big stresser for me was thinking about who would walk me down the aisle, my dad or step dad? I imagine there are a lot of people that deal with anxiety related to this in some kind of way and sheesh, it sucks.

You love them both and don’t want to hurt any feelings or make anyone feel left out. I get it. But just do what makes you happy.

I had one walk me down the aisle for the Hindu ceremony and the other walk me down the aisle for the Christian ceremony. Worked out great!

10. Getting the bill from the resort

If your having your wedding at a resort, be prepared to wait for the decor bill until a week or 2 before the actual wedding.

I will give you some information I would have found super helpful when planning my destination wedding at a resort when it comes to the bill.

Its not always going to be cheaper than the US
Be prepared to wait until a week or 2 before your wedding to get a close estimate for the decor, flowers and set up details you set up with your planner. I asked for the quotes at least 2 months before the wedding but we didn’t get them until about 2 weeks before our wedding. That was pretty stressful. This happened to us and a another couple we know that had an Indian wedding in Mexico.

Our Wedding Vendors

Bahia Mita Resort took care of the majority of our wedding from the planning, food, decor including most flowers, guest accommodations, photography and videography.

Ximena was our wedding coordinator at Bahia Mita

Cecilia was our photographer with Adventure Photos.

Vagablonde Travel took care of our travel details and room bookings for our 88 guests.

Floreria Bloom made and delivered our Varmala’s and center pieces.

Lemon’s and Mehdni took care of my bridal Mehndi on my hands and guests and my bridal hair and makeup for all 3 events.

Polished Makeup & Hair took care of family members hair and makeup.

Paisley’s and Swirls did my henna on my feet in Houston.

Dresses:

Orange Lehenga, Blue Lehenga is from Pahlki Fashion

Red Bridal Lehenga & Jewelry is from Roop Sari

White Wedding Dress is from Marry Go Round

4 Tips to Go by When Getting Hair & Makeup Ready for Your Destination Wedding

Team Polished — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 10:07:00 +0000

A destination wedding is the ultimate way to combine adventure and romance as you tie the knot in a stunning locale.

Now, let’s talk about something crucial – your bridal beauty game, specifically your hair and makeup. You want to look and feel fabulous on your big day, right?

Well, it takes some planning, especially when you’re getting hitched far from home.

In this guide, we’re going to give you 4 essential tips for nailing your getting ready process for your multi-cultural destination wedding.

Whether you’re jetting off to a tropical island, a charming European city, or some other dreamy spot, these tips will help you shine as you say “I do” in paradise.

1. Getting Ready for each wedding event

Give yourself more time than you think you need – be ready early so you aren’t stressed and pressed for time.

I made sure my hair and makeup were completed with about 3 hours before each event.

Then I had time to eat, put on all of my jewelry, drape my veil, get shoes on and enjoy all of those special moments with my family leading up to the wedding.

My goal was to not feel rushed in getting to each of our events and I feel like I achieved that goal!

2. Ask your seamstress to make your top (choli) clip-able in the back

I really wish my wedding day lehenga choli clipped in the back.

We had our Hindu ceremony at 3pm then we ran off and changed into our Christian ceremony outfits. After baking in the hot sun it was so hard to get my Lehenga top over my head without messing up my hair and makeup.

If I would have requested my seamstress to make it clip able in the back, changing would been so much easier.

I highly recommend you ask your seamstress to make your Choli clip-able in the back!

3. Make sure your Bridal lehenga isn't too long

I had all of my lehenga’s altered but they were so heavy! Once I had everything on and I had to hold my skirt up as I was walked around.

I wished I had gotten all of my skirts shortened just a little bit more.

I was also wearing flats the entire time, my feet didn’t show so I wanted to be comfy!

4. Try on your jewelry and hairstyle before the wedding

I chose to add in hair extensions for my wedding day hairstyle. I went with a Rapunzel like side braid so I needed the extra length and thickness.

What I didn’t think about was trying on my earrings and necklace with my desired hairstyle.

On my wedding day, my earrings kept getting stuck to my braid and I couldn’t get it unstuck gracefully. My earrings were just long enough for the bottom of them to get caught on my braid without looking like its caught in my braid.

I just had to ignore it and keep my cool, I was afraid if I pulled my earrings off that it would mess up my hair.

If I had tried it all before the wedding, I would have chosen different earrings. But this is the type of thing you might not think of in the midst of all the wedding planning.

Our Wedding Vendors

Bahia Mita Resort took care of the majority of our wedding from the planning, food, decor including most flowers, guest accommodations, photography and videography.

Ximena was our wedding coordinator at Bahia Mita

Cecilia was our photographer with Adventure Photos.

Vagablonde Travel took care of our travel details and room bookings for our 88 guests.

Floreria Bloom made and delivered our Varmala’s and center pieces.

Lemon’s and Mehdni took care of my bridal Mehndi on my hands and guests and my bridal hair and makeup for all 3 events.

Polished Makeup & Hair took care of family members hair and makeup.

Paisley’s and Swirls did my henna on my feet in Houston.

Dresses:

Orange Lehenga, Blue Lehenga is from Pahlki Fashion

Red Bridal Lehenga & Jewelry is from Roop Sari

White Wedding Dress is from Marry Go Round

Houston Destination Wedding

Team Polished — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 10:26:00 +0000

Hey hey bride-to-be!

Are you planning a destination wedding in Houston?

Planning anything in another city can be tough, but we’re here to make things easier on you!

First off, let me say congratulations on your engagement. You’re about to start a new chapter in life with the one you love most and that’s a beautiful thing.

Houston and its surrounding cities are home to some of the most beautiful wedding spaces and venues. I’m know you’re going to have an absolutely amazing wedding here.

Planning a wedding in any city can be overwhelming, let alone in a city or country you don’t live in. I know from personal experience, I just had my own Destination wedding in May 2023 in Mexico and now I have so many tips I want to share!

There’s one thing that’s often overlooked when traveling to another city or country and that’s the importance of hiring a professional hair and makeup team.

That’s where we come in.

On your big day, there are so many amazing memories being created, we just want you to be able to relax and enjoy the day.

We love knowing that our brides trust us to help you achieve the best look ever! That’s why hiring a professional hair and makeup team you trust and love is so important.

Our specialties include giving you a natural, radiant airbrush makeup application and a hairstyle that will make you feel like a goddess.

Our ultimate goal is for you to not only look amazing, but to feel the Polished experience!

Our expert team of hair stylists and makeup artists have years of experience in the wedding industry and know how to listen and create a custom look tailored to each of our unique bride’s.

Whether you want a classic, elegant look or a more modern, bohemian style, we’ll make sure you glow with radiance and happiness for all of your wedding events.

Want to know another great thing about hiring Polished as your hair and makeup team? We can travel to you! Whether you’re getting ready at your hotel, resort, wedding venue, or our beauty studio, we’ll make sure that you’re relaxed and comfortable while we work.

We know that traveling can be stressful, and we want to make sure that your hair and makeup experience is stress-free and enjoyable.

And let’s not forget about our customer service. Our team is friendly, professional, and easy to talk to, making sure that your experience with us is a memorable one.

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, and we’ll do everything in our power to make sure we deliver a stunning look that you will love for generations to come.

So, if you’re planning a destination wedding in Houston, trust us at Polished Makeup & Hair to help you look and feel like the best Polished version of yourself.

Congratulations to my fellow bride in planning!

Vendors in photos above

Weddings in Houston
Venue The Laura Hotel
Photographer Amy Maddox Photo
Planning Modern Posh Events
Tenenbaum Jewelers
Polished Makeup and Hair
Decor + Candle Staging Coco Cabana
Wedding Gown Belle Ame Bridal Houston
Groom’s Attire Bk Repsco
Cakes + Desserts For Heavens Cake & Not Your Ordinary Cakes
Live Paintings Rendered Moments
Moonstruck Florals

Houston Hotels, Meet Your Perfect Hair and Makeup Match

Team Polished — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 07:32:00 +0000

Hey gorgeous bride-to-be!

Get ready to be pampered by the best hair and makeup team in town for your wedding. Polished Makeup & Hair has got you covered!

Our pro hair and makeup squad is ready to hit the road and head to your Houston hotel wedding, whether it’s at The Houstonian, Four Seasons, Hotel Blossom, Hotel Icon, The Laura Hotel, or another awesome hotel. We come fully equipped with everything we need, like a makeup light, chair, and table, so you can sit back, relax, and let us treat you like royalty.

Hotel blossom: Wedding ceremony hair and makeup

Hotel weddings in Houston are seriously so much fun! With so many swanky hotel options to choose from, you’re sure to find your dream venue. And with Polished Makeup & Hair on your team, you’ll be able to fully enjoy your day without a single hair or makeup worry.

We’ll have you ready in the comfort of your hotel room and then be out of the way so you can get dressed and have your special moments before heading to the ceremony.

Hotel blossom: Wedding reception bridal look

Downtown Houston hotels are the perfect blend of luxury and adventure. Get ready in a beautiful hotel suite, take photos in front of Houston’s famous landmarks, and then dance the night away in a stunning ballroom.

And the best part? After the reception, your guests can either head back to their rooms or hit the town if they don’t want the party to end. There are so many fun rooftop bars with incredible views, interactive museums, and let’s not forget about our favorite, the amazing food scene.

You and your guests will have a blast!

Hotel granduca: a sultry, sexy and moody hotel

Switching up hair, makeup, and dress to create a new reception look.

And don’t forget, we’re here for all your wedding festivities too! From engagement pics to bridal showers to bachelorette parties, our team is ready to glam you up.

We want to be your one-stop-shop for all your hair and makeup needs throughout your entire wedding journey.

So why wait? Contact us today to book your wedding hair and makeup services with Polished Makeup and Hair and enjoy the pampering experience you deserve.

We can’t wait to help make your special day even more magical!

Four Seasons hotel: Bright, airy and luxurious

Check out some of our favorite hotels in Houston for weddings:

The Blossom Hotel
Hotel Granduca
The Laura Hotel
Four Seasons
The Houstonian
Hotel Zaza
Hilton America’s
Post Oak Hotel
C. Baldwin Hotel

Credits

Photographers –
Oryan Photo and Video
DC Stanley Photography
Amy Maddox Photography

Hair & Makeup –
Polished Makeup & Hair

Hotels featured in this blog –
Hotel Blossom
Hotel Granduca
Four Seasons Houston Hotel

Featured in –
Weddings In Houston

DIY Honeymoon Makeup Kit

Team Polished — Wed, 24 Feb 2021 09:23:00 +0000

Honeymoon makeup kit

The wedding is over and now you’re going on your honeymoon, here’s how you can make a makeup kit so small it can fit in your pocket!

The best part? You can customize it!

You can go from all this…to these cute little things! Aren’t they adorable?

I get such a sweet sense of satisfaction just looking at these babies.

I’m a sucker for makeup organization. Even though these cuties are small, they hold a TON!

Check out all the cute sizes here.

What's in my makeup organizers

Just look at all those different colors in my hand!

Depending on the container you have, will determine how many different products you can fill it up with.

The ones I got are called Bella, they have 16 mini sections.

So far, here’s what I’ve got in my 3 containers still with room to fill:

cream blush, color correctors, concealers, eyeshadow base, foundation, lipsticks, eyebrow pomade, gel eye liner and brow wax.

I also decided to condense a larger Vueset into the cute smaller one, I love how it turned out!

You can see a video of me depotting my makeup below.

Products you can put in your custom makeup kit?

Pretty much anything cream can go in your Vueset, just make sure it’s not too liquidy.

Here are some things you can add into your makeup organizer:

Moisturizer
Eye cream
Lip moisturizer
Primer
Liquid or cream foundation
Concealer
Color corrector
Your favorite lipsticks
Cream blush
Eyebrow gel, pomade or wax
Cream or gel eyeliner
Cream highlight

TOOLS

Here are the tools you’ll need to depot your makeup into your Vueset:

Here's how to do it!

Label it

Keep that baby organized, use a label maker or write what each section is on the back, so you know exactly what your reaching for on your honeymoon!

Bridal beauty on the go

Alright, you’ve got your Vueset filled, this should last you for a good few days or weeks (depending on the size you choose).

These makeup organizers are the perfect way to store your cream makeup products anytime you travel.

Just don’t forget the rest of your makeup like brushes, makeup wipes and anything else you need.

Happy honeymooning!