The Journal.
Practical, honest writing on bridal prep, wedding-morning beauty, and the details that help your day flow.
Bridal beauty · Real weddings · Favorites
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When to Book Wedding Hair and Makeup: A Month-by-Month Guide
Aug 6, 2026 · Maureen Ella
Florida Wedding Hair and Makeup: How to Plan for Heat and Humidity
Aug 6, 2026 · Maureen Ella
How to Choose a Bridal Hairstylist Whose Work Complements Your Wedding Style
Jul 22, 2026 · Maureen Ella
What to Expect at Your Bridal Hair and Makeup Preview
Jul 20, 2026 · Maureen Ella
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Browse every guide, favorite, and real-wedding story, or choose a collection below.
29 posts · 4 collections
Oct 29, 2023
Beauty Favorites
Color Wow: The Blow-Dry Products I Trust for Bridal Hair
Humidity is the great enemy of Florida wedding hair. The Color Wow blow-dry products I trust to keep bridal styles smooth, glossy, and weatherproof.
Sep 11, 2023
Beauty Favorites
Bridal Makeup for Sensitive Skin: Gentle Products I Reach For
Sensitive skin does not have to limit your bridal look. Gentle formulas — like Honest Beauty's — plus patch testing and smart timing keep reactive skin calm and camera-ready.
Aug 31, 2023
Beauty Favorites
Personalized Beauty Gifts for Brides and Bridesmaids
An engraved lipstick or fragrance turns a beauty product into a keepsake. Why personalized pieces — like YSL Beauty's engravings — make my favorite bridal gifts.
Aug 14, 2023
Beauty Favorites
Blow Dryers Worth Owning for Your Bridal Hair Prep
The right blow dryer makes wedding hair prep faster, smoother, and kinder to your hair. The dryers I recommend to brides, from professional workhorses to smart budget picks.
From the archive
Beauty Favorites
How to Choose Your Wedding-Day Lip Color
Your lip color shows up in nearly every photo. Here is how to choose one that lasts and looks like you.
From the archive
Beauty Favorites
Choosing a Wedding-Day Fragrance You Will Always Remember
Scent is memory. Choosing a wedding-day fragrance is a quiet, lovely detail worth a little thought.
