Three Musts for a Blissful and Illuminated Bride

1) A photography and makeup team, John Lichtwardt and Colette Taber venture beyond their extensive fashion and commercial backgrounds to create illuminated bride. By combining their experiences and talents, they bring exceptional beauty and photography to every wedding. Here they share their perspective and insights of the 3 musts for a blissful bride.

Plan and Delegate

Have a consultation with a professional wedding planner. There is so much new information to absorb when planning a wedding, listening to expert advice can give a bride clarity on where to start and possibly inspire a new approach. She can take-on this project her self as many brides do, but the earlier she enlists professional help the less stress she will be taking with her to the ceremony. The benefits far outweigh the investment. "Delegating and letting-go allows space for bliss, feeling her best affects everything including how she'll look, which of course reflects in her wedding images." Says, Colette

2) Hire the best photographer

After the flowers fade and the cake is gone it's the photographs that live on to tell the tale. "Having images that convey your wedding story with feeling and beauty is a lifelong pleasure" says, John.

Look for images that are free of gimmick. Authenticity is timeless. The best imagery conveys a genuine feeling, pulling the observer in. Look past the subject and notice the background and quality of light. A talented and experienced photographer will always be thinking and capturing with all of these elements in mind "There is nothing like a wedding in the sense of heightened true emotion says, John, successfully capturing these images is an intuitive anticipation of what is to come." To quote the legendary documentary photographer, Henri Cartier-Bresson "It is putting one's head, one's eye, and one's heart on the same axis"

Photographing a wedding takes awareness. Consider a photographer's disposition, years of experience and innate sense for capturing important moments as they unfold.

Equally important is compatibility. A couple might ask themselves; do you feel we can develop a close, professional relationship with this person? When meeting photographers, a couple might keep in mind the level of interest they feel they are receiving from the meeting. Does the photographer go beyond the expected? Is there a real interest in the wedding details and the couple's personal story? "Familiarity and trust is key to genuine and beautiful images." ~John

3) Before the ceremony~ Pamper, Relax, Relinquish Control

The weeks and months of planning are now in the past. The time in makeup is an opportune moment to let go of the business of the previous weeks. A bride should pamper her self by having a skilled hair and makeup stylist(s) come to her.

Look for a makeup artist with plenty of print work experience, a "still" medium requiring great attention to detail, beauty know-how that's ideal for the bride: seen close-up, and often in the revealing light of day. Essential to a calm pre-ceremony experience is having had a makeup and hair trial run before the wedding date. Knowing what she can expect, gives a bride one less critical detail to think about

She can revel in her special day by scheduling plenty of time for preparation. For example if her hairdresser requires an hour, she can add 30 minutes to the schedule, If dressing will take 20 minutes add 10 more, and so on. The luxury of time is truly that, a luxury. The one valuable gift a bride can give to her self! Turning off her cell phone and deferring all calls to the professional wedding coordinator will help her transform her wedding day distractions into wedding day presence. An illuminated bride is a blissful bride!

Illuminated Bride.com for photography and beauty

Whether photographing a lavish 3-day wedding ceremony in India or an intimate gathering in Montana, John and Colette's easy manner and professionalism assures their clients that they have found the right photographic and beauty professionals. For more information visit their website at www.illuminatebride.com or call (818)957-1454.