Wedding & Beauty’s Perfect Partners
COVID has affected everyone’s life, in a myriad of ways, over these past 16 months. From jobs to vacations, to family reunions to something as simple as going to the shopping mall, people have had to alter their lives, routines and expectations in ways they never thought they would have to before.
In my case, probably the most important way that COVID affected my life was in planning and executing my wedding. Something that was already over two years in the making. However, by using some creative means, working with some very talented people and the help of family and friends, it was able to be pulled off with great success!
Being that my August 2020 wedding was in the middle of a pandemic, it was cancelled “until further notice” because no one knew when life would go back to normal. I had been planning it since December 2018 and had everything ready. Venue, photographer, makeup/hair artist, food selection, DJ/live band, baker, and florist. When March 2021 came around and COVID restrictions started lifting, we decided we didn’t want to wait any longer and started planning for a May 1, 2021 wedding date. We asked our family friend to use his home as our venue, limited guests to immediate family and very close friends and had a few family friends who helped out with everything else needed, such as: catering, bouquets, centerpieces, DJ/MC and photographer.
Last, but far from least, I was dead set on hiring the hair/makeup artist that worked my sister-in-law’s wedding in September 2019. After all, your wedding day is the Day Above All Days that you want to shine the most.
When I contacted Kreative Beauty Services, Erika informed me that she had another event already scheduled on the date we had chosen for our wedding. However, she put me into contact with Carolyn Thombs, founder of Carolyn Thombs Artistry LLC. From the moment I first spoke with Carolyn, I was convinced that I could put my trust in her on my big day. I sent her some hair and makeup photos that I liked, choosing to go with a more natural makeup look with as little foundation as possible, a darker eye and a lighter/nude lip. I had told her that my skin is very oily and that I do have large pores, and also that if I wear a lot of foundation it will melt off quickly. Providing her with this information was key because it allowed her to choose the best products to use on the day of the wedding. She chose them perfectly and at the end of the night my makeup was still flawless!
Hair
On the day of my wedding, Carolyn showed up with a smile and her tools to transform me into a bride. She started with my hair. Before using the curling iron, she sprayed my hair with Rock Your Hair Hot Curls Thermal Curl Spray, which strengthens the hold of the curls and provides heat protection to prevent damage. After all of my hair was curled, she used Sebastian Trilliant Thermal Protection and Shimmer-Complex Spray to add shine. She pinned the curls back with bobby pins for a fun and curly half up style that was both simple and elegant. My hair stayed in place all night and the curls never fell or became loose.
Makeup
Carolyn started with the Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentre for my moisturizer, and a combination of Make Up For Ever Step 1 Primer Pore Minimizer to minimize pores and Tatcha The Silk Canvas Protective Primer, which provides a protective layer over the skin to minimize clogged pores and breakouts. For concealer, she used the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer and then used KVD Beauty True Portrait Medium Coverage Shake Foundation for the foundation, which she applied minimally with a disposable sponge. Next, she applied bronzer and blush, both by The Balm. Then she used a Dior Diorshow Brow Styler Ultra-Fine Precision Brow Pencil to fill in my eyebrows, applied NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, and mixed shades from the Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette to achieve my more natural looking smoky eye. For eyeliner, she chose the Highliner Liquid Gel Eyeliner (for the lid) and Highliner Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner (for my lower lash and waterline) by Marc Jacobs Beauty. The final touch was NARS Afterglow Lip Balm in the shade Fast Lane for my lips, which provided moisture for my lips and a sheer mauve color.
My wedding was absolutely perfect! I felt and looked like a princess from start to finish! If you live in the Northern Virginia area and have a wedding or other event, I would recommend contacting Carolyn for hair and makeup services.
