Well… well… well… lookie lookie! Yah – so we may not be the most routine bloggers out there in the wedding planning world but hey we are totally aware + totally working on it! We are excited to bring you a new post written by guest blogger Liz Washer, Makeup Artistry by Liz! Read on my lovely antibridal beotches + stay tuned for more posts from our fab network of beauty pro’s! XoXo, Rachael + the lolagraceTEAM

Top 5 Hair + MU Tips from PRO-MUA!  Weddings are fabulous and all, but… wow. Even the most anti- of antiweddings can get complicated. Event planning in general entails a lot of moving parts, which means ample opportunities for Murphy’s Law to kick in (and potentially kick your bridal butt!) As a makeup artist, I can’t tell you how to prevent wardrobe malfunctions and decorating disasters. But there are definitely a few things brides and their fabulous entourages can do to make the most of where, when & how they’ll be getting prepped for the spotlight: 1. Consider your “Big Primpin’” space. Do you have a chair that’s a good height for your hair & makeup artists? (I bring my own chair, but barstools and other elevated furniture work great if your artist isn’t as compulsive about packing as I am. For hair, you can usually be seated in a normal-height chair.) How about adequate, not-weirdly-colored light? (Natural light is always best, when it’s available – whereas hotel bathroom lighting is usually TEH SUCK!) Do you have 3-prong electrical outlets and table space? (Once again, I’m a nutcase with a trunk full of equipment… but not all artists will have this and you can waste a lot of time tracking it down.) Is there a place for you to hang wardrobe, and steam it if needed? A fainting couch? (Hey, you never know.) 2. How many people can you fit in your prep space (and how many people do you WANT hanging around while you primp)? This is totally a personal decision: do you crave some Zen on a busy day, or would you prefer to have more of a bustling party atmosphere? Do you want people coming in and out of the room, or would you rather that wait until you’re ready for showtime? Whatever you choose, try to make sure you aren’t being pulled in twelve different directions while your hairstylist is brandishing a hot iron or your makeup artist is curling your eyelashes. (Because… ouch!) 3. There may more options for prep space than you think. If the hotel rooms are on the snug side for your group (those beds eat up a lot of space!), ask if there is a conference room you could use instead. Or perhaps a family or bridal party member has the perfect sunlit kitchen, dining room or even office space that they’d be willing to loan out for the day. Ask around, while keeping in mind any added travel time that this could require (you probably won’t want a long trip from your prep space to your venue). 4. Make a decision about communications – not just how you’ll communicate with your makeup artist, but with the outside world. Will you be answering the phone and fielding texts yourself, or will someone in your bridal party take responsibility? At some point during makeup, you’ll have to look in different directions or close your eyes (which will definitely cut into your texting ability!) – so having someone who can take over for you is a good way to stay on schedule. 5. Finally, consider the things that help you feel calm and happy. That could be music, or meditation, or a massage, or the company of certain loved ones, or a call from your soon-to-be spouse at a specific moment, or a big fat cocktail… whatever works, try to incorporate some element of it during your preparations. Attend to your happiness, and soak up every inch of your day! Recognized for her natural touch and eye for color, Liz Washer has been a fixture behind the scenes at shoots and events since 2005. Her specialty is feature-enhancing, camera-ready airbrush makeup for special events, print, video, and broadcast. Liz lives in Western Mass with her dog and entirely too many books, and publishes the “Serving up Beauty” e-zine, available at bridalbyliz.com.