Let's talk hair...

... shall we?

Nope, wasn't talking about the kind that's on your head. And while this is not strictly-speaking a bridal topic, it's all the more relevant with a wedding and honeymoon looming in the horizon. Hive, I wanna be baby smooth. But I'm not shaving for the wedding.

No, I'm not planning on au naturel. I don't plan on shaving for the wedding because I hope to no longer HAVE any hair that needs shaving.

That's right, you're all thinking it, now say it with me:

 LASER!

I debated whether or not to write this post, would anybody even want to read it? But then again, I know I would have loved to read some first hand accounts. So, if you're considering laser or just plain curious, read on! If you're not interested, don`t worry, I'll be back talking about centerpieces in no time :)

This is not something I like to admit, but I'm super self-conscious about my body hair, which, thanks to my Cuban genes, I have been blessed with in abundance. To make things worse, I have very dark hair, coupled with very light skin, which makes it so much more noticeable. Oddly enough, this has been a blessing for laser and actually makes me the perfect candidate: the higher contrast between skin tone and hair color, the better the results are. 

I have always hated shaving because no matter how close of a shave I get, you can still see little black dots where the hair follicle is. On the other hand, waxing is painful and expensive. Enter: laser hair removal.

My main deterrent, like most people I imagine, was price. Laser is VERY expensive. Except when you can get your hands on an amazing groupon. I found a local laser clinic that was offering a year's worth of treatments (9 in all) for 6 body parts for 500$ (a 90% savings)! To make things even more convenient for me, they are literally across the street from our apartment! I went in for a free consultation and to check the place out to make sure it was legit and purchased the groupon offer directly through the clinic.

I had my first treatment back in august and was terrified that it would be incredibly painful, or leave my skin blotchy and irritated. Instead, I went home that night wondering if my technician had done anything at all! That's how incredibly painless it was! And I do not consider myself to have a high pain threshold AT ALL. Like, I actually cried tears the first time I got a bikini wax. True story.

The way it works is they adjust the setting based on your skin type and hair type and run this little handheld piece all over the area to be treated.

Lightsheer duet/ image via aesthetic.lumenis.com

The machine basically sucks little sections of skin into the nozzle, which feels kind of like putting your hand on the end of a vacuum cleaner. It doesn't hurt or burn, like I imaged it would, though it did sting a little, like getting pinched, or snapped with a rubber band. Sometimes, you can smell "burning hair", which is perfectly normal, since you are burning the hair follicle at the root. The technician also reduces the intensity for more sensitive areas, like the bikini line. Some sessions, I notice my skin is a bit more sensitive, and the tech lowers the intensity to make it hurt less.

For comparison, here is a closeup of my leg before (left) and after (right) a treatment. The lighting is different, b%ut you can see that there is barely any redness or bumps. 

Both photos personal

 

Finally, the treatments are very quick, about 40 minutes for my entire lower-body, and since there is no discomfort, unlike waxing, you can go about your day normally. It also helps improve the recurrence of ingrown hairs, which I also struggle with, so yay.

It is recommended to wait 6 to 8 weeks in between treatments to allow the follicles time to regenerate. I've only had six treatments so far, but am already noticing great results. I would say I've lost about 90% hair on my legs and buttocks, 75% on my thighs, and 60% on my bikini area, which is a great sign. After a full cycle of 8 or 9 treatments, I should have lost 90% or more of my body hair. 

This means that while I won't be done my treatments, I will have very silky smooth skin for the wedding AND more importantly, for our beachy honeymoon! I will definitely report back and let you know how it turns out after I'm completely done.

I strongly recommend to anyone who might be considering this to at least go have a consultation. And if you're patient and wait for a great deal, you could get smooth skin permanently for a fraction of the cost.

And while I'm aware that this reads like an infomercial, I just happenned to have a great experience, and wanted to share it with you all.

Has anybody else tried laser? How are you taming "the situation" for your big day?

To Chair is Human

Remember that time I said I hated chair covers? Well, I may not have been 100% honest about that...

Truth is, chair covers are one of those things I never thought about until I got engaged. Heck, I may have even liked them at one time!

Then, I started watching wedding shows and foraging for inspiration online. All of a sudden, chair covers became an abomination, an eye sore that simply had no place at my beautiful, classy, wedding.

I blame this guy:

Chiavari Chair/ image via thechaircompany.ca

Yup, I jumped on the Chiavari bandwagon like a hobo hitching a ride on the last train out of town, and never looked back.

Mr. Waterfall? Not so much.

Every time I would show him a picture of a Chiavari, or point them out in an episode of Four Weddings, he said he hated them. That's right: Hate. So much for that...

I actually found this strangely amusing because, up until this point, he had been a really laid-back kind of groom, who didn't have very strong opinions about most wedding details. Alas, when it came to Chiavaris, he was keeping his proverbial foot down, waaayyy down!

Still, I thought I could source them out, just for giggles, just to see what they would cost, you know... hypothetically. And WOW, let me tell ya, at 8-9$ a pop, plus chair cushions and delivery, they don't come cheap! As if Mr. Waterfall needed even more reason to say no...

But I couldn't let go of my Chiavari dream, try as I might! That is, until attending a bridal expo with MOH Long Legs and the parents, seeing one up close and asking Papi W to try it out.

At 6 ft 3 and 220 pounds, Papi Waterfall is by no means a small guy, but he's no giant either. Except that, perched on this tiny chair, he looked like Gulliver, or Alice in Wonderland, after she eats the cookies…

Just when I was about to concede defeat in the Great Chiavari Battle of 2012, we visited Le Windsor for the first time. Lo and behold, stacks of gorgeous Chiavaris lined the walls. I asked Papi W to sit in one, just for fun, and by some miracle, he actually FIT. Comfortably! Like a normal, non-giant, human being!!!

A very happy Papi Waterfall/ Personal Photo

Have I told you the best part? Chiavaris are included as part of our package. Guess it’s true then, the best things in life ARE free! And you can’t argue with free chairs, Mr. Waterfall…

Are you a Chiavari lover or a Banquet Chair kind of bee?

DIY vs BUY

Bees, I'll let you in on a little secret. I absolutely love crafting! In fact, I'm pretty sure I was Martha Stewart's love child in a previous life. 

via marthasteward.com

Since my line of work is highly intellectual, I need that release. I just love working with my hands and creating something from scratch after a long day of just thinking about stuff. And, Mr. Waterfall is happy to oblige while he's off slaying dragons in Skyrim, or whatever.

I consider myself a pretty crafty person. It should come as no surprise then, that I''ve been able to DIY many elements for the wedding.
  

However, beware of sites like Pinterest offering seemingly super easy DIY projects! Here are some things to consider before you buy out your local Michaels:

1. DIY'ing is not always cheaper!!! Seriously, compare before you commit to a project and figure out exactly how much you'll actually be saving, chances are, it's not as much as you think. It might not seem like you're spending a lot, but little purchases add up, and you won’t even notice. (Don't forget to factor in the cost of any tools required for the project that you don't already have on hand, especially if you don't plan on using it again after this project).

2. Time is money. I'll admit, it's hard to shake years of being trained to think in terms of billable hours, but this saying is sooo true! Think about everything that you already have on your to-do list, do you really want to tack on the extra work? Save your sanity! After an entire night spent wrestling with your glue gun screaming things like “Why won’t it go?!?!” and "Damn you Martha Stewart, damn you to hell!!!!", you’re gonna wish you bit the big one and just paid to have a professional handle it. Pick your battles.

3. This brings me to my next point: Know your limits! It’s ok to get the occasional worried look and a couple of are you sure’s from concerned family and friends who don’t know that you’re actually a DIY ninja. However, if you haven’t sewed since the 8^th grade , maybe DON’T try to sew your own wedding dress…

4. Always have a backup! (And make sure to back-up your backup). It might just happen that despite your best intentions, something won’t get done in time, or simply end up looking like a 5-year old made it. You’ll be so relieved knowing you have a plan B that doesn’t involve blood, sweat, and/or tears. 

You're still thinking of going ahead with that DIY project anyway aren't ya?

GOOD! You SHOULD be!

Here's why:

1. DIY is awesome. It might not always be the cheaper option, but sometimes it actually is! Plus, it's fun. And, DIY allows a level of customization that you just can't find in mass production. Want it just so? Make it just so! Imagine how proud you’ll feel when people compliment your creation and you get to say "I made that!”

2. Fake it till you make it. Don't know how to go about something? Google that sh**t! . I'm serious, there are so many tutorials out there!  Chances are, somebody else has already tried (and failed). Learn from their mistakes, and don't be afraid to tweak things here and there to better suit your needs. 

3. Exploit your minions! 

via Nickelodeon

I mean, rely on your wonderful friends and family, of course... Want to DIY something that you're not particularly skilled at, say... An awesome wedding invitation suite? That's ok! Just borrow the talents of your amazingly talented, graphic designer MOH instead!. After all, Santa doesn't build the toys, that's what the elves are for ;)

4. Etsy. ‘nuff said.

Do you have any other DIY tips?

You can`t always get what you want...

When we left off, we were blissfully in love with Le Windsor.

Even though we were still a massive 18 months away from our wedding date at the time, I became consumed with paranoia that somebody would beat us to the punch and book our date. So, I casually emailed the sales rep to confirm that it was still available and my suspicions were confirmed! Though our date was not officially booked yet, another couple was already penciled in, which meant they had a 24hr option of first refusal on our date. To which I thought:

Oh HELLL no!!!

Via DanThat`sCool

I panicked…Our date was already set in stone with our church. And I did not want to have to deal with the coordinator nun to change it after I had already spent an entire day negotiating it to begin with!

So, I went into full fledged lawyer mode and called the sales rep. I explained that we were prepared to put down a deposit and sign a contract the next day and asked her to contact the other couple and see if they were willing to do the same. I also asked if the other couple were having their ceremony on site, and they were. I politely pointed out that since they were having everything in one place, they were a lot more flexible than us in terms of dates, and that if we were not able to get ours, we would be forced to walk away. (I honestly don`t know what I would have done had the couple decided to sign, you guys!)    

She called back and told me that she had convinced the couple to move their option to a different date and let us have ours. Then she asked when we would like to come in with our deposit.

Oh. Right. Deposit. GULP.

The moral of the story is:

a) book things as early as you can! 

b) fight for the things you want and 

c) be prepared to put your money where your mouth is, literally!

Sadly, the deposit was a whopping 6k, and we certainly did not have that kind of money lying around! But Mami and Papi Waterfall swooped in to save the day once more and helped us with the difference. Seriously, how lucky are we to have such amazing parents?

There was also the small matter of the 200 guest minimum. Well, I tapped into badass litigator mode once more and negotiated it down to 150, which brings me to moral of the story d) ALWAYS negociate!

I can`t tell you all how relieved I was once the contract was signed and our date was booked! Then, of course, I felt a bit dizzy thinking about all the money being drained from our bank accounts.

Though I feel a bit guilty for "stealing" the date from underneath that other couple, sometimes you gotta be a little ruthless in life if you wanna get what you want... Besides, it worked out all right for everybody! All is fair in love and wedding planning. Right?

Did you go through anything similar while planning your wedding?

Venues,The Good, The Bad and the Lovely: THE LOVELY

You know that Ah-ha! moment every bride hopes to have when she finds her dress? You know…the one where the heavens open up and you hear heavenly choirs sing and little bare-buttocked cherubs float all around you? Well, I had it… when I found my venue!

I know I`ve teased you long enough, so I promise I`ll get right to the good stuff.

Though Le Windsor had been suggested early on in my engagement by a friend of mine who`s also a bride to be, it somehow got put on the back shelf. Actually, I know exactly how. Upon my first google-stalking-sesh I was practically drooling over how gorgeous the place was, until I received their package info and saw the 200 guest minimum, and the price tag, which was NOT a low number.

Sorry Jessie J, but I most certainly will NOT forget about the price tag...

Then, my parents so generously offered to help us out, and just like that, Le Windsor was back in the mix!  

While on a venue scouting trip with Mami and Papi Waterfall (Mr. W had to work), we decided to check it out. Being fairly late on a Sunday night in the dead of winter, the place was pretty desolate. We asked the security guard if we could take a look nonetheless and he said sure, flicking on the lights in the Peacock Alley one by one. And by lights, I mean, absolutely breathtaking crystal chandeliers…  FIVE absolutely breathtaking crystal chandeliers in a row, to be exact. This is what we saw (minus the furniture and the uplighting)

Peacock Alley, all photos courtesy of Le Windsor

For a moment, we just stood there, frozen, mouths hanging open, watching the lights turn on. It felt kind of like watching the lighting of the tree at Rockefeller Center! I could hear the clickitty-click of my heels echo across the vast marble hall, as we made our way into the main rooms.

The Windsor offers a choice of not one but TWO ballrooms for your event; the Windsor and the Versailles. We instantly knew we wanted the latter.  

The Windsor Ballroom, photo courtesy of Le Windsor

The Versailles Ballroom, photo courtesy of Le Windsor

My favorite feature of all is the enormous chandelier hanging over the dance floor in the Versailles room. I mean, just look at it!

The Versailles Ballroom, photo courtesy of Le Windsor

I can`t even describe to you the way we felt when we left. The three of us were so excited on the car ride home, and just kept talking over one another amidst exclamations of Oh Wow and Oh My God. Even though the rooms were not set up, I was able to picture my wedding day perfectly, just imagining having my first dance with Mr. Waterfall under that gorgeous chandelier gives me the chills.

I convinced Mr. Waterfall to go see it a few days later, though he had protested that it looked too fancy from the pictures online. Lucky for us, they were setting up for an event and the sales rep was on site and was able to give us a tour. Once Mr. W saw it all in person, I could tell he was on board, as hooked as I was!

Was it love at first sight with your venue?