Up-Do's For I Do's

Feature: Fox 45 Morning News

2012-01-30T13:07:00.000-08:00

This morning we had the honor of representing the upcoming Baltimore Bridal Show! We displayed our best talents at Fox 45 with three lovely ladies.

Lindsay and Crystal have happy smiles even though it is before 8am!

Ashley working on Laura's hair.

We were thrilled to find out that the Chick-Fil-A cow was hanging out in the lobby. We ~~stalked~~ causally asked if we could get a quick photo.

...and of course we had to tidy up her bow and lashes before she made her Fox 45 debut.

Lindsay is back to business.

Beth putting the final touches on Kaitlin's lashes.

...and a round of lipgloss.

We really liked Paul our camera guy!

First up, an interview with Megan Gilliland.

...and Ashley seems a little too exxxxcited about being on TV.

Beth's work is spotlighted beautifully!

Now, into the studio we go!

We loved our interview with Patrice Harris. We even got the inside scoop of the details for her October wedding!

Don't forget to come see us this weekend at the Baltimore Convention Center Feb 4th and 5th! It's a show you don't want to miss!

Feature: Baltimore Bride Spring/Summer 2012

2012-01-27T09:55:00.000-08:00

Last month Mindy and Ashley had the distinct pleasure of making over the little ladies and gents at Caroline's Cupcakery. Check out some of the behind the scene pics. Spending the morning with tot-sized models was certainly different from our everyday bride. With goldfish and juice in hand, the little models loved sitting in our chairs and getting dolled up for their spread in

Baltimore Bride Magazine.

We picked up a copy and were thrilled to see a two page spread with the petite models showing off our hairstyles. Check out the published photos by Mary from Love Life Images. Thanks to Janelle at Baltimore Bride for inviting us! We had a blast!

We LOVE a good BY: line :)

Dream Team: Studio Meeting

2012-01-26T11:48:00.000-08:00

Each artist piled into our studio, one by one. With pizza, conversation hearts, pen and paper in hand, we were ready to get the night going! After discussing our goals and plans for the next year, we had a little fun! Everyone had to grab their purse and pull out all of their lipglosses, lipsticks or lipliners.

Can you guess who won?

Beth had 9!

Natasha didn't have enough....

Sadly Sara didn't either....

...and the winner is Steffani who had a whopping 11 lipglosses in her purse.

She is now the official owner of 12 lipglosses as she added her favorite Up-Do's For I Do's lipgloss to her collection.

...moving forward we made Valentine's Day cards for a very special group of kids of at the Hugs and Hope organization. If you have a chance, make something special and mail it their way!

...one last raffle...We wonder if Sara won her scratch off!

After a fun evening together, we are so thankful for such an awesome job and for allowing our brides to give us a reason for waking up each morning! Stay tuned for more photos from our night!

Feature: The Knot Best of Weddings 2012

2012-01-25T04:42:00.000-08:00

Wow! For the second year in a row, we have been honored with the title of "best of weddings" for the Baltimore area. This is a great privilege and we are extremely grateful for our brides voting for us! We will continue to provide excellent customer service, personalized hairstyles and flawless makeup applications to each bride that walks into our studio and then again when we travel on-site.

What's Up? Weddings Bridal Expo

2012-01-24T05:28:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday we were two places at once! Mindy held down our booth in Alexandria, VA and said the show was amazing with tons of wonderful brides.

From an inquiry we received within 24 hours:

"I spoke with some of your associates at the Washington DC Great Bridal Expo yesterday, January 22. I am hoping to get some information on your pricing! Looking forward to working with you, your booth was really great yesterday. Thanks!"

Ashley and Julie stayed local and spent the afternoon at the What's Up? Weddings Bridal Expo in Annapolis at the Double Tree Hotel.

Christine Penny (Angelberry Organics), Mike (Mike B Photography), and Mark (Hamilton Photography)

Gorgeous design by Intrigue Designs

The girls at Allison Barnhill Designs :)

Sarah and Melissa over at Intrigue thought it would be fun to make 2 different designs but incorporating the same tulips. There would be a good girl design and a bad girl design? Can you guess who got what?

Allison Barnhill Designs received the "good girl" design and....

we received the "bad girl" design. Luckily, this only meant that the "bad girl" designs matched our company colors and we weren't truly the bad girls. Thanks again Sarah and Melissa for the pretty flowers!

The cool kids at Hamilton Photography!

Feature: Bayside Bride Handpicked Vendor 2012

2012-01-20T09:19:00.001-08:00

We are thrilled that the gals at Bayside Bride have chosen us to be one of their Handpicked Vendors for 2012. It is an honor and privilege to serve brides and their families in the Chesapeake area.

Photo Shoot: Behind the Scenes with Christine Barker Photography

2012-01-19T04:33:00.000-08:00

Last night we had the privilege of shooting with the talented Christine Barker. Christine set up shop in our waiting area and our entire team transformed models into gorgeous, romantic yet natural supermodels. Check out the behind the scene pictures. Our artists grabbed a camera and took shots of our team hard at work. It was a great night and we are so thankful for those who were involved. Keep an eye out in the next few weeks for the finished product! This is just the beginning!

Many thanks to 2 Hands Studios for the gorgeous accessories! With handmade accessories, our inspiration pictures and model line-up, we were ready to begin our very busy and long night!

First up ~ Makeup Artist Julia for her headshot....these turned out really fun and I can't wait to share how Christine brought out each artists' personality!

...and we know some of the girls had to bring in their Ravens gear! Go team!

Steffani working on Barbara. We can't wait to see her again for her September wedding!

Beth putting the final touches on model Caitlin. We are loving this waterfall braid designed by Mindy!

Kristi giving Kelsey some lashes to make her eyes pop!

Christin and Stephanie creating gorgeousness...

Mindy being so cute!

You go Serena! Do your thang!

A look into the studio from our front door.

We saw a lot of this...shoes everywhere...more on that later :)

Jess, our fab intern!

For real? Yes! We are LOVING this look and hope it is a big request this year!

Paige finishing Laura's up-do.

Belen doing a final touch-up before her headshot.

Crystal's (Crystal Cleaning is da bomb!) gorgeous Tattered Petals! Debbie came to model for us and brought these to share.

Kelsey's fishtail in progress.

Making sure all is ok!

The incredibly gorgeous Kathy!

PhotoShoot: Rusty Love Vintage Rentals Part 2

2012-01-18T05:18:00.000-08:00

Drum Roll please...... here they are! The final images from our Rusty Love Vintage Rentals shoot! In case you missed it, here is the behind the scenes and stay tuned because there is one more post dedicated to this shoot :)

Team shot:

L-R: Ashley Riddle (Up-Do's For I Do's) Christine Penny, Angela Mangione (Rusty Love Vintage Rentals), Sarah (Intrigue Design and Decor), Karen Buck (Wedding 411), Pam Haner (Salmone Vintage), Brad Zisow (Bradley Images), Jay Buck (Wedding 411).

Cafe Boudoir: GO TEAM!

2012-01-17T07:28:00.000-08:00

Score big with Cafe Boudoir! Check out our site for packages and gift ideas for your prince charming!

Real Wedding: July 2- Casey

2012-01-16T05:06:00.000-08:00

Danielle and I spent the afternoon with Casey and her best friends at the Hyatt in Baltimore. Casey is one of those girls that you feel like you've been friends forever. Her heart is warm and her smile is genuine. After working with her mom, I can tell where she gets it from. This family was so sweet and inviting. It's wedding parties like this one that make us love what we do.

The view of the city from the Hyatt and her oh-so amazing dress. (dress #1)....wait until you see dress #2!

All the goodies that Danielle uses to make the girls even more glam! Casey opted for airbrush which was perfect for her summer day. Not sure if you want airbrush? What are the benefits? Read about it here! We LOVE airbrushing our brides.

Final touches ~ false lashes!

This is what we see at weddings. Before the chaos, it's the girls relaxing and enjoying the special day together.

...and if we are lucky, we get to see the dance practice sessions! NOTE: Casey's awesome side bun!

...we get to see the laughs....

I wonder if I photoshopped myself in to this picture, Casey and her family would let me be a part of it?

Casey, seriously stop being all gorgeous! You are so magazine worthy. Love her veil, neckalce and smile.

She is as pretty on the inside as she is on the outside. True story!

Her fabulous entourage.

We see a lot of photos from the AVAM but I have to be honest this might be one of my favorites. Look at her perfect hair (wink) and I love that you can see the reflection of their kiss in the mirror.
Fireplace mantle worthy!

Amazing bow on the back of the dress? Check.

OOOOoooooo Dress #2. You go girl! ...and I'm secretly wondering if this is the dance they were practicing?

Congrats Casey! Thank you so much for inviting us and allowing us to celebrate your special day with you.

We thoroughly enjoyed your company and felt like you were just part of the fun that afternoon! Most important, you guys are highly skilled at what you do and we were all thrilled with the results. I tried to get shots of the hair, makeup and just my beautiful daughters! Casey looked spectacular and was so happy that she had your expertise to make her shine. Thanks again.

Donna (Mother of the Bride)

Feature: Wedding Wire Rated 2012

2012-01-13T04:40:00.000-08:00

We are pleased to announce that for the 4th year in a row, we have won the Bride's Choice Award from Wedding Wire! Check out our incredible and real reviews here!

PhotoShoot: Rusty Love Vintage Rentals Behind the Scenes

2012-01-12T05:40:00.000-08:00

This past November we had the honor of teaming up with some new faces to help launch the new and upcoming Rust Love Vintage Rentals. We were honored to provide the hair and makeup for the entire shoot.

Ashley prepping Christine's hair. It's amazing when we work on-site. Here we are in the basement of a barn, working on gravel, with one outlet, using a restaurant tray as our table and a single exposed light bulb. Those conditions didn't stop our work from being rock star quality!

Model Christine and Pam from Salmone Vintage.

Ashley, Pam, Sarah and Christine

The florals from Intrigue Design and Decor have arrived.

Brad (I like to call him B-man) from Bradley Images and Jay Buck from Wedding 411.

Everyone getting everything in order. Look at that big truck! It was full of gorgeous vintage rentals!

We moved to the outdoors for better lighting to touch up makeup.

Karen Buck from Wedding 411, Angela from Rusty Love and Brad from Bradley Images

Sarah with Intrigue Designs

Mmmmm Cupcakes!

Trusty one arm shot :)

My little one loves when I come home with treats from work! Thanks for the cupcakes! Can't wait to share the final images from this shoot!

Flowers: Intrigue Design & Decor
Hair & Make Up: Up-Do's For I Do's, LLC
Model: Christine Penny - Angelberry Organics
Photography: Bradley Images
Fashion Styling: Salmone Vintage

Cupcakes: Flavor Cupcakery

Publication: Wedding 411

Photo Shoot: Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-01-11T06:28:00.000-08:00

The PERFECT gift for your man for Valentine's Day! I promise he'd rather have this instead of chocolates :) Come be spoiled by the Cafe Boudoir team and let us help you give your sweetie the best gift he will ever get! Hurry! We are booking fast!

Feature: The Knot Spring/Summer 2012

2012-01-10T05:03:00.000-08:00

In case you missed our Facebook post last week, we are in the new issue of The Knot 2012 Spring/Summer issue! Woo Hoo! Look for us on Page 185!

Bridal Show: CBBC January 7 2012

2012-01-09T07:50:00.000-08:00

It was GORGEOUS at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club this past Saturday. The weather was warm and breezy and it allowed for hundreds of brides to stop by our table. Certainly didn't feel like the beginning of January. We loved meeting all the newly engaged couples and seeing a few of our own brides as well. As always, we loved running into our favorite vendor friends!

See some more pictures on our facebook page!

Perkins had the Beach House looking exquisite.

We had the honor of prepping a few models as they strolled through each room.

..and of course we were honored to help the gals at Intrigue get ready for the show.

We were thrilled to be paired with such phenomenal vendors inside the open Tavern Bayside room.

We are always itching to see what Allison Barnhill Designs is going to do at the show :)

...and the show wouldn't be complete without the flawless designs of

Intrigue Design and Decor and 2 Hands Studios.

Our friends at Blue Sky Films were there!

Brittany (former Up-Do's bride) and Allison Barnhill

We are always impressed by Julie Savage of Strawberry Milk Events. A big congrats to her on her own engagement!

We <3 Christi at Travel Bug, LLC. We even did her daughter's wedding a few years back. The new couple just welcomed a new baby girl this past year!

There is no doubt a bridal show wouldn't be complete without the guys at Beat 2 Beat DJs right next to us! Chris and Jon (Mix 106.5) kept us entertained with their own radio station ~ beat2beatradio.com. It's great to listen to during the work day!

Danielle working on her model.

Lindsay chatting it up with brides and their families.

Our models looking fab.

The show was packed and a great success all around!

Kara prepping her gorgeous model (recently married just 5 weeks ago)!

Ashley working on her model!

Our view was priceless.

Beth had a busy morning as she helped Anne get ready for her wedding day. She then came by to see us towards the end of the show! Check out that view!

Loving fresh flowers!

Also looking out from our booth, we were able to watch mini-planes land all day. It was breathtaking.

Hey Amy! There she is from Crimson and Clover!

I want these chairs in my house! Great work by Intrigue!

....and because we were so busy...we don't have pictures of a few other favorites like Hamilton Photography, Fiona's Cakes and Faye Daniel Designs. They were there too!

Inspiration: Confidence

2012-01-06T05:01:00.000-08:00

Today we will have a simple post. Saw this quote and loved it. Duh? It has the word makeup in it :) Thanks Pinterest!

Happy Friday!

Inspiration: Snail Mail

2012-01-05T12:51:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was an exciting day to grab the mail. Why? Because aside from all of our boring bills and paperwork, we received this delightful and seasonally appropriate postcard from Bradshaw Styling. It's nice to know that snail mail hasn't been completely taken over by technology. Thanks to Bradshaw Styling for the helpful hints on how to bring in 2012. We all can use some style help! If you are decor and style challenged like me, head over to Stephanie's blog to see the latest and greatest of what is cool and hip. See even my vocabulary needs to be re-stylized, who says "hip"? Maybe my grandmother. We are taking notes! Thanks Steph!

Feature: Let's Make-Up!

2012-01-04T04:56:00.000-08:00

After several requests, we've decided to host a makeup class at our studio! Are you interested?

Email: Ashley@UpDosForIDos.com to reserve your spot. Space is limited!

Dream Team: Welcome Jess

2012-01-03T06:28:00.000-08:00

Super excited to welcome Jess to our team. She is the newest addition and will be interning with us over the next year while she attends cosmetology school!

Balance Photography

Feature: 2012 Bridal Shows

2012-01-02T13:54:00.000-08:00

Newly Engaged? Not sure where to start?

Check out these top bridal shows that you certainly don't want to miss. Many of our favorite vendors will be alongside as well.

Saturday January 7th 12pm to 5pm

Chesapeake Bay Beach Club

Kent Island, Maryland

Saturday January 22nd 1pm to 4pm

What's Up Weddings? Bridal Expo

Double Tree by Hilton in Annapolis, MD

Saturday January 22nd 12pm to 4:30pm

Great Bridal Expo

Hilton Alexandria at Mark Center in Alexandria, VA

Saturday January 29th 12pm to 3pm

Embassy Suites Baltimore North Hunt Valley Bridal Showcase

Embassy Suites Baltimore North in Hunt Valley, MD

Saturday February 4th 5pm to 9pm

Sunday February 5th 11am to 4pm

Baltimore Bridal Show

Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, MD

Saturday February 11th11am to 5pm
Hotel Monaco Open House
Alexandria, VA

Sunday March 25th 12pm to 4pm

Historic Inns of Annapolis Bridal Fair

Governor Calvert House in Annapolis, MD

If you come visit any of the above shows, be sure to stop by and see the Up-Do's girls.

Randomness: Blinging in the NEW YEAR

2012-01-01T08:06:00.000-08:00

Super excited to BLING in the New Year! We can't wait to share all that we have in store for 2012 and we can't wait to work with all of our brides on their special day. Happy New Year! Welcome 2012!

Photo courtesy of Cosmopolitan January 2012 Issue

PhotoShoot: Casting Call

2011-12-30T07:06:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wanted to be a model for the day? Well, now you can! We have limited openings for a FREE photoshoot. Come in to our studio and let us make you over! You must be between the ages of 18-35, have shoulder length hair, and sign a photo release allowing us to use your photos for promotional materials. We are hosting this event on January 18th at our studio. If you are interested please email: Ashley@updosforidos.com with a headshot of yourself as well as your contact information.

Inspiration: Tattered Petals

2011-12-29T10:38:00.000-08:00

Debbie, a past bride of ours is doing good in the world. We love to hear that. After a traumatic bridesmaid dress experience, Debbie cut up her bridesmaids dresses and is reusing the fabric to create eco-friendly flowers. The Pink Hummingbird Collection on her Etsy store is donating all proceeds to her friend going through cancer treatments. She is truly paying it forward. Buying something specifically from the Pink Hummingbird Collection (all items that are pink or have pink in them) will go straight to the cancer treatment bills. Spread the word, buy an eco-friendly bouquet of pretty flowers or a hair accessory that were once a bad bridesmaid dress. Thanks Debbie for making the world a better place. Your flowers are gorgeous and Beth was honored to use them in the photoshoot with Balance Photography.

Eye Candy: MakeUp Brushes

2011-12-28T11:12:00.000-08:00

I was talking to a friend and she was telling me how her step-mom has a gazillion brushes in her bathroom and she most likely only uses 3. The truth is that most women do not know what to do with their makeup brushes. Here is a very simple breakdown via Pinterest of what eye makeup brushes are used for. Still need help? Stay tuned for our February makeup class! Besides learning makeup brushes, we will teach you how to do your makeup with what you already have!

Beauty Crush: Messy Bun

2011-12-27T05:11:00.000-08:00

Mmmm...L.O.V.E this look. Not only are we seeing bridesmaids opting for a messy bun, we are receiving requests from our brides for the carefree and sexy style. So excited for this trend and can't wait to do more messy buns in 2012.

Photo via Pinterest

Randomness: To All A Good Night!

2011-12-24T05:40:00.000-08:00

Curling

irons are turned

off. Makeup brushes

are cleaned. Emails are

answered. Marketing materials

are ordered. Our artists are home with

their loved ones. As the year closes, we

take a small break. This gives us the chance

to say THANK YOU to all of our clients for

allowing us to share in their most important day.

We appreciate your every text, call, email, facebook

like, tweet, giveaway and wedding day photos. It is our

pleasure to style your hair, create a piece of art out of your

skin and send you down the aisle to the man of your dreams.

********
********

********

Real Wedding: Sept 10- Shauna

2011-12-23T06:04:00.000-08:00

The most popular date of the year ~ September 10th, 2011. 9.10.11

Mindy and Beth spent the morning in Annapolis with Shauna and her fabulous bridesmaids. We are loving the flashback to green trees and clear skies. Enjoy this romantic and green friendly wedding with some of our favorite vendors!

From the wedding planner Jenny ~ As usual, your team did a great job with Shauna and her girls! Thank you so much! I truly appreciate that I can count on you guys 100% of the time to do such a great job!

Photography: Balance Photography
Cake: Fiona's Cakes
Flowers: Ellen @ LoCoFlo (Local color flowers)
Planner: Jenny Bartkus
DJ: Beat 2 Beat
Venue: Historic London Towne & Gardens

Dream Team: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Up-Do's Girls!

2011-12-22T11:35:00.000-08:00

Ashley ~ All I want for Christmas is... my daughter's great grandparents to have a healthy new year, my Up-Do's girls to have a wonderful wedding season, my husband to keep loving me more and more each day like he has for the past 9 years, my right hand and go to girl Mandy to know each and every day I thank God she has come into our lives, and my family to know that there is no way on Earth I would survive without them.

Photos by Cupkate Photography

Pamela ~ All I want for Christmas is.... good health for my husband as well as lots of laughter, food & drink and a GOOD time with family (c'mon Christmas!)...oh, and a million dollars in my stocking would just keep the good vibes rollin!
Photo by Destinee of Cellar Door Photography

Lindsay ~ All I want for Christmas is... a Ravens Super Bowl!

Serena ~ All I want for Christmas is... quality time with my family, can't wait to see you all!

Danielle ~ All I want for Christmas.... To spend many more amazing years with my best friend, my husband. If our first year is anything what 40+ will be, I can't wait for all the laughter!

This is a picture from our 1 year anniversary, which we celebrated in august.

Sara ~ All I want for Christmas is...a happy and healthy holiday! Jon & I would like a lot this year, but with a baby on the way...that's all we can really hope for :) Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Mindy ~ All I want for Christmas is... another year of happiness with the ones I love! In the upcoming year, many changes will occur for me, my family, and friends. With a little luck, my fingers crossed, and a whole lot of prayers, I am hoping and wishing for things to fall into place. Here's to a happy and smile-filled 2012!! Merry Christmas:)

In this photo: Sean, my knight in shining armor and the one who makes me laugh more than anyone; Kelli, one of my awesome girlfriends and Mexico buddy; Emily, more than I could ever ask for in a roommate and friend; and Quoc, my very best friend for over 13 years and the closest thing I'll ever have to a brother. Each holds a special place in my heart. I have relied on them in times of complete sorrow, laughed so hard we've cried during our goofy adventures, and shared more memories, moments, and smiles than a girl could ever ask for! I am truly blessed to have the people in this picture (as well as many more who aren't present) in my life.

Kara~ All I want for Christmas is... a happy healthy family, amazing friends and another great year moving forward in my life and career.

Julia ~ All I want for Christmas is... a healthy and happy New Year!

Beth ~ All I want for Christmas is...to still be this in love 50 years from now.

Stef ~ All I want for Christmas is ...my Doggy Camden!

Stacey ~ All I want for Christmas is ... for my children to realize the true
meaning of Christmas and to enjoy the Family traditions as I did
growing up. I also want everyone to do one thing for someone else,
even if it is just buying a cup of coffee or sending an old friend a
Holiday card; you never know how much it may be needed!! Happy
Holidays!!
Photo by Kelli Reese

Lisa~ All I want for Christmas is... a nice shiny ring on my finger ;) Oh! And to win the mega millions of course!

Inspriation: Holiday Cards

2011-12-19T05:51:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite aspects of the holiday season is receiving Christmas cards in the mail. Real mail. Like snail mail. My jaw literally dropped as I opened Allison Barnhill's holiday card. How adorable is this? Hot cocoa included. Loved this creative and surprising design.

Best Holiday Award goes to Allison Barnhill Designs!

Photo snapped with a trusty iPhone and our holiday card is displayed on our gorgeous centerpiece from Intrigue Design and Decor.

June 17 - Debbie

2011-12-10T16:50:00.000-08:00

When Debbie contacted us about her wedding, we were thrilled to hear she was using some of our favorite vendors. Working for Baltimore Magazine, we knew Debbie would have the best of the best. Her details were perfect and she was simply stunning. We thoroughly enjoyed spending the day with her and her girls at the Tremont Grand in Baltimore. Special shout outs to Allison Barnhill Designs and Hamilton Photography. Check out their blog post too!

Congrats Debbie! Beth and I really enjoyed spending the planning stages and then the big day with you! What a dream bride :0)

Sparkles? Yes, please!

Peace Out 2011

2011-12-07T07:36:00.000-08:00

As we head into 2012, we can't help but look back and feel so grateful for all the love we received from local and national print, TV and website features. To see our name printed, just reminds us how lucky we are to have the honor of sharing such an important day with our brides. We are so fortunate to have the best brides! In case you missed our 2011 features, take a look back from this year! These are some of our favorites. Thank you to those that have passed our name along and allowed us to grow! We are forever grateful.

Style Me Pretty

Brides Maryland ~ Editor's Choice Award "Best HairStylist"

Brides Maryland ~ Star Quality

Jim Coutue

Baltimore Examiner

Bayside Bride ~ Ask an Expert

Bayside Bride ~ Ask an Expert (MakeUp Edition)

Bayside Bride ~ Ask an Expert (Lashes)

The Knot Best of Weddings 2011

Momentville Hot List Winner

Elizabeth Anne Designs

Shore Life Magazine

Mid-Atlantic Green Wedding Showcase - Our work LIVE on the runway!

Also, one of our greatest accomplishments was the opening of our new studio. We are thrilled with the new design and are loving the newly expanded space! Check out the pictures!

NYC End Of Year Celebration

2011-12-06T07:50:00.000-08:00

We met in the Safeway parking lot. I told the girls to dress in layers, wear comfy shoes and to plan to spend 15 hours with me. We jumped into 3 cars, crossed an intersection, parked again and then got on a bus. We sat down and I told them we were going to NYC. Then I told them we were going to see the Rockettes! Yay!

5am touch-ups

It's still dark out!

We headed North on 95 and I had one more surprise! I handed out $5 to each girl. The only catch is they can't spend it on themselves. They need to pay it forward. Buy the gal behind you coffee, pay the toll for the person behind you, donate the money, anything that will make the world a better place.

The sun is coming out! Time for some more pictures!

First stop: Times Square

Second stop: Starbucks

Third Stop: Buying some goodies from the street vendors.

Fourth Stop: Elmo and Tweety Bird

Fifth Stop: Team Photo

There is something very magical about NYC during the holidays. The decor is so festive that it is so hard not to sing Jingle Bells all day!

Oooo Kara...she is going to hate me for this one!

Lindsay capturing the famous tree.

Sixth Stop: Rockefeller Center

Moving along....

Seventh Stop: LUNCH!

We had a quick 30 minutes to grab lunch before our show. We enjoyed salads, sandwiches and soup from a very yummy cafe.

Due to the normal crowding in the city we decided to park it on the floor....

...and then we got kicked out because the floor was private property. So we enjoyed our lunch on the stairs.

Mmmmmm

Eighth Stop: Radio City Music Hall

Remember this...you will see it again later! Take note: Mullet is coming back!

Inside Radio City

Team Photo

Yay for ornaments!

Bathroom break...

Who doesn't have a bathroom picture?

Serena...well she is AWESOME!

Getting ready for the 3D part of the show!

How cool!

These ladies are spectacular. We enjoyed every minute of the show. Highly recommend!

Happy faces after the show! We took up an entire row!

We LOVE the Up-Do's team!

Ninth Stop: The Plaza Hotel

Loving the pink Betsy Johnson Tree!

Shopping? Yes please!

LOVE! Can you tell some of us got our Bronzedberry spray tans on before our trip?? Hehe!

Thankful for Steffani's phone charger. You would be surprised how quickly your phone dies when you're gone all day.

Tea part at Eloise's store.

Danielle was the first of our group to pay it forward with her $5. She gave it to a lady who was buying her daughter a doll. Instead of accepting the $5 and using it for her daughter, this nice lady donated it to the charity that Eloise's store sponsors. She then came and told Danielle what she did. So sweet!

Central Park and a very interesting hairstyle and lip color on the lady to the left.

Tenth Stop: Break dancers who were almost as entertaining as the Rockettes.

See the girl on the left? Red scarf, breaking it down? Yep, that is Lindsay. She may have done your makeup before. She volunteered to be a part of the show. One of the amazing dancers jumped over the distance of 6 people lined up. It was fun to see! A New York experience for sure!

For people in the wedding industry, this window display is so inspiring!

We can all drool over Harry!

....ah remember the fun picture from above? Well... we were exhausted on the ride home... to make it more entertaining Mindy volunteered to let me do her hair....check it out. We recreated the stylish mullet without hairspray or tools. I did cheat and had a few bobby pins in my pocket.

and for fun....this is all natural. Can you imagine what she looks like in the morning? :)

The real reason for our trip to NYC was to reward our team with a fun end of year celebration. Our team is dedicated in bad weather, sniffles, coughs, break-ups, baby deliveries and on happy days. We are so honored to share a wedding day with a bride and thrilled that they have invited us to be a part of their big day. This day was for us and for us to be together. It's not often the entire team is together in a room. We are on-site at different times. This day in NYC reminded me of why I am so lucky and blessed to be in the industry. I work with creative, inspiring and loving people. Without these girls (and a few that couldn't make the trip), we wouldn't be able to help make the world a more beautiful place. Unfortunately we forgot to hand our card to the lady with the mullet in line. Happy Holidays! Thank you for a great year! 2012 is already shaping up to be amazing!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T17:07:00.000-08:00

We are so thankful for our brides, support of industry professionals and each of our artists that make our team so wonderful! Enjoy reading a few of the "things" we are thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving to our readers! Gobble! Gobble!

1. My awesome family

2. My happy babies

3. Good health

4. Goldwell flat marvel products

5. Friends

1. A fiance that loves and supports me in all I do.
2. The sweetest dog in the whole wide world.
3. Parents, friends, and future in-laws who amaze me with their kindness.
4. Sephora.
5. A great boss, who I can also call a friend.

1. My husband
2. My parents
3. Both careers
4. My cute dog, Poe!
5. The Ravens ;)

1. My family
2. My wonderful husband
3. My Beautiful little boy
4. Awesome friends
5. In good health

1. My Son

2. Amazing family and friends

3. A great career

4. Ability to appreciate the simple things in life

5. My Health

1. My family
2. My house
3. My friends and boyfriend
4. A job
5.A job that I absolutely love!

1. Celebrating our first holiday season as Mr. & Mrs.

2. Indulgent carb and fat laden casseroles and desserts

3. International Delight holiday edition coffee creamers

4. "Ugly" holiday sweaters for our pup, Madeline

5. My incredibly wonderful support system of family and friends!

1. God and his blessings in my life

2. My family

3. A wonderful man, Rob, that goes above and beyond to make me happy. I am so blessed and thankful to have him in my life.

4. A job that I love, love, love @ Up Dos!

5. I am thankful for my friends, they keep me in line and offer me a whole lot of entertainment!!

1. I am thankful for becoming a part of an amazing team at Updos for I Do's <3
2. Great friends and family who support one another when times get rough, especially my mom.
3. My new apartment and being able to live in it with my mom and sister.
4. Celebrating the third year of sharing my life with my boyfriend Tim. It has been nothing less than amazing.
5. Overall, I am thankful for this life God has blessed me with :)

1. My husband, without him I couldn't get through each day.
2. God, He's given me so much and I couldn't count my blessings enough or be thankful enough.
3. Being pregnant, I already know this baby has changed me for the better and can't wait to meet her.
4. Living in America, you may not agree with me, but this country gives us the right to disagree.
5. My family, I love my family, dysfunctional...yes but aren't they all??

1. Health
2. Love
3. Family
4. Ravens
5. Brides

1. Healthy friends and family.
2. My health
3. Great new job that I love! ;)
4. Living in a Country that allows me to be free.
5. My pets.

1. Christina Aguilera. Requested her song, met the cute DJ and married the man of my dreams. All in that order.
2. The sweet angels who have entered my life and I can call my daughters.
3. Parents who have always been cool even when I was in high school. Also, thrilled they gave a super cool sister.
4. A sister who taught me to share, let me boss her around and still to this day, lets me do her hair and makeup :)
5. The entire team of Up-Do's artists to have as co-workers. I am surrounded by the best of the best.

Headshots by Balance Photography

June 12 ~ Debbie

2011-11-17T04:54:00.000-08:00

Every once in awhile we come across a bride who has something special about her. Debbie is one of those brides. Her efforts for a green wedding and her calming presence keeps her memorable. We love these shots that Balance Photography captured. Danielle, Heather and Erica spent the very warm and humid June day at the Cloisters Castle. Enjoy these memories :)

Even more excited to see her wedding featured on the Green Bride Guide.

Love Debbie's fresh hair flowers!

June 11 ~ Kelly

2011-11-08T06:52:00.000-08:00

Really? Really? We still can't believe our eyes and how GORGEOUS this wedding was. On June 11th, Kelly invited us to be a part of her wedding. We were able to see so many of her wonderful details as Paper Heart Vintage Photography snapped away. Starting off, a creative bouquet from Intrigue!

Kelly should be plastered all over bridal magazines!

Love the textures in this next photo:

There are no words to describe how much I LOVE this photos. It simply displays Mindy's attention to details and her perfectionist side.

To see more photos, check out Paper Heart Vintage's facebook album :) Congrats Kelly!

June 18 ~ Kim

2011-11-07T13:37:00.000-08:00

Love these emails :)

Up Do's for I Do's not only did a great job with my hair and makeup for my June 18, 2011 wedding, but also made my mom, my aunt, and my four bridesmaids' hair and makeup look beautiful. We all felt like the "belle of the ball." Shanna was a true pro with our hair. She listened so carefully to what everyone wanted and was willing and able to make any last minute changes necessary. Steffani and Beth did beautiful makeup for us all (and were sensitive to my Aunt's skin allergies too!) I would recommend Up Do's for I Do's for hair and makeup to anyone getting married. They are true pros!

~ Kim

Check out some of her photos of Hamilton Photography's blog! We loves those guys!

Aug 27- Katy's Annapolis wedding with Hurricane Irene

2011-11-04T08:25:00.000-07:00

When we showed up to help Katy and her bridesmaids, we were shocked to see everyone so calm and not even worried about the extreme weather conditions outside. These girls were so much fun and we were thrilled to be a part of their big day! Thanks Wendy for snapping gorgeous photos of our work! Congrats Katy and thanks again for inviting us!

From the bride:

We really enjoyed working with you as well, and everyone looked so beautiful! I got SO many compliments on my hair and makeup - I love, love, loved it! AND it held up the entire day - through hurricane conditions ha. We actually ended up having no electricity at our reception site (outside behind the Paca House) - we ended up being evacuated due to to the weather conditions...luckily we have amazing friends and family and they called the hotel and we were able to relocate the entire reception back to the hotel! We basically moved everything (cake, center pieces, etc.) - it was crazy, but so much fun and everyone has told us it was the most fun they have ever had! SO, it all worked out - just a little differently than we had planned lol. Definitely a story for our grandkids, ha.

I would love to share photos with you as soon as we get them! And I would be more than happy to write a review and testimonial :) I'm still getting organized with thank you notes, etc. but I promise I will add that to my list. If you're interested, here it the link to our "sneak peek:"

...and here is our 5 min wedding video montage, if you want to take a look. It even won an online wedding video contest!! :)

Thank you again for everything! You and your team were fantastic!!!

Best Wishes,

Katy

Happy Hot Holidays!

2011-10-26T06:23:00.001-07:00

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

2011-10-17T12:09:00.000-07:00

July 9- Regan

2011-10-13T05:40:00.000-07:00

You and Beth had a huge part in making me look so beautiful so thank you, thank you, thank you!!! My girls all loved working with you, so thank you for making them look so gorgeous as well. You guys really have a good thing going.

Best wishes in beautifying brides!!!

Regan

We were so thrilled to FINALLY work with the talented team of Elizabeth Ryan Photography. To see more of Elizabeth Ryan's work and of course more of the beautiful Regan, check out her blog! Love this summer wedding!

July 16 ~ Danielle

2011-10-05T06:31:00.000-07:00

We are loving these summer pics from D. Bryant Photography! Sara spent the morning in Annapolis with Danielle and her bridal party. Love the bright colors and overall feel of this wedding! Congrats Danielle! For more photos, check out the D.Bryant Blog! Love his work!!

June 11 ~ Ginger

2011-10-03T07:33:00.000-07:00

Whew! You know it's wedding season when the blog posts slow down...but a busy wedding season means more photos of real weddings! So excited to share all of the amazing bridal party pictures we have coming in!

Mindy and Danielle were thrilled to be a part of Ginger's wedding day! Her style was flawless. Her ideas were brilliant. Her wedding day was picture perfect. Thanks to Cicely at Procopio Photography for capturing Ginger's beauty! We fell in love with these photos and hope you enjoy them too!

Bridal Showcase!!!! September 18th ~ Fairfax, VA

2011-09-16T07:29:00.000-07:00

Come out and see us this Sunday 11am to 5pm at the Patriot Center! Get your tickets online and save some moola! Stop by and see us and other fabulous vendors....we love to try out all the cake samples too!

June 11 ~ Elizabeth

2011-09-15T13:12:00.000-07:00

Hi Ashley,

Thank you for all of your help at my wedding. You were fantastic and helped make our wedding day easy as pie. And I loved my hair as did all the girls!!! Just wanted to share a few pics with you that we've received so far. Hopefully we'll get some more where you can really see my hair!

Best,

Beth

May 14 ~ Lindsey

2011-09-08T06:23:00.000-07:00

I was so pleased with the way my makeup and hair turned out for my

wedding day. Both Shanna and Danielle were really sweet to work with

and they were very energetic, even at 7am on Saturday morning! They

did a great job with all my bridesmaids and were able to work quickly

with such a large bridal party. Thanks for everything girls!

May 21 - Tracey

2011-09-07T05:19:00.000-07:00

We love love love working with our Chesapeake Bay Beach Club brides! Check out these fantastic photos from the talented D.Bryant! Love this May wedding :)

Shanna and Cara were wonderful! They showed up on time and were such a pleasure to have around. With all the stresses of planning my wedding, not having to worry about my hair and makeup being was such a wonderful feeling. When the day came and they arrived on site, they went straight to work on my girls and then on me and it was so nice to be pampered. They gave each one of us "Rock Star" treatment and made sure that we looked absolutely fabulous. Their work really stands out in our photographs and we all received so many wonderful compliments.

Cheers to you all and thanks for making my special day complete!

Tracey

We are SHORE proud of Beth!

2011-09-06T07:02:00.000-07:00

We are so proud of Up-Do's makeup artist Beth for her outstanding work and feature in The Shore Life Magazine! Her six page spread displays her talent for flawless makeup applications and perfectly placed hair. Photographer Angie Myers snapped these amazing outdoor shots.

We love Beth's expression as she shows us her published work! Congrats Beth!

Body Painting

2011-08-29T10:29:00.000-07:00

Over the summer we had the pleasure of teaming up with Kim Reyes and Balance Photography to create some amazing images! Kim and her team did amazing work on 3 models. They carefully handpainted each model's body with intricate designs. We came towards the end and did the hairstyle and makeup applications. Check out these fun images. We were thrilled to be a part of the shoot!

Love the real strawberries in Kristina's hair!

This model's bathing suit top is all paint!

Her bottom is all paint too!

June 18 - Brittany

2011-08-24T06:53:00.000-07:00

Brittany had contacted me last year for her June 2011 wedding. I was sooo excited to be a part of her day. I love traveling to the Eastern Shore and spending time with bridal parties at the gorgeous River Plantation. I always feel that I get a little mini-vacay when I am there. As I was working with Brittany on her paperwork to book us, I came across her fiance's name. I couldn't believe it. She was marrying Eric. I've known Eric's family for a long time. We went to Sunday school together when we were still in diapers. I was so happy when I saw his sister at a wedding a few years ago and had the pleasure of doing her hair then. Now it was Eric's turn and he couldn't have picked a better person to share his life with. Brittany was super calm and such a joy to be around. She even lost (was possibly stolen the night before her wedding) her cell phone. Umm....I would be a mess knowing my lifeline to the outside world was cut off but she did great and in some ways, maybe even better having to be forced to relax. With such a large party, I spent a few hours with this group. I talked to each bridesmaid, finding out their life history, where they were from and how they knew the couple. Here are few photos from the talented K.C with Seven Set Studios. K.C is married to Eric's sister, Jessica and they have the most adorable daughter ~ Aubrey.

Mother of the Groom is on the left. She is an angel and I loved spending time with her on the wedding day. Gorgeous Jessica and Aubrey on the right <3

In addition to having K.C there, Brittany had the fabulous Emily Hayes. I grabbed these photos from her blog...head over to her site to see more of Brittany and Eric.

I think this may be my favorite photo. Love the dresses, the scenery and the fact that they all look truly happy to be there with Brittany. What a great group of gals!

There is handsome Eric waiting for his gorgeous bride!

Airbrush Class

2011-08-23T06:38:00.000-07:00

Back in June, we welcomed Frederick from New York's Temptu Pro. We spent 8 hours working on new techniques, learning colorful formulas and enhancing our skills. Enjoy a few snapshots from our class. I'm pretty confident that the Up-Do's artists will kill me knowing that I am putting their photos without any makeup online.

If you are unsure, why we tend to favor airbrush, check out this great article from Beth.

~ Ashley

Feb 19- Kelly

2011-08-18T06:39:00.000-07:00

Flashback to the colder days, Danielle and I spent a blistery February Saturday with Kelly and her gorgeous and super fun girls at the Hay Adams in Washington, DC. Kelly was a doll and we loved, loved, loved her style. She was amazing and really rocked her red lips. I love her perfectly placed birdcage veil and the silky white gloves that complimented her bridal gown. The flowers were brought in while we were perfecting the final touches and they were GORGEOUS! I've never seen flowers that truly replicated the bride's style better. While all this was going on, Cicely and Jason from Procopio Photography were there. They are by far one on the best DC photographers. We love when we get to work with them! Enjoy these! This was one of my favorite weddings to date!

May 14- Marissa

2011-08-17T10:20:00.000-07:00

We love a good wedding. We knew Mindy and Danielle would have a blast with Marissa as soon as we met her. She was one of our first brides in our new studio. She had other fabulous vendors as well! Big shout out to Jenny Bartkus who kept the show running on time, gorgeous flowers by Crimson and Clover and yummy cake by Patisserie Poupon! The incredible backdrop is the one and only American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore. Fab photos by Balance Photography. Enjoy!

WIN A SPRAY TAN!!

2011-08-16T06:54:00.000-07:00

Head over to Bayside Bride today to enter to win a complimentary spray tan! It's simple! Like our Facebook page, Like Bayside Bride's Facebook page and leave a comment on their blog!

We LOVE these types of emails!

2011-08-16T05:11:00.000-07:00

One reason we love what we do....emails like this! Thanks Sandy! We were thrilled to be a part of your big day!

Hi Ashley,

I just wanted to thank you again for the amazing job you did on our hair and makeup for my wedding!

I really feel like getting professional hair and makeup was one of the best decisions I made for the wedding. Everyone keeps saying how fabulous we looked.

I couldn't be happier with the way it turned out.

Thanks again for everything!!

Sandy

FREE TICKETS -VIP STYLE

2011-08-15T06:54:00.000-07:00

Yep! You read it right! We have FREE tickets to giveaway to the Baltimore Bridal Show on Sunday August 21st held at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront. Want some? All you have to do is:

1. "LIKE" our facebook page

2. Leave a comment here with your name and why you are coming to the show

3. Email ashley@updosforidos.com with your mailing address

Good while tickets last! We will respond to your email to let you know if you've won!

Upcoming Events!!

2011-08-12T10:41:00.000-07:00

Be sure to watch FOX 45 Morning News Monday August 15th. Up-Do's For I Do's Make-Up Artist Beth will be LIVE from the Fox 45 studios with a bridal makeover.
We are proud to help promote the upcoming Baltimore Bridal Show.

Be sure to buy tickets for the upcoming show which will be held at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront on Sunday August 21st from 11am - 5pm. Bring your family and friends to come meet us, sample yummy cakes and meet the best vendors in the area!

We will also be at the Washington Convention Center for the Bridal Showcase on Sunday September 11th from 11am -5pm.

Looking forward to seeing you! Be sure to introduce yourself :)

Our New Studio 2011

2011-08-10T12:57:00.000-07:00

We are soooo excited that our new studio is up and running. Each trial night, we love welcoming our brides into our spacious studio. Check out some of the before and afters. We can't believe the transformation. So many people helped us along the way and we are so thankful!

To view even more photos ~ Check out the album on our facebook page!

Waiting Area - Before

Waiting Area - After

Styling Stations - Before

Styling Stations- After

Entrance - Before

Entrance - After

By creating a welcoming salon entrance (with the logo on the door) clients and their guests can easily find their way to their hair and make-up trial without confusion.

Front Desk- Before

Front Desk- After

A custom cash wrap was designed so that it is both functional and visually appealing.

Styling Stations # 2- Before

Styling Stations #2 - After

Don't overlook selecting the proper finishes.

In this space, a warm cream was deliberately chosen for the walls

to enhance the "glow" of all skin types. Selecting colors and textures

that were warm and inviting was one of the keys to the success of

this design. Warm wooden floors and crisp, white trim finished each

room. The contrast of the dark wood mirrors and black chairs is a

kept the space soft, clean and sophisticated.

MakeUp Counters - Before

MakeUp Counters - After

All the makeup artists have a chic place to work and store their supplies.

The artwork in this space reflects what we do best and that is great wedding hair and make-up. A stylized photo shoot allowed Balance Photography to capture images of gorgeous, timeless hair to give the walls in this space one-of-a -kind artwork.

May 21~ Lisa

2011-08-09T07:44:00.000-07:00

Hey Ashley,

Just wanted to send you some pics of what Mindy and Beth did! I got so many compliments on my hair and makeup, and my hair stayed curled for a few days! I loved the eyelashes and especially loved that I didn't need to put on mascara at all! The makeup turned out to be exactly what I wanted and Beth did an amazing job, she spent so much time doing it, it looked perfect! The bridesmaids' hair looked so pretty too! Thanks so much!

~Lisa

May 27 ~ Brittany

2011-08-04T16:50:00.000-07:00

Mindy, Beth and Ashley spent the afternoon with Brittany and her girls. We LOVE the bridesmaids shoes. Thanks to Donahue Photography for capturing the day! Also, thanks to Beat 2 Beat DJs for the party. See the MOB's (mother of bride) email to us below!

Ashley.....you girls were awesome....thank you for taking good care of us and making us beautiful! We will definite be calling you and Chris again when Sam gets married!!!! Chris was amazing...kept the party pumping and I mean pumping....it was a BLAST!!!!

Take care,

Tina

Now offering INSTANT SUN-LESS AND ORGANIC ON-SITE SPRAY TANNING

2011-07-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

Want a golden glow for your bridal shower, bachelorette party or big day? We've got you covered! Inquire today for your group rate party.

Photo by Procopio Photography

July 18: Baltimore Examiner

2011-07-19T06:49:00.000-07:00

Balance Photography

We were thrilled when Julie Kincaid from the Baltimore Weddings Examiner contacted us. We love the article she wrote. Be sure to "LIKE" Baltimore Weddings Examiner on Facebook! We look forward to each new post.

BEST OF 2011

2011-07-15T19:15:00.000-07:00

We are thrilled to be chosen as one of the top hair and make-up companies in the DC, Maryland and Virginia region. In years past, The Knot always gave this award out to top pros. In 2011, it was the first year that our category was entered. It is an honor to not only receive this award but to be listed with the best of the best! Thank you to our brides who help us win these awards. We wouldn't be where we are today without our gorgeous brides and our talented team! Cheers!

May 28th ~ Erin

2011-07-12T08:17:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Erin and Bill for inviting us to be a part of their big day. We can't wait to see more photos from this fabulous Eastern Shore wedding!

Hi Ashley,

I just wanted to thank you, Beth and Shanna for making our wedding day so special. All of the girls LOVED their hair and make-up and everyone kept commenting throughout the night how wonderful everyone looked. This is definitely kudos to you and your team! I can not wait until the pictures come in so I can send you some finished results. We had a blast with Shanna and Beth getting our hair and make-up done and the professionalism was remarkable. They truly listened to what every girl wanted and stayed until the very last minute to fix every loose hair or tweak a possible fly away. I had the highest expectations after my trial and received the highest results on my wedding day and it really proves what a great business you run. Even Shanna, who said she was feeling a bit under the weather, said that there was no way she would ever let me down. It was such a great day and I can credit it to you, Shanna and Beth doing the very best to make us look the very best. Thank you again and I will send some professional shots from J&S Productions once I get them. I have attached some rookie shots for you all to see. Please pass this message along to Shanna and Beth and thank you again! You will always have my recommendation!

Sincerely,

Erin

Boudoir Blow-Up

2011-07-11T10:35:00.000-07:00

You can read all about our Boudoir shoots here, here and here! 3 other local blogs talking us up! We *heart* all the love that other locals gives us! Want to join in on the fun? You can~ send us an email about the mini marathon on August 28th! We only have ONE opening left!

STUDIO UPDATE: Thank you!!!

2011-07-06T14:58:00.000-07:00

Before any pictures of the new studio are posted, I absolutely have to thank so many people who were a part of this project....in no particular order...

My darling husband~ without him there would be no Up-Do's For I Do's and there would be no me. He has been my backbone from Day 1. Anytime I came to him stressed, he would calm me down and tell me that it would be ok. I didn't have the answers to everything and he didn't either but we made it work as a team. He'd say I'm a rockstar and I can do it. That was all I needed to hear and just having the support was all I needed. I've learned that having someone believe in you makes it much easier to believe in yourself. Seriously~ best.guy.ever. I don't know what I would do without him!

To my little monkeys Brooke and Brianna ~ everyday they remind me what is most important in life. They remind me to be flexible and understanding. They give me balance. I hope one day when they want to come to work with me that they think Mom has a cool job and I inspire them to do whatever they want.

To my parents~ Holy cow! Where would I be without them? I'm blessed with amazing parents who are incredible role models. When they received numerous phone calls and skype sessions where I was picking their brains on the most random questions they were ALWAYS there with positive support. They loved me on my most exciting days and they loved me on my most stressed days where Starbucks wouldn't even help. I am most certainly where I am today because of my parents.

To all of the Up-Do's artists~ There is only a new studio because of the Up-Do's team. I'm soooo proud to have the most talented gals in the area working alongside me. I know our brides love them too! Moving, crazy schedules and long working hours made this a transition period for us and the girls who are with us are the best. They deserve the world and I'm thrilled to provide these experts with a beautiful new space to shine.

To Erica Cote~ My fabulous partner at my first commercial space. I'll never forget the feeling of when we moved in to our Catonsville location. Leaving the space brings tears to my eyes. There is no one else in the world that I would have shared a space with. She is such an amazing person and I'm so happy that we were able to share this journey together. We knew one day that we would outgrow the space together but if it weren't for her, I'd still be working out of my basement. I hope she knows how much she means to me and what a big part of my life she is.

To Stephanie Bradshaw~ Ah....I could write a book about her. Stephanie is a genius. Her attention to detail is incredible. I've never seen anyone make a tape measure look as sexy as she does. I trusted Stephanie from the beginning and it was the best decision I made. She transformed my "ideas" into real life and put the icing on the cake with each stage of our build out. Having her on our team was PRICELESS!

To Balance Photography~ Rissa and Nathaniel were big helpers throughout this process. They were there to document the ugly empty "before" space, there to help move the heaviest mirrors on the face of the earth, there to capture our custom artwork (ah! can't wait to share these) designed especially for us and there to snap the final pieces of the puzzle all together. The images we will be sharing showcase their super talent.

To Ashley and Pat Jones~ Before anyone saw the "space" I dragged Ashley and Pat for their handy homeowners approval. In addition to hearing me whine along the way, they helped move furniture, measure walls and give ideas and suggestions as "regular people". These BFFs helped in so many ways and are now guaranteed free haircuts for life :)

To Drexel ~ I always think if he didn't hire me as a shampoo girl where my life would have lead to. I'm so thankful for his trust and for believing in me. He certainly has inspired me and continues to do so. I will always look up to Drexel and am so appreciative for him giving me the wings to fly in this industry. I had no idea what I was getting into as I placed cucumbers on our client's eyes at the back bar.

There are so many other people that have touched my life and have helped shape this company. I am so appreciative and blessed for each and everyone of them.

Stay tuned for the before and after pictures....just to keep you interested and if you read all this...here is a sneak peek!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

June 12 ~ Mallori

2011-07-06T05:02:00.000-07:00

We walked into Mallori's room, we were welcomed with a warm smile and we set up shop by the balcony in her hotel room. The door was cracked so that we could smell the salty ocean air and we could hear the sounds of the other guests below enjoying the gorgeous grounds of the resort. It felt as though our hour to drive to the Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa took us off the maps and out of Maryland. The day was warm and sticky but Mallori's excitement to marry her prince charming left everyone with a cool relaxed feeling. The humidity and threatening thunderstorms were non-existent. Mallori's calm presence is exactly what every bride should try to replicate on their wedding day. Below are a few pictures that we pulled from her photographer, Melissa Manzione's blog . Head over to her site for a few more sneak peek pictures from the Sunday afternoon wedding.

Ashley-

I just wanted to shoot you a quick and BIG thanks! The hair and makeup was outstanding for all of us, and was able to withstand the storm and big winds! While tables flipped over outside, my hair held! And I'll be sure to spread the word and write you guys up. We were all so impressed.

-Mallori

April 23 ~ Jennifer

2011-07-05T14:17:00.000-07:00

Jennifer sent me this video link just a few days after her wedding. Beth and I had an absolute blast working with Jennifer and her gals. Be sure to stay tuned for more photos of Jennifer (she's in our new promotional materials - being touched up now as we write this blog post). In the meantime, this should hold you over **grab the tissues** Also, one of the reasons I love this video is because you (the bride) can see our work throughout the entire wedding day. No photoshop, no touch-ups, real wind, real sweat and real tears! Jennifer opted for a gorgeous up-do for her ceremony and something a little softer for her reception. We LOVE both of her dresses. Enjoy the video!

August 28th ~ MINI MARATHON! DO IT!

2011-07-02T12:59:00.000-07:00

You asked for it and we delivered! One day only special! Send Rissa at Balance Boudoir an email to get the juicy details :)

CALLING ALL MILITARY BRIDES!

2011-06-30T12:43:00.000-07:00

Check it out~ Fabulous vendors are teaming up to giveaway a wedding! Find out all the details on Bayside Bride! We are thrilled to be a part of this spectacular giveaway!

May 21- Susanne

2011-06-29T04:19:00.000-07:00

I sat in what was supposed to be my easy college course and had to take to get a science credit for graduation ~ Nutrition. How hard can fruits and vegetables be? Yeah right it was the hardest class of my business major. The sweet gal with gorgeous blonde locks sitting next to me is my new favorite study partner. If I wasn't such an honest person, I would have cheated off of her tests (she's that awesome). She also gave me insight as to how bad the delicious bread at Macaroni Grill is. Fast forward 7 years and guess who emails me? SUSANNE and she is getting married to the love of her life who she was dating when we were talking about LDL cholesterol levels. I was so thrilled that I could share her wedding day with her. I was a part of her sister in law's wedding several years prior so it was great to see Amanda too!

Danielle and I spent the day of Rapture (5.21.11) at the Gramercy Mansion with Susanne and her fabulous girls. Susanne did a fantastic job at personalizing her wedding. The details were phenomenal. We loved seeing Chad from Lippiatt Photography. He really captured Susanne's stunning details!

L.O.V.E this hairstyle!

February 26 ~ Ashley

2011-06-27T10:16:00.000-07:00

Mindy spent the afternoon downtown Baltimore with Ashley and her girls. We love how her veil sits properly at the top of her crown. It shows she is still a bride without screaming tulle! Big thanks to Bradley Images for capturing our hairstyle!

Bikes for Boobs Calendar Photoshoot! Sneak Peek!

2011-06-23T20:42:00.000-07:00

Lindsay, Christine & Sara had the pleasure of helping out at the Bikes for Boobs Calender shoot! Stan Freedman Photography made the shots look amazing!

Having fun with all the beautiful bikes!

These girls were all smiles, depsite the terrible heat and humidity!

Sara & Christine

Hard at work

November 20 ~ Amber

2011-06-23T07:14:00.000-07:00

Mindy and Danielle helped Amber and her super sweet bridal party get ready for the gorgeous ceremony and celebration at the Newton White Mansion. We met Amber through her sister Shayna! We love working with the same families over and over :)

Amber was original and Mindy's creation was unique....Pippa totally stole her style :) We <3 Amber's hair!

December 4th ~ McKenzie

2011-06-20T12:59:00.000-07:00

We love to hear from our past brides. Emails and pictures are flowing in from our 2010 brides. If you were a recent bride, feel free to drop us a line and send us some of your pro pics. We will love to add them to our portfolio!

We love love love McKenzie's soft winter hairstyle. Scroll below to see what she had to say about us!

I was thrilled to have found Up Dos For I Dos for our wedding. Our location was a little out of the way, and I didn't want to have to go out to a salon on the morning of the big day, so it really took the stress out of the day having hair and makeup come to us. From the very start, Ashley was wonderful and incredibly responsive, answering all of my questions so quickly. Mindy and Danielle were absolutely fabulous - arriving right on time, and getting through hair and makeup in plenty of time. As the bride they were able to take what we did during the dry run and nailed it perfectly on the day of! In addition, Mindy and Danielle were able to make both my sisters happy and beautiful, despite the fact that neither sister knew exactly what she wanted at the start of the day. Everyone's hair and makeup held up throughout the whole day, pictures, ceremony through to the after party. I would recommend Up Dos to anyone looking for a stress-free, beautiful day!

Thanks again Ashley!

-McKenzie

Sneak Peek ~ Boudoir Body Painting

2011-06-17T07:15:00.000-07:00

Sneak peek on what we are working on with Balance Boudoir....a few behind the scenes shots! More to come :)

Brittany touching up the sand.

Adjusting the sun!

Take your baby to work day!

Fabulous End Result! Yep~ That really is a bathing suit hand painted on.

Balance Photography, Make-Up by our very own Up-Do's Artist Beth, Hair by Up-Do's Hair Stylist Ashley and Body Painted Swimsuit by Shay (Kim Reyes)

Rave Review - Tarte Light Camera Lashes Mascara

2011-06-14T05:36:00.000-07:00

I WAS addicted to Bare Escentuals Volumizing Mascara because of the brush and the thicker formula. I like thicker, longer lashes, who doesn't? But, my biggest drawback to the B.E. mascara is that it doesn't come in a waterproof formula, not good for summer. Another thing about the B.E. mascara that I haven't been in love with is it tends to get clumpy.

I received the non-waterproof formula Lights, Camera, Lashes, in a sample size. I loved the brush. My lashes were soft, didn't flake, and they looked super long and lush.

I have also tried the waterproof formula, Lights, Camera, Splashes, and felt the same look/feel was achieved. Tarte has really outdone themselves with this mascara! Give it a try, you will not regret it.

Check out the before and after photo

~ Sara

Rave Review - Boscia Luminizing Black Mask

2011-06-09T12:58:00.000-07:00

Besides looking like you stuck your face in a bucket of tar, the experience was enjoyable. It tightened and felt like a "cooling" sensation. Taking it off was a little difficult, only because I didn't follow instructions. If I would've made the mask thick all around the edges, it'd be easier to peel. So, I improvised by scrunching my face and peeling from the middle out towards the edges. In the thinner areas I just washed off with water.

This is me, during the drying process...

When the mask came off, I was amazed when I took a close look at my skin. Almost all the black heads were gone (none that I could see), my skin was soft, almost like it was glowing. I have ultra sensitive skin and I loved this mask. I didn't have the blackheads re-appear for almost TWO WEEKS!! I give this my stamp of approval and I bought the mask to continue using.

I would recommend that if you have troubled (dry, oily or acne prone skin) to use the mask once a week. Go to Sephora and ask for a sample today! It's an awesome product and all Boscia products are all natural. Check out Boscia Luminizing Black Mask

~Sara

Rave Review - Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eyeshadow Pencil

2011-06-07T06:28:00.000-07:00

I just want to say, I LOVE this product! Not many products have a 5 star rating on Sephora.com nor do they do EXACTLY what the description says it will.

I've been using the color Midnight Cowboy (how can you say no to that name?) for over a month now. I'm halfway through the stick and I can honestly say I will definitely buy it again. Not only is it super easy to use, I love the colors, all twelve of them are highly pigmented. Great for those who are on the go and need their make up to stay all day and night. Even when I use my eye make up remover it's still somewhat stubborn but comes off.

After you apply the product it's easily smudged to your desired look (brush or finger, q-tips seem to dry them and it doesn't blend as easy), but when it dries it's smudge proof, waterproof, crease proof and I think it's fool proof. It's a rich, creamy, semi-shimmer...I'd say luminous, finish. If you like a color, but think it looks too bright, it's easily blended out to give it a lighter look. I'd recommend the eyeshadow pencil for any age, young to mature skin. The shadow pencil is only 20.00 and if you don't love it, take it back. Everything at Sephora is returnable receipt or no receipt.

I also have the color mercury ( a gunmetal gray), which I also love...great to swipe across the lid for a quick, thicker eyeliner look.

The 24/7 pencil comes in an eyeliner also, I have not tried it but next order I will.

Give it a try! You will not be disappointed!

~Sara

Up-Do's For I Do's

Feature: Fox 45 Morning News

Feature: Baltimore Bride Spring/Summer 2012

Dream Team: Studio Meeting

Feature: The Knot Best of Weddings 2012

What's Up? Weddings Bridal Expo

Feature: Bayside Bride Handpicked Vendor 2012

Photo Shoot: Behind the Scenes with Christine Barker Photography

PhotoShoot: Rusty Love Vintage Rentals Part 2

Cafe Boudoir: GO TEAM!

Real Wedding: July 2- Casey

Feature: Wedding Wire Rated 2012

PhotoShoot: Rusty Love Vintage Rentals *Behind the Scenes*

Photo Shoot: Happy Valentine's Day!

Feature: The Knot Spring/Summer 2012

Bridal Show: CBBC January 7 2012

Inspiration: Confidence

Inspiration: Snail Mail

Feature: Let's Make-Up!

Dream Team: Welcome Jess

Feature: 2012 Bridal Shows

Randomness: Blinging in the NEW YEAR

PhotoShoot: Casting Call

Inspiration: Tattered Petals

Eye Candy: MakeUp Brushes

Beauty Crush: Messy Bun

Randomness: To All A Good Night!

Real Wedding: Sept 10- Shauna

Dream Team: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Up-Do's Girls!

Inspriation: Holiday Cards

June 17 - Debbie

Peace Out 2011

NYC End Of Year Celebration

Happy Thanksgiving!

June 12 ~ Debbie

June 11 ~ Kelly

June 18 ~ Kim

Aug 27- Katy's Annapolis wedding with Hurricane Irene

Happy Hot Holidays!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

July 9- Regan

July 16 ~ Danielle

June 11 ~ Ginger

Bridal Showcase!!!! September 18th ~ Fairfax, VA

June 11 ~ Elizabeth

May 14 ~ Lindsey

May 21 - Tracey

We are SHORE proud of Beth!

Body Painting

June 18 - Brittany

Airbrush Class

Feb 19- Kelly

May 14- Marissa

WIN A SPRAY TAN!!

We LOVE these types of emails!

FREE TICKETS -VIP STYLE

Upcoming Events!!

Our New Studio 2011

May 21~ Lisa

May 27 ~ Brittany

Now offering INSTANT SUN-LESS AND ORGANIC ON-SITE SPRAY TANNING

July 18: Baltimore Examiner

BEST OF 2011

May 28th ~ Erin

Boudoir Blow-Up

STUDIO UPDATE: Thank you!!!

June 12 ~ Mallori

April 23 ~ Jennifer

August 28th ~ MINI MARATHON! DO IT!

CALLING ALL MILITARY BRIDES!

May 21- Susanne

February 26 ~ Ashley

Bikes for Boobs Calendar Photoshoot! Sneak Peek!

November 20 ~ Amber

December 4th ~ McKenzie

Sneak Peek ~ Boudoir Body Painting

Rave Review - Tarte Light Camera Lashes Mascara

Rave Review - Boscia Luminizing Black Mask

Rave Review - Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eyeshadow Pencil

PhotoShoot: Rusty Love Vintage Rentals Behind the Scenes