Chelsea & Jake - Livermore, CA

As my first blog post, I wanted to reflect on this past weekend's wedding that I was lucky enough to both attend as a guest and be the make-up artist for. I've known Chelsea since the 3rd grade when we met at summer camp. She and her family were one of our first contacts after my family and I immigrated to the United States from South Africa which made our time spent together quite memorable. This was actually my first wedding in the Bay Area that I have done make-up for (being on the Central Coast these past 9 years) so it was an especially exciting one.

As a fun fact, Livermore is quite famous for the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory - a nuclear weapons laboratory which employs a team of about 6000 scientists and researchers. The Livermore Valley however is also known for it's wine production and beautiful wineries. The Martinelli Event Center at Garre Winery served as the perfect venue for Chelsea and Jake's wedding with its Hacienda style buildings and gorgeous views. One thing I personally enjoyed about the venue was their large and very well air-conditioned make-up and bridal prep room, as well as the complimentary champagne they provided to the bridal party pre-ceremony.

"Bridezilla" is the last term I would ever use to describe Chelsea on her wedding day. She navigated the day's preparatory and celebratory events with a calm I could only dream of having. She was exceedingly well-prepared and organized. Astonishingly, this attention to detail was accompanied by an "anything goes" attitude and she was clearly focused on not stressing and only having positive thoughts on her special day. Chelsea looked absolutely breathtaking as she walked down the aisle. Her strapless gown, side braided and flower woven hair, and classic but smokey make-up combined to give her an elegant and sophisticated look. Pictures to follow... ( credit: Rachel Goble Photography).