Ever since Maia was born seven months ago getting “dolled up” has meant a quick spray of deodorant and dry shampoo, followed by concealer and mascara. More often than not milk stains on a t-shirt, messy bun and trainers have completed my mum-style (and I said I wouldn’t become that mum, lol). I know, not very glamorous, but for my wedding day I thought I better step up my game. In all honesty, I was really looking forward to getting all dressed up and pampered for the first time since becoming a mum. 😊
First I considered going all in and getting a spray tan, my teeth whitened, eyelash extensions and acrylic nails but decided against it because although I wanted to be a beautiful bride I still wanted to look like me – just a better version of me. And to be honest I wouldn’t have had have time for any of the above anyway, just achieving the “I shaved both of my legs today”-look has been hard enough in my mum life. It was also my fiancé’s wish for me to look like “me” – how cute!
My wedding dress and veil would be quite extravagant (go big or go home, am I right?!) and so I thought I would keep it simple and natural with my bridal styling and accessories. Also, as a nearly 33-years old bride, I wanted nothing ageing such as heavy make up, but instead I wanted to look as fresh and natural as possible. ☺️
So for the last month before our wedding I focused on good skin care and tried to protect my fair skin from the sun. Well, I focused on protecting my face and arms but my legs got horribly bruised during the house move hassle. Luckily they wouldn’t show from underneath my dress! I think fair skin can look just as beautiful as tanned, but red sun-burnt skin is never attractive! For first time in my life I also had a facial. I don’t have skin problems as such but after seven months of poor sleep and a nonexistent skin care routine, my skin was dry and dull. The oxygen facial brightened up my complexion and smoothed the skin. I had it a week before the wedding in a beauty salon in London, the Angelica Retreat. I also got my blonde eyebrows tinted again to give a frame to my eyes. I really don’t like the look of drawn on eyebrows and since mine are virtually transparent, tinting was the way to go for a natural look.
The day before our wedding I checked into Hotel Maximilian right by the Lake Garda in Val di Sogno where we had a beautiful honeymoon suite booked for three nights. Maia and I would stay there for the night before the wedding and my husband would join us for the wedding night and the night after that. We considered leaving Maia with her grandparents but because she has never been apart from me for the night and because she’s breastfed I preferred to have her with us. She would sleep next door anyway (2-room suite) so we would have our privacy but I wouldnt’ have to stress about her.
I put Maia down for a nap and opened my wedding dress bag properly for the first time since arriving to Italy. I nearly had a heart attack. The front of my dress had ten inch-long purple lines across the hem, like ball point pen marks! I stood there looking at my dress in horror. How has this happened?! The dress had been immaculate and steamed to perfection at the Pronovias shop on New Bond Street, and I had literally guarded it with my life during our journey! Then I remembered the airport security check and how they had opened the bag to feel through my dress. That’s when it must have happened… I sat on the bathroom floor sending panic texts to my girlfriends and Googling frantically “how to remove ink from lace”. Something made me reach out for the nappy bag (mum instinct?) and pull out the wet wipes. To this day I don’t know what the stains were nor how they got on my dress but they came off with the wipe! Emergency over. Phew.
At 4pm my fiancé came to collect Maia as I was due to have a make-up trial and a mani-pedi. I was excited but nervous. I was really worried I wouldn’t like the make-up or wouldn’t be able to express what it is I want since I’m not very experienced when it comes to make up. Turns out I wasn’t worried for nothing. When I looked into the mirror my first reaction was “whoa…” and not in a good way… Imagine a “Kim Kardashian make-up” on my pale face. Errrr not exactly the fresh, natural look I was after! I asked my fiancé to come in and tell the make-up artist his honest opinion (let’s just say he was honest indeed). She was a nice girl and took it well and I think we got the message across but I was left slightly nervous about the wedding day…
For the nails I chose a nude colour because over the past weeks of moving house I had one by one broken all of my fingernails and wanted a colour that didn’t attract attention to my hands. Although the ring would attract some attention but hopefully to itself and not my nails…
On that evening we had a pre-wedding dinner with our families which was lovely but quite brief for us. Maia had not adapted to the South European style of late family dinners out, but instead wants her bed after 7pm. I would have happily relaxed her routine on our holiday but it simply had not worked! I just had a quick salad, not because I was on a last-minute crash diet (which I do not believe in!) but because I knew I wouldn’t have time for anything else since it was already approaching Maia’s bedtime.
And suddenly I was alone at the hotel with Maia, my last evening as a Miss. I missed my fiancé already, almost regretting I had insisted to follow the tradition and to spend the last night apart. I put Maia to sleep and washed and dried my hair (and shaved both of my legs). I wrote a list of things I needed to take with me in the morning, for Maia and myself. My sister-in-law and maid of honour would come at 7am the next morning and the make-up artist at 8.30am to help me get ready. I felt a bit nervous but excited! After lying in bed for an hour unable to sleep I scooped Maia up from her travel cot and we slept together.
My alarm clock went off at 6.30am. Maia was still asleep next to me. She had slept well, as she often does when she gets to sleep in my bed. I had woke up a couple of times but didn’t feel too tired. I left her sleeping and tiptoed into the bathroom. Quick look in the mirror – no last-minute spots on my face, excellent! I had a quick shower and got dressed in the beautiful “Bride” dressing gown my lovely friends got me as a hen do present from Victoria’s Secret. Spot on at 7am, my sister-in-law, a talented hairdresser, knocked on my door. She had kindly agreed to do my hair as well as my maid of honour’s hair. I was getting a bit nervous and it felt so nice to have the girls there for some emotional support as well! Not to mention my maid of honour doing a fabulous job at entertaining Maia while I had my hair done and taking some beautiful photos (such the these featured in this post).
My fiancé came to pick up Maia (without seeing me) at 8.30am so that I could focus on getting ready and that Maia could have a nap before our wedding ceremony at 11am. I had fed her, dressed her in her flower girl dress and packed her nappy bag. She had a bit of a runny nose but she was a happy so I didn’t think much of it.
My friends made some encouraging comments while I had my make-up done. When I finally looked into the mirror I was so pleased! I looked like myself but just prettier! I had asked the make-up artist to focus on my eyes keeping the base light and lips nude because I thought that by the afternoon (never mind evening!) my lips would be smudged and foundation would have melted away. It was a beautiful and sunny morning and the day was going to be hot!
My bridal hairdo was kept simple – half-up with some pretty twists and the rest down in loose curls. Gypsophilia completed the look. I was so happy with the result.
My little Maia would be one of my four flower girls. I had found identical dresses for them all from Monsoon. Considering their ages range from 7-months to 10-years old, I was very happy about this! Maia would also wear little white lace shoes and a headband. Maia was so excited although of course she had no idea what was going on!
At 9.30am I was ready and it was time to get into my dress.
My bridal look:
- Dress and veil – Druida by Pronovias (something new)
- Shoes – “Raquel” by Minna Parikka
- Pearl bracelet – a birthday present from my father and sister (something old)
- Pearl earrings – borrowed from my mother-in-law (something borrowed)
- Blue heart-shaped charm – a gift from my sister-in-law (something blue)
- Perfume – “Chance” by Chanel
- Bridal bouquet – white and blush roses with leafy eucalyptus and jasmine
My father arrived to my hotel just before the photographer. I had some bridal photos taken at the hotel and also some together with my father which was lovely! I am the eldest of three and the first one of my siblings to get married and so it was a big day for my father as well.
At 10.30am it was time to go. Our guests and my fiancé were already waiting at the Castle of Malcesine.
I was ready to get married!
To be continued.
xoxoxo,
Sini