This past weekend Tommy and I went adventuring around Denver and wound up at Denver's Spring pop up flea market. It was so much fun and had tons of local vendors selling everything from ginger beer to handmade drift wood furniture and an endless row of food trucks. If you are a Denver bride looking for unique antiques, one of a kind jewelry, or some organic candles, I would recommend going to Denver Flea when it returns June 25th and 26th in Denver's RiNo neighborhood.
I'm an absolute sucker for the outdoors. I'm an adventurer and a wanderer at heart. My passion is to encompass stunning scenery and spaces while sharing the beauty, emotion and similar spirit with my clients along the way.
I actually dipped my feet in about 12 years ago as a bridal hair and make up artist. I worked alongside amazing photographers most of that time. While in college, I majored in Graphic Design and was required to get my first DSLR [A nice camera] while attending a few classes for basics. I had no idea the passion that was about to unfold.
My approach is adventurous. To bring out the true emotions felt in my images, through them. To capture the connection. I've never been 'traditional', and would probably describe myself as more artistic than modern.
There are a lot of trends right now for bright & airy film looks. I found it frustrating as a make up artist when photos were taken that didn't even showcase the gorgeous colors that were used and flattened out my work being a bit overexposed. I have always wanted to achieve realistic tones and showcase the beautiful details brides carefully incorporate into their special day. As well as incredible locations!
I absolutely love location scouting with my couples and discovering new spaces together. The undiscovered.
All of them had incredible moments in their own way, I could never pick only one!
First looks are pretty hard to beat! Especially between a father and daughter. When couples write their own vows...
It's YOUR day... Do you know the biggest regret from most brides regarding their big day? Not doing their wedding their way. It's so easy to get caught up in what is traditional or what your family & guests may think. Try not to get caught up in other people's opinions of what they think you should do or too much pinteresting temporary trends. Remember to focus on your details in making your wedding truly authentically yours. At the end of the day, that's really what it's all about! Celebrating YOU!
I often style, design the save the dates, invites, cards, and wedding website, create bouquets, perform hair and make up services, as well as photograph my weddings. I am looking forward to opening an all inclusive venue in the gorgeous Colorado mountains in the future to provide a one-stop shop.
Last weekend was New York Bridal Fashion Week. The gowns shown this weekend took our breath away. Although we would have killed to attend, we watched the dresses slay the runway via social media. Here are some of our favorite dresses and designs from this weekends festivities.
All Photos from Brides.com
Planning a wedding can be stressful on your mind and even more stressful on your wallet. I'm going to tell you a few tricks to saving money for a wedding (or just in general). All of these tricks are things I do myself and they have really helped me since becoming an "adult". Follow me to the land of pinched pennies.
I have recently downloaded a few money saving apps that I am now completely obsessed with. Ibotta, Checkout 51, and Shopkick are all apps that give you money back when you shop. Shopkick gives you money for just walking into your favorite stores without having to buy anything. You get your money back in the form of a gift card or in cash straight to your PayPal account. I've made about 50 dollars back after downloading the apps and I will keep taking whatever I can get.
Find a jar. See the jar. Put money in the jar. Reap the rewards. Tommy and I have put a physical jar in our kitchen to promote us saving money for something special. Whenever you have change or cash in your wallet, purse, or in between your couch cushions, put it in the jar. Something about having the jar out all the time makes you think about your savings and it becomes super motivating. Last October we saved a thousand dollars for a trip to Vegas by doing this method and have started saving for our next trip in the same jar.
I know everybody's working for the weekend, but that doesn't mean you have to live like a Kardashian come Friday. Make a reasonable budget for yourself for the weekend. Include happy hours, drinks at the bars, seeing friends, or whatever other activities you do when thinking about the budget. Now stick to it. I know it sucks, but your bank account will thank you for it.
The average person spends over 55 bucks a week on their lunches at work? If you do the math that's almost $3,000 you can save in a year by bringing your lunch to work. Make extras at dinner or choose a cheaper option and eat a $3 lean cuisine. I promise you, you wont die from not eating Chipotle every single day.
I know this sounds tacky but this will make you the most money. We all have things laying around your house that you don't ever use. Tech goods are definitely your best bet. I got a new phone, so I sold my old iPhone 4 (yes I was living in the stone age) on Craigslist. I made $200 and a teenager left happy. You can even sell your old clothes at Platos Closet too. You wont get the full price of your clothing items, but you will be surprised at the chunk of change you can make from your junior year homecoming dress.
When it's possible, I try to split my paycheck in half and put the money into separate accounts. I try my hardest not to touch my savings account, while my checking account is a different story. When I have my entire paycheck in my checking account it gives me the false sense of being rich and I am more likely to spend. When I split up my check I feel like I don't have as much money and in turn don't spend as much. It's a weird mind trick that I play on myself but it seems to work.
Have you ever actually looked at the price of shipping? Me either. I am an admitted online shopping addict, and I know how badly you think you need all the items in your cart, but give it a second thought. I buy clothes online because I hate the mall and the florescent lighting of most fitting rooms. But a lot of the times I ship the things that don't fit me back costing an additional 15 bucks. Long story short, if you can find it at a store near you, skip the shipping cost.
Now go out and $ave Dat Money
"My name is Kim and I'm the owner of Kim J Beauty- I starting doing makeup and hair 10 years ago and have loved every minute of it"
"I got in the wedding business because I love being such a special part of the wedding day-I love the details of the wedding process- I love the networking aspect of meeting new people"
My wedding style is classic natural beauty-not to over the top and timeless- I also like the aspect of switching it up with a funky wedding too!
My biggest influences are red carpet events - also old Hollywood Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn
Raccoon Creek (www.thebarnatraccooncreek.com)
Highlands Ranch Mansion (www.highlandsranchmansion.com)
Four Seasons (www.fourseasons.com/denver)
Arrabelle (www.arrabelle.rockresorts.com)
"My most memorable wedding to date was my bride Ivy- She was possibly the best bride ever! Her family was amazing, her friends were amazing, and she was the most "Colorado" bride I have ever had- meaning she was a marathon runner, and skier, and a runner, a true inspiration- Also the most down to earth-
I also have my ultimate free spirit bride Ariel, she was my hands down sweetest bride ever- Her and her bridal party were fun, open minded, caring, and totally humble- the whole family was so chill it made for such a fun morning filled with music and laughter and an energy of LOVE!"
"My favorite moment of course is putting on the lipstick and lashes and finally the Veil and dress :) I couldn't pick one!"
"Hire a professional Hair and Makeup Artist - Someone who specializes in bridal hair and makeup- This is the day where you don't want to skimp ... You want to look and feel your best- The pictures are forever. And another tidbit- Hire a videographer! The one thing I wish at my wedding we had done."
I'm totally addicted to Criminal Minds and SVU- My favorite color is anything in the mint- turquoise- teal family. I mix my ketchup with ranch dressing - and if I wasn't a wedding hair and makeup artist I wanted to be a 9 News Anchor as a kid-
