Balancing family traditions with your own beliefs and values is a key issue new couples face when planning their wedding. Many of the traditions that will come up involve religion or cultural themes (where you marry, what you wear, readings), and you will need to address these complications ASAP.

Whose wedding is this, anyhow?
Traditionally, the parents of the bride pay for the wedding, while the groom’s parents cover the rehearsal dinner. Although these “rules” have changed significantly in the past 20 years, if any parent is contributing a significant chunk of money to your wedding, their input needs to be honored. If your mother is dead-set on you getting married in a church, and you and your fiancé want a secular affair, your best bet is to compromise. Take Mom aside, and explain to her how much you want to honor her request, then see if, perhaps, you can have the ceremony in a church, followed by an outdoor reception with a rock band.

If your husband is firmly against the church idea for whatever reason (he’s Jewish, it goes against his own beliefs, personal reasons), you should still opt for a compromise. See if you can arrange for a priest to do a reading and blessing. If not, have your mother or another relative do a reading. Weddings, like life, are all about compromise. Some couples even have two weddings; an official, religious ceremony, with just close family and friends, followed by a secular affair with a larger guest list; as for who signs the marriage license, that’s up to you.

Taking advice to the limit.
Whenever you say “no” to a close relative, you risk repercussions. Your parents could withdraw their financial support, or, in extreme cases, refuse to attend the ceremony.  You need to be prepared to deal with both scenarios and weigh your options. If your 200-guest affair has been a life-long dream, and you can’t do it without parents’ help, bite the bullet and give in. If either set of parents are asking for something that morally goes against your values, then you need to tone down the wedding, and, in the most drastic cases, change the affair to a long-distance wedding so as to avoid any family conflict.

The last thing you want is strife before your big day, so always do your best to alleviate the issue beforehand. Whatever is requested from a parent or relative, take time to think it over and talk to your fiancé about it, then ask for time alone with the person making the request. Take them out to lunch, or ask if you can drop by one afternoon when they’re alone (no e-mails or impersonal calls). Tell them how much you appreciate the gesture and that you love them, and then politely remind them that it’s your day and your decision to make. Hopefully, they will come around to the idea that they’re not the one in the spotlight.

Smaller requests are a bit easier to deal with. If Mom insists you wear her wedding dress, and you’ve already picked out your Vera Wang gown, offer to wear some jewelry of hers -- a bracelet or necklace or brooch. Should the request be in the form of a 12-piece band or a martini bar, and the two of you are paying for the wedding and on a limited budget, you have to explain the financial situation.

A word to the wise: Before you start major wedding planning, reach out to close family and friends, tell them how much you’re honored that they are taking part in this wondrous event, and ask them if they have any ideas they would like to incorporate into the wedding.  Even though you don’t have to say yes, they’ll be flattered that you sought their advice.

• Undertake a skin, hair and nail care program at least 6 weeks before the wedding. Start going for regular facials and manicures and ask your beautician to advise good beauty products as well.

• Stay away from the sun as far as possible. In case you have to move out, do not forget to use a sun-block, with at least 20 SPF. Try to avoid extremes of weather, like wind, pounding rain or freezing cold, as well.

• If you have a stressful job, make sure to go for relaxing massage, at least once in a week. Use essential oils in your bath and try to attend at least one aromatherapy session before the wedding.

• Do not compromise on your sleep; otherwise you will be hard-pressed to hide your under-eye circles on the D-day. At the same time, be happy. Remember, what goes on in your mind reflects on your face as well. 

• Make the booking for the make-up artists at least 3-4 months before the wedding. Let him/her see your outfit, so that he/she can plan the exact look. You should also go for a trial session before the wedding.

• It is always advisable to synchronize your makeup with the bridal outfit and jewelry. If they are extremely heavy, then you should prefer to get light makeup done on the D-day.

• The time of your wedding also has a bearing on the type and amount of makeup. For instance, heavy makeup looks good at night, but will make you seem very odd under the harsh rays of the sun.

• If your wedding has been scheduled for spring/summer, bright, pastel shades will work the best. For a winter wedding, warmer and deeper shades will be a better option.

• Though your bridal makeup needs to be heavier and more dramatic than the one you do for usual parties, it should no be so heavy that it makes you look like a made-up doll. 

• Since it is your wedding, you will be photographed a lot. Remember, foundations will yellow tones work best with flash photography. While, the ones with pink tones will make you look too pale.

• Always go for a lip-liner that is the same shade as your lipstick. Otherwise, you might end up with a lip-line that is too noticeable. At the same time, always stick to long-lasting lipsticks, for your wedding.

• Remember, you have to balance the eye makeup with lip makeup. In case you want to go for dramatic eyes, go for a light-color lip shade. If you are using a dark lipstick, it is better to have natural, light eyes. 

• Never ever forget to apply the foundation on your neck, back, ears and other exposed areas of the body as well. Otherwise, your face will look painted on and your beauty - artificial. 

• It is advisable to go for a light dusting of translucent powder, so that your face does not end up shining too much. You can also apply bronzing powder to warm your skin tone and get a natural glow. 

• Ask your sister, friend or some other female relative to carry a powder compact, tissues and lipstick for you. This will help you do the touch ups, especially if your wedding is going to be a long affair.

A Buddhist wedding is typically a simple, yet meaningful, occasion. The civil ceremony takes place in a back yard or home, and afterwards, couples usually go to a temple to receive special blessings from a monk. This also involves a time of prayer and giving gifts to the monk, such as food, medicine, flowers, and candles.

In Buddhist wedding traditions, the bride and groom wear embroidered mediation robes (the exact type of robe depends on the country where the wedding takes place). In the western world, couples might not even wear a robe. Wedding guests should wear something that is in good taste. If you are a guest at a Buddhist wedding, remember that you will need to remove your shoes before entering the temple.

Buddhist wedding ceremony vows typically go something like this: “Towards my wife I undertake to love and respect her, be kind and considerate, be faithful, delegate domestic management, present gifts to please her.” The bride says: “Towards my husband I undertake to perform my household duties efficiently, be hospitable to my in-laws and friends of my husband, be faithful, protect and invest our earnings, discharge my responsibilities lovingly and fastidiously.”

At an Indian Buddhist wedding, the food is almost always vegan or vegetarian. Western Buddhist weddings do not necessarily adhere to this practice, and meat can be consumed.

Brides to be … it is your wedding day and please allow us to congratulate you.  As you are probably aware, wedding planning is a fantastically challenging process and there are times of utter confusion when making certain decisions. Bridal makeup and hair styling is definitely one of them!

While we know, you love to be in "the know" of the latest makeup trends (tutorials on blogs and video sites, always stopping by a makeup counter to try out a new launch), but you when it comes to your wedding day look what style do you go with???

While working with brides for over 20 years, one thing has always been consistent in my interaction with my North American & European brides. They want to look flawless and natural, but glamorous and not caked-up. Here are some guidelines on how to achieve this goal.

Do's

1. Do start looking for a professional artist at least 6 months before the big day, especially if your wedding is on a Saturday or a long weekend.

2. Do put aside a realistic budget for your beauty. There will be a higher price tag if you expect the artist to remain with you the entire wedding day. Try offering the artist more clients to work with at your wedding to make it worth their time commitment.

3. Do get comfortable with your artist's style. This includes reviewing their portfolio, considering recommendations from their previous clients, and a one-on-one consultation and trial makeup session.

4. Do set aside a budget for the trial sessions. Remember that the artist is investing time and talent to help finalize a look that looks exquisite on you.

5. Do have your outfit with you when you set up a trial session. A black T-shirt will not represent your wedding day outfit and therefore will not be able to fully translate the impact of the final look!

6. Do take your dupatta/chunni to your hair trial, especially if you need to have your head covered during the ceremony. Many a fabulous hair style succumbs to the weight of an embroidered chunni, so the hairstyle has to be pretty, as well as functional.

7. Do take pictures as reference, but remember that every look will have to be translated to reflect your features, hair, and skin tone. The Jodha Akbar look when replicated on you will be your version of it, not Aishwarya Rai's.

8. Do be open to your artist’s recommendations. They do this for a living and know how certain colors and intensities will turn out in pictures.  It is always best to take pictures before, then with an initial trial and then a stepped up style to see how the looks look on film.

9. Do try out different styles of eyelash enhancements - extensions, individual lashes or custom made full sets. They look spectacular and mascara is no match for what they can do for your eyes!

10. Do remember that colors look different in different lighting situations. If you get a trial session done for an evening event that is going to be in the soft mood lighting of a hotel, don't judge your makeup by looking at it in sunlight as it will look too bold.

Don'ts

1. Don't attempt to do your own hair and makeup. The bride has an enormous amount of nervous energy during those last few hours leading up to the wedding.

2. Don't ask a best friend or aunty to do it either. Yes, your friend does an amazing job with makeup when you go out to party, but can she make it work for different lighting situations and for professional photography? Does she have an array of professional grade tools and products on hand to do emergency fixes for stress related acne that just showed up or really dark circles that reflect the sleepless nights of the week preceding the wedding?

3. Don't try to cut corners on cost by going to a makeup counter to get a makeup for product purchase deal. Do you really want to run around the mall on your wedding day?

4. Don't show up at your consultation and trial session without taking care of grooming. Out of shape brows, facial hair and peeling skin will never let the flawless, perfect look come into play.

5. Don't opt for a trendy look for your wedding. If you must follow a trend, do so on the night of the sangeet. You really don't want to look time stamped on your wedding day.

6. Don't insist on dark eyes and nude lips for the wedding. Nude lips will not show up in the photographs and you will look washed out.

7. Don't go with an all out shimmery look to replicate the look you see on magazine cover shoots. It will make you look like a disco ball! Instead, keep the shimmer and sheen for your eyes with just a tad bit on your cheekbones.

8. Don't keep your hair all down for the garba and reception if you want to dance the night away (Although I did not follow this because my significant other wanted my hair down...he still owes me for this one ;) The energy, movement and passion of the moment will make you sweat and your hair will stick to your face and neck … not very pretty!

9. Don't believe everything you read about beauty products. Airbrush makeup does not last for over 18 hours and unless you use a perming chemical for curls, your curls will get looser, softer and more open as the hours progress.

10. Don't take too many suggestions from multiple friends and family after a trial session. Everyone has their own taste and viewpoint which may end up frustrating you. Let this be your decision and work with your artist until you discover the look you love!

Excerpted from Robert Tornambe, M.D.

Whether you are living in the northern part of the country where the winter has been cold and fierce, or in warmer southern climates, the necessity of identifying a good skin care regimen is vital to the health of your largest organ -- your skin. The choice of products is enormous and can be confusing. The price range for these skin creams vary significantly, and more often than not, the more expensive item may not necessarily be better!

The following is a primer about the numerous and perplexing world of skin care products.

The majority of over-the-counter products available are moisturizers with added ingredients to support marketing claims. The merchandise offered, includes moisturizers alone (to be used day and night), anti-aging night creams, sunscreens, anti-wrinkle/antioxidant creams, facial foundations or skin lightening serums. The common denominator is that the formulation is basically a moisturizer. Let's examine the basic ingredients in the majority of moisturizers and other facial creams.

The most commonly used active agent in many skin care products, after water, is the occlusive substance petrolatum or petrolatum by-products! That's right, good old Vaseline! It is the most effective moisturizing ingredient on the market today because it reduces water loss through the skin by 99 percent by producing an oily barrier. This barrier prevents water from evaporating from the skin allowing the skin's water content to rise. It actually decreases the appearance of fine lines on the face and body caused by dehydration. While petrolatum has received some bad press recently, the bottom line is that it is hypoallergenic, noncomedogenic (does not cause cancer) and nonacnegenic (does not cause acne). Its major drawback is its inherent greasiness. Other options do exist, however, and some manufacturers have substituted other ingredients to replace it.

Another basic ingredient is something called Dimethicone. It is from the silicone family, which originates from silica, which is found in granite, quartz and sand. Different types of silicones are used in many skin care and household products and to date, there is no report of toxicity from the use of topical silicone. This ingredient is an astringent/moisturizer and is used to decrease or dilute the concentration of petrolatum and thus cut down the greasy nature of the product. It also adds glide and smooth properties to the mixture. It is the second most common active ingredient in moisturizers today, as it dilutes petrolatum and is also hypoallergenic, noncomedogenic and nonacnegenic.

The next most common ingredient is something called Glycerin. It is also a moisturizer and acts as a humectant, which means that it attracts water from the upper layers of the skin down into the deeper layers to restore the water levels to your skin.

In summary, Petrolatum, Dimethicone and Glycerin, or similar closely related ingredients, form the primary foundation of most skin care products to which other compatible agents are added to perform different functions. Think of them as a vehicle to deliver other products to the skin. For example, almost all sunscreens contain these same three basic ingredients.

This "skin care vehicle" also carries other products used in the battle against aging and wrinkling skin. "Antioxidants" have been proven to protect skin against photo damage and premature aging. They neutralize "free radicals" which are found in the atmosphere and cause skin damage. Think of free radicals as disruptive invaders, which are known to cause premature aging and wrinkling of the skin. Antioxidants are the weapons of defense.

Certain Botanicals are used for their antioxidant properties. Botanical antioxidants include Rutin, found in apples and blueberries, Lutein, found in tomatoes and Carotenoids, which are chemically related to vitamin A. There are many other botanical antioxidants or combinations thereof, found in different facial creams, which are also effective.

Soybeans are a rich source of another antioxidant family, Flavonoids. Some of the cutaneous effects of soy have been linked to its estrogenic effect in postmenopausal women. Topical estrogens have been shown to increase skin thickness and promote collagen synthesis and skin elasticity. However, there is no solid scientific evidence that topical use of soybean products will correct hormone imbalances of a woman's body and will not combat mood swings and hot flashes!

Other ingredients which contain antioxidant capabilities include Silymarin, an extract from the milk thistle plant, green tea, a very popular ingredient in many skin care creams, and Retinol. Retinol, found in many fruits and vegetables, contains high concentrations of vitamin A.

Remember, most facial creams and skin care products contain many similar basic ingredients, no matter how expensive the item. Be smart and read the label and find a product that has the ingredients that fit your needs and more importantly fit your budget! Do not be impressed by elaborate bottles or famous and beautiful celebrities who tout their product for a very high fee! Choose a moisturizer, for example, that complements your skin type, and use it religiously to combat dry skin and premature aging. Do not be seduced by a product that is advertised to contain a sexy antioxidant not found in any other cream. Practically speaking, all antioxidants act the same way, to the same degree of effectiveness. Apply moisturizers right after bathing for maximum effectiveness and improve your skin care regimen immensely by simply drinking lots of water daily.

From:  Huffingtonpost -

Robert Tornambe, M.D.

NYC Plastic Surgeon and author of "The Beauty Quotient Formula"

Posted: January 24, 2011 06:50 AM

What is Gwyneth ­Paltrow’s secret to effortlessly glamorous locks? An expensive shampoo? A Brazilian blow dry? No, according to hairstylist David Babaii, it’s that little-known styling tool, the loofah brush.

For the cover shot of this month’s U.S. InStyle magazine, he rolled pieces of Gwynnie’s damp hair around the loofah before blasting with heat to add texture, and tamed ­flyaway hairs using a bathroom-cabinet tongue brush.

We quizzed a number of celebrity beauty experts about their quirky secrets and uncovered some surprising tips . . .

Beauty secrets: Gwyneth Paltrow, left, uses a loofah brush to style her hair while Sellotape is used to remove Lady Gaga's excess make-up

KETCHUP

If you’ve been swimming in a heavily chlorinated pool and your blonde hair has turned a nasty shade of green, then try using ketchup before your shampoo.

Apply it to your hair and leave in for a couple of minutes before rinsing with warm water. The red tone will help to ­neutralise the green, returning your hair to its former golden glory.

Darren Fowler, international ­artistic director of Clipso, has worked with ­Juliette Binoche and Tori Amos.

TIN FOIL

To create wavy hair without ­curling tongs, use sheets of tin foil. Twist 15 sheets of tin foil into three-inch long wands — the thinner they are, the tighter the curl.

Wind sections of hair around the wands and twist the ends of the foil together to secure. Blast hot air from your hairdryer for three to five minutes all over your head to ­activate curls — the tin foil will insulate heat and stay hot for about five minutes.

Once cool, unravel your hair for bouncy, voluminous locks.

Ben Cooke, co-founder of Lockonego, was responsible for Victoria ­Beckham’s ‘Pob’ hairdo.

CONDENSED MILK

Felicity Kendal’s hair colourist Lea Harrison often applies condensed milk to her scalp when doing her bleach highlights. ‘This ­prevents irritation and soothes the scalp, which can get sore if it comes into contact with ­peroxide,’ says Harrison.

Lea Harrison, of the Michaeljohn salon in Mayfair, London.

Surprising solution: Ketchup can help restore blonde hair that's gone green in chloride

FABRIC SOFTENER SHEETS

Those fabric softener sheets from Bounce are brilliant for removing static from hair after a blow-dry. Gently glide them over the hair from root to tip — the result is beautiful, static-free tresses.

Darren Fowler.

CLING FILM

If you struggle to do your back when you’re applying fake tan, get a long piece of cling film, lay it on the floor and apply some of your fake tan mousse or cream to the middle of it.

Stand in front of the cling film, take an end of each strip in each hand and apply it to your back using the same motion you use to dry your back with a towel.

James Read, fake tan ­therapist, has worked with Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga and ­Lindsay Lohan.

BABY SPOON

Make-up artist Kabuki always has a rubber-coated infant feeding spoon in his false eyelash kit. ‘It’s the perfect tool to tone down mascara,’ he says.

Hold the spoon under the lashes and use a clean brush to apply a non-oily make-up remover over the top of the lashes.

The remover and unwanted mascara runs into the spoon and away from the face, so the false lashes stay in place. The other eye make-up remains, too.

Kabuki, artistic director of myface.cosmetics, works with Kylie, Madonna and Gwen Stefani.

Tricks of the trade: Make-up artists use a baby spoon to tone down Kylie's mascara, left, while Tess Daly has her false eyelashes applied with a pencil

INGROWN HAIR REMOVER PADS

If you’ve made a mistake with your self-tan and have been left with patches, there are loads of remedies: from whitening toothpaste to cigarette ash.

According to tanning guru James ­Harknett, one of the most effective are Bliss Ingrown Hair Eliminating Peeling Pads. ‘At £27, they’re not cheap, but the ­salicylic acid and ­glycolic acid in them does the job,’ he says.

James Harknett has worked with Patsy Kensit and The X Factor’s Brian ­Friedman.

HAIR GEL AND SELLOTAPE

When make-up artist Kabuki did Lady Gaga’s face for the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, he used lots of black glitter around her eyes. The glitter was fixed with alcohol-free hair gel and Sellotape was used to clean up any stray flecks of glitter from her face.

Kabuki, myface.cosmetics.

FEMININE WASH

Make-up artist Issidora cleanses her face and takes off her make-up using FemFresh.

‘It might sound odd, but this ­gynaecologically approved product does not contains soap,’ she says. ‘It lathers ­beautifully and, if you use it with a loofah, it not only removes every trace of make-up but also ­exfoliates, too.’

Issidora works with Grace Jones and Sharleen Spiteri.

E45 CREAM

When you don’t have any serum, mousse or shine spray, but your hair needs to go from parched and frizzy to glossy and glamorous, reach for an unscented body butter. Massage a pea-sized amount into the ends of the hair for instantly soft and hydrated locks. E45 works a treat.

Jonathan Long, the co-founder of ­Lockonego, has worked with Yasmin Le Bon and Louise Redknapp.

PENCIL

One of make-up artist Ariane Poole’s best tips when it comes to the tricky matter of dealing with false eyelashes is to wrap them round a pencil before applying them.

They’ve often been sitting straight in their packaging for so long they’ve lost their curve, so they don’t fit the eyelid ­properly and can ping off.

Wrapping them round a pencil breaks their spine a bit, so they fit more closely to the lid.