Top 5 Things Every Bride Must Do to Look Amazing on The Big Day

How to look great on my wedding day is a thought that runs through the mind of many brides. The truth is, it is not rocket science - and it all boils down to a couple of important wedding day makeup, hair and dress tips you need to follow.

Speaking of which, we are outlining the best ones for making your look flawless - below.

1. STRIKE A POSE IN FRONT OF YOUR MIRROR

Knowing where your hands are at all times during your wedding, and what your pose is, can be helpful. The best way to practice it is in front of the mirror, by trying a few of your favorite celebrity runway poses.

Oh, and did you know that some poses can make you 10 pounds lighter in front of the camera? Grab a friend and have them help you out!

2. HAVE A PROFESSIONAL APPLY YOUR MAKEUP

Just because you have a bridesmaid who knows how to apply makeup, that doesn't mean that she will do a great job on your wedding day makeup. Most likely she will have a lot going on and things to do that day to get herself ready. You won't be her center of attention, and your makeup may suffer because of it. A professional makeup artist makes it their job to make sure that the bride is the most important face of the day!

3. LEARN HOW TO WORK YOUR FACE FOR THE CAMERA

Double chins are the enemy of every bride. In case you don't know what it is, it's the pose when you are looking down, and your chin is doubling and colliding with your neck. They can make even the slimmest of women look bad in pictures.

The best way to prevent a double chin from happening on your wedding photos and videos is always to move your head forward. Just make sure you are not looking at the ceiling or making awkward poses, right?

4. EMBRACE THE BEAUTY OF LAUGHTER

Sometimes, the best wedding photos are the ones where you and your friends laugh. Fake smiles are not flattering for sure - however, the same cannot be said for fake laughs. So, next time when you want to relax - let out a forced 'Ha! Ha!' - and do it again, again and again. The results? Natural photos that everyone loves!

5. BUY THE DRESS, THE SHOES, AND THE ACCESSORIES

Be sure to purchase your attire in the right order. First buy the dress, next select the shoes, and lastly the accessories. That way is the easiest to follow and the most hassle-free choice. And remember - always choose your wardrobe wisely. Try not to get caught up in the trend of the moment, but instead focus on your style and what flatters you most.

Want to look flawless on your wedding day? We’ve got you covered. Make your appointment today! Bridal hair and makeup trials are half off.

Elite Secrets Bridal's Year 2018 Review

Two thousand eighteen was a stellar year for Elite Secrets Bridal. This past year has been one of growth and blessings—we have seen the fruits of our hard work. And, in case you missed some of our most memorable moments, here are our favorite highlights of 2018.

1.    Baltimore Weddings’ Aisle Style (formerly known as Baltimore Bride’s Aisle Style).

The year started with a bang. We kicked off 2018 under the roof of the Four Seasons Baltimore for Aisle Style. The team of makeup experts had the distinct honor of providing makeup for models who walked the runway at the well-attended annual fashion show. The models were stunning, and so was the ESB team.

2.    Awards all around.

If we had to name the year, we would call it the year of reward. This year, Elite Secrets took home the Wedding Wire Couples Choice Award (the third consecutive award), The Knot’s Best of, and Baltimore’s Downtown Partnership Award.

3.    Spring into The Grand.

In May, ESB hosted their first ever fashion show in partnership with The Grand Baltimore: Spring into The Grand. Fashions from some of your favorite designers including debuting label house, Khemistry, showcased collections to a packed house of Baltimore’s fashion elites.

4.    In-store events.

The Elite Secrets Bridal Showroom is known for its stunning high ceilings, gorgeous windows, beautiful floors and now some of Baltimore’s best events. This year the gorgeous venue was the backdrops to trunk shows, Valentine’s Day pop-up with Fluffy Pop, Vows 101 Event, fashion previews and more.

5.    ESB takes over DEB.

Yes, Elite Secrets Bridal took over Diner en Blanc Baltimore. The takeover started with filmed lessons on what to wear with the beauty and fashion guru, LaTonya Turnage and ended with a fun night at the famous dinner overlooking Baltimore.

6.    A Beauty Week to remember.

The last week of February is Random Acts of Kindness Week and beauty week, but at Elite Secrets Bridal kindness is far from random. For the cause that celebrates spreading kindness for global impact, the team spent a day giving back to the women of the House of Ruth Maryland in true Elite Secrets Bridal fashion—serving makeup applications, hair styling, gift bags and an overall day of beauty.  It was a moment to remember!

7.     They said yes!!

Helping brides is what team Elite does best. We could not let the year end without mentioning all the brides that said yes to the dress, hair or makeup in 2018. Thank you all!

8.    Styled Shoot Collaborations.

Elite Secrets teamed up with local wedding pros for many fun collaborations this year, and the themes were just as exciting. From Black Panther to Rainbow Chic, and Industrial Glam to DC Wedding Week we partnered with some fantastic creatives for some of the hottest styled shoots you can imagine.

9.    Featured press and more featured press.

From TV segments on BMore Lifestyle and Fox Morning News to national features in MunaLuchi Bride, Wedding Chicks, Every Last Detail, Elite Secrets was seen everywhere. See the full spread on our Press Page here.

10.    And, to cap off the year, Elite Secrets debuted the Pearl Collection!

The wedding gown collection features six unique styles for the modern bride—sleek and sexy silhouettes, fantasy ballgowns, lace and jewel embellishments. The collection will be available exclusively at Elite Secrets Bridal.

As hard as it is to say goodbye to 2018, we look forward to even more great things to come in 2019. Make your appointment with Elite Secrets Bridal in the new year. We can’t wait to start the year with you. Happy New Year!

{Event Recap} Holiday Open House, MinkMaids Trunk Show, and Prayer Night

Last Saturday, December 16, we had our first annual holiday open house. And, if you weren’t there you missed it!

Some of Baltimore’s Elite showed up for a party to remember. Guests enjoyed a treasure trove of holiday sweets and festive drinks. And, the sights were just as impressive. Models worked the room donning the latest in bridal wear. The beauties showcased dresses by Allure and MinkMaids and hair and makeup by Elite Secrets, of course!

Between mixing and mingling our Elite clients and friends had fun taking photos with Megapixel Media in front of our infamous flower wall.

At the end of the night, we announced the winner of our raffle. A lucky attendee walked away with a ticket to the Baltimore Bride’s Aisle Style Event.

Thank you to our bridal event manager, Sabrina, Megapixels Media, the ladies of Bird of Paradise Events, Sarah Beth Ramsey, Events by Lady J, New Beginnings Event Management, Tira Lynn Events, Alexis Wilkins Events, and Mr. Keith of Christopher Schafer Clothier.

We kicked off the month with our first MinkMaids Trunk Show. Brides and local wedding vendors gathered at our Mount Vernon bridal boutique to shop and mingle over champagne. Not only did we feature stunning wedding dresses from the collection, but ready-to-wear evening gowns—perfect for bridesmaids, mother of the bride, or festive holiday events. The MinkMaids Trunk Show was a huge hit!

In fact, because the show was such a success we’ve extended the MinkMaids Trunk Show for a New Year’s Special! Enjoy 10% off MinkMaids ready-to-wear evening gowns and 50% off New Year’s makeup! Ring in the New Year with head to toe glam from Elite Secrets and MinkMaids.

Our last event of the year, took place last night—our Prayer night. With so many things to be grateful for, ending the year in prayer could not be more fitting. Led by of dear friend Tonya, we praised God for all the blessings bestowed in 2017 and thanked him for blessings, increase, victory, and favor for the new year.

We can’t end this blog post without thanking all of you. This year has been amazing, and we are tremendously grateful for your support—whether you read the blog, liked a post, shopped with us, referred a friend, or stopped by the showroom. No deed—big or small—positive thought, or prayer went unnoticed. We thank you for everything! Have a happy holiday!

xoxo,

LaTonya

8 Expert Tips for Wedding Dress Shopping at a Bridal Trunk Show

Wedding dress shopping can be a bit overwhelming. Not only are there so many choices (so many gorgeous dresses!) but the pressure is on to find a dress you love, look and feel fabulous in, and comes in (ideally!) under budget. Add a sample sale or trunk show into the mix, and we’re officially bewildered. But fear not, we’re here to help!

What is a Bridal Trunk Show?

A trunk show is a special event in a bridal boutique where they invite a designer to showcase their collection. Sometimes it’s a one-day event, but for particularly popular collections, it could last for multiple days. Often the designers themselves, or stylists from the fashion house will be on hand to help you find the right dress.

Trunk shows are a particularly good opportunity to check out a visiting designer whose full collections aren’t stocked in your city.

8 Expert Tips for Shopping at Sample Sales and Trunk Shows

So, now you know what bridal trunk shows are, how do you get the most out of shopping at one? Here’s where bridal beauty expert LaTonya of Elite Secrets Bridal steps in.

Located in Baltimore's esteemed Mount Vernon fashion boutique district, Elite Secrets Bridal opened its doors bringing to Baltimore’s bridal scene an experience that cannot be found in any other Baltimore bridal boutique. The pedigree of founder LaTonya Turnage, bridal beauty expert, has been fundamental to our philosophy to combine expertise and excellent service with style and grace. Leaving pretense to the side, we focus on bringing the best designer and emerging bridal gowns from all over the world to Baltimore Brides!

1. What Lies Beneath

Feel your best underneath your wedding dress. The appropriate undergarments will not only help you feel your best; they will help your dress look the best. Opt for nude-colored underwear and a great strapless bra.

2. Bring a Companion

Take a trusted friend—someone you trust that will give you sound advice. Honest encouragement and constructive feedback can be extremely helpful and great company can up the factor for your bridal dress appointment.

Leave the whole entourage though. Too many conflicting opinions can leave you confused and stressed.

3. Mind Your Budget

Know your budget! Bridal trunk shows often offer a discretionary discount (usually 10%) off gowns ordered over that weekend.

It’s a great way to spend a little less in the event you find your dream wedding dress.

4. Do Your Homework

Research the designer first – for a trunk show the boutique will primarily present the featured designer only.

Make sure you are interested in their styles and silhouettes to get the most from your experience.

5. Necklines, Shape, and Silhouettes Oh My

There are so many variations to a wedding dress. Have an idea of what neckline, shape and silhouette you like best. Research the different styles, so you’re familiar will the lingo, too.

You will soon find you have narrowed down your style and what is flattering for your figure.

6. How High?

Bear in mind the height of your heels you plan to wear on your wedding day when you begin your dress shopping.

Keep in mind that hemlines cannot be lengthened, only shortened, so it’s a good idea to take the maximum heel height with you.

7. Ask the Expert

At a trunk show, if you are lucky the designer or stylist may be there in person, take full advantage of expert availability and ask for styling advice.

With their experience and knowledge, you are likely to find that they know what suits you—sometimes better than you! Check out Elite Secrets Bridal’s upcoming trunk shows here.

8. Consider Your Timing

Know your time frame. Some designer dresses need up to eight months to be completed and altered.

Learn beforehand, how long the designer needs for your dress and let your stylist know if you’re in a time crunch.