Honeymoon Staycation? I'd ship it!

Home is where the heart is.

We all look forward to an epic honeymoon, and we’re usually catching flights (and feelings) half-way around the world to the most exotic destinations to spend some alone time with our partner. Unfortunately many flights are now grounded and traveling carries a risk, but I’m here to break down how you can have the best staycation honeymoon, ‘staymoon’ if you will, right here in Trinidad and Tobago!

Tip # 1: Find a cute Airbnb

Technology is your friend, open up your Airbnb app or your Google browser and start looking for some cute romantic getaways. You’d be surprised to see how many cute spots are available on your own island, whether it’s in the lush mountains or near your favorite beach. PS. Flights are available for TOBAGO!! And who doesn't loveeee Bago Dawg!

Tip # 2: Pack for a vacation

Wear your cute vacation outfits that you planned on anyway! You’re on your ‘staymoon’ why not look like it. Remember to take lots of pictures because this will definitely be one to remember. Strut your stuff!

Tip # 3: Explore your island

How many times have we said to ourselves “I really want to go Bamboo Cathedral" (sorry, that's the first thing that came to my head) and years go by and you just don’t? Now’s the time! Book a tour, or if the places are accessible on your own, take a drive with your hubby/wifey! Visit a new beach, go on a hike, have a picnic at the Botanical Gardens, hop a CAL flight to Tobago or you can even have a fun night bar hopping on the Avenue. The options are endless and you’re in a place that you already know.

Tip # 4: Splurge on new restaurants

Now’s the time to try all those new restaurants you’ve been dying to! You wouldn’t have been cooking on your exotic trip to Bali anyway, so why not splurge on a nice dinner or enjoy your favorite street food. Doubles FTW!!

Tip # 5: Spa day anyone?

Book a couple’s massage for the hubby/wifey and yourself and relax with the soothing aromas of lavender and chamomile. I could picture it now... okay I’m getting a little carried away. We’ve been stressed all pandemic long, we deserve this! 

Apart from planning the most epic Staycation Honeymoon, you will also be supporting local. During this pandemic our local entrepreneurs have also been struggling to keep their small businesses afloat, so why not support our economy while having fun? Staymoons can be as exciting and fun as Bali I promise, after all it’s the company you have that makes it all worth it.

I sure hope you use our tips to plan your most memorable Staymoon right here at home! Feel free to follow us and tag us on Instagram @tulleandtuxedo and share your Staymoon adventures with us!

With love,

Tulle and Tuxedo

Ohhh snap....I'm Engaged!

He asked... and without hesitation you half cried and half blurted out the word YES! A thousand times yes, as doves flew by, fireworks lit up the sky and people cheered around you.. Oh wait, was that a scene from Crazy Rich Asians? (ps. I LOVE that movie)

He put a ring on it, and now you're exhausted from carrying around that ROCK all day, but there's a lot of work ahead of you. It's time to start the planning for your dream wedding with your forever soulmate. Happy tears!!!

What's your first move? Where should you begin? Panic...

Don't you worry your pretty little engaged head... I've broken it down for you. I did my homework and did some reading from the man himself, DAVID TUTERA! In his book, The Big White Book of Weddings, he talks about some tips our newly engaged couples can use to start their planning. 

Tip #1
ENJOY YOUR ENGAGEMENT!

Tell your parents, tell your friends, tell you neighbour and shout it from the rooftop! It's your special day so take some time to enjoy it with your fiancé (ouuuu that has a ring to it doesn't it?) and your nearest and dearest! Take those ring selfies, and get you a new coffee mug that says "Does this ring make me look engaged?"... because you're gonna need a lot of coffee in the upcoming months.

Tip #2
BRAINSTORM

Sit with your fiancé and brainstorm some ideas. It's a good idea NOT to get family and friends involved from the beginning. This will allow you and your partner to have some alone time to figure out just what you want without having any outsider input right away. 

Social media can be overwhelming when it comes to wedding ideas, one minute you want to get married in a massive ballroom Phantom of the Opera style and the next you want a small garden wedding in Switzerland. Make a mood board on Pinterest or Instagram and put some ideas together, this will also be helpful when meeting with decorators since they will be able to have a visual representation of your thoughts and ideas. Save pictures of decor, food, flowers...you name it. Don't be afraid to DREAM BIG since even the craziest ideas can be a form of inspiration.

Tip #3
DO YOUR RESEARCH

One of the biggest mistakes we make is jumping into the details, planning and purchasing before thinking about the big picture. Just because the votive candles with your initials are on sale does not mean you have to buy it! This is a walk before you run a marathon situation. Ahem, speaking from experience here... Hey if Kim Kardashian said it's good it must be right?

Take some time to research your vendors to ensure that they are the right fit for you. Check out their social media, arrange meetings and ask past clients for their feedback.

Tip #4
BALLIN' ON A BUDGET

It might be an uncomfortable topic but it's super important. Chat with your fiancé, your parents and whoever else is going to be chipping in for the wedding. Setting a budget does not mean it's carved in stone. It gives you a general idea of how much you're willing to spend and will influence a lot of purchasing decisions. Also, shop around and get an idea of how much things cost.

Pro Tip: Make a list of non-negotiable, negotiable and neutral items. What must you have at the wedding? What are you willing to forgo? What isn't that important to you?

Tip#5
CHANNEL YOUR INNER MONICA GELLER

Thats right, time to get the wedding binder out!

Keep notes and ideas and have it readily available. The binder will help you to be organized and keep the inner bridezilla cool, calm and collected. It's also a great idea to keep track of all vendor conversations, contracts and paperwork for ease of reference as well!

I sure hope this post calms some nerves and gets your planning off on the right foot. Let us know if you have any tips for newly engaged couples.

With love,
Tulle & Tuxedo

Let's Talk Makeup

Makeup is a girl's best friend...especially on her wedding day.

Ever wondered how to go about choosing the perfect makeup artist to get the most flawless look on your wedding day? Tulle and Tuxedo chatted with Anjali Ramsook, free-lance makeup artist, who shared some tips, tricks and advice on how to select the best MUA for your big day. Anjali's passion for makeup landed her a dream job at MAC where she worked for 3 years. Eventually, her passion outgrew the company and she embarked on a new journey as a free-lance makeup artist since 2019.

Here are some helpful tips and advice from Anjali on choosing the right makeup artist and getting that flawless look.

1. Figure Out Your Bridal Style

Get inspired, create a mood board on Instagram or Pinterest and save some of your favourite looks! Makeup artists have an instant portfolio on their social media platforms, so keep scrolling until you find the one that matches your vision and style.

2. Book a Trial

We can't stress how important a trial is for a Bride and her selected makeup artist. Although you may have found the perfect makeup look, it's important for you to have a trial done since a makeup style will look different on each person. Skin tone and facial structures vary and getting a trial done will help both you and your makeup artist come up with the perfect look suited for you. Makeup trials are often offered as a part of the Bridal Makeup package so be sure to ask your selected makeup artist about this! Trials can be done any time, we suggest a month to two weeks before your wedding date.

Pro Tip: Book your engagement shoot on the same day, don't let the makeup go to waste! This way you can see how it holds up for long periods of time in different environments. You will also get a sneak peek of how it looks on camera.

3. Skin Preparation

Anjali stressed the importance of sticking to your regular skin care routine. It's not the best idea to try new products, new foods or new routines before your wedding.  Avoid breakouts and reactions by staying hydrated, eating well, getting enough sleep and following your regular skin care routine. If you do decide to get a facial done, we suggest doing this one month in advance and stick to what you know.

4. Know Your Skin Type

Makeup artists usually ask questions about your skin prior to application. However it's a good idea to know if you have oily, dry or combination skin so your makeup artist can use the right products.

Check out the Kiehl's article below on how to determine and take care of your skin type.

Click here to find out more about your skin type!

5. Keep It Fresh

A lot of times makeup artists will include some products in their package that you can keep for touch ups on your wedding day. A good tip is to keep a similar shade lipstick, blotting sheets and lash glue as backup for a quick refresh.

6. DIY Bride

Believe it or not, we've come across some brave ladies out there who would prefer to do their own makeup. We support you!

Anjali suggests the following for our DIY Brides:

Take a short course

Many MUA's offer one day or weekend courses where you can learn the fundamentals of makeup application.

Do a trial

Wear your look for long hours and in different environments to ensure it holds up.

Take your time

Patience grasshopper!

Practice, practice, practice!

Rome wasn't built in a day.

Start Early

Give yourself enough time incase of any minor setbacks, let's avoid bringing out the Bridezilla today...eek!

Anjali's top product suggestions for DIY Brides:

Becca Ever Matte Primer

Laura Mercier Translucent Powder

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation

Myth: BRIDAL MAKEUP IS SOOOOOOO EXPENSIVEEEEEE!!!!

Myth....BUSTED...Makeup artists tend to use luxury products and pay more attention to detail when it comes to bridal makeup. They use the best products and techniques to ensure you stay flawless for hours on end. What we also fail to consider are the ancillary costs such as travel and transportation since most times your makeup artist will come to you versus you going to a studio. 

To my beautiful brides to be, I hope you can use these tips and tricks when selecting your perfect makeup artist.

Let us know in the comments if you have any more pieces of advice for our followers!

Before you go, check out some of our favourite local makeup artists in Trinidad!

Anjali Ramsook- @anjali_themakeupartist

Khadine Baksh- @thatkhadineproject

Krysta Wallace- @kwbeats

Aruna Maharaj- @madamemaharajcosmetology

Camille Charlerie- @camillebeautyartist

Anthony Sinanan- @themakeupbartt

Sarah Sookraj- @sarahsookrajbeauty

Yarra Fong- @soignebeautytt

With love,

Tulle and Tuxedo

Psssst... if you missed my instagram live with Anjali, check it out on our IGTV below!

Let's Talk Makeup with Anjali!

A Virtual Wedding to Remember

If you're one of the thousands of couples faced with the difficult and emotional decision to cancel or postpone your wedding as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, you're understandably disappointed. The wedding industry has been thrown for a loop, and many momentous plans have been halted. Not only are wedding dates being postponed, but couples now face the harsh reality that they may not be able to have that large-scale dream wedding full of friends and family from around the world.

This pandemic has taught us about the power of technology (...and religious hand washing). We live in a digital age where information is at our finger tips, the faces of our loved ones are on our screens, and wedding planning is possible from the couch!

Couples aren't letting a global pandemic or social distancing get in the way of getting married. Because love always wins. Instead, they're finding new and creative ways to make their special day one to remember.

The industry is adapting to these trying times and the trend of virtual weddings is catching on. A virtual wedding is a wonderful alternative to postponing or canceling your special day and can be a temporary placeholder for the real thing.

Here's a couple tips on planning a virtual wedding to remember!

1. Virtual Vendor Consultations
With social gatherings being limited to 5 persons currently, it's a great idea to setup Zoom or Skype video calls with your prospective photographers, videographers, decorators and more.  This way you can e-meet each other, discuss ideas, see samples of their work and discuss details of packages and contracts. It is important to keep record of your conversations and ensure all vendors are on the same page with regards to execution on the day of your wedding.

2. Virtual Pre-Wedding Shenanigans
Three words...virtual happy hour! Spend some quality time with your wedding party by hosting a virtual bridal shower or pre-wedding bash. Social distancing does not mean that you can't socialise. Take advantage of technology and use it to get the gals and guys together, I promise it'll lift your spirits. Hop on a Zoom call and B.Y.O.B!


3. Choose your platform
Although an Instagram or Facebook Live wedding sounds fun, you may want to consider something with a little more privacy. Zoom has pretty much taken over the world since we've been in lockdown and it's no longer only  used for meetings and school. Zoom is a great platform for "hosting" your guests and it's super easy to use. 

4. Coordinate Vendors
Although some non-essential businesses are still technically closed, they could still use the support. Photographers, videographers, coordinators, decorators and others are now adapting to the concept of micro weddings and can still make your big day a dream come true. Here are some my local faves (with their instagram handles) who have adapted to the current circumstances:

Wedding Planning and Coordination- @eventsbytriciatt
Photography and Videography- @rinkfilms
Party Supply and Rental Shop- @thepartyandeventco_tt
Catering Service- @chefchelseamarie
Designer and Decorator- @jgsignatureweddings

5. Send out your invitations
Since you're getting married virtually, why not go the digital route with your invitations too? Get creative. Hop on Canva and design your wedding invitations and email them to your friends and family! 

6. Rehearse
Technology is fantastic......until it isn't. Do a rehearsal the day before your virtual wedding to ensure that all devices are working properly and that your WiFi connection is fast and strong. Your vendors may require special lighting depending on where you choose to live stream from, and camera angles are important for capturing the right moments.

7. Lights, Camera, Hair and Makeup
It may not be exactly what you envisioned, but I promise it's going to be a day to remember! Wear your special dress or sub it for a less expensive one until you can actually have that reception of your dreams. Some couples even choose to go a little more casual, but you're the star of the show so go big or stay home (no pun intended). Coordinate your hair and makeup vendors strategically to ensure that everyone is staying safe and avoiding crowds. 

8. Here comes the Bride...and Groom
Plan a short program. Adding an aspect of formality to your virtual wedding makes a big difference. Let your guests know about potential speeches and toasts so the they ensure their glasses are topped up. Zoom is especially great for hosting a virtual wedding because it allows speaker view so each guests can get their chance in the spotlight to toast to the Bride and Groom. Don't forget to include your first dance and cutting of the cake, no matter how silly it may seem.

Before you know it, everyones chatting, sending you well wishes and ending one of the most memorable nights of their Covid-19 experience. Just remember, even though you had a virtual wedding today, you can STILL have your dream wedding later!

BONUS: By the time your "real" wedding date comes around there's no pressure. You got this!

BONUS BONUS: You get to pop champagne twice to celebrate two anniversary dates! 

If you're a Bride or Groom let us know how you're coping during the pandemic and let us know your thoughts on Virtual Weddings!

With love,
Tulle and Tuxedo 

Check out this cool video on Virtual Weddings below!