Wedding Ice 

There are a couple of things you should keep in mind when picking your colors. They are not hard and fast rules but you should find them helpful. You can pick any color combination you want.

Pick Colors You Can Find

Nothing can be more frustrating than a wild hunt for a bridesmaid’s dress in an obscure color. It may seem like a good idea to go to a paint store and pick out paint chips from the vast arrays of colors they have on display, it’s not. A better way to make the decision is to jot down a few of your favorite colors and then visit a few vendors such as dress shops and florists to see if those color are easy to come by and what shades they come in.

Some colors go in and out of season. Bright colors like lime green and tangerine are more likely to be found in the summer months rather than the winter. Classic colors like most shades of pink can be found all year.

If your heart is set on a color that is harder to find you can still use it. Ribbons, invitations and flowers are easy to find in a wide variety of colors. Use the hard-to-find hue as an accent and more classic colors as the base for your overall design.

Use the Color Wheel

Some people just have a knack for putting colors that go well together. If you look at the best combinations they usually follow a color scheme from the color wheel. Pick a color and look across the color wheel to find its complimentary color. Complimentary colors usually work best if they do not compete too much. Instead of picking bright blue and bright orange consider navy blue and peach. Using a monochromatic theme can be very modern and interesting. An example of a monochromatic theme would be using different shades of brown from rich chocolate to creamy ivory and everything in between.

Be Unique

Fashion designers use reports called fashion forecasting to predict what the next big trends will be. Bridal magazines also stay very current with what is en vogue with brides. Consider purchasing a few bridal magazines to give you some good ideas. However, don’t feel pressured to pick colors based on what they feature. Your colors should reflect colors you like. In reality your wedding photos are going to look dated in years down the road, it doesn’t matter if the colors you chose were in style now, because they won’t be then.

The most important thing is to choose something you like and what represents you and your style. Picking your wedding colors will be one of the first steps of planning your wedding. Have fun with it and let your creative side show.

Who can get a Utah Marriage License?

You must be at least 18 years old to sign your own marriage license in Utah. A parent or guardian must be present in you are under 18. If you are under 15, you must get authorization by a juvenile judge from a court in the county where you reside. In Utah, you may not obtain a marriage license if you are under 14 years of age.

Where can you get a Utah Marriage License?

In Salt Lake County – 2001 S. State Street #S2200 in Salt Lake City

In Utah County – 100 E. Center Street Rm# 3600 in Provo

For all other locations contact your county’s clerk’s office to find out where to go. Most offices are open from 8:00am to 5:00pm on weekdays.

What do you need to bring to obtain a Utah Marriage License?

You will need to bring a valid form of identification (driver’s license, passport or birth certificate), $50 (cash, check, money order, Visa or Mastercard), and your fiance. You will also need to know information such as both of your full names, social security numbers, current addresses, dates and places of birth, names and birthplaces of both sets of parents and races of applicants.

When should you get a Utah Marriage License?

In Utah your marriage license is effective immediately and is valid for 30 days. You probably don’t want to wait until your wedding date to apply for your license in case there are any problems and because it can take awhile to process on busy days.

What else should you know about Utah Marriage Licenses?

You can use your marriage license anywhere in Utah. The marriage license is property of the county and must be returned to the county clerk within two weeks after the marriage takes place. The officiator, or person performing the ceremony, will be responsible for completing the marriage license and returning it to the clerk. The county will mail a certified copy to you. This copy will be your proof of marriage. You can order another copy if your marriage license is ever lost. You will need your marriage license to legally change your name. The Driver’s License Division and Social Security office will need to see a certified copy of the license.

*Sparkles – While beautiful in real life sparkly makeup and powders will show up in photographs as little white specks on your skin. Keep this in mind if you wish to avoid white specks on your cheeks, cleavage and eyes. Most “shimmery” eye shadows photograph well as long as they do not contain glitter.

*Blush – A hint of color on your cheeks will add a beautiful glow. But remember to apply lightly; it’s easier to digitally add a little color than it is to take it away. Have a salesperson at a cosmetic counter or a makeup artist show you how to use blush to contour your face and always keep in mind a little goes a long way.

*Eyes – Use a light hand when lining your lower lashes. A heavy line is not flattering and you don’t want it to smudge; this would create shadows under your eyes. Practice using powder and a very fine brush either wet or dry. This gives the most natural results with just the right amount of enhancement. Use mascara that matches your hair and complexion. Be careful not to apply so much that your lashes become clumpy. Clumps will show in close up pictures and are extremely difficult to fix digitally.

*Concealer – A dab of concealer well blended under your eyes will help you look young, fresh and awake. Use a touch on the inside of your nose (between your eyes) since shadows there are not flattering. Also, use a little concealer on any blemishes but never use it on the outside corner of your eyes as it will accentuate fine lines. Wrinkles and blemishes can be taken care of digitally after the photo shoot, but this can be expensive.

*Powder – Lightly dusting your face with translucent powder will set your makeup and give it a professional finish. If you have oily skin there are better ways to deal with shine than to bring powder along and continually apply it. I advise against this because adding more and more powder to your face will just make it look “cakey” and unnatural; you don’t want to look made-up. It is best to purchase inexpensive oil-blotting sheets. Mary Kay has the best one on the market. They are 100% linen and give your skin a very natural “matte” finish.

*Lips – Color on your lips is very important but stay away from dark (or almost black) reds. As I mentioned previously, it is much easier to digitally add color than it is to take it away. Visit a makeup counter or a makeup artist to find the perfect color. You do not want matte lips; you want them to look soft and shiny but not too glossy. High gloss will not photograph well. I suggest using a gloss and then blotting it a little using the oil absorbing sheets listed above.

*My favorite way to do lips is to use a permanent lip stain and then gloss over it. I like Mark’s (by Avon) KissInk but it can be a bit bold. Apply lightly and rub with your finger to get the right shade then apply gloss over the top. This method is very long-lasting. You won’t need to reapply the color, although I would bring your gloss along. KissInk is a bit drying and will not be for you if your lips are extremely sensitive but it seems to work fine if you use a moisturizing gloss.

My favorite products:

*Mary Kay Beauty Blotters® Oil-Absorbing Tissues ($5.00 for 75 sheets) – These seem to be the best at absorbing oil
*Sally Hansen Lip Inflation (Walmart) – There are more expensive lip plumpers, but this one seems to do the job and doesn’t sting. It is very glossy and needs to be blotted.
*Mark (Avon) KissInk Lip Tintmarkers ($6.00) – Excellent product, practice using it days before you plan to be photographed so you know which shade is perfect and how dark to wear it.
*Estee Lauder Maximum Cover Camouflage Makeup ($28.50) – great for hiding blemishes and scars, may even work on small tattoos (ask your makeup artist).

The most important tip is to practice. Take some time finding the right shades that work for you. No matter what makeup you choose remember to blend well. Invest in high quality brushes and clean them often according to their instructions. Get enough sleep the night before your photo shoot so you can feel well rested and look your best.