Don’t our gorgeous local real bride cover models, Missy, Crystal and Jessica look fabulous?!

This past September, these young women got to play dress up all day long as our Real Weddings team poked and prodded these girls at an all day photo shoot at the picturesque Delta King in Old Sacramento. Featuring local gowns, local floral designers, local hair and make-up teams and the uber-talented Thais Fleury Scheideman from Love at First Click Photography.

On Missy (left): dress from Dreamnette Bridal, headpiece by I Make Beautiful, jewelry by Carolee Jewelry, flowers by Bella Bouquet. On Crystal (middle): dress from Enchanted Bridal & Tuxedo Shoppe, headpiece by Emilliner, necklace (headband as necklace) by Erica Koesler available at Advantage Bridal, earrings by Carolee Jewelry, flowers by Ambience Floral Design. On Jessica (right): dress from Enchanted Bridal & Tuxedo Shoppe, headpiece by Bel Aire Bridal available at Advantage Bridal, jewelry by Carolee Jewelry, flowers by Visual Impact Design. For hair and make-up information and shopping details, please scroll down to the end of this post.

 On Missy: dress from Always Elegant Bridal & Tuxedo, headband by Emilliner. For hair and make-up information and shopping details, please scroll down to the end of this post.

On Jessica: dress from Always Elegant Bridal & Tuxedo, earrings by Carolee Jewelry, flowers by Ambience Floral Design. For hair and make-up information and shopping details, please scroll down to the end of this post.

On Crystal: dress from Miosa Bride, headpiece by I Make Beautiful, earrings by Carolee Jewelry, flowers by Visual Impact Design.  For hair and make-up information and shopping details, please scroll down to the end of this post.

On Missy: dress from Dreamnette Bridal, flowers by Bella Bouquet. For hair and make-up information and shopping details, please scroll down to the end of this post.

On Jessica: dress from Always Elegant Bridal & Tuxedo, earrings by Carolee Jewelry, flowers by Ambience Floral Design. For hair and make-up information and shopping details, please scroll down to the end of this post.

On Crystal: dress from Diamond Bridal Gallery, headpiece by Flourish, flowers by Blooms by Martha Andrews. For hair and make-up information and shopping details, please scroll down to the end of this post.

On Missy: dress from Enchanted Bridal & Tuxedo Shoppe, headpiece by Bel Aire Bridal available at Advantage Bridal, veil by Erica Koesler available at Advantage Bridal, earrings by Carolee Jewelry, flowers by By the Gate. For hair and make-up information and shopping details, please scroll down to the end of this post.

On Jessica: dress from Enchanted Bridal & Tuxedo Shoppe, headpiece by Bel Aire Bridal available at Advantage Bridal, jewelry by Carolee Jewelry, flowers by Blooms by Martha Andrews. For hair and make-up information and shopping details, please scroll down to the end of this post.

On Crystal: dress from Miosa Bride, headpiece by Erica Koesler available at Advantage Bridal, jewelry by Carolee Jewelry, flowers by Visual Impact Design. For hair and make-up information and shopping details, please scroll down to the end of this post.

On Missy: dress from Diamond Bridal Gallery, headpiece by Bel Aire Bridal available at Advantage Bridal, jewelry by Carolee Jewelry, shoes from DSW, flowers by Blooms by Martha Andrews. For hair and make-up information and shopping details, please scroll down to the end of this post.

On Jessica: dress from Miosa Bride, headpiece by I Make Beautiful. For hair and make-up information and shopping details, please scroll down to the end of this post.

On Missy: dress from Enchanted Bridal & Tuxedo Shoppe, headpiece by Flourish, jewelry by Carolee Jewelry, flowers by Ambience Floral Design. For hair and make-up information and shopping details, please scroll down to the end of this post.

On Missy: dress from Always Elegant Bridal & Tuxedo, headpiece and veil by Emilliner, earrings by Carolee Jewelry, shoes from DSW, flowers by Blooms by Martha Andrews. For hair and make-up information and shopping details, please scroll down to the end of this post.

On Crystal: dress from Miosa Bride, flowers by By the Gate. For hair and make-up information and shopping details, please scroll down to the end of this post.

On Jessica: dress from Dreamnette Bridal, headband and veil by Bel Aire Bridal available at Advantage Bridal, earrings by Carolee Jewelry, flowers by Bella Bouquet. For hair and make-up information and shopping details, please scroll down to the end of this post.

On Crystal: dress from Miosa Bride, headpiece by Flourish, flowers by By the Gate. For hair and make-up information and shopping details, please scroll down to the end of this post.

On Crystal: dress from Dreamnette Bridal, headpiece by Emilliner, jewelry by Carolee Jewelry, flowers by Ambience Floral Design. For hair and make-up information and shopping details, please scroll down to the end of this post.

On Jessica: dress from Always Elegant Bridal & Tuxedo, headpieces from Emilliner, flowers by By the Gate. For hair and make-up information and shopping details, please scroll down to the end of this post.

Photo top: On Crystal (left): dress from Dreamnette Bridal, headband and veil by Bel Aire Bridal available at Advantage Bridal, earrings by Carolee Jewelry, flowers by By the Gate. On Missy (middle): dress from Dreamnette Bridal, headband and veil by Bel Aire Bridal available at Advantage Bridal, earrings by Carolee Jewelry, flowers by Ambience Floral Design. On Jessica (right): dress from Diamond Bridal Gallery, veil by Erica Koesler available at Advantage Bridal, earrings by Carolee Jewelry, flowers by By the Gate.

On the Winter 2012 Cover (above left): On Crystal (left): dress from Enchanted Bridal & Tuxedo Shoppe, headpiece by I Make Beautiful, veil by Flourish, flowers by Bella Bouquet. On Missy (middle): dress from Diamond Bridal Gallery, headpiece by I Make Beautiful, jewelry by Carolee Jewelry, flowers by Ambience Floral Design. On Jessica (right): dress from Diamond Bridal Gallery, headpiece by Emilliner, flowers by Ambience Floral Design.

On the Spring 2012 Cover (above right): On Jessica: dress from Always Elegant Bridal & Tuxedo, headpieces by Emilliner, flowers by By the Gate.
For hair and make-up information and shopping details, please scroll down to the end of this post.

Thank you to all the vendors who contributed to our cover model contest shoot!  The vendors who participated in our cover model finalist shoot include:

Photographed on location at:

The Delta King

1000 Front Street, Sacramento

916-444-8052, deltaking.com

Photography by:

Thais Fleury Scheideman from Love at First Click Photography

916-505-2329, lovefirstphoto.com

with special thanks to Beth Baugher, Stephanie Smith and Francisco Chavira

Dresses provided by:

Always Elegant Bridal & Tuxedo

530-755-4282, alwayselegantbridal.net

Diamond Bridal Gallery

916-521-9856, diamondbridalgallery.com

Dreamnette Bridal

916-780-4747, dreamnette.com

Enchanted Bridal & Tuxedo Shoppe

916-965-5683, enchantedbridalshoppe.com

Miosa Bride

916-443-1301, miosabride.com

Shoes provided by:

DSW Shoe Warehouse

dsw.com

Accessories provided by:

Advantage Bridal

877-933-7467, advantagebridal.com

Carolee Jewelry

800-227-6533, carolee.com

Emilliner

317-652-9499, emilliner.com

Flourish

916-212-5179, flourishdesigns.com

I Make Beautiful

916-532-9800, imakebeautiful.com

Hair and Make-up for Crystal by:

Aloha London and Claudette Bulaclac, VIP-CAT Academy

800-958-9964, vip-cat.com

Hair and Make-up for Jessica by:

Jamey Amin, Hair, Signature Stylist at Bella Capelli

530-344-0320, 530-368-3642, placervillesalon.com

Cait Herrera, Make-up

916-221-1589

Hair and Make-up for Missy by:

Laura Milo, Hair, Hair by Laura Milo

916-727-6456, hairbylauramilo.weebly.com

Jenifer Haupt, Make-up

Makeup by Jenifer Haupt/I Make Beautiful

916-532-9800, imakebeautiful.com

Flowers provided by:

Ambience Floral Design

916-786-6851, ambiencefloral.com

Bella Bouquet

530-647-2686, bellabouquet.net

Blooms by Martha Andrews

916-300-5948, bloomsbymarthaandrews.com

By the Gate

530-622-7834, bythegateflowers.com

Visual Impact Design

916-489-3746, visualimpact-design.com

Slippers for Crystal, Jessica and Missy provided by:

Bearpaw

bearpaw.com

Catering provided by:

Beth Sogaard Catering

866-441-BETH, chefbethcatering.com

For the Summer/Fall 2012 contest, if you’re a local bride or a local just-married (cannot be married before June 1, 2011) and you’ve got cover aspirations, then you need to enter! The deadline to get your entry in is February 6, 2012. Be sure to read all of the guidelines and rules for entry on the entry form to make sure that you qualify.

Need an entry form? Click here to download the PDF:  COVER MODEL CONTEST-SF-2012

Or, you can email us at info@realweddingsmag.com and we’ll email you the entry form.

If you’re going to enter…one word of advice, show us your personality on the answers to the questions — we love working with brides who have a lot of spunk, personality, humor and who are just darned cool girls. Be sure that your answers really reflect who you are! Oh, and don’t forget to include photos that really show your personality coming through as well!

Also, be sure to read all of the rules to make sure that you’re eligible to enter and are game to participate!

We cannot wait to see your entries so get them in soon!

Blog Post by Editor/Publisher Wendy Sipple.

Check out the Real Weddings Contest Page! Great bridal loot for real Sacramento-area brides!

Subscribe to the Real Weddings Magazine Blog!

Congratulations to Sacramento area real bride, Jessica Nomicos, for being chosen as our cover model winner!

On the Spring 2012 Cover (above): On Jessica:  dress from Always Elegant Bridal & Tuxedo, headpieces by Emilliner, flowers by By the Gate. Hair by Jamey Amin and make-up by Caitlin Herrera For full credits, see bottom of post.

Jessica, along with her other real bride cover model finalists, Missy Espinoza and Crystal Goldberg, were chosen from hundreds of entries in our cover model contest. We’re thrilled to have her grace the cover of our Spring 2012 issue (above), and to have all three of these lovely ladies grace the cover of our Winter 2012 issue (shown below)!

On the Winter 2012 Cover (above): On Crystal (left): dress from Enchanted Bridal & Tuxedo Shoppe, headpiece by I Make Beautiful, veil by Flourish, flowers by Bella Bouquet. On Missy (middle): dress from Diamond Bridal Gallery, headpiece by I Make Beautiful, jewelry by Carolee Jewelry, flowers by Ambience Floral Design. On Jessica (right): dress from Diamond Bridal Gallery, headpiece by Emilliner, flowers by Ambience Floral Design.For hair and make-up credits, along with additional credits, please scroll to bottom of post.

Back in September, these young women got to play dress up all day long as our Real Weddings team poked and prodded these girls at an all day photo shoot at the picturesque Delta King in Old Sacramento. Featuring local gowns, local floral designers, local hair and make-up teams and the uber-talented Thais Fleury Scheideman from Love at First Click Photography.

We’ll share more photos from this shoot soon, we promise! But for now, we had to share these gorgeous covers with you!

Thank you to all the vendors who contributed to our cover model contest shoot — you’ll see the full layout in the magazine this week (and we’ll post it to our blog later this week, so stay tuned!)!

The vendors who participated in our cover model finalist shoot include:

Photographed on location at:

The Delta King

1000 Front Street, Sacramento

916-444-8052, deltaking.com

Photography by:

Thais Fleury Scheideman from Love at First Click Photography

916-505-2329, lovefirstphoto.com

with special thanks to Beth Baugher, Stephanie Smith and Francisco Chavira

Dresses provided by:

Always Elegant Bridal & Tuxedo 

530-755-4282, alwayselegantbridal.net

Diamond Bridal Gallery

916-521-9856, diamondbridalgallery.com

Dreamnette Bridal

916-780-4747, dreamnette.com

Enchanted Bridal & Tuxedo Shoppe

916-965-5683, enchantedbridalshoppe.com

Miosa Bride

916-443-1301, miosabride.com

Shoes provided by:

DSW Shoe Warehouse

dsw.com

Accessories provided by:

Advantage Bridal

877-933-7467, advantagebridal.com

Carolee Jewelry

800-227-6533, carolee.com

Emilliner

317-652-9499, emilliner.com

Flourish

916-212-5179, flourishdesigns.com

I Make Beautiful

916-532-9800, imakebeautiful.com

Hair and Make-up for Crystal by:

Aloha London and Claudette Bulaclac, VIP-CAT Academy

800-958-9964, vip-cat.com

Hair and Make-up for Jessica by:

Jamey Amin, Hair, Signature Stylist at Bella Capelli

530-344-0320, 530-368-3642, placervillesalon.com

Cait Herrera, Make-up

916-221-1589

Hair and Make-up for Missy by:

Laura Milo, Hair, Hair by Laura Milo

916-727-6456, hairbylauramilo.weebly.com

Jenifer Haupt, Make-up

Makeup by Jenifer Haupt/I Make Beautiful

916-532-9800, imakebeautiful.com

Flowers provided by:

Ambience Floral Design

916-786-6851, ambiencefloral.com

Bella Bouquet

530-647-2686, bellabouquet.net

Blooms by Martha Andrews

916-300-5948, bloomsbymarthaandrews.com

By the Gate

530-622-7834, bythegateflowers.com

Visual Impact Design

916-489-3746, visualimpact-design.com

Slippers for Crystal, Jessica and Missy provided by: 

Bearpaw

bearpaw.com

Catering provided by:

Beth Sogaard Catering

866-441-BETH, chefbethcatering.com

If you’d like to be part of our next cover model contest, for our Summer/Fall 2012 issue (out in May 2012), email us at info@realweddingsmag.com and we’ll email it to you when it’s available later this week.

Blog Post by Editor/Publisher Wendy Sipple.

Check out the Real Weddings Contest Page! Great bridal loot for real Sacramento-area brides!

Subscribe to the Real Weddings Magazine Blog!

This week, we highlight the exceptionally gorgeous and crazy talented Raquel Siders from Image Provocateur and VIP-CAT Academy. We’ve had the privilege of working with Raquel, Arrvada and Jenifer from Image Provocateur and VIP-CAT Academy on several of our photo shoots, and they’re truly gifted artists. They always seem to know exactly what we’re wanting for our shoots – we think they’re mind-readers!  They’re also just pretty damn cool chicks! 

Here’s a little bit more about Raquel! 

Image Provocateur & VIP-CAT Academy

Tell us a little about your company?  Image Provocateur is the Bridal and Hair Specialists needed for every perfect wedding. Our brides receive full hair, makeup, false lashes and our unique three step water proofing system on location. Our Artists are specially trained to achieve the perfect look every time. 

When did you establish your business? VIP-CAT was launched in 2004, specializing in Bridal Hair & Makeup on Location. In 2007 VIP-CAT expanded into Image Provocateur a full-service Salon, keeping our main focus on our brides. 

What sets you apart from your competition?  All of our Makeup Artists are trained by myself, using my Copywrited Curriculum and the skills and techniques I have developed and implemented into VIP-CAT Academy. We are always striving to be the best, as perfection is our standard while staying on top of current styles and trends. 

Where do you find inspiration?  I have loved makeup and beauty since I can remember! As a young child I fell in love with makeup and art –  that love blossomed into working with brides and getting a chance to share their day and help make it special. 

When you opened shop, what was your promise to your customers? That we would bring out their inner beauty and create the flawless, perfect look they always wanted for their wedding day. And since our makeup and hair lasts up to 12 hours, they would not have to worry about anything but walking down the aisle. Let our professional makeup artists and hair specialists ease your mind. You have worried about everything else… leave your hair and makeup to us. 

Do you have any hidden talents?I have taken my creativity in makeup and I have started designing clothing. This year will see the launch of my clothing line, Black Cat Threads. This line is made from provocatively refurbished rock t’s and lingerie. It’s the way I am going green, with an edge! 

Hair and Make-up for Real Weddings Cover Model Sarah by Image Provocateur and VIP-CAT Academy. Dress from Diamond Bridal Gallery. Photo by True Love Photo. On location at The Citizen Hotel.

Hair and Make-up for Real Weddings Cover Model Sarah by Image Provocateur and VIP-CAT Academy. Dress from Miosa. Photo by True Love Photo. On location at The Citizen Hotel.

 Hair and Make-up for Real Weddings Cover Model Sarah by Image Provocateur and VIP-CAT Academy. Dress from Dreamnette Bridal. Flowers by Camino Flower Shop. Photo by True Love Photo. On location at The Citizen Hotel. 

Do you regularly blog? What’s your blog site?  Yes, our blog is updated every few days and can be viewed at: http://arrvadaimageprov.blogspot.com/ 

What’s your favorite local restaurant?  Wasabi on Greenback in Citrus Heights. I love their Fair Oaks Roll and the Lion King. 

What’s your favorite local charity?  I strongly support WEAVE. As a woman and a mother of a young woman, women escaping a violent environment hits close to home, and you can’t go wrong in supporting your gender and community. 

What is your favorite fun thing to do locally?  Well I have two. One, thrift store hunting for cool rock t’s & lingerie to convert into dresses for my clothing line. Two, heading out to Folsom at Negro Bar to be chased by the crazy ducks! 

Do you have secret vice or indulgence? What is it?  My secret indulgence isn’t too secret! I love wedding cake! Probably the real reason I got into the bridal industry! Love me some frosting! 

What are you most grateful for in life?  My family, especially my beautiful daughter Laurren and the chance to do what I love every day. 

What advice would you can give to brides and grooms getting married today?  Remember, this is a special day, enjoy it. It doesn’t matter if the sun isn’t shining, or the birds aren’t singing. What matters is you are going to have amazing hair and makeup and no one is going to look at anyone else! Enjoy your moment, you deserve to look like the Diva you are. 

Anything else you’d like to share with Real Weddings Magazine’s brides?  You are all beautiful and I am privileged to be able to work with so many of you on your special day. 

Find out more about Raquel and her team at Image Provocateur and VIP-CAT Academy for yourself. Call them at 916-474-5578. Also, check out their profile on Real Weddings Magazine! 

Subscribe to the Real Weddings Magazine Blog!

There is nothing like having your own personal hair and make-up team (just ask our cover model finalists!), and for your wedding day, we think it’s one of the essentials so that you can picture perfect.

We recently asked hair and make-up pro Raquel Siders from Image Provocateur and VIP-Cat Make-up Academy (she was on the hair and make-up team for this issue’s Real Weddings Magazine cover model winner Kimmi — pictures featured here),to offer up some advice on finding the right make-up artist for your big day! Here’s her advice:

“If you are planning on hiring a professional make-up artist on your wedding day, find an artist you are comfortable with, one who listens to your needs and one who offers constructive advice. Look at portfolios if available and do a trial run so you can see how you will look on your wedding day.

At the time of the trial run try and have your hair done in the way you’ll be wearing it on your wedding day as different hairstyles influence the way your make-up should be done.

When you decide on the lipstick, lip pencil and perhaps gloss and powder you will be wearing the day of your wedding, ask the make-up artist if it is possible to purchase those particular products for the day of your wedding as touch ups in those particular areas will be required.

If you have a particular color you want to wear on your lips, bring it to the trial run and see if it works with the overall look.

Some make-up artists will ask the bride and the bridal party to bring their own mascara. This is for sanitary reasons only! It is always a good idea to take this precaution.

Make sure when doing your trial run to view make-up in different lights if that is possible because on your wedding day, you’ll be having photos taken in multiple areas. It is ideal to apply make-up in a room with natural light.

And finally, if you feel comfortable with your make-up at the end of your trial run, you should try to book the artist immediately because if you are marrying during a busy season your make-up artist probably won’t be able to hold the date without a commitment.”

Thanks Raquel!

Stay tuned to Real Weddings Magazine for more guest bloggers with expert tips!

For more information on Raquel and her team at Image Provocateur and VIP-Cat Make-up Academy, visit their Blog, Web site or call them at 916-474-5578.

Real Weddings Magazine Winter/Spring 2010 Cover Model Finalist photo shoot photography by Jodi Yorston Photography. For additional credits on dresses and flowers, please see page 60.

Blog Post by Always a Bridesmaid Columnist Darren Elms.

Subscribe to the Real Weddings Magazine Blog!