Behind the Veil: Interview with Bride Patricia Ocampo-Gonzales

January 2014 launched me right into the bridal scene with the joyous celebration of the marriage of Patricia Ocampo and Antonio Gonzalez last January 3rd, at St. Benedict Church in Silang Cavite.  Patricia is the daughter of Larry and Roselen Ocampo who was instrumental in linking us together.   (Thanks, Roselen!)  Her mom is the showroom director at Kenneth Cobonpue.  This is her brief interview with me.

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Photo from Jorem and Sheila Catilo Photography

1. Please tell me a bit about yourself. What do you do for a living, what are your hobbies, passions? 

 I currently manage a Center that provides Applied Behavior Analysis services to children with developmental disabilities. During my free time I love to read, and write. I also do yoga to stay fit and sane. On weekends, my now-husband and I like to do apostolic work with the Church.” 

2. How did you find out about me (Acie Fores Makeup Artist)? What made you want to work with me?  

“I found out about you and what you do through my mom who had worked with her and liked her style. You were the first make up artist I did a trial with for my wedding and I chose you right away, not just because you are talented but because you aren’t one of those high-maintenance make-up artists that clients feel they need to please.  You are a humble and warm woman who makes one not just feel beautiful but very at ease.  You  also had a great partner as a hairstylist!”

3. How did you like the outcome of our time together, for your special day?

“I have no regrets in choosing you as my make up artist because you were able to realize my vision of a vintage inspired/day time smokey eyed bride for my special day.  I got plenty of compliments for my make-up, which also looked great in the photos and in the video. I was very happy with your work!” 

4. What’s one special memory you have of your wedding that you love? Could you share that photo with us?“We don’t have the complete set of photos yet, but please feel free to choose whatever you want to use from the Jorem and Sheila Catilo page.  My special memory is probably not unique, but it was the moment right when the doors of the Church opened for me to do my bridal march. I remember seeing my fiancé across the aisle in tears (just as I had hoped), and I was surprised to find myself in tears as well. Tears of joy of course! ” (Photo from Jorem and Sheila Catilo Photography)

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Thanks for sharing your insights with me, Patricia! All the best to you and your man!

As a parent and a mother, my day will come when it will be my turn to share my daughter with her special someone and I can only hope that she will be as grounded as Patricia who immediately knew what her priorities are.  She found a partner who contemplated and entered the priesthood but the vocation wasn’t meant to be.  Click here for the full story.

Another good sign that her partner was really a God given choice for her.  Talk about God working in his mysterious ways.  Her choice of work and her husband to be were all a big prelude to this big special day.   I also have no doubt that based on her work background, the virtue of patience culled from many hours of taking care of special children with needs,  the call of motherhood will come second nature to her.    I can’t wait to see the next chapter of  your lives.  I wish you and Antonio more blessings and joy to come.

Makeup Must-Do’s for the new year

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It’s still January, and it’s a good a time as any to make some New Year changes, especially in our makeup habits and beauty routines. By now, you should have at least made the following “makeup resolutions.” If you haven’t, there’s still time to get your good habit hat on!

We’ve just got three all-important tips. We promise if you get these right,  your skin will thank you for it!

Makeup Must-Do’s

1. Get enough SLEEP.

I know we’re all busy, and that we all resolve to get more sleep, come the new year, every year! But we can’t stress the importance of enough sleep. Sleep helps our natural canvas — our skin — get the rest and nourishment it needs. In fact, according to research, sleep has the following benefits:

  • It helps the brain recharge so that it can store new information (And we all know intelligence is beautiful!)
  • It regularizes our metabolism, helping us keep a steady weight (Health is beautiful!)
  • It makes us less prone to make mistakes and errors, because rest helps us to be more alert.
  • It improves our mood: We’re less cranky and spiteful when we get enough sleep. (Of course, a good character is inner beauty!)
  • It’s good for our heart health.
  • It helps prevent autoimmune diseases like cancer. Uh-huh, that’s right: Getting enough sleep actually reduces our risk for cancer.

(These points based on research are all from the Harvard Medical School. )

2. Wash off your makeup before you sleep!

We found this article on the Telegraph UK which pretty much explains why we should wash off our makeup before we go to sleep at night. The results are, uhm, not pretty (no pun intended). Just watch it, and we promise you that you will always wash off your makeup!

Here’s a good step-by-step video guide on proper makeup removal: How to Remove Your Makeup by wikiHow

 

3. Wear sunscreen.

A lot of us in the Philippines forget this important step in our skincare regimen. Sunscreen isn’t just for the beach, y’all. With our tropical heat and harsh sunlight, we all need to wear at least 30SPF sun protection on our face. This is especially important for those who work in front of computers all day, too: Monitors and screens emit UV rays which can cause premature skin aging! So yes, even at the office, you still need to apply sunscreen.

2014 Color of the Year – Radiant Orchid (and how to use it in your makeup arsenal)

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“An invitation to innovation, radiant orchid encourages expanded creativity and originality, which is increasingly valued in today’s society.” Photo from Pantone.com

Happy New year, everyone!  This Year, Pantone unveils its colour of the year which is Radiant Orchid, a mix of pink and purple, which is flattering on most skin tones.   According to Pantone’s Executive Director Leatrice Eiseman, the reason why this colour was chosen was because Radiant evokes sheen and magic like an amethyst with its many facets, a beguiling charm that pulls you in.   Orchid has an exotic and complex mystery that encourages you to innovate  and be creative giving that touch of uniqueness.

Here are some bridal inspirations for you to consider when you’re planning your wedding this year.  Personally, if you choose this as your colour theme, it will look so exotic and different from the usual pastels, nude and blush.  For us Pinays, the lavender and berry hue is a perfect complement to our Malay skin tones which can carry its darker tones or hues.  For those with Light to Fair skin tones, you may use lighter hues in pinks and violet.  All these strong colours may be toned down with browns, taupes, beige to also warm it up.

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Photo from minkbeautyboutique.files.wordpress.com
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Photo from weddingmania.com

A favourite eye makeup palette that I use is the one from Nars, called the Bridal palette in 9945 which reflects this colour trend.  Unfortunately, it is no longer carried by Nars but try to secure one online through Ebay or Amazon.  I’ve used these colours on so many brides and it is truly flattering.  It gives you a break from all the neutral colours like browns and taupes but it still reads as a neutral colour on every skin tone.

The colors are very subtle but you can use the palette to transform a day look into a smokey darker look in the evenings.  The eye colours are Nepal, Ondine, Edie and Night Fever and the most desired blush, Orgasm.  It has Mitzi, Baby Doll, Sexual Healing and Roman Holiday for lip colours.  You may look up the colours on your own as I’m not good at describing the colours.

Nepal, Ondine are good day colours, and Night fever mixed with Ondine and Edie are good colours for a night out.  I hope the photo below will give you an idea on how this palette can be used in your beauty routine, the best part is, we already have these colours in multiples.

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This Bridal Palette is a staple in my kit.

Below are my makeup colours that may be interpreted for this colour trend.  See what I mean we have it in multiples?  If you don’t have any of these yet, start with either a bold lipstick or try a nail colour to see if you like it on yourself.   It also can be paired with olive and hunter greens, turquoise and teal, light yellows, gray, beige and taupe.  Be bold and daring, who knows this could be your colour too.

Radiant Orchid hues
Left to Right, MAC lipstick in Rebel, Essie Nail Polish in Big Spender, MAC Lipstick in Up the Amp, Zoya nail polish in Areej, Covergirl Eyeliner Liquiline Blast, Makeup Forever eye shadow in no. 52 and Maybelline Color Tattoo eye studio in Pomegranate Punk.

 

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From Geneva with Love

Here we go…  Another Prenup!  It’s never enup  hahahahaha!!!  This time its for the De Chavez – Clerigo Nuptials.  This couple is the most interesting one for me, they are both Geneva based, working in the World Trade Organization or WTO.   Pam works in the Copyright Development Division  while John is assigned in the Informatics Division of the same organization.  They are a young couple at the top of the world so to speak, based on their stories, they seem so well traveled, Europe is their playground of choice.  Try topping that!      Love their website!  I wish I could post it but it is a private one.   They created it to chronicle their wedding timeline only to find out, it will be a memory bank of wonderful memories with the glorious sophisticated backdrop of Europe!   So young yet so accomplished in their own right.  It really is so inspiring to see this couple so grounded yet so determined to start their life with a sense of spirituality and respect for one another.

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Lucky couple in the Swiss Alps

“Tuesdate”

I met this couple at a Wedding Expo at the beginning of the year and I must say I was the one who was honoured to be chosen by this wonderful couple to be one of their suppliers.  First off, the date of their wedding.  December 24 2013.  Tuesday .  Christmas Eve?  Really?  Reason why this date was chosen?  John proposed on January 1 2013 a Tuesday.  Tuesday is the day they allot for themselves to relax and devote to prayer time as a couple.  John decided that to better remember their milestones as a couple, December 24 is pretty easy to remember right?  Pasko na sinta ko!!!!    Christmas and New Year are this couples’s anniversaries!  Few couples start their marriage with God as the centre of their lives and this couple humbled me in so many ways.     Most couples focus on the wedding day itself but this couple chose otherwise and decided to put their energies into the Lord as the centre  of their marriage.  What a great way to begin a a life together as husband and wife!!!  Future couples out there take note.

Prenup Game Plan

The concept behind their prenup was a travel themed one.  Land, Sea and Air to be exact.  This was a perfect theme because it totally highlighted the couples’ love for travel.  First Destination was Intramuros, Land.  Location was at Fort Santiago,  where I had my wedding reception in 1996.  So romantic.   Sigh….  Photography was done by the EverReady battery team of Jun Garcia of Exige Photography.  Hair was done by Gladys Tiosen.  This is how it turned out.    Pam and John were such girl and boy scouts they were their own fashion and wardrobe stylists.  Each look was perfectly orchestrated with the right outfit, the appropriate accessories and of course a winning attitude. I think they should consider getting a sideline and work with me on shoots!!!  All photos below were courtesy of John Clerigo and Pam De Chavez taken from their website.

Intramuros Land Prenup
Fresh na Fresh
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The Blushing bride and so so in love

 

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Shades of Eliza Doolittle, My Fair Lady talaga

 

Our Makeup look here was to convey the classic looking bride with makeup suited for a morning wedding.  See the Makeup Chart for Makeup details.

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Morning Bride. Look #1. Classic Bride. Kate Middleton was the inspiration for this look.

 

The Second Prenup Look was done at the Manila Yacht Club.   For this look,  makeup was more on the bronzy side and the hair  was supposed to be loose with cascading curls perfectly setup by the bun from  the first look.  However, we didn’t expect the wind to be extremely strong in this place.  We had to use a scarf to tie her hair which Pam brought with her.  It was an impromptu prop.  We had a good laugh on this take, the lashes were threatening to come off with the force of the wind!!!  Love is in the air and so were her lashes.  Hahahahahaha!

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Second look for the “Sea” themed aspect of the shoot was more of a bronzy look with a reddish brown lip

 

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The Look of Love. Nautical or naughty but nice?

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The third and last look of the shoot was the “Air” themed shoot held at Villamor Air Base museum.  It was a photo finish for all of us, because of the Manila traffic on a Friday, that held us back, but with luck and prayer, made it before closing time.  The third look for Pam was more of a toned down smoky look but Pam requested a glam ponytail  to match her gown of black and white,  an epitome of sophistication.

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Semi Smoky look

 

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Focus your attention to the left. The rain was about to pour when this photo was taken.

 

 

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Alas, rain had caught up on us and this was one of the few shots that was taken after the downpour. Pam had to change into a cocktail dress for this photo.

 

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Rain was definitely pouring and so as not to waste any more precious time, looked for another place to shoot the remaining images.

 

Oh one more thing, they had a Save the Date Video Shoot the following week!  Location was in Tagaytay Highlands, the venue of their wedding.  It was a great day to shoot and John And Pam were eager to do this to maximise their time in Manila before heading back to Geneva.  Hair was done by Gladys Tiosen.    Video shoot was shot by Mr. Michael Roldan of Exige Weddings.

 

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What a good looking couple they make. I love the crispness of the white outfits.
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Ready na ready for a closeup.
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Ako rin ready for my closeup

 

I am very excited for this wedding and even if it falls on Christmas Eve, this is one union I won’t forget.  As the saying goes, when you put God in the centre of your lives, nothing will go wrong.  I wish John and Pam the grace and love for one another to unite your hearts in unselfish harmony so that your needs and wishes for one another can be lived in a life that is devoted to serving Him.  With a grateful heart, Congratulations to a wonderful couple.  See you on the 24th.  Cheers!!!