I am always in awe when I have the privilege of working at the former Versace Mansion now named The Villa by Barton G located on Ocean Drive in South Beach.  This is an amazing 19,000 sq ft boutique luxury hotel, restaurant and venue space. The history on this property is interesting;  born as Casa Casurina in 1930, built by architect philanthropist, author and political reformer Alden Freeman as an homage to the oldest existing house in the western hemisphere, the “Alcazar de Colon” in Santo Domingo.  In 1937 Casa Casuarina was bought by Jacques Amsterdam, who renamed it  ”The Amsterdam Place.”  It was in 1992 that Gianni Versace first encountered Casa Casurina. Versace exquisitely restored, expanded and embellished its features by adding the south wing, the pool and garden areas.

 Today we had a gorgeous bride and bridal party from Michigan at Villa by Barton G.  Everything about this venue is unbelievable, from the hand painted walls, mosaic floors to the extravagant embellishments.   I took some pictures today while on set to try and capture all the beauty that was happening in our bridal suite.  I got a sneak peak at some of the fabulous pictures of our bride today by Ray,  I will be posting the pictures from photographer Ray Santana www.raysantanaphotography.com  Can’t wait!!!!!

My Makeup Kit

Just beautiful

Robes in the suite for the Bride and Groom

You might forget you are in Miami

My Brides inspiration for her hair

Amazing detail to our Brides Dress by Ines di Santo

Dress by Ines di Santo

Do I need to say more?

Can't live without my brush belt

FBS Artist in uniform

FBS Artist creating beauty

Hair was inspired by InStyle Magazine "Hair Issue"

Sign on Bridal Suite

Fresh Beauty Studio Hair and Makeup Team on location

The Villa was getting ready for the big wedding

I thought this was wallpaper! It's hand painted.

Every detail on the walls in the entire house are hand painted.

Signature Versace Mosaic floor in the bathroom

I love the girly gifts items we have in our boutique and online from hand painted wine glasses to honeymoon accessories.  Here are a couple of our newest products just added for summer.  We are adding more unique gifts items each day so keep checking back.

This is one of my favorite reversible hats for summer, you can wear it with the beautiful coral detail or flip it inside out and have a completely different hat in all white.

Coral reversible hat

Whether you are on your honeymoon or just lounging around with a cup of Joe and your IPAD, these PJ pants are super comfortable.

Morning Glory PJ Pants $29.00

Grab one of these super stylish clutches on your way out for cocktails on a beautiful island.  Choose from three different colors (flamingo, black and navy) featuring different sea life medallions. Starfish, Shell and Gator.

Sealife Medallion Straw Clutch $30.00

Let everyone know you are a newlywed! How could you fly without this adorable and funky luggage tag? 

The Mrs. luggage tag $12.00

Fresh Beauty Studio had the privilege of working with Hazel Photography and our beautiful couple Jennifer and Daniel.  The wedding took place last November 2011 at the breathtaking National Hotel on South Beach.  Everything was perfect from the weather to the crystal clear beach.  Enjoy….

I am always excited and honored to be a part of Indian weddings, as a hair and makeup artist there is such range when it comes to colors, design and the whole feeling of the Indian culture.  Nahid our bride was such a delight to work with,  funny, easy going and so beautiful.  The weekend festivities took place at The Bath Club and The Raleigh Hotel in South Beach.  The decor and event planning took your breathe away from the crystal candelabras to the hanging tea lights compliments of TC Event and Design. The weekend was captured by an amazing photographer Mary Beth Tyson .  Makeup by Fresh Beauty Studio Team, Hair by Nikol Johnson.

Fresh Beauty Studio & Pink Valentino's

Everyone thought that my first response after getting engaged last December would be “What designer wedding dress should I wear?” but instead it was “OMG what shoes am I going to wear?”  I didn’t think it would be that hard, I have obsessively looked through wedding magazines, online stores, department stores, design your own shoe websites, I even looked or should I say inspected every designer at Saks Fifth Avenue Bal Harbour when I was at the Christian Louboutin event this month.  I couldn’t believe it, not one shoe really stood out to me until today.  While prepping for our NBC 6 segment on Oscar hair and makeup trends airing on February 21st, Christina Ladin owner of Live-Couture  came into the studio with these AMAZING Pink Valentino’s.  I was in heaven, I couldn’t wait to get my feet into this little bad boys and feel the Pink wedding love.

My possible wedding shoes by Oscar de la Renta

I received an email from Ever After www.everafter.com a Couture wedding dress boutique in Miami announcing their annual designer wedding dress sample sale.  WOW!! What perfect timing, I cleared my schedule for the morning and rushed down for my early appointment, as you know first come first serve with sample sales.  When I walked in to Ever After it was very chi chi with Louboutian, Carolina Herrera and Grace Ormonde coffee table books out for perusal.  I flipped through a couple books for inspiration and looked around at all the Couture gowns from Monique Lhuillier, Vera Wang, Ines Di Santo (one of my favorite designers) and Oscar de la Renta to name just a few.  I was offered a glass of bubbly while I picked out dresses which always make everything seem that much more glamorous.  I wasn’t thrilled thinking about buying a sample dress that had been tried on by 500 brides, soiled, torn etc. my main motivation to visit Ever After was to go to a bridal boutique that had all the main Couture designers.  I picked out about 8 dresses and started trying on which is somewhat of a workout.  I was delighted to find in my dressing room 5 different heels (in my size believe it or not) by Oscar de la Renta to Mononlo waiting to be worn.  I slipped on a little number by Oscar as you can see in the picture above and fell in love. Dress number 4 was the ultimate classic wedding dress by Oscar de la Renta which we all agreed fit my body and style perfectly.  The wedding dress had exquisite hand embroidery, the matching veil was French toile with a scaloped edge that matched the slimming mermaid style dress. 

Oscar de la Renta

I am finding that the more dresses you try on the more confused you get.  I had one of my dear friends Jennifer from www.interviewher.com meet me to help give advice, thoughts and share a glass of celebratory bubbly.  I don’t suggest trying on dresses by yourself, you need the support from your family and or friends to help guild you.  Jennifer took pictures of me in each dress because when I was on number 8 I was like “What did number 3 look like on?” “Did I like it?”.  Make sure you take pictures and review them after you are finished.  I was surprised that I liked some dresses better on then in the picture, something you don’t want to say when you are editing your wedding pictures.

I am getting closer to finding the perfect wedding dress, I have my eye on a beautiful Oscar de la Renta gown right now so I am hoping by my next wedding dress blog update I will confirm that I placed my order.

I have had the honor of working with over 150 Brides in my short career over the last 5 years. I am so excited to start 2012 with beautiful hair and makeup created by myself and my talented team of artists for all of our upcoming weddings both in South Florida and nationally. We look forward to meeting with you whether you are getting married in 2012, have a black tie, birthday party, anniversary or just because. Fresh Beauty Studio is ready to create red carpet magazine quality hair and makeup for you.