When I graduated college back in 1990, I ‘had my colors done’. A friend of my mother’s started a little boutique out of her home and offered personal color analysis. I don’t remember much about that experience but I left with a wardrobe that were my ‘perfect’ colors that I could mix and match for my new job in NYC.

I was thrilled to find out personal color analysis is still going strong all these years later! My guest in this episode is Dana Hammond from First Coffee Then Colors. She shares how brides can find their perfect wedding dress color when they know their season and which shades of white will perfectly compliment their complexion and hair color.

Yes, there ARE different shades and hues of white! You’ve got the pure white that most people think of for a wedding dress but then there are various hues of ivory, champagne, cream, bone…the list goes on. And each of these colors have different undertones to make each one look different.

It’s enough to make your head spin but that’s why we rely on experts! Get your personal color analysis done before dress shopping and you can tell your dress consultant which hues to bring out. When you know the best colors ahead of time, then you can have more fun looking for the perfect style dress instead of overthinking the color.

Going even further, personal color analysis can help your beauty team choose the best makeup palette and hair color so you’re glowing with confidence on your wedding day.

Dana is a loyal listener and echoed a previous guest who said to focus your budget on the things that matter most to you. If food is most important, don’t find the cheapest chef. If your dress and venue are most important, then you can go with fewer flowers. Let your wedding be a reflection of what you as a couple value the most.

Website: https://firstcoffeethencolors.com

IG: @first.coffee.then.colors

It’s not often I’ll post a no-makeup photo on the web! I’ll have a blog post coming soon about my experience getting my colors done with Dana. It was fun and I was surprised when she told me my season.

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If you’re looking for an outdoor wedding venue in the Hudson Valley, check out the Storm King Art Center. Yes, it’s a museum with one-of-a-kind sculptures installed throughout its 500 acres. But the outdoor vistas serve as a bride’s blank canvas to create the wedding of her dreams.

I had the pleasure of taking a tour of Storm King Art Center back in Fall 2022 and then I spoke with the Special Events Team to get more details about what goes into planning an outdoor wedding at their location.

We toured the two most popular spots for wedding ceremonies and receptions: Museum Hill and South Fields. Both names describe their locations perfectly. Museum Hill sits at a higher elevation with a shaded canopy of trees overlooking the fields of the art center while South Fields is literally a wide open field at the bottom of Museum Hill, waiting for a talented wedding planner’s magic touch to turn it into a magnificent dream wedding backdrop.

One important tidbit that sets Storm King apart from other venues is they schedule ONE wedding every two weeks. This allows their Event Team to dedicate the necessary time to planning just YOUR wedding and if you have questions, the team is current on your details because they’re not working on a dozen weddings at one time.

This type of schedule also allows you to take your time and not feel rushed because they have to set up for another wedding or event. When you book your date, you are the VIP for the day.

Utilize the preferred vendors list you receive at any venue. Wedding planning is much easier when vendors have a working relationship with your chosen venue. When it comes to outdoor space, preferred vendors also have records of how best to layout the tents, power generators, lights, etc. simply because they are familiar with the terrain. Not that a new vendor can’t figure that out but a preferred vendor lessens any chance of problems or confusion.

Take a tour of each venue you’re considering. Ask as many questions as you like because you’ll most likely think of things when you’re onsite as opposed to just looking at a website and talking to someone on the phone. Also, take your time on the tour to really take in everything there is to see and try to envision yourself getting married in that location.

Also be aware that when planning an outdoor wedding – such as at the South Fields at Storm King, you will need to bring EVERYTHING with you, from the utensils to the bathrooms.

Website: https://stormking.org/private-events/

Event Photos: https://stormking.org/pelocations/

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