When my fellow beauty editor asked me to participate in this story, I almost declined. Not because I didn’t want to relive my 2019 courthouse wedding day, but because, if I’m being honest, the details of how I prepped are a little fuzzy (and likely a little boring!) after five years. I was the most low-maintenance bride there ever was—just ask my husband, who did all of the planning for our little shindig in less than a month. We decided to make things official in the eyes of the government after seven years of dating by having too many margaritas and picking a random date on a calendar. How romantic!
The whole event was low-key and minimal and I approached my beauty look with the same laissez-faire. That being said, here’s what I do remember.
Pre-wedding treatments*
In 2019, I got regular Botox injections every four months for my glabellar lines (the “11s” between the brows), fine lines on my forehead, and crow’s-feet. I got lucky with the timing of my late spring appointment (I got married in late May) and had one scheduled two days before I went to the courthouse. The week before I saw my dermatologist Melissa Levine, MD, I got a 60-minute facial, called the Biologique Recherche “VIP 02” Oxygenating Detox Facial, at the Paul Labrecque salon. The treatment included exfoliation, massage, and a cold blast of oxygen to enhance my skin’s glow. It was nice!
Hair
Back then, I had a bob. I typically let it air-dry and called it a day. But obviously, I had to do something that required a little more effort for an event like this. So, what did I do? If you guessed that I woke up at 5 a.m. on the day of my wedding and booked a blowout at a Drybar location near my apartment, you’d be right.
Sadly, the final result, a tightly curled style, just wasn’t it. I can’t blame my very kind stylist, though. I was the one who showed up without inspiration photos or a plan. So I went home, combed out my Shirley Temple-like ringlets, and touched up what I could with a curling iron. It wasn’t my best look, but I just continued to go with the flow.
Makeup
Keeping up the low-key vibes of the day, I asked my friend (and former Allure colleague) Devon Abelman to do my makeup. She kept the look monochromatic with rosy pink lips and cheeks, complemented by soft, shimmery brown lids. I did my own brows, brushing them upward with a spoolie before filling them in with the Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil.* The final touch was a couple of swipes of Huda Beauty’s Power Bullet Matte Lipstick* in the shade—wait for it—Honeymoon.
Nails*
The night before our courthouse appointment, I got a manicure and pedicure at Sundays, one of my favorite nail salons in New York City. I chose a milky pale pink for my nails (L.01 from the salon’s in-house polish line) and peachy pink (No.08) for my toes.
