It’s easy to cave and shave when you’re swamped with wedding details. Programs, favours, flowers and rehearsals can have you running around to the very last minute, pushing hair removal to the very bottom of your to-do list. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or a nervous novice, Sina Zere, waxing expert and owner of Buff Wax Spot shares five reasons with us to ditch the razor and book a wax before your big day.

Avoid Bumpy, Red Underarms

Most wedding dresses are either strapless or sleeveless, meaning your underarms will be on display all day. Razor blades can cause irritation and infection (folliculitis) if pieces of cut hair fall back into pore. Shaving makes you more prone to ingrowns and of course the dreaded never-stop-bleeding knicks that can occur. Bumpy, red or even inflamed underarms is not a good look on your wedding day. You’ll be lifting your arms a lot to hug your hubbie, your friends and family. Not to mention waving your arms around like you just don’t care on the dancefloor!

Stubble Be Gone

There is nothing worse than shaving the day before a big event and waking up to pesky prickles. Save yourself the time and last minute stress of battling with your razor the morning of your wedding day. At Buff Wax Spot, we recommend booking your wax appointment 3-5 days before your nuptials. One more thing off your mind!

Honeymoon Ready

Intimate wax services are the most requested wax service worldwide. Make sure your bikini line is on point for your first night together as a married couple and for your romantic honeymoon vacay by booking a brazilian or bikini wax. While you’re at it, we recommend the Buff Wax Vajacial service – a refreshing, professional treatment for your lady garden. It leaves your skin feeling velvety smooth, fresh, and free of ingrown hairs.

Pictures Are Forever

The truth is, we all have sneaky hair growth in sometimes surprising areas. Maybe you have a little extra fluff on your toes and you’ll be wearing open-toe shoes. Perhaps you’re upper-lip needs some extra TLC. Or maybe you’re insecure about your darker arm hair. Whatever it is, a wax technician can make it disappear in a flash. You don’t want to get your wedding photos back only to find you had a five o’clock shadow the whole day.

Insta-Worthy Skin

Waxing exfoliates the skin by removing dead skin, leaving a beautiful, healthy glow. Exfoliating and moisturizing are absolutely essential for Insta-worthy skin, sans filter!

Buh-bye razor, we’ll never shave together!

Happy Valentine’s Day lovies! We’ve been hanging onto this editorial shoot for quite some time, waiting for the perfect occasion to share it with our online readers. Valentine’s couldn’t be a more perfect day to share Amina and Alex’s ten year anniversary shoot. Last Spring, Amina and Alex celebrated their ten year anniversary with their three beautiful children. We trekked the family of five out to the beautiful Town of Banff for some spectacular photos. Our team of vendors (full list below photos), created a stunning wedding setup atop Tunnel Mountain. If you tied the knot before the world of designers, blogs, instagram and pinterest – we hope this mountain anniversary shoot inspires you.

This retro tropical wedding is cool with a capital “c” and it has everything to do with the creatives behind it. They took a vision and created a retro tropical industrial fusion shoot with color and style like you wouldn’t believe. Michelle Larmand captured all these great shots which you can find in a spread in our Spring Summer 2017 issue. Check out the acknowledgments below for more local talent!

For most of us, our experience with film photography backdrops is limited to disposable cameras from childhood vacations—if even that. Film seems archaic compared to the ease and convenience of shooting digital, but much like vinyl enthusiasts, some photographers find film more aesthetically pleasing. Justine Milton talks with Blush about bringing the fine art of film to wedding photography.

What made you decide to get into photography in general, and film photography specifically?

“I started out by taking a photography course in university as part of my design degree. We had to use black and white film and I took a photo of my great-grandmother’s living room, with sun pouring in through a stained glass window above her piano. My professor told me I had a talent for photography and should consider doing something with it. So it was kind of a fluke that I got my way into photography, but once I did I loved it!”

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using film over digital?

“Personally, I love film because it looks alive in a way that digital just doesn’t – it has more depth and dimension to it and looks like you could reach out and touch it. I’m not stubborn about using only film – it captures light differently than digital so there are some situations where digital is more versatile than film and vice versa. Shooting film was a bit nerve-racking at first because you have to be confident…there’s no checking the back of the camera to see if it looks good, you just have to know it looks good.”

Can you shoot film in dark spaces such as reception rooms?

“Absolutely! In fact, lighting dark spaces is one of the skills I’m most proud of. I figured if I truly wanted to say I’m a film photographer I ought to be able to shoot receptions on film. In Alberta most receptions are not in bright, naturally-lit spaces, so I had to learn to shoot film with flash! I practiced for a year with flashes to nail exactly the look I wanted and now I shoot film at receptions all the time.”

Can you describe your film process from shooting through production?

“Shooting is pretty straightforward: my assistant loads film cartridges while I shoot so that when I finish a roll we just swap cartridges and I keep shooting. It’s pretty seamless for me. We overnight FedEx the rolls to the film lab; they develop the film, scan in the photos and send me digital files. I don’t edit much; I might crop or straighten some things, tweak the coloring a wee bit but nothing major. Printing is the same as digital, I just send the files to a print lab and they handle that part!”

How receptive have couples been about using film for their weddings?

“Most of my couples don’t know I shoot film until well into the day, if they realize it at all. That said, some couples love that I shoot film and hire me specifically for that.”

What advice would you give couples who are considering hiring a film photographer?

“Chat with them and see exactly how film fits in with what they do. Do they shoot exclusively film or are they “hybrid” (both film and digital)? Ask how long they’ve been shooting with film – it’s not something most people can learn overnight. If you’re really concerned, ask to see some examples of shots from darker lighting conditions. Film is pretty forgiving in daylight, but in dark churches or receptions it can be tricky.”

What do you like best about wedding photography?

“I love getting to interact with clients and being witness to one of the most important days of their lives. I love the subtle looks, big smiles, tears and anticipation of everyone involved.”

With only a day until the Edmonton Bridal Expo, we’d like to introduce you to three speakers that will take the stage this weekend. From designer and floral expert Cory Christopher, fitness guru Sophie Gray, and style expert Lazina McKenzie, you’ll leave the expo on Sunday with knowledge that will come in handy even past your wedding day.

LAZINA MCKENZIE

Lazina Mckenzie is a seasoned style consultant who founded L Squared Style, a boutique style consultancy, over five years ago.

Lazina thrives on working with clients by helping each and every one of them feel more confident and empowered. She does this by making them look and feel their absolute best.  Whether she’s working with senior executives, politicians, those re-entering the dating world, soon to be brides, professional Moms and so much more, Lazina’s focus is the same – she helps people be their most confident self so they can feel like rock stars. Every. Damn. Day.

Style expert, Lazina Mckenzie, will give you some key tips on how to look and feel your most confident for one of the most important days of your life. Not sure about style, material, colour, body type, accessorizing, trends and more? Lazina will guide you through some of these key details so that you can start looking for your entire look armed with some great advice

SOPHIE GRAY

Sophie Gray, more commonly known as Way of Gray, is a Self Love enthusiast. Trained in Holistic Nutritionist, Personal Training and Meditation, she offers simple and sustainable advice for being your happiest, freest, and healthiest self. Through her various social media platforms she promotes becoming your own greatest caregiver and shares tools to embody your best self.

Your wedding day should be the happiest day of your live. Self Love enthusiast Sophie Gray will share empowering tips that will inspire you to let go of any nasty insecurities and feel like your most confident self. Be prepare to find the inspiration you need within to take care of your mind and body leading up to your big day.

CORY CHRISTOPHER

Cory Christopher always seeks out the possible in the seemingly impossible, pushing boundaries, being boldly creative, and taking intelligent risks with stunning results. We love creating experiences that take your breath away. Cory Christopher’s design philosophy extends beyond that which is simply beautiful, by incorporating our clients’ unique passions and personalities, and constantly seeking out the details that add meaning and authenticity. Our multi-faceted portfolio provides the foundation for finding fresh, compelling ways to tell your story, in ways you have yet to imagine.

Turning your dreams into a wedding-day-reality takes smart planning, creativity and attention to detail. Acclaimed Designer Cory Christopher shares his advice for creating a memorable experience for you and your guests. Learn how to choose between all the ideas you’ve been collecting, develop a vision for what you want your wedding to be, and how to incorporate personal touches that will make your wedding uniquely your own.