A few months ago I was a little frazzled trying to buy a new foundation. I was with Edison, it was super busy and to be frank, makeup stores just scare me. I'm always so overwhelmed. I have no idea and usually, I ask Monica to shop for me, or we buy online together because she knows my skin, and knows exactly what shade I need. It was my experience that inspired this blog post. I left a well know beauty store in Dubai Mall with a foundation that was probably 4 times darker than what I actually needed. It was a disaster. Monica was not impressed! lol. (The photo below demonstrates what I did when I got home and realized I had made a makeup mess up) (Photo by Chloe Lodge.) That time ... read more
Newborn shoot with Chloe Lodge
Gosh, it feels like so long ago since we did this shoot with Chloe. I remember looking at the photos and thinking, I hated every image of myself, I felt so fat and tired, and just generally crap. I was worn out, overwhelmed with suddenly having a newborn, a very active toddler and very low self-esteem. I spoke to Chloe about this and she told me that in months to come I would feel differently, and she was right. It's been 6 months and my heart warms, and I have a teary eye just flicking through these images of my sweet little newborn son. Adeline looks younger, and we no longer live in the same house. I've said this so many times, but investing in good photography is one of the best things ... read more
Nikki + Andrew’s gorgeous Park Hyatt Wedding in Dubai…
Hi, Lovelies, I hope you're having a lovely week so far. I thought I'd share a few images from Nikki and Andrews wedding to liven up your week. They got married back in April and Bernie + Bindi captured their wedding on camera so beautifully, it would be a crime not to share some of their best bits. The full wedding was recently featured in one of the UK's best wedding magazines; You and Your Wedding. It was so exciting to flick through the magazine and see their wedding in print. I love blogs but there is something so special about having your work published in print. I hope you love them as much as I do! Lovely Vendors, I have to credit... Styling: My Lovely ... read more
Thinking about getting married in Dubai?
Thinking about getting married in Dubai? If you're based in Dubai or elsewhere finding a wedding venue can be daunting. It's the biggest hurdle in the planning process, but once you find that perfect venue everything else will fall into place. (kinda) I've recently had an increase in inquiries from couples living in the UK and the first question they ask me is... what's the cost of a wedding in Dubai? Is it cheaper than getting married at home, wherever that may be?! To be honest, I can' really answer that question because to plan a wedding in Dubai could cost you a small fortune but it all depends on the details and what you want. Centerpieces could set you back Dhs 350 per table or Dhs ... read more
Why I love E-Walls…
So let me start by saying I actually do love the girls at E-Walls, mostly Lilliam because she's a badass business owner, incredible Mummy and she somehow manages to make the Pinterest worthy ideas into reality. Not only do I use E-Walls a lot for wedding stationery and signage but they have created some awesome wall stickers for me over the years. A few years back I had a huge office/ spare room/ storage room in our old villa that I painted and made my styling haven. I had a chalkboard wall and Lilliam designed a massive wall organiser for me. It was lush! Then we moved and I no longer had my office space. But it's ok because Adeline got some lovely huge animal decals for her room, and ... read more
A lovely summer promotion from Arabian Ranches Golf Club…
Hello, Lovelies! Are you thinking about getting married sooner rather than later? If you're not too bothered about the heat and are on the hunt for an indoor wedding venue, then I have two very lovely options for you! First up is Arabian Ranches Golf Club. One of the many perks of getting married at a golf club is you won't be bumping into happy-go-lucky tourists flashing cameras. It's private, intimate and because it's summer I imagine it would be a little less busy than usual... which for you is a bonus right? The indoor venue Bakers Finch can host 80 guests for a sit-down dinner, it has its own private bar and a lovely view of the lush green golf course. The events team at ... read more
From short to long in a few minutes…. A blog by Monica at MHG Beauty.
Morning lovelies and Ramadan Kareem! Sorry for not posting last week, I had a few technical issues and to be very honest I'm totally wiped out by 12 noon. I'm nearly 38 weeks pregnant and have a sneaky feeling this little man will be on his way very soon. I'll keep you posted! Anyway, for today I'm back with a great blog by my lovely friend Monica at MHG Beauty. Are you getting married or attending an event for which you have a specific hair look in mind? Worried it won’t look the same as your inspiration picture because your hair is shorter or more fine? ......your solution: hair extensions!! There are different kinds of hair extensions, my favorite? Clip-ins. I just love the ... read more
A sneak peek at Sophie + Brian’s wedding decor…
Back in March, I had the pleasure of styling Sophie and Brians lovely wedding. I've been so lucky with my brides and I can honestly say I have the best job ever. They trust me with their wedding day decor and when I see everything come together with the way I envisioned it's like the best feeling ever. Working at One and Only Palm Jumeirah is always a lovely experience because the venue is so nice, it really doesn't need to be dressed up. We used simple string bulbs, candles around the fountain and focused on the table centerpieces. The color pallet was a combination of blush pink, silvery greys, and natural greenery. The stationery was designed by my sidekick Mona and we kept everything ... read more
The sweetest note + Nadia + Ahmed’s wedding video.
I asked Nadia to send me a little review on my website, it always helps having feedback and hopefully, it will bring in some lovely new brides for next season.. but I didn't expect this. "Joelle, my darling angel! Never could we have dreamed of a more perfect day. Words (or even photos!) can't quite express the beauty and magic you brought to our wedding. Working with you was by far the easiest, and best, decision we made throughout the process. Your creative vision, flawless organisation and unparalleled knowledge of the Dubai wedding scene made our experience both enjoyable and effortless. We feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to work with such a gifted, dedicated and ... read more
Some of my favourites from the last season…
OMG how is it 40c in early May? I'm pretty sure summer has arrived early and with Ramadan just around the corner, the wedding season is coming to an end. To be honest, the timing is excellent for me and the arrival of my baby boy in approximately 4 weeks time. While I'm excited to have a break from work and play full-time mummy over the summer, I'm also reassured that I'll be back in action in only a few months time. Having weddings booked up for next season is a great feeling. It makes me feel relaxed knowing that I have something work related to look forward to. So whats been my highlight of the past wedding season? It's possible a combination of working with so many different brides, ... read more