less stress. more play.
anna bé is Denver’s best bridal boutique. More than just a place to buy a designer wedding dress, anna bé delivers an unparalleled shopping experience with a curated collection of bridal gowns, personally selected by friendly expert stylists. anna bé is proud to have received local and national accolades and invites brides to set an appointment to experience what sets anna bé apart.
New bridal line Katie May offers gorgeous backless gowns crafted by artisans in Los Angeles. Designer Katie May Neu has introduced an improved level of craftsmanship and dedication to the bridal market with price points that are accessible and realistic. Gowns range from $1000-$3400. Make your appointment today for our May 17 & 18 trunk show!
Winifred Bean is a wedding dress line of classic, vintage silhouettes designed for the modern stylish bride. While searching for her own wedding dress, Angela found herself wishing for a bridal destination that would offer dresses and accessories that appealed to brides with creativity, taste and style but on a budget. And thus the idea for Winifred Bean was born. Starting with the wedding dress, Angela developed each style to reflect the best classic silhouettes with inspiration from current fashion trends. The Winifred Bean collection will be at anna bé from Friday May 10-11. Gown prices range from $2300-$2600. Be sure to make your appointment today!
Since I can remember, I’ve dreamt of having long, thick, voluminous, magnificently flowing hair. A brunette and gold waterfall down my back. It would tumble over my shoulders at just the right moment, it would blow in the breeze behind me and around me and settle again dreamily, instilling goosebumps in passers-by. Perfect strangers would stop me on the street and say, “You have beautiful hair; I’m jealous.” I’d giggle and say, “Oh, this mane? Don’t be jealous, it’s such a nuisance!” But secretly, I’d be thinking, “I know, don’t I?” My mother gave me many wonderful qualities, but my hair is certainly not one of them. My hair is a runway model: stick straight, fine, and thin. The one, and only, positive to this is that it is incredibly low-maintenance. It takes approximately 26 seconds to blow-dry and put into a bun in the morning. I spend more time unwrapping a stick of gum.
For our wedding, I want a stunning updo with piles and piles of curls. My hair simply won’t allow that. I went to one bridal trial and the stylist, after running her fingers through my hair with a disapproving look on her face (umm I am sitting in front of a mirror, I can SEE YOU) said, “Well, we could do like a French twist?” No. I’ve tried everything: volume boosters, mousse, gallons of hairspray, teasing, dry shampoo, thickening shampoo, even Ovation Cell Therapy shampoo. Lesson: you can’t outsmart genetics. I decided to take a giant leap and try hair extensions. I know what you’re thinking: “Girls actually have hair extensions in Colorado?? I thought only the Kardashians did… that stuff.” Let me just say that you’d be surprised.
Enter my dear friend Mandie who works at a salon in Cherry Creek. Mandie is a pro with Hot Heads Extensions and she assured me that I would love them. I did… for the most part. And I will give you my honest opinion, because you deserve that. HAIR IS A LOT OF WORK. I mean, it looked GORGEOUS, and you seriously could not tell that I had extensions (besides the fact that my hair grew a foot overnight), and it curled just perfectly and you barely ever had to wash it, and I could do side-braids and it was flowy and it was everything I ever wanted. Except the time commitment. And the itchiness, and the fear that the extensions were “showing,” and the fact that it was hard to sleep on, and that I couldn’t put it into anything higher than a low ponytail. Oh, and they are NOT cheap. And those are just the facts of it. This is no discredit to Mandie; she installed them perfectly and efficiently. I just realized quickly that I loved the way they looked but wasn’t crazy about the maintenance.
Before Extensions
The extensions!
My saving grace? THE UPDO! Kera Clyde at Rebelle Salon whipped those babies into an updo that I can only best describe as a masterpiece. It was the updo I had envisioned, and it was all worthwhile. I learned something about myself, too. I’ll endure just about anything to make this wedding perfection.
I kept the extensions in for about three months and decided to put them to rest until closer to the wedding, when Kera will once again transform my extended locks into a magnum opus. For now, I am really enjoying the extra 20 minutes of sleep I am getting each morning. Thanks, Mom.
- Michaela
