Celebrity Event Planner Yifat Oren on Mastering Flawless Fêtes
What makes for picture-perfect weddings? Blissful couples— and gorgeous hair and makeup. “Happy brides are the most beautiful brides!” says Los Angeles-based event planner Yifat Oren, whose clients include Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Natalie Portman. Oren’s dreamy fêtes for Hollywood’s finest— like Behati Prinsloo and Adam Levine‘s lavish celebration in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico— reveal her magic touch. And her meticulous attention to detail; along with business partner Stefanie Cove, Oren arranges everything from on-site visits, to bridal beauty, to unforgettable photo opps. It’s only fitting she’s translated her nuptial know-how into her own brand of wedding essentials, including a chic line of bridesmaid gowns in collaboration with designer Rory Beca. To celebrate the summer wedding season, Vênsette asked Oren for her tips on making your special day the most beautiful moment of your life. Read on for her secrets; then, discover how Vênsette’s world-class artists can create custom beauty looks for your wedding.
On planning bridal beauty… “I’m not into fantasy hair and makeup, so it’s really how the bride will look as the prettiest version of herself. No one wants to see a bride walk down the aisle focusing on her hair and makeup.”
On wedding trends… “Bridal trends are an oxymoron to me. Each event is really about the couple, their relationship, and their aesthetic. And every wedding I design is totally different. I’m always inspired by nature and the surroundings when I create an event. The setting usually speaks to me and sparks ideas.”
On fleeting wedding fads… “The ‘worst’ is easy. Anything that feels too forced or fancy I’m not into. Over-the-top, literally 6-foot-tall centerpieces are my pet peeve at the moment, especially if they have flowers and crystals that hang over the container down to the dining table.”
On bridesmaids looking picture-perfect… “I would definitely recommend hiring hair and makeup artists for the bridal party. A lot of times they don’t— they just let them do their own thing. I tend to think they look inconsistent and not as polished.”
On must-have beauty products for your wedding day… “I love the Bride’s skin to look at little dewy and shimmery. She should of course wear waterproof mascara and a great natural deodorant like Soap Walla Deodorant Cream with natural essential oils. There’s usually a lot of hugging and happy tears at weddings…”
On her summer beauty must-haves… “We all need a great sunscreen. My favorite is the tinted EltaMD UVShield SPF 45 sunscreen. It eliminates the need for foundation, which is too heavy in the summer. Another way to get around foundation is with Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20. I’m also obsessed with Restorsea’s Eye Cream, Rejuvinating Day Cream, and Restoring Night Cream. It’s the only line I’ve used in years where I can totally see a difference in my skin just from moisturizing. I’m also really into lip balm. I love Avène’s Cold Cream Lip Balm and Labello balms with the slightest pink tint. I buy them in airport pharmacies all over the world.”
On the best beauty advice she’s ever received… “I have a great friend who is a beauty editor. I tend to get all my advice from her. She’s always telling me to wash my face less to preserve my moisture barrier. One time after back surgery, I could not get out of bed to wash my face for days. My skin never looked better. Apparently she knows what she’s talking about.”
On her favorite celebrity weddings… “Well, Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo’s wedding in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico was pretty spectacular on many levels. The setting and the design were pretty incredible and the music was epic. Enough said.”
On the biggest mistakes brides make before their weddings… “I have seen people micromanage things they’ll never even notice. That’s not to say that I’m not maniacal about details, but I think there are people who don’t sleep at night for three months leading up to the wedding on things they won’t care about, because there’s not enough time in 6 hours and 200 people to notice. It’s a bummer. They destroy their own experiences.”
On chowing down before your wedding… “You should definitely eat on the morning of your wedding. If you eat oatmeal in the morning, eat oatmeal in the morning. Definitely have some protein, because in the afternoon, you’re going to start sipping champagne, and on an empty stomach, that’s not a very good idea.”
On looking flawless in wedding photos… “If you can, snap as many photos in natural light so that not all your pictures are with flash photography. Try not to be uptight. If you want to look good, just be present.”
On wedding planning stress… “The best and worst part of my job is dealing with brides and their families. It’s an emotionally inspiring time, and part of my job is to make it all un-stressful for them. But sometimes the tendency is to flip out a bit more than usual. That’s not true for everyone, though. I always say: I get to see the best or the worst in people, and who they really are comes out— their true essence. Think about that, ladies!”
On the best career advice she’s ever received… “Do what you would do if you were not getting paid, then find a way to get paid for it. Not easy, I know. But if you can figure out a way to make this happen for yourself, your life will be magic.”
On making your wedding day the most beautiful moment of your life… “I follow Audrey Hepburn’s advice that ‘Happy girls are the prettiest.’ I’ll say the same thing about brides. Happy brides are the most beautiful brides!”
More Links from Vênsette:
“Introducing Vênsette Weddings: Bridal Beauty Made Easy”
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Yifat Oren in Vênsette hair and makeup. (Photo: Alden Wallace)
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Yifat Oren in Vênsette hair and makeup in her West Hollywood offices. (Photo: Alden Wallace)
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Molly Sims (center) at her 2013 wedding to Scott Stuber, planned by Yifat Oren and Stefanie Cove. (Photo: Gia Canali)
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"Leaves, wood, stone, patterns, textures— these are all things I pay attention to. And I always go to local markets to find handcrafted pieces. I take a lot of photos." (Photo: Elizabeth Messina)
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"I travel all over the world to get ideas, but it’s always the simplest, most natural things I see that turn up in my designs." (Photo: Gia Canali)
