The Magic of "LEO"

 

Choosing your Make Up Artist or M.U.A. for your wedding day is undoubtedly one of the most crucial decisions you have to make as a bride. I do not exaggerate when I say that it can make or break your whole wedding. You are after all, ½ of the two celebrated people that day and it’s imperative that you look your best. I’ve heard of disaster stories wherein the bride had to get another make up artist ON THE WEDDING DAY ITSELF just because she wasn’t satisfied with her the original make up artist. Can you imagine all the stress and panic she must’ve felt?! If you’re not happy with your hair and make up, it’ll show on your face, not to mention, your wedding photos. And you’ll want to look back on those with pride and happy memories. Make Up Artists should enhance your natural beauty and accentuate your features, not make you look like an entirely different person altogether.

My eldest sister's wedding in 2007 with make up by LEO

My younger sister's wedding in 2009 with make up by LEO

 

After having done the make up for the weddings of my two sisters (as shown above), this decision was a no-brainer for me as a bride. And considering how in-demand he was, I had to book him right away! We know that he always gets the job done with FLAIR. I say that because whenever his team arrives, the FUN definitely follows. Leo and his team like to converse, joke around, sing along to music…it truly makes you feel at ease if you’re nervous or stressing about the wedding. It helps you relax and forget about your concerns, making it a pretty good start to your day! As a bride, you want that because you still have a looong day ahead of you. I remember Leo singing along to Rihanna’s “We Found Love” while he was doing my make up and I loved that song ever since. It became a soundtrack to my wedding preparations. Every time I hear it now, I reminisce about those fun moments in our hotel room.

With the handsome Leo Posadas

A candid moment with my MUA

 

Having 4 other sisters who are gorgeous, not to mention, a mom who looks like a celebrity…I’ve always considered myself the Plain Jane among them -- the nerdy, bookish one. And during that final week before the wedding day, I was under a considerable amount of stress and I was worried that I won't look my best. How am I supposed to possess a bride’s glow if I didn’t feel beautiful? That has always been my dream. In all the weddings I’ve attended, I’ve seen brides look their absolute BEST. They were all ENCHANTING, and STUNNING. I’ve always wondered if it’s because of the make up. How do they look so beautiful and ethereal? It seems as if they have a special light focused down on them, making them shine. I couldn't help but wonder... is this a normal occurrence if you’re getting married?  Does the universe bestow upon every bride the gift of ideal loveliness for that one day? If it does, “I” wanted to possess that GLOW. Of course, worrying about how I’d look only made things worse. I was afraid that my stressful week was all going to show on my face. I certainly didn’t want to be a haggard zombie-looking bride! Oh, no. 


That’s where Leo comes in…to change an ordinary girl into a real princess for the most important day of her life. He promised me that I’ll be the most beautiful woman of all. And that was not an easy feat considering all the beauties in my family. He took his time in putting on my make up…at least 1.5 hours, I believe, including the hair. I didn’t really have a peg for him to follow, I just told him I wanted to look beautiful. Simple as that, because I trusted him completely… and the end result was unbelievable!  

 

 

Obviously, my mom looked as GORGEOUS as EVER. Leo also did her make up.

I felt beautiful. I felt confident. I felt happy. Initially, I was so afraid and nervous about the idea of walking down the aisle with so many eyes on me. I had constant nightmares about it because I wasn't used to that kind of attention. I thought I was going to hyperventilate! But because I knew in my heart that I looked my best... it monumentally helped in giving me that push to stay calm and collected. And look! I was even smiling. 

When I reached my groom at the end of the altar, he whispered in my ear, "You look stunning." It reminded me of Prince William uttering the same words to Katherine Middleton during their wedding ceremony.


If Leo hadn’t transformed me into the best version of myself, I don’t think I could’ve looked as radiant as I did. Everybody admired his work and expressed their awe for his talent in making me GLOW. Yes, I, Catherine Ching Lim, finally possessed that wondrous glow! But for me, it wasn’t just talent, it was MAGIC. I only wish I could look and feel that beautiful every day of my life.  

Me and my sisters...the most beautiful girls in the world to me. Hair and Make up by Leo and his team.

 

With a LEO POSADAS and VELUZ REYES combination, you cannot go wrong. These two wedding suppliers have mutual admiration for each other. When you mention one name to the other, they’ll only have the kindest words to say. Both will probably say, "BONGGANG BONGGA"!

My only regret was forgetting to take a photo with Leo and his team. It would’ve made a wonderful addition to our wedding album. Despite missing that opportunity, the memory of having them around will always be cherished. A special thank you to Ate Weng for doing 2 looks with my hair, a side pony for the church and cascading soft curls for the reception. Both looked amazing.

Having done the make up for my two sisters before me, and now also two cousins, PLUS several friends…Leo is practically family since he's always there for the most important day of our lives! He has the gift of beauty and I think it’s such a great gift to have. He’s definitely making the world more beautiful, one bride at a time. Until next wedding, Leo!

Right after make up retouch!

Go to this link for his side of the story: http://leoposadas.blogspot.com/2012/05/wedding-catherine-ching-endearing-bride.html?spref=fb