Amazing Indian Wedding

I have been lucky enough in my time doing makeup to meet some amazing brides and their wonderful families from all different backgrounds and cultures. But, until this wedding, I had not had the honor of doing makeup on an Indian bride. It was something I really was DYING to do. The color and vibrancy of the sari fabrics, the beading, the bracelets. OH MY, I was in HEAVEN!

I am so pleased to have been a part of Trupa's big day (well, 1 0f 3 big days). Here are a few pictures of the gorgeous bride and her handsome groom!

Amazing photos by the talented Rubin Photography

Heather- May 26, 2012

I have to admit, I have an affinity for RED LIPSTICK... I love the stuff. Every so often, a bride wants a vintage look, and hearing those words instantly excites me :) When Heather showed me a picture of her dress, I immediately thought... red. Heather is a self proclaimed non-makeup wearer, so for her, a bold lip was a huge leap. But it sure paid off!! Look at how timeless she looks!

 This picture below is the PERFECT example of why false lashes are a must!!

 Could her daughter (bottom right) BE any cuter???

Testimonial from the bride:
I had the amazing experience of working with Kaarin. We met for the first time to go through a trial run on make-up and instantly we got along. Her upbeat friendly personality was exactly what I was looking for. As we are talking, I explain I am not really a makeup girl but I want to stand out at my wedding but still look natural, and have a vintage look and feel to go with the dress I was wearing. Kaarin knew exactly what I meant and what I wanted. The trial run was perfect. The day of the wedding Kaarin showed up ready to go. Kaarin knew exactly what would work best for the bridesmaids, making the makeup all look similar yet completely different. She joked with us and really took the time to listen to what each bridesmaid wanted. When it came to my 11 year daughter; Kaarin made her feel like a princess and so grown up to be wearing a bit of makeup but very light and tasteful. I was last to get the makeup done, and she took the extra time to make sure that everything was perfect, and changed the lip color to give me a better look then the original choice. Kaarin made me look the most beautiful I have ever felt in my life. I now wear makeup and realize that even just the little bit can brighten my day and make me feel beautiful. If you are looking for a friendly attentive individual I highly recommend Kaarin she helped make my wedding day perfect!

Amy- Engagement shoot

Amy came to me by way of Tess Day, a bride I did makeup for in May of 2011. We met one VERY rainy April Sunday down in Seattle. We decided to do her wedding makeup runthrough on the day of her engagement photoshoot. Great idea for all you brides out there. Choose a day that you have something special happening, like a shower or party, to get a feel for how the makeup will last and look throughout the day!

Here are a couple photos of Amy... can't wait to post her wedding photos!

 I feel like the below photo belongs in a magazine!

Wedding Preview Event Spotlight

So a few months ago I was asked to fill out this questionnaire for the ladies at the Wedding Preview Event to use in a blog spotlight. So here is the post, and as you can see, I tried to get as creative as I could with my answers :) They even posted it on my birthday!!!!


WPE Spotlight: Kaarin Boyd Designs, July 18


Each week we will spotlight one of the incredibly cool wedding experts who will be a part of the Wedding Preview Event. These aren’t just your average businesses. They are unique and they offer something different from the norm. Each expert has been hand-picked to participate and has completely blown us away by their talents. We’ve decided to ask them questions that we assume won’t come up in a first-meeting.

Meet Kaarin Boyd, Makeup Artist
Kaarin Boyd Designs

1. One quirk of mine is: Over-accessorizing, but in a very charming way of course :)

2. I don’t know how to: Be away from my iPhone…hey, someone might need to get a hold of me!

3. I collect: Heart shaped rocks. I found my first one camping when I was 6 years old, and ever since then, they show up when I am least expecting them. The most special one I have found was right after my grandmother passed away (whom I was incredibly close to). I was standing in the middle of the church parking lot where her service was being held, and looked down because I felt something cold touching my toe. Sitting there was a perfectly heart shaped rock. I knew it was a gift from my grandma.

4. I have 2 tattoos. And they HURT!

5. One thing you’ll always find in my purse/wallet is: My camera! You’ll never know when there will be a photo-op!

6. I wish I could: Run out onto the field with the Seahawks at the start of a football game!

7. My favorite song of all time is: There are too many awesome songs out there to limit myself to just one… But this week? Because of the final scene in the movie Bridesmaids I am rocking out to Wilson Philips, “Hold On”! It’s an early 90’s classic!!! And who doesn’t love a great drum solo? Next week I bet it will be something totally summertime, like the Beach Boys or hopefully something to get me motivated to get to the gym!

8. Favorite quote: You can NEVER wear enough mascara, well, unless you are Tammy Fay Baker. -Me

9. I am a make-up artist for a living because: I love, more than anything, making someone feel as beautiful on the outside as they do on the inside on their wedding day. There is something so special about the time I get to spend with a bride, right before she is about to put on her dress and walk down the aisle…. It’s magical really.

10. My fear is: loud chewers and losing my eyelashes in a freak scissor accident.

11. I was named after: No one, my parents liked the name Karen, but put a twist on it so I would have a unique name…Yet no one seems to remember how to pronounce it, so I use the fun little reminder my third grade teacher came up with.. you pronounce it like “Car in the garage, Car-in,” easy, right?

12. I am a middle of the day person because: I hate getting up early and once 10pm hits my eyes WILL NOT stay open. Even when I’m in the middle of an action movie in the theater. It’s so annoying!


Ok, Kaarin, tell us more…


I have been lucky enough to see the faces of a few brides grace the pages in features on various wedding blogs! It is so fun to see your hard work being admired by others!


My specialty is makeup that looks glamorous yet somehow effortless and completely natural. I want a bride’s natural beauty to show through, not be hidden! I like to perfect the skin and make the eyes stand out, and lashes are ALWAYS a must (they add that extra oomph!! It doesn’t hurt that someone’s wedding day is one of the most exciting days in their life, so the “bridal glow” is a real thing and totally works in my favor!


Doing makeup is a side job for me (I work at a software company full time, random, I know!); I like to keep it this way so that I can devote my time and energy to each bride because I, no matter what, want them to feel well taken care of on their wedding day. I take great pride and care in my interactions. It is not uncommon for me to become friends with the bride or someone in the bridal party and keep in touch long after the big day! I always wanted my business to reflect who I am as a person, and embody the experience I would want if I were a bride or a bridesmaid in a wedding. Each wedding I am a part of is so important to me, I am so thankful to be a part of someone’s big day!




How Did You Get Started?


I stumbled upon a career in makeup while at the NorthWest Women’s show in Seattle. I was getting my makeup done by who turned out to be the national director for Two Faced Cosmetics. She and I hit it off and she flat out asked me if I had ever considered a job in makeup. Well, being the girl that I am, had always thought how amazing that would be, but never thought my playing around with color and fashion and my obsession with red lipstick would become anything. I was introduced to a manager for the Downtown Seattle Nordstrom, submitted a resume, and was hired the next day! Working retail took its toll on me, so I switched gears in a BIG way and started a job at a software company in sales.


Makeup fell off the radar for about a year and a half until in November of 2008 when I received a very interesting email from a wedding planner in the Seattle area. She had seen my work in my best friend’s wedding photos and wanted to know more about me… long story short, she saw something different and gave me the chance of a lifetime, a HUGE wedding that January another in February, then another 10 throughout the summer. And things started rolling from there! I could not be more elated with how things have worked out. I do makeup in my free time allowing me to merge my “day job” and my passion. How lucky am I?


Here is the link the the entire blog, there are some amazing vendors being highlighted!
Wedding Preview Event Blog

Tess Day

May 7, 2011 I received an email about 3 weeks before Tess was getting married, not much notice, right? But it was one of my only available weekends... Can we say meant to be? So Tess had gone through 3 prior run throughs that were horrible (Someone actually wanted to put ORANGE eye shadow on her... ORANGE?) and she was depserately seeking a makeup artist. Lucky for me, a bridesmaid in another wedding I did makeup for sent her my way!  Anyway, the minute that Tess and I talked on the phone I knew we would be a good match, and when we sat down at her kitchen table amidst gifts (my favorite and I think hers, the donut maker) and beautiful freshly cut tulips (that her husband planted for her in their yard!!) we had an instant connection. I have always felt very strongly that certain brides are brought my way for a reason, and I absolutely feel this way about Tess. I am SO happy to have been a part of her day. Thank you Tess!

From the Bride:


I can’t say enough good things about Kaarin. I first met her when she came to my house to give me a complimentary trial. Her confidence and friendly smile instantly put me at ease and she listened patiently as I described how I envisioned myself the day of the wedding. As she applied my make-up, she expertly curled my eyelashes, worked magic with her brushes, and smoothed the most amazing non-smudge lipstick on my lips. When I looked in the mirror, I knew I had found my fairy godmother – she made me look like a bride without looking overly made up. In fact, I was so impressed by her work that I hired her on the spot to do my sister and mother’s make-up as well. The day of the wedding, Kaarin arrived at the hotel where we were getting ready and was so calm and together. She did my mom and sister’s make-up first and I was blown away by how gorgeous they looked. They were extremely happy with their make-up as I knew they’d be! She put my make-up on me by the window so it could look flawless in natural light. The end result was amazing and looked perfect with my dress and hairstyle. She also had purchased my lip color for touch ups and included blotting papers for me to keep in my purse. She had thought of everything! I wish I could hire Kaarin to do my make-up every day. She was truly a joy to work with: creative, fun, and professional.

I finally got a LOGO!!

I feel so official now :)

VERY exciting news!!!

Hey all! I am VERY PROUD to announce that I was chosen to be a part of a very unique, very intimate wedding event. It's called Wedding Preview Event, and it's a boutique showcase where couple's and brides-to-be can come and "expereince" a wedding, everything from the photography to the makeup (me!!), hair, favors, food, flowers. It's a whole mock wedding! There are teams that create a gorgeous wedding and attendees get to ask questions and observe different vendors work. I feel SO honored to be a part of this cool experience!

If you click the badge above, it takes you directly to the Wedding Preview Event page where you can check out ALL the details!!

Southern Weddings Daily Blog

September 1, 2010

VERY EXCITING NEWS!!!

I received an email this morning from one of my brides that her wedding is featured on Southern Weddings' Blog!!! I can't wait to add my post from this wedding... there are few words with how breathtakingly beautiful everything was.

I feel honored to have been a part of something so spectacular!

Take a peek at the link below :)
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1KCieD/www.swsmag.net/blog/2010/9/1/details-michelle-ken-part-i.html

Elena Burt

August 28, 2010: Juntunen Gardens, Mt. Vernon, WA. What a gorgeous Northwest wedding and an even more beautiful bride!

A very special thank you for the gorgeous photos to the lovely and ever so talented Michele Waite! http://photography.michelemwaite.com/

Mary and Mugs

August 22, 2010 Bainbridge Island, WA. I hopped on a ferry bright and early to head over to Bainbridge to the rustic, private waterfront Kiana Lodge. Mary and Mugs were celebrating their love with a gorgeous Northwest commitment ceremony. Mary was glowing with excitement that day, and what a wonderful, special event for me to be a part of! I feel blessed they involved me in such a perfect, love filled day. I just got exciting news that they are expecting a little one! Congrats Mary and Mugs, and wishes for a life filled with love, laughter, happiness, and the pitter-patter of little feet!



There always seems to be makeup everywhere!

From the Bride:

Kaarin was so genuinely enthusiastic about our process from our first meeting. She was an amazing listener when we discussed the look I wanted, complimenting my vision with her expert advice, providing me with suggestions that ended up making me a very happy bride. It also needs to be said that she worked wonders with the entire bridal party helping everyone look their best in a way that perfectly straddled the natural, organic, and fresh look we wanted with the elegance and extra 'umph' befitting a summer evening wedding. Thank you so much Kaarin!

-and thank YOU Mary for a wonderful day :)