Including a ruffled wedding cake and a complete guide for newlyweds
Words by KELLY ATTERTON, CAROLINE CAGNEY, and ELIZABETH VARNELL
Hung Vanngo’s Modern Palette
Makeup artist Hung Vanngo, whose work with Selena Gomez, Scarlett Johansson, and Penélope Cruz defines modern glamour, brings his painter’s eye to his new line, HUNG VANNGO BEAUTY. The collection reflects his instinct for color and texture. “Long-lasting makeup starts with proper prep,” Vanngo says. For brides, he reaches for the Color Story Eyeshadow Palette, with richly pigmented neutrals and statement tones in matte, satin, and metallic finishes that blend easily and stay true. He also uses the Very Beautiful Velvet Blush for lasting warmth and the Accentuating Longwear Lip Liner and Creamy Matte Lipstick “for a soft comfortable matte lip that lasts from ceremony to reception.” hungvanngobeauty.com. K.A.
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Scentimental Family Memories
Natasha Gregson Wagner has turned generational love into perfume. Her new line, L’AMOUR MÈRE (French for “a mother’s love”) is a collection of three floral scents, each inspired by a woman in her life. The journey began with her original scent, which is now part of a more expansive story. Natalie, centered around gardenia, was created in honor of her mother, Natalie Wood. C Love, with its soft rose notes, is named for her daughter (“add an R to C Love and you get Clover,” she says). The newest, Lyublyu (Russian for “I love you”), draws from her grandmother’s roots, with deeper notes of honey and tuberose. Wagner worked with top perfumers to bring her memories to life, translating emotion into something wearable. “These are scents I want to wear,” she says. “White florals that feel fresh and alive.” lamourmere.com. K.A.
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Branching Out Into Nature
AMANDA LUU’s floral compositions, which read sculptural but contain an easy elegance, are often informed by nature’s imperfections. She encourages couples to be open to this foundational approach when embarking on their collaboration. “The most harmonious designs emerge when you allow the season, the light, and the landscape to lead the way,” says Luu, owner of Studio Mondine in San Francisco. She sees brides embracing a natural sophistication this season, moving toward pieces that feel rooted in their environment. Whatever the form, she emphasizes an earthier palette — think chestnut, plum, and ochre paired with unexpected blue clematis, mauve lisianthus, or lilacs. studiomondine.com. C.C.
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Art-Inspired Pierced Pearls
Bay Area–based jewelry designer Juliet Sutton-Gee cites the semi-abstract work of artists Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore and their ability to create meaning and emotion 
without being literal as a lodestar for her modern fine jewelry line OUVELLE. Having worked for a decade in London under Solange Azagury-Partridge, she’s adept at innovative takes on down-the-aisle classics like mother-of-pearl earrings. Her version includes pierced South Sea pearls worn on rectangular 18K gold hoops with a matte finish, pieces that can also be transferred to a necklace. “Sometimes I wear just one, asymmetrically,” Sutton-Gee says. Her bold, sculptural designs are imbued with meaning, from Circle of Life rings with a tension between presence and absence to pavé diamond-set Egg Drop earrings meant to explore dualities or two partners who are in balance but different people. From $3,180. ouvelle.com. E.V.
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A Sugar Artist’s Sweet Dreams
Although many brides seize the opportunity to present a maximalist confectionery centerpiece, there’s been a recent shift toward simplicity. “Pushing creative boundaries is out for the moment,” says San Francisco sugar artist JASMINE RAE DE LUNG. “Couples are more interested in refining what is personal within the realm of tradition, but the classic look has been redefined.” Case in point: de Lung’s ruffled cake style, which has recently gained a resurgence in popularity among her inquiring clients. The technique yields irregular pieces deftly layered to resemble fabric and can be presented bare or adorned with handmade blossoms. “It’s a look that will stand the test of time,” she says. jasmineraecakes.com. C.C.
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Wedding Day Sheer Nails
Phoebe Philo’s latest campaign set off a frenzy over the sheer, glass-like nails created by SYLVIE MACMILLAN. Their stained-glass effect sparked a wave of inspiration, and now brides are asking for the same understated polish on their wedding day. “The key is balance,” Macmillan says. “If your dress and ring can handle something more editorial, go for it. There’s no better day to be extra. Otherwise, soften the tones and shape for something that complements rather than competes.” She suggests milky creams and nudes with a touch of chrome or a single “something blue” nail for sentiment. Her most important tips: find a nail artist fluent in Korean-inspired sheer gels, come with a mood board, and use words like transparent, jelly, and chrome to guide the look. The result: nails that feel both of the moment and made for forever. @sylvie.macmillan. K.A.
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Home Is Where the Heart Is
While the idea of making a home with your partner is romantic, the reality can be a tricky balancing act. THE NEWLYWED HOME: A COUPLE’S GUIDE TO SETTING UP HOUSE WITH STYLE (Artisan Books, $30), penned by L.A.-based writer and C contributor Anush J. Benliyan, is a detailed guide to making the experience more streamlined. “My goal was to help couples get on the same page [and] understand their respective hopes and needs,” says Benliyan, who explains how to rethink rooms so they are both welcoming and rooted in functionality — all the while honoring aesthetic visions so the results feel deeply personal. The compilation is organized by living area and is accompanied by inspirational images and imaginative tips for every budget. C.C.
This story originally appeared in the Winter 2025 issue of C Weddings.
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