Expert interview: Tiffany Chiang

Design HER Image hair and makeup company

Throughout the fifteen years I have been running my wedding planning and design company, A Day Like No Other, I have collaborated with Tiffany on countless wedding projects, and her work was always perfect and flawless – brides, bridesmaids and mothers were glowing and confident at looking their best ever! So Tiffany is certainly one to ask about all things “wedding hair and makeup!”

“How long have you been in business, and what brought you to hair/makeup styling?”

From the vibrant streets of Hong Kong and Taiwan to the glitz of Hollywood, my journey in the world of makeup and fashion has been a dream come true. As a child, alongside my sister, our shared love for fashion and makeup ignited my passion for beauty and style, and it’s evident that my path was always leading me to become a professional makeup and hair artist.

“What is your specific style – natural, elegant, glamorous…?” 

Our approach centers on elevating natural beauty with luxurious, bespoke makeup and hair styling, ranging from timeless elegance to a radiant, youthful glow. We meticulously design each look to enhance your unique features, ensuring you look breathtaking in person and every photograph. With a refined, personalized touch, we craft an experience that reflects the sophistication and grace of your special day, leaving you feeling like the most beautiful version of yourself.

“What is your ideal bride/bridesmaid/mother?” 

I especially love working with brides who have a sophisticated sense of style and are happy to communicate.  If she wants to avoid overly dramatic, artificial, or stiff makeup and hairstyles, she is in the perfect place.

“Are you specializing in a particular technique? If so, why – what is unique about it?”

I am also certified in personal color analysis by a renowned South Korean school that works with K-pop celebrities as a stylist and image consultant. This expertise allows me to select the most flattering shades for your unique complexion, ensuring a radiant, harmonious look. With a cohesive blend of makeup, hair, and wedding gown coordination tailored to your undertone, you’ll achieve a polished, confident beauty that shines both in person and in photos.

“What is the difference between DIY hair/makeup and professional makeup?”

The difference between DIY hair/makeup and professional wedding makeup comes from expertise, longevity, and overall quality.- Wedding makeup isn’t just about looking good in person—it should translate well in professional photography. A skilled artist knows how to balance tones, prevent flashbacks, and create dimension so you look stunning in every shot.

“What is the difference between great and not-so-great hair and makeup?”

A great professional artist understands facial structure, skin type, and personal color analysis, enhancing natural beauty while ensuring your makeup looks perfect in natural light and photography.They are experienced in helping brides look fresh from morning to night, even through tears, sweat, and dancing.

“When choosing a stylist, which questions should a bride ask? What are “red flags” to avoid?”

When choosing a wedding stylist, ask about their bridal experience, trial sessions, long-wear techniques, and how they ensure your makeup looks great in photos. Check if they travel, can accommodate your bridal party, and have a backup plan in emergencies. Red flags include poor communication, lack of portfolio, lack of hygiene, unclear pricing or contracts, and a pushy attitude disregarding your vision. A great stylist should be reliable, skilled, and focused on making you look flawless in person and in photos.

“How much time do you reserve for each service? And do you recommend touch-ups during the wedding day?”

For a bride, I typically reserve 2.5 hours to ensure a relaxed, thorough application of makeup and hair, allowing plenty of time for adjustments and details. I allocate 40 minutes per person for each bridal party member, providing ample time for makeup and hairstyling without feeling rushed. I also recommend daily touch-ups, especially for the bride, to maintain a flawless look. I offer on-site touch-up services, or we provide a small kit ready for any quick fixes as needed.

“Why is professional hair/makeup so expensive?”

Professional makeup and hairstyling is an investment because it ensures a flawless, long-lasting look using high-quality tools and techniques that are difficult to replicate at home. Professionals consider flattering color choices that enhance your natural beauty and adapt to lighting conditions, ensuring you look stunning both in person and in photos. They provide a stress-free, customized experience, taking the pressure off you on your big day and allowing you to relax. A professional creates a harmonious look that suits your undertones and personal style, giving you a polished, elegant result that lasts throughout the event.

“Anything else you’d like to add?” 

Yes! 

To make the bridal experience even more luxurious, I love to pamper my brides with special touches like essential oils, face masks, massages, and a glowy body oil to add that extra radiance. The process is designed to be relaxing and stress-free, offering a comfortable, pampering atmosphere where brides feel genuinely cared for. I focus on every detail, from perfecting the skin tone to ensuring the hair stays intact, all while ensuring every aspect of the look is flawless for pictures. The entire experience is about creating a serene, luxurious moment that leaves the bride feeling confident and beautiful.

Warm regards,

Tiffany Chiang & Team
Cell : + 1 . 408 . 242 . 8154

Andrea and Pedro – an Elegant Country Club Wedding

When Andrea and Pedro first approached my wedding planning company, A Day Like No Other, they had pretty much settled on their venue but were seeking help with everything else – and it was fortunate that they had not yet booked that venue… Being very familiar with it, it was obvious to me that this would by far not offer sufficient room and function spaces for the 180-people event that the couple was envisioning. So – we started over! Again, fortunately, Andrea and Pedro quickly found their perfect venue among the alternatives that I proposed: Silver Creek Valley Country Club in San Jose, an elegant property with a golf course amid green rolling hills, a ceremony area with a waterfall as a backdrop, and a clubhouse with a beautiful patio for cocktails and a huge ballroom with picture windows for dinner and dancing (plus a super supportive venue manager!!).

Our planning took close to a year, and finally, finally – the Big Day arrived.

For the bride, it started with hair and makeup services by Wowpretty Salon

… and getting ready with her bridesmaids.

Andrea had chosen an elegant strapless, formfitting lace wedding dress…

… and glittery bridal shoes fit for a princess!

Photographer Frank J. Lee captured every moment from start to finish.

What’s missing? Her bridal bouquet, a very feminine, handtied summer bouquet with English Garden Roses in soft hues of ivory, pink and rust (all wedding flowers by Marie Krick of Laurel & Vine).

Ready for her pre-ceremony photos! Following time-honored tradition, Andrea had decided to let her groom first see her at the ceremony. Groom Pedro had meanwhile also gotten dressed up with the help of his groomsmen…

Ready for many photos on the beautiful grounds of the property.

Soon, their guests began arriving by shuttle (by Corinthian Ground Transportation), and many work teams – the A Day Like No Other team Haneen and Diane, the venue crew, the florist, the DJ (Henry Kim of Big Fun Disc Jockeys) – were busy putting the finishing touches on the ceremony setup.

Under a gilded circular arch in front of palm trees and a waterfall, a friend of the couple’s officiated their wedding ceremony.

Here comes the bride:

“You may now kiss the bride!”

Just married!

While guests were treated to cocktails and delicious hors d’oeuvres, photographer Frank took official wedding photos …

… and bridal party photos…

… and then, he took the newlyweds around the property for many more photos. And how do you get around in a golf club? That’s the fun part – in a golf cart, of course!

Again, frantic activity was happening behind the scenes – the photo booth (by Night Owl Photo Booth) had to be set up in time and the dining room had to be prepared for dinner. The couple had chosen metallic gold accents (gold Chiavari chairs and chargers) and pink napkins to go with their pink and rust centerpieces.

Grand Entrance!!

After a delicious dinner (inhouse catering at the venue), the newlyweds shared their much-anticipated choreographed First Dance.

DJ Henry Kim had learned a Spanish-language script for bilingual announcements just for Andrea and Pedro!

He kept the party going with Father-Daughter Dance, Mother-Son Dance, the traditional Money Dance…

… and the wild “hora loca” with dance lights and glowsticks!

What a party!! The couple’s festive Send-off happened in the same spirit of joy and exuberance:

Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together, Andrea and Pedro!

Audrey’s and Niko’s Epic Wedding Celebration

After a more than seven-year courtship, Audrey and Niko decided to make their union official – and to do that in the presence of more than 300 guests. An epic party, in short! Their longtime friend, my assistant Quan at A Day Like No Other, had taken on the huge task of planning every detail of their Great Day.

The couple had chosen a venue with spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline: the Seminary at Strawberry in Mill Valley, just across the SF Bay, and last week it all came together on a beautiful sunny Spring day under blue skies and with a slight breeze. Absolutely perfect!

Bride Audrey and her bridesmaids started very early in the day with hair and makeup services by Maya of Dreamcatcher Artistry.

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She and her bridesmaids definitely had a great time together!

Audrey received a gorgeous diamond necklace as a wedding gift from her groom…

… and it was the perfect complement to her low-cut, elegant lace wedding dress.

Next – high heels (gorgeous lacy ones) and the rings…

Photo: ADLNO

… and finally, her pretty bridal bouquet by Willow Floral Design (who also provided the ceremony florals). Photographer Kat Ma and videographer Jeremy Quans captured it all, all day long! (All photos by Kat Ma Photography, unless noted otherwise).

Niko and his groomsmen were also dressing up “to the nines…”

Ready for the traditional Tea Ceremony (for which Audrey wore a beautiful red lace dress)!

The bride traveled in style to her “First Look” location (her Dad chauffeured her in his fire-engine-red Corvette!)…

… and then it was time for many, many photos of the couple and the bridal party.

Very soon, the first ones of the couple’s 300 guests were arriving…

… an arbor (from Bright Party Rentals) had been set up and decorated with flowers (by Willow Floral Designs)…

… and then the great moment was there: Audrey and Niko were saying their vows in a beautiful ceremony officiated by Niko’s uncle, Father Ringo Perez.

Meanwhile, the teams of A Day Like No Other (assistants Trisha, Stephanie, and myself), Standard Party Rentals (for draping and chairs), Joe Squared Productions (lighting) and Zen Peninsula Catering were hard at work to get the cocktail area and dining room ready for the big party.

Now, how do 300 guests find their assigned tables? Here it was a whimsical display of pretty name lists on vintage shutters.

Time for the Great Entrance of the couple and their bridal party – BUT with a huge, unexpected twist: an authentic Lion Dance by Tenny Lee and his troupe!

The couple presided over it all from their Sweetheart Table.

The groom and his groomsmen had prepared a surprise performance for the bride:

More surprises were awaiting their guests: with reverence for the Star Wars movies (the couple’s all-time favorite), guests received “chop sabers” (light-up chopsticks) for their 10-course Chinese Banquet dinner!

Trulee Memorable provided their photo booth as additional guest entertainment – a HUGE hit!

In between, the newlyweds quietly “stole away” for Sunset photos…

And when they returned and had completed their traditional table visits, they went on to cut their cake (by Tony’s Cakes) …

… toss a bouquet…

… and a garter…

… and then the dance floor was opened to everyone. Oh – I nearly forgot – we had a traditional Money Dance as well…

It was an epic dance party to the tunes of Chemistry DJs!

Everyone had a great time… wishing you a lifetime filled with joy, happiness and many more epic parties, Audrey and Niko!