Getting Wedding Ready

Getting Wedding Ready Part One: Hair and Makeup.

With all eyes on you on your wedding day, it’s not surprising that getting wedding-ready is pretty important when planning your wedding. Looking your best takes time and thought too, so I decided to collaborate with a professional and get those all-important top tips when it comes to wedding day hair and make-up.

These top ten bridal hair and make-up tips come from the talented Hannah Stapling, of Lipsticks and Hairpins based in Stamford & Peterborough. I first met Hannah when we worked together on a ‘Greatest Showman’ styled shoot which was featured on the Unconventional Weddings blog. This lady knows her stuff. I loved how she took one look at the flowers, vintage dresses and models and knew straight off the bat the colours and style that would compliment and fit. She was also able to take the most beautiful head of curly hair and create a slick vintage updo complete with flowers from the bouquet. Pretty damn awesome! Personally, I am rubbish at hair and makeup and would not have even contemplated doing my own on my wedding day. Without a doubt, if I had to get married again (you know, when Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson finally asks), I’d book Hannah in a flash. In fact, I think it would be the first item I’d cross off my wedding plan list! I need all the help I can get!

So, let’s cut to the chase and get those top tips from the hair and make up professional…

Picking Your Artist

Take the time to do your research to find the MUA and hairdresser that is suitable for you. It’s pretty much key to ensuring you look your best on your big day. Prices of services can differ from one artist to another but generally key points to look at when deciding who to book would be –

• Portfolio – do you like their style of work?

• What products do they use?

• Experience and length of time in doing bridal hair and makeup

• Reviews from previous brides

Remember, picking a professional will ensure a smooth running of the morning, leaving you to relax and enjoy the process.

Choose a sensible date for your make up trial

When planning your wedding day, it's very easy to get swept away in the excitement and want your trial sooner than later so that you can a glimpse of what you will look like on the big day. However, ideally, you want to be doing your trial 8-12 weeks before your wedding day. By this point, you would have planned or already purchased the dress, flowers and bridesmaid dresses making it easier to plan your wedding day hair and makeup.

MUA: Hannah Stapling of Lipsticks & Hairpins

Prepare your skin for a flawless face

Perfect makeup starts way before your wedding day. If keeping to a regular skin routine isn't normally your thing then don’t fret. Try to get wedding skin ready at least six weeks before your wedding date, that way your skin will get used to new products and you'll have enough time to recover from breakouts. Just simply cleansing and moisturising your face with weekly exfoliation will make a world of difference and help create the perfect canvas for your big day.

Consider Lashes

When I do makeup for weddings, I encourage my brides to trial 'strip lashes'. Personally, I prefer the effect of 'strip lashes' over the individual ones. I find they look much better in photographs. With so many different brands making strip lashes you can achieve a variety of looks and they can add a bit of natural glamour as a finishing touch.

Perfect your bridal lips

During your trial, you will try out different colours and you can ask your artist for the brand and name of the lipstick you prefer. It’s ideal to have a lipstick for the day on hand for top-ups as it will be your lipstick that will wear off first with drinking and eating (AND ALL THE SNOGGING!)

For lasting lipstick, you can prep your lips in advance of the big day by exfoliating with your toothbrush. Gently brush your lips followed by a bit of lip balm to keep them moisturised.

Model: Alice Hughes

Thoughtful tanning

Nothing beats a bit of a natural glow for your big day. If you're thinking of getting a spray tan before your wedding day, then trial the depth of colour you're thinking of having with a beautician in advance. When you're happy with the colour, repeat two days before your wedding to ensure it doesn't transfer to your dress.

Getting your hair wedding-ready

Hair needs to be clean but not too soft. It's best to wash your hair the night before your wedding day and blow-dry your hair, as usual, using minimal products.

The unseen hair accessories

9 out of 10 times most bridal hairstyles will have hair accessories nobody needs to see! Depending on what style you've decided on, consider that you may require items such as hair padding, hair doughnut or clip in hair extensions. Such items will hold styles for longer and give a boost and volume to your style.

Consider all angles

Especially with your hair! It’s easy to just consider how you look from the front as you want the most flattering framing around your face but the photographer will take photos from all directions, so check during your trial what your hair will look like from all angles. I also advise that during your makeup trial look at yourself from a distance as this will give you the whole overall effect.

Avoid scissor happy stylists

Don’t, please don’t get your hair cut just before the wedding!! It’s far better to be safe than sorry, so avoid having a cut too close to your wedding day.

And there you have it! Top ten hair and makeup tips to consider when getting wedding-ready. Thank you so much Hannah for taking the time to share your secrets. Handy advice, don't you think? I thoroughly recommend Hannah of 'Lipsticks and Hairpins' for your hair and makeup needs, she is, in fact, one of my selected recommended suppliers that I send you once you book your wedding photography with me. If you want to see more of the work Hannah and I did on ‘The Greatest Showman’ styled shoot then head over to the featured blog: 'The Greatest Showman - All the fun of the circus'.

Look out for part two of this ‘Getting Wedding Ready’ blog where I will be gathering tips from my very own Personal Trainer Bodiboo. Getting wedding ready without a single mention of heavy dieting or exercise!

Getting wedding ready and need a wedding photographer? Head over here and get in contact with me!