Ok, so I know I wasn’t the only one to shed a tear this week when Amy decided to leave the villa and walk away from the last few weeks of heartbreak she has felt courtesy of Curtis.

Those of us who know that familiar feeling of heartbreak will sympathise with the poor girl and understand her reasons for having to get herself out of the situation. Those of you who are yet to experience heartbreak…well, lucky you! Lets hope you never find yourself huddled in the corner of your bedroom in floods of tears, stuffing that whole box of milk tray into your mouth between sobs!

Luckily for me, heartbreak in my job is non existent. I get to deal with people on the happiest most ‘loved up’ day of their whole lives…. although there is one big similarity.….

Tears.

Of course on your wedding day they are much more likely to be of the happy variety, however chances are they will still come whether you like it or not! The rush of emotion and the overwhelming feelings that you simply can’t prepare yourself for mean that you’ve probably already started to worry about what will happen to your make up when they start to flow….

So, whether it’s the wedding day or whether you just need a reason to be super prepared then here’s a few of my go to products that you might like to consider….

( please note this is only my personal opinion and this post is in no way endorsed by these companies or products mentioned! )

Airbrush make up

I offer the airbrush option as a standard upgrade to all of my brides. It’s not every day that you get to look like you’re walking around with a filter on your face and my brides love not only the look, but the feel of this lightweight makeup. The product I use is Airbase, a silicon based product thats ideal for long days and summer nights but its also the perfect match for brides that think they might ‘cry all their make up off’. Once the airbase product is set then the tears can fall and it simply doesn’t budge. I always do advise my brides to be aware it is still a product on your skin so be sure to dab those tears away, not wipe , but you can rest assured that you can make it down the aisle as a blubbering wreck and still make it to the first dance without it all having disappeared!

Waterproof Mascara

I have a love hate relationship with mascaras. I’m always being asked what’s my absolute face and the truth is it changes.  I’ve tried everything from drug store to high end and I cant honestly say there was one particular product that I couldn’t live without. A popular , inexpensive addition to my kit that I genuinely do replace every time I run out is Maybelline Great Lash . It really does mean it when it says waterproof and at around £6 its an absolute bargain!  You can take my word for it that this mascara won’t end up streaking down your face or leave you looking like a baby panda …

What about the lips….?

Well, sadly, there isn’t one wonder product that I’ve personally come across that can give me the perfect lips for over 12 hours after eating, drinking, kissing and crying – but there are a few things that you can do to help sustain the longevity of your lipstick between top ups.

1. Always line your lips. So many people skip this step, or think that you only need to line your lips if you’re wearing a dark colour to stop it bleeding. Wrong. By using a liner you add definition to your shape but also, by applying that liner not just to the outline but the inside of your lips too ( wear you would place your lipstick) you’re adding another layer of colour, and something else for your lip product to cling to. Even as your lipstick disappears over the course of the day the liner can still be seen underneath meaning that you don’t need to top up quite as often or quite as much!
2. Get your lips in good condition. There’s nothing worse that cracked, dry lips and your lipstick will simply sit in the lines giving a crumpled effect to your overlook look. Be sure to exfoliate your lips just as you would your face. Be sure to do this very gently as your lips are delicate and especially if they are dry you don’t want to cause any damage. Lush do a fabulous and inexpensive lip sugar scrub which does a great job at refreshing your lips and makes them taste fab too!
3. Wear Lip balm. Even when you’re not wearing lipstick. Before you go to bed every night. As you apply your facial moisturiser daily. At every opportunity you get – moisturise your lips too. This is really easy to do, you can carry a chap stick in your bag and apply it as often as you remember. It really will make all the difference when it comes to your lipstick looking perfect and your lips staying in tip top condition.

I would love to hear of any more firm product favourites you might have – anything that you simply can’t live without, or even anything that you think I might like to try! Feel free to get in touch with a comment, email or pop over to my instagram or facebook and send me a message there

As for me, I’m off to watch the latest Love Island instalment …..  

                                                #teamtommy

I’m seeing more and more beautiful brides and beautiful dresses with the most amazing ‘back’ designs.

Everything from a low sequined swoop to a lengthy lace panel. Its such a ‘wow’ statement to make so its totally understandable that you most certainly don’t want to hide it behind a ‘down’ do. But don’t panic, it doesn’t mean you have to have it scraped onto the top of your head!

There are lots of ways to style your hair loosely, with that romantic ‘undone’ look without having to have it all up. You can see some inspiration here.  It’s a common issue for brides to not want their neck too exposed, or their hair too tightly pinned back over their ears and the current popular romantic, more undone styles lend themselves perfectly to these problems!

I always remind my brides that they need to look and feel amazing in 360 degrees! What I mean by that is that there will be an obscene amount of pictures of the back of your head ( think walking down the aisle!) and even more from the side ( if you’re standing side on from your friends and family saying your vows) so your chosen style needs to look amazing from all angles! 

Another issue that I often hear is brides who are concerned about the back of their beautiful dress being ruined by a spot or pimple on their back on the wedding day. If this happens to you then please don’t panic! Just like we can easily cover any outbreaks you might have on your face, we can do exactly the same with any other exposed part of your body too. This might be pimples on your upper arms, a blotchy neck, a spot on your back – to name just a few! Airbrush make up is renowned for the amazing coverage it gives – even to tattoos and scars so that’s one less thing for you to panic about! 

Your dress can play a massive part in your decision as to how you would like to wear your hair, but if you’re stuck and need some advice then feel free to contact me and I’ll be happy to help you come up with a few ideas! 

I look forward to speaking with you! 

Katie x 

How many is too many?! Can you ever have enough?!

One of the nicest things about my job is seeing everyone come together on the wedding morning. There’s no better place to be than to be around a happy, bubbly, excited group of ladies ( with Prosecco!) ! The wedding morning is often an event in itself, the anticipation for what’s about to happen, surrounded by your friends and family, the pampering, the nervous chatter, the happy vibes – I love it! Some people get ready at their venue, others at home and many bridal parties even choose to wear matching robes too (which looks great in the pictures!). However you’re spending your wedding morning the celebration really does start here! So many ladies tell me that its when I turn up they realise that its all really happening! 

As a professional, timing is my problem not yours. I’ll never rush you, i want you to really enjoy the wedding day experience of transforming into a bride and its important that we make the most of that for you. When I’m working alone I will only commit to a set number of people to ensure that I have time for everyone on the wedding morning. That doesn’t mean that I can accommodate the larger bridal parties too. When there more ladies that I can manage I bring along an assistant to help with the workload. An extra pair of hands ensures that we run on time and everyone gets to be part of the hair and make up action! Getting everyone ready together means that you can all still sit and chat ( and open gifts, and take pictures and drink more Prosecco!) whilst the process takes place.

Some brides like to have all their bridesmaids matching, same make up look, same hair style – whilst others are happy for each individual to choose a style that they are most comfortable with. I will always speak with the bride directly to make sure that she is happy with the choice made but ultimately, and as lots of brides understand, if the bridesmaids feel good – they will look good too! ( Which will then make sure your photos look even better!) There’s really no point asking your very best friend to have her fringe pinned back off her face just to match the others if you know it will make her feel self conscious. I always love to hear the stories about the relationship between a bride and her bridesmaids. Some are related, some have been inseparable since play school and some were even found in the ladies loo’s on a drunken night out!

Some brides go for matching dresses, whilst 2018 saw a lot more variation when it came to bridesmaids. Some wore the same colour but a different dress and some wore the same dress but in different colours. Whatever you choose for your bride tribe – don’t stress over it – your girls have got your back!  I can’t wait to see what the rest of my 2019 weddings bring! ( You can see some of my previous bridal parties getting ready here! ) 

One important question I hear a lot is ‘Just how many bridesmaids should I have?’ and ‘How many is too many?’ And the answer is…..Well, there isn’t one! Some ladies have a whole heard of friends that they want to share the experience with them, some just a select few. There’s no right and wrong. It’s certainly a case of quality over quantity and it’s down to you who you want with you on your day.  One of my brides last year had 20 bridesmaids – seriously! ( And no before you ask I didn’t have to get them all ready! ) 

As I’m sure all bridesmaids will agree its an honour to be asked to support someone in that way on their big day and it’s a real privilege. So no matter how many ladies you have in your tribe, whether it’s 2 or 20 then don’t forget that its your day, and you can have whoever and whatever you like! 

I look forward to joining you all! 

Katie x 

Or perhaps…. ”If i bring my own make up will it cost less?”

This might sound strange to some of you but both of these questions are things that myself and other make up artists get asked on a regular basis! Now don’t get me wrong, I can see the logic behind the thought process but I wanted to just take my time to answer them both in case you’re reading this and you have wondered the same…

Believe me when I say that ‘natural’ make up is an art in itself. To create the illusion of someone looking flawless and glowing, without looking like their skin has any product upon it, without it sliding off throughout the course of a 14 hour day is no easy feat! Natural make up simply does not mean less make up. Infact for a lot of ladies who don’t usually wear make up the natural look I create for them probably seems as if I’m putting so many products on their face that until they can actually see the finished result, they’re a little nervous as to just what I’m doing with all that make up! The key here is to know your products. My kit is full of premium brands and trusted products. Items that I know will last you and make you look your very best, whilst still keeping you ‘natural’. A skilled make up artist will know what and how to use  different items to suit your own individual skin type, texture and needs in order to reach the goal of ‘natural’ beautiful bride.

For this same reason its important that you listen to the advice of your make up artist and trust them when they say that your go to liner that you love so much that easily lasts you 4 hours whilst your our for dinner might not be the best option when you’re wanting something to last you all day and night on the wedding day. Or perhaps the powder that looks ‘ok’ to you,  won’t photograph well and you’ll end up with flashback in your photos.  If there is something you use that you really do love then chances are I probably have a variation of it and something very similar that I can assure you will last the distance! All of the products within my kit I know, I like and I trust. As I leave you on the wedding morning I know for sure that you re going to look just as amazing at 10pm as you do at 10am. It’s my job to ensure that I have confidence in what I’m using and that it’s going do react and ‘do’ exactly what I want it too! One exception to this is lipstick. I always advise my brides and their bridal parties to have a lipstick to hand for top ups throughout the day. As much as you might want it to chances are after that first kiss and that last course you’re going to want to reapply. Some brides even choose a different colour to put on for the evening so they can change up their look for when the party gets into full swing and the lights go down! 

Seriously though, you know how you like to look and you know what you look like when you feel good.  A preview session not only allows me to complete your look in full so I know what to use on the day itself,  but it allows a chance for you to see it too. So many brides tell me that seeing how they are going to look on their wedding day makes everything seem so much more real and it’s important that you feel comfortable and confident in my understanding and interpretation of the look you want me to create for you. Think of it like a ‘play’ time –  we can try a few different ideas, I might be able to make some suggestions that you perhaps hadn’t considered and then as it all finally comes together you will leave confident that you will look like the most beautiful bride! 

If you have any questions , no matter how silly you might think they are , then please do just drop me an email and ask away! 

I look forward to hearing from you! 

Some things never go out of fashion… Thursday Throwback, a classic bridal hair and make up look 

Well, at least thats what they say isn’t it?! I’m not totally convinced that thats always the case ( think shell suits and neon PVC scrunchies! ) but there are certainly a few things I can think of that back up this rule and classic bridal hair and make up is one of them.

Traditionally, when someone comments that they want a ‘classic’ look they mean natural, glowing, dewy, flawless….(you get where I’m going with this!!) They mean that they want something elegant and timeless, something that looks ‘like them’ and not a fashion or fad decision.

Most brides understand that on their wedding day they need to look like their usual self, only enhanced. It’s not every day you have a hair and make up artist on hand, professionally trained to create the perfect look for you is it! ( Not unless you’re a celebrity or just extremely lucky! ) Although you want to make the most of their skills and expertise its important to trust your artist when they tell you that they don’t need to make you appear ‘different.’

So many of my brides want to try something that they don’t normally go for and I encourage that 100%. However, when I’ve created the beautiful updo that you thought you wanted because it looked so lovely on the picture you’ve shown me from pinterest, and you realise actually that you hate your ears and this style leaves them really exposed – to the point it makes you hunch your shoulders in an attempt to hide them – then I can tell we have a problem! This isn’t to say that you can’t have this beautiful style, we just need to make a few tweaks and you need to be open to the fact that actually, to make this style work for you we need to adapt it slightly.

What I would describe as a  ‘classic’ look would be what we went for here, with my beautiful bride Becky. A low gathered chignon at the nape of her neck with a little added height shows off her face and features beautifully. A swept fringe and side part adds softness whilst the curls are something that she perhaps wouldn’t always do herself. Her make up was kept ‘classic’ and natural, highlighting her beautiful bone structure with subtle use of light and shade. We enhanced her eyes with lashes to really make them stand out and we used soft and muted eyeshadow to carve out the shape of her eyes. 

It’s been years since Becky married the lovely Danny at High Rocks , Kent and yet still her elegant and timeless style is one I’m asked about over and over again. It was all captured beautifully by Hollie Carlin, a female Kent based wedding photographer who is simply fantastic at taking natural, light photos ( be sure to check her out! ) 

If you’re still not sure on your ‘look’ then a preview session is the best way to try out a few ideas and help you gain a bit of clarity on what you might like for your big day. if you want to chat then please do give me a call – I’m always at the end of the phone if you need a chat!