Thursday Throwback – Claire and James wedding at Goodnestone Park

Sometimes, when I get to see the professional images back from a photographer it’s simply too hard to select just five, or six. This was a struggle to cut it down to just 10! These fabulous images were taken by James Richard and they capture the morning I had with Claire just perfectly. Claire herself was one of those girls that you instantly just like. Chatty, warm and not to mention beautiful, she was blessed to have the most wonderful selection of friends and bridesmaids around her – all of whom had ventured to the stunning Goodnestone House for their wedding weekend. 

The morning with this lot was full of laughter and typically everything you would want a ‘wedding morning’ to be. Being at the venue itself meant there was no need to work to the timescale of having to get transport or allow for traffic, and often this plays a big part in helping everything remain relaxed and calm. Obviously the other major thing that helps with this is exactly WHO you decide to have around you on the wedding morning. Claire’s lovely mum joined us, along with her four bridesmaids. Now these girls get 10/10 from me when it comes to the bridesmaid stakes! They were attentive, chilled and funny ( I’d like to tell you that it was me making the bridesmaid laugh in the photo below but I have a feeling it was the other way round! ) oh and they clearly have their priorities in order – ensuring they got the perfect selfie before they head off! 

Claire opted for natural, flawless bridal make up using airbrush to give her that ‘real skin’ finish. Her hair was twisted and woven into a ‘tail’ style, a modern take on a traditional half up, half down style which gives a little more structure and interest. We framed her face with soft waves and added a long veil to compliment her breathtaking gown. The bridesmaids in red were a beautiful contrast, bold and striking – as you can see from the images. I have to also mention the flowers – they really were something else! Louise at East Kent Flower Company produced the most amazing hanging decorative pieces , fixed to the ceiling of their marquee which ‘see-through’ exterior gave 360 views of the outside surroundings. Seriously breathtaking stuff! 

So we’re three months into 2019 now, I’m still eating chocolate for breakfast and still trying to stay on top of  everything admin wise ( I give it another week at best! ) .

I’m definitely one of those people who like to have a goal. I work better when I have a target to strive for and I’m a great believer in the law of attraction too. With that in mind, I’ve started thinking about just what I want to achieve ‘business wise’ over the coming months ( years even! )  so I’ve compiled the list below. Some of them are bigger than others, some perhaps slightly more realistic too (!!) but I’m sure that with a little help I’ll find a way to tick everything off one way or another! Over the past few years, my goals have been to get a front page feature on a bridal magazine (my gorgeous bride, photographed by Kerry Ann Duffy achieved this! ) to win the Kent Wedding Awards (tick!) , and to speak on stage at Salon International. In October last year I presented a bridal hair demo on their New Talent stage with my wonderful red haired model Sam ( you can see some of my snaps below ) and it just goes to show that if you put your mind to it – nothing is out of reach!

So here’s what I have so far…

Dreamland. I’d love to style a retro bride at Dreamland, Margate. It’s a theme park in Kent that’s undergone some extensive renovations over the past few years in order to restore it to at least some of its former glory! The whole place, the history of it, the quirkiness – really appeals to me and I’d love to have some photos that show off this creative side of my bridal work! It’s fairy local to me too so quite achievable. If you haven’t considered it as a venue possibility for your day then be sure to take a look!

Destination Wedding. Italy. It’s so romantic. The type of bride that travels to Italy for their big day is relaxed, elegant and chic. I’d love to opportunity to travel abroad to prepare a bride for her big day. Although the chance has come up a few times over the past few years I’ve never been able to make it work date/time wise so it’s certainly something I’d love to do! If you’re marrying abroad then make sure you get in touch in plenty of time if you’re trying to arrange for your chosen and specific suppliers to be with you! ( obviously if you need me to come to the Maldives on honeymoon with you also then I’ll certainly consider that too! )

Barefoot bride. Think flowers, braids and boho chic. Maybe it’s a forest, possibly even a beach! The kind of bride that is ‘at one’ with nature and surroundings, who’s big day is beautiful, relaxed, simple and a little bit magical.

Fancy dress wedding. This is a total goal! The type of wedding that you’re asked to come in costume or theme. It might be Medieval, it might be 1930’s – who knows! A certain look, a certain vibe – amazing!

Hair that touches the floor. Ok, so maybe this is one of my slightly trickier requests but I would love to style the hair of someone who’s hair is so long that it reaches the floor ( or very close ! ) I’m thinking Rapunzel type locks that take hours to braid. If you have long long long hair , or know anyone who does who might like to model for me – we need to talk!

Disneyland Bride. You can get married at Disneyland. Fact. If you want to fly me over to the American one that’s fine too, but I’m equally as happy to just jump on the Eurostar and head to Paris! ( I’m not fussy! ) I’m a big fan of the ‘Princess meets her handsome Prince’ scene and what better place to experience that than by tying the knot at the ‘happiest place on earth!’.

London Weddings. In the past, I haven’t tended to venture into the big city too much but I have a feeling that might change this year!  Some of the most exclusive, beautiful inner city venues including The Savoy, Kensington Palace and some of the old libraries would make the most perfect backdrop for bridal shots. I’m also a massive fan of the ‘typically London’ big red buses and quaint ‘tea party’ style  weddings that we are seeing so much more of now. If you’re getting married anywhere unusual or special around our lovely London city then I’d love to be a part of that!

Rainbow hair. I love hair that is any kind of un natural colour. I really do. Pink, green, blue- whatever! The more colour combinations the better! It looks amazing twisted into an intricate updo or braided –  I could literally play for hours! Even if it’s just for the purposes of a shoot , or simply with the intention of making me happy – if you fancy giving me free reign on your colourful locks then we need to talk!

I’m sure as the months pass there will be plenty more requests that I could add to this list so I’ll leave it at that for now. If you can help with any of them be sure to drop me a message. Weddings simply don’t have to be traditional anymore. Although there is something really special about a classic, timeless bride – please be warned – if that’s not who you are then don’t try and fit yourself into the mould just for that one day because you feel like it’s what you ‘should’ be doing. Your wedding day should be a reflection of the two of you, the things you love, shared with the people who love you. If that means you’re eating takeaway pizza on picnic rugs– amazing!  If you’re drinking home made cocktails in mums back garden – brilliant! If you have the most amazing champagne reception on one of the worlds tallest buildings – wow! If you make your day personal, and remember that it really is all about the two of you – nothing else- then you simply can’t go wrong! ( And don’t let anyone convince you otherwise! )

I cant wait to hear your ideas! ( I’m off back to my chocolate…! )

Thursday Throwback – The Orangery, Maidstone, Kent 

On Sat 14^thJuly  2018 I had the pleasure of providing wedding hair and make up services for Claire and her mum at the beautiful venue The Orangery, Maidstone.

The venue itself has a separate room, named the Wisteria Suite, which brides are allowed to access from 9am. It’s a large room with plenty of light and space so ideal for getting everyone together, and with plenty of space for everyone to get ready. The bonus of being on site is that you can relax in the knowledge that once you and your bridal party are ready its just a short walk away from the venue, ready for the best day of your life!

Claire has the most beautiful long blonde hair so when she said about how she would like to wear it up in a classic up do I was excited to create that for her. We went for gentle waves and curls twisted into a low chignon with a little height at the crown. We left soft waves down around the front of the face from the hairline to frame her face and make the whole style look soft and ‘undone’. The result was a truly romantic up do  which complimented her features perfectly. 

For Claire’s Wedding make up we kept it soft and fresh, adding a slight cool tone for her eyes to bring out their gorgeous colour. Using airbase airbrush make up we were able to make Claire’s skin flawless , adding a fresh pink blush and golden highlight to finish.  We also used my very favourite lashes , Ardell Demi Wispies to really give the eyes some drama and make them stand out even more.

Claires Mum, like most mums, was keen to look amazing for her daughters big day. We added waves and volume to her hair to compliment her stunning hat! Her make up was kept fresh and light, again using airbrush make up to even out her skin tone to ensure that she too looked flawless for the photographs.

Thankyou to Louisa Dettmer for these stunning photographs.  If you’d like to talk about your big day , the look you’re wanting to create and how we can make it possible then get in touch, I’d love to hear from you

Katie x 

Hey Love Birds…

So tomorrow is Valentines Day. Valentines Day falls on a Thursday this year. This is an issue for two main reasons:

1. You probably have to get up and go to work on Friday which means you (may) have to limit your Prosecco intake

…and

2. You probably have to be at work on Thursday too (why is it not a bank holiday!?), which seriously eats into your ‘looking absolutely beautiful in time for a romantic valentines dinner, ready to get picked up at 7pm even though you only got in at 5:45pm’ time scale! 

Prep is key, especially when you know that you want to look good but time is limited . Wash, blow dry and straighten your hair the night before hand and you’ll save lots of time (well, you’ll have more time to decide between your six new outfit choices at the very least).

Fear not, one thing you won’t need to worry about is your hair. I’ve devised three super easy hair styles that can all be completed in just five steps and all take less than five minutes each. The biggest issue will be deciding which one to go for!

Date Night Hairstyle Style No. 2

‘All Tied Up’

I love this easy chignon. It’s on trend, cute and fashionable and especially easy if you’re in a rush but still want to make a statement.

Step 1: Pull your hair into a low ponytail at the nape of your neck and secure with an elastic.

Step 2: Select your scarf/ribbon/fabric of choice and find the middle. Tie this around your elastic so equal lengths remain either side.

Step 3: Separate your hair into three strands so you can begin to plait. Use a light spray of texture spray or dry shampoo. I love Batiste Dry Shampoo (it’s not only for greasy hair you know!). Add one side of your remaining scarf to the left side of your three strands, and add the other the right side. The only section not containing fabric will be the middle section.

Step 4: Braid the hair into a basic three strand plait. Your chosen accessory will become woven amongst the hair and look like part of the plait. When you reach the bottom secure with an elastic.

Step 5: Holding the bottom of your braid, wind the hair up onto your head and around the elastic at the bottom of your neck. Secure into place with hair grips. Voila!

Hope this helps, told you it was easy!

So easy in fact that you can almost sneak off to the ‘ladies room’ on work time to get it done before you run out the door as you’re counting down to home time (but if anyone asks then I didn’t even suggest that!).

Please do like, share and if you want any more inspiration have a look here at the GALLERY pages.  

Happy Valentines Day everyone!

Katie x

So, it’s that time again… The first day of the month, a brand new year, a fresh new start…

But even more than that it’s a chance to stop and take a moment to look back over the last year, those 12 stupidly long yet ridiculously quick months which are nothing more than a blur now! In fact its easy to forget just how much you’ve managed. In fact I’ve worked out that I’ve completed around 70 weddings in 2018, plus wedding day hair styling for approximately 262 additional people in the bridal parties, and even 198 (–ish) additional make ups! That of course doesn’t include the preview sessions, the event hair and make up styling, the birthday hair ups, the Christmas works do makes up, the training, the master classes – and of course everything in between! 2018 has been a whirl wind, I’ve even managed to squeeze in around 2 and a half months of holidays and a little one starting school!

I always joke with my clients that ‘I don’t go to work, I go to weddings!’ and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Imagine a job where you get to turn up on the happiest day of someone’s life, enjoy the entire build up of the morning with them, make them look incredible –  and still make it home for a late lunch! I simply don’t know what it feels like anymore to have a ‘bad day at work!’

January 1^stlast year started at the gorgeous local venue that is Old Kent Barn for Rebecca’s Wedding. What a fabulous way to spend the very first morning of my new year at such a beautiful wedding with such fabulous people. And what a day to it! Starting off your new year with a wedding!  January finished on a high also as I exhibited at Detling show ground, a fab one stop shop for brides in Kent who are looking for local and fabulous suppliers to help with their every need! Seriously, everything from light up dance floors to drones can be found here and the show is not only a great way for me to promote myself and what I do but its also a great way to meet so many of my lovely brides and put faces to the names on my booking forms!

February was an amazing month. I spent almost the entirety of it in the gorgeous Thailand, working my way from beach to beach, bathing elephants and eating my body weight in noodles! I made it back just in time for the end of the month and the weddings of Emily and Lucy. Lucy used to be a manager of mine when I worked at Claire’s accessories ( longer ago than I even care to remember! ) so it was so nice to see her again!

In March I got to see my brother who returned home from Gibraltar for the wedding of his best friend Sarah. An honorary male bridesmaid – luckily for him she allowed him to simply match his tie to the bridesmaids girls dresses!

April was a crazy month for trials and preview sessions. Even the enquiries seem to rocket around this time too! It’s a busy time for mid week weddings, I had three weddings for brides called ‘Michelle’ this month ( random! ) and I always know when there’s a half term coming as I start to get wedding bookings on Mondays and Tuesday of the same week. So many teachers opt for mid week half term dates and they get booked up fast!

In May we had the biggest wedding of all – the royal one! I , like many others, waited in keen anticipation to see just what Meghan’s dress would look like and how she would style her hair and make up. She looked beautiful, effortlessly stunning – Harry is a very lucky man! This was also the month that I planned a styled shoot down at Herne Bay  to showcase a vintage/boho type beach wedding vibe. The new venue at the end of the pier Beach Hut Weddings makes a fabulous alternative to a small and intimate ceremony otherwise held in a registry office for those looking for something a little bit different. . The beach front made the perfect backdrop for our sunny day shoot and I’m so pleased with the photos ( Simon Hawkins weddings)  A big thankyou to Jen from Country Brides for the use of some gorgeous gowns, my two wonderful models, and everyone else who helped bring it all together on the day!

June was the month I got to work with the photographer who took my wedding photos many years ago! Tony Gamerio shot the beautiful Christinas day at Port Lympne mansion house and she was a simply stunning bride.

July was a busy one – a special mention goes to Gill who celebrated her 70^thbirthday with friends and family by getting married at the gorgeous Westernhanger castle. An old friend Kelly finally got the wedding she had been dreaming of with her twins Isla and George making the most gorgeous flower girl and page boy and her dad surprising her by hiring a stunning vintage car to take her to the venue! Suzanne, another bride with another gorgeous daughter, looked incredible on her big day at The Orangery – complete vintage bridal glam! And lastly, not forgetting Levi who married at The Gardens, Yalding who’s husband to be was a DJ and had compiled a complete wedding morning ‘radio show’ for her to listen to, featuring a variety of messages from friends and family, stories and songs. Absolutely the best wedding morning soundtrack I think I will ever hear!

August, yet another crazy busy month. I had the pleasure of 17 brides this month and saw the back of a ten day wedding stint– exhausted was not the word!  I was back again to Old Kent Barn for Emma who has the most fabulous hair, styled with extensions we managed to create the most impressive mass of curls and twists – absolute princess hair dreams! And at the barn again for Jenny who was an absolute pleasure, not to mention and absolute hoot ( I miss you Jenny! ). I do of course have to mention  Jolie who married at Westernhanger too, Mum arranged for them to all turn up in a limo on the morning and one of my favourite photos from the whole year I think is mum after she clambered into the roll top bath , complete with prosecco, dressing gown and hat!

I always love September, as it’s my birthday month. I spent the beginning of the month styling Amy, ( a friend I’d made at baby massage four years ago! ) for her big day and it was so lovely to see their wonderful family photos! On my birthday I had the pleasure of providing hair and make up to Nikki and her bridesmaids, which she made extra special by not only remembering that it was my birthday -but also by buying me chocolates! Thank you Nikki, that was really kind of you!

October was quite a month… I made two more visits back to the Old Kent Barn, Denise went for the most stunning vintage glam look which I absolutely loved creating and Louise somehow managed to pull it all together with a grand total of  22 bridesmaids. Yes, that’s not a typo – 22 ! ( I didn’t have to do all their hair and make up don’t worry! ) Weddings aside , I had another great Wedding fair at Detlingwhere I showcased the magic of AIRBASE airbrush make up to lots of interested brides to be and It was also the month I was asked to showcase my work on stage at the prestigious hairdressing trade show in London Salon International. I created a bridal inspired floral updo for my lovely model Sam and had the best time presenting to an audience of stylists and professionals –  Massive tick on the bucket list!

November,  things slowed a little and finally I can breathe! I was delighted to be selected once again as a finalist for The Kent Wedding Awards. I won the award back in 2016 and have been making sure I work hard to keep my name on their finalist list ever since I first applied back in 2015. It’s a great way for local suppliers to showcase their work and the pride they take in it. It’s also a great chance to meet other industry professionals who’s work you admire and who you often see in passing at so many weddings throughout the busy year!

Finally we come to December, which always seems to fly by anyway! My best friends sister Emma married and looked stunning in her princess dress complete with dramatic make up and classic red lip! I had an early Christmas present two days before Christmas when I found out I had been selected as a finalist for the Hitched awards ( please be sure to vote for me ! ) a massive achievement and I’m really proud to have been considered for something that I consider to be such a big deal – fingers crossed!!!  Even after all that ,  (like I needed any other excuse to end this year on a high! ) , I finished my brides of 2018 on December 30^ththis year with the fabulous Rhea and Fiona. There are not enough lovely words to describe these fun and full of life ladies, I am sure their day would have been just as enchanting as the two of them – least of all because they held it at the stunning Wotton House .  My first visit to this grand venue did not disappoint – if you’re looking for somewhere breath taking to hold your big day be sure to check it out!

Of course that’s not even close to mentioning every single one of the wonderful brides I had the pleasure of working with this year. Your trust and faith in me to bring your visions to life on your big day allow me to continue to do what I love. I take so much pleasure seeing all the photos and reading all the testimonials, the thank you cards you send are so appreciated, and the personal recommendations you give honestly mean the world to me.  Luckily for me I seem to attract the nicest ladies ( to the point where lots of you will probably have disappointedly asked me for my favourite ‘bridezilla moment’ story only to find that infact I don’t actually have one! ). Seriously, it sounds cliché but I love what I do and all of you make that possible. Thank you for supporting my dream and my business throughout 2018. I can’t wait to meet all of my 2019 brides! Every single person who reads a post, clicks a link, casts a vote, tells a friend, shares and likes – you all help me massively! And like I always say , I am so so grateful that ‘I don’t go to work, I go to weddings’.

Cheers to 2019 – Hope you all have a fabulous year!