Unveiling the Top Bridal Accessory Trends for 2023

Unveiling the Top Bridal Accessory Trends for 2023

Unveiling the Top Bridal Accessory Trends for 2023

A bride with bridal hair accessories - Unveiling the Top Bridal Accessory Trends for 2023

As we approach the 2023 bridal season we’re seeing a whole new host of wedding hair and makeup ideas and inspiration for your bridal style

Right about now, lots of wedding companies are launching their new bridal collections and ranges and there are some amazing pieces that I just had to share with you! Hopefully , whatever your wedding day hair and makeup style, this lot will give you some added inspiration …

The Bobby Pin. The most beautiful ( and extensive ) collection of Wedding hair accessories. This company are perfect if you wany delicate, feminine pieces to adorn your wedding hair upstyle ( one of my favourite being the gorgeous ‘Ela’ ) Be sure to go check them out!

Instagram: @thebobbypinuk

Wedding hats. No longer just reserved for mother of the bride, there are so many ways in which you can include a hat or fascinator into your bridal look. I love some of the inspiration from Jayne Taylor, handmade luxury headwear … head over to the page below to check them out

Instagram: @jtmillinery

Ok, so this final one I know isn’t technically directly related to wedding hair and makeup but still well worth a share. Plus – your wedding hair and makeup would look simply amazing when placed next to one of these handmade dresses. I’ve been a fan of Lucy Can’t Dance for a while now and I just love the colourful adaptations they make to the traditional white wedding dress. They’re super inclusive, personal and bespoke … check them out!

Instagram: @lucy_cant_dance

Oh and finally, I couldn’t not mention these beautiful pieces send to me from Sweet V , how amazing do they look, and they’re just a couple of some beautiful pieces you can find on their website….don’t forget to tell them Katie sent you!

Sweet V Accessories Collection

 

Top bridal accessory trends from Sweet V - Unveiling the Top Bridal Accessory Trends for 2023
Top bridal accessory trends from Sweet V - Unveiling the Top Bridal Accessory Trends for 2023
Top bridal accessory trends from Sweet V - Unveiling the Top Bridal Accessory Trends for 2023
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Kent Wedding Awards Winner in the Bridal Hair Category

Kent Wedding Awards Winner in the Bridal Hair Category

Kent Wedding Awards Winner in the Bridal Hair Category

In 2021/2022 I was awarded winner of the Bridal hair category for the Kent Wedding Awards. The awards are a way for local wedding industry supplier to gain recognition for what they do ( and a good excuse to network and have fun for the evening with wedding supplier that you only otherwise see at the actual weddings! )

The first time I won this award back in 2016 I managed to make it to the awards ceremony and be there to collect my trophy in person. In contrast this last time I had just given birth and was asleep before the ceremony even started, ( missing the live stream altogether…! ) It wasn’t until the 3am feed when I woke to messages of congratulations from my colleges in the wedding industry that I realised I had in fact won!

For me personally, the awards are an important way to gain recognition for what I do. Being a bridal hair and makeup artist is the best job in the world ( maybe I’m slightly bias … ! ) And having people acknowledge your success, and that you’re doing what you love well enough to be noticed, praised and even win awards for it is such a wonderful feeling!

Over the years many brides have come to recognise the Kent Wedding Awards logo , the ‘little pink heart’, to be the sign of a quality wedding supplier. It provides them with reassurance and confidence that the business they choose is one that they know takes pride in what they do.

A wedding day is the absolute best day of your life, and you spend time, money and effort into making sure that it all comes together perfectly. A big part of that is down to the suppliers you select and the people you put your trust in to work with you, and for you, on all aspects of the day itself. For me, as a bridal hair and makeup artist, I am often one of the first people a bride sees on the wedding morning, and I’m often with the bride and the bridal party for hours while we get everyone ready. I’m often the one who provides the reassurance to a nervous bride, helps with any last minute extras and even manages the timeline of the morning so that everyone is ready with time to spare for photos and maybe even a quick drink at the end!

I’ve provided hair and makeup services for over 500 brides, so I’ve had my fair share of experience when it comes to wedding mornings! Honestly, I still love it just as much now as I did back when I started 10 years ago. It’s so lovely to be recognised for what I do and winning awards is the icing on the cake. If you’re a supplier entering this years Kent Wedding Awards then good luck, and if you’re a bride looking for suppliers for your big day be sure to check out the Kent Wedding Awards website where you will find extensive lists of Kent based Wedding suppliers – everything from Toastmasters to Teepees! – ready and willing to help make your day as stress free ( and amazing ) as possible!

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Trending Wedding Day Haircuts to Make You Look Stunning

Trending Wedding Day Haircuts to Make You Look Stunning

Trending Wedding Day Haircuts to Make You Look Stunning

A bride with wedding day haircut trend and a groom dancing on their wedding ceremony.

If you’re hanging around on social media then you’ve probably seen the latest trend of ‘wedding day haircuts’. As a wedding hair and makeup artist I absolutely LOVE the idea of someone being brave enough to go for the chop part way through their own wedding day.

For those of you that don’t have a clue what I’m talking about …Basically, the Bride completes the wedding ceremony with her hair styled in one way, and then sits in the chair before the evening guests arrive ( sometimes even as a complete surprise for their partner! ) and has it all cut off! A quick search on instagram or tik tok and you’ll quickly see what I mean.

Now I can honestly say that no bride has ever asked me to cut her hair on her wedding day…sadly. ( If you’re considering it please do ask me as I would jump at the chance! ) I would seriously love the chance to make such a dramatic change for someone as a part of their wedding day but it would certainly take some confidence, and a lot of trust on the part of the Bride!

Most ladies choose their wedding hair style on the basis of their dress, the neckline of the dress, and inspiration pictures they’ve found on pinterest when searching for ‘wedding hair’. This new trending wedding day haircuts just goes to show that actually there’s no such thing as typical ‘wedding hair’.

Wedding hair is simply the hair you wear on your wedding day – whatever that may be. I’m always telling my brides that just because its your wedding day, and just because you’re a bride, doesn’t mean you have to do something or wear anything that doesn’t feel 100% authentic to you. There’s no right or wrong way to be a Bride, and there’s no right or wrong style when it comes to Bridal.

The advice I give to my brides goes something like this….If you don’t normally wear your hair up because you hate your ears, then your wedding day probably isn’t the time to start. If you don’t usually wear red lipstick – even though it looks fabulous on the girl on pinterest, – again, it probably isn’t the day to start wearing it yourself!

The other thing to consider when it comes to your wedding day hair and makeup is that you can think a little ‘bigger’ than you normally would. By this I mean if the only reason you never wear your hair up in anything but a high ponytail is because you don’t know how to do anything other than a high ponytail then make sure you maximise the opportunity for your big day!

Take full advantage of the fact that you have a professional wedding hair stylist on hand able to help you create a look even better than what you can probably imagine! So many brides just don’t see what their own hair type is capable of and it’s just the best feeling when I’m able to create something that exceeds their expectations of their own hair!

So if you’re not sure, or you’re feeling a little disheartened about what you think you can or cant achieve when it comes to your wedding hair then get in touch. Id love to chat with you about what’s possible ( and maybe even try and talk you into a wedding day hair cut perhaps…?! )

Katie

p.s. here’s a link to exactly what I’m talking about! Would you brave it?!

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Wedding Day Preparation Venues: Where to Get Ready for Your Big Day

Wedding Day Preparation Venues: Where to Get Ready for Your Big Day

Wedding Day Preparation Venues: Where to Get Ready for Your Big Day

A hair and make-up artist getting ready the bride for her wedding day.

As a wedding hair and makeup artists it’s my job to come to you on the wedding morning and get the bride and the bridal party hair and makeup ready for the big day. Over the years I’ve managed to fine tune my kit, prep for any make up eventuality, and even pack an extra little ‘just in case’ kit for those last minute ‘oops’ moments! As much as I love to make sure I’m prepared and ready to do my job to the very best of my ability, one thing I simply cant control is where my brides choose to get ready on their wedding morning.

For some the decision is easily made as they are offered a prep room at their venue. This is ideal, no travel time to consider and often the rooms are large enough to accommodate the entire bridal party and then all of the suppliers that are involved too including videographers and photographers, as well as myself and any assistants that I may have.

One of my favourite venues Cooling Castle Barn have a purpose build room with styling stations, a comfy sofa and large widows for plenty of natural light. Another favourite of mine, The Old Kent Barn, has a beautiful dressing room, complete with hanging space for several dresses and outfits and a fully stocked hot drink station too!

However some venues, especially the more rustic ones, can mean that there isn’t a dedicated or purpose built space to get ready. This might mean issues like lack of natural light, no plug sockets, no mirrors, and restricted space to accommodate a group of people such as a wedding party on the morning with the space for them all to get ready and dressed.

Kent based Sam Beaney has provided brides with her very own solution to this exact problem in the form of The Pretty Prep Studios. Now local ‘Brides to be’ looking for a suitable and best space to get the absolute most from their wedding morning can host it at the studios and have everything they need all in one place.

The studio is light, bright and both feminine and floral. With various styling stations, seating areas and even a separate kitchen. There is a second main room, where brides can get into their dress and make all the final touches with large mirrors and simple yet tasteful décor meaning that the studio lends itself perfectly, whatever your bridal theme. The natural light and various styling stations and plug sockets means that this really is the ideal place for your wedding hair and makeup prep, with so much space for us to work in both comfort and style!

So if your getting married in Kent and worried that your venue doesn’t have the space or the set up to accommodate everything you might need on your wedding morning then make sure you check out The Pretty Prep Studios, and contact Sam directly to book a show round!

 Photographer- @shotbyjfk

 

A hair and make-up artist getting ready the bride for her wedding day.
A bride getting ready herself on her wedding day.
A bride getting ready herself on her wedding day.
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Hair for a boho bridal shoot

Hair for a boho bridal shoot

Hair for a boho bridal shoot

One of the things I love most about my job is the people I get to meet. Not only brides and their families on the wedding day but suppliers too.

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of joining a few talented creative for a small intimate bridal portfolio shoot at Herbert Hall Winery.

Together we created a boho bridal look, perfect for any brides wanting a more festival, outdoor vibe for their big day.

For the hair I prepped with salt spray and curled to create a beachy style wave. My models highlighted hair worked perfectly with the curls , showcasing the different tones and textures within her hair.

It’s really important that brides consider their hair colour for their wedding hair choices. Lots of images you find online may be of blonde, multi tonal hair as often this is the colour that will show off the detail and intricacy of a style. Sometimes hair that is one colour, brown for example, can mean that detail can be lost. When searching for your own wedding hair inspiration try and find something that is created on a hair colour similar to that of your own. This way, it means that you can see a more true reflection of what the same style might look like in your own hair.

To give a relaxed boho vibe to the style I added lots of texture and height by twisting and wrapping the hair. This complimented the flower crown that we later added and meant that the second hair piece, a vine from LORNA TIARA could weave amongst the folds of the hair.

I also added braiding in a variety of forms. With a style like this it’s fun to experiment with various patterns within the hair. Again, this not only shows off the various colours, but really personalises a style for a bride. No two brides are the same and no two hairstyles I create are exactly the same either.

To see more images from this shoot head over to www.instagram.com/phoebemelissafilm

I’ve also listed some of the other suppliers below so be sure to check them out too!

Makeup @samiandrews_makeup

Flowers @elizarose_artizanflorist

Venue @Herberthallwinery

Model @pooleee_

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Working safe

Working safe

A September Wedding at The Oak Grove, Kent // Gemma and Matt

Things aren’t what they used to be, and for me, working on a wedding morning and providing bridal hair and makeup services simply isn’t the same as it was last year. However, I just wanted to take this chance to reassure you all that despite the restrictions and changes I am still very excited to join those of you that are still going ahead as planned for your big day this year!

Like I mentioned, there have been some changes so there’s a few things I just want to let you know…

I will be wearing a mask

Probably one of the most common changes is that like many of you are doing on a daily basis, I too now have to wear a mask whilst working. This may mean that I want to take a few extra pauses throughout the duration of your appointment, or stop for a drink. Please know that if you want to pause at any time or stop then that’s fine too! I’m allowing for things to take a little longer so please do just say.

I will be wearing a visor- or goggles

Part of my insurance terms is that I wear a face covering over my eyes in addition to my mask. This may be a visor, or goggles. I know I look a bit like a crazy scientist but again, this is so I can be sure that I am keeping both myself, and you safe at all times.

Only 6 people plus myself can be in the room at any one time

This is currently a requirement that must be enforced. I am only able to work in a room with no more than 6 people. If others are in other rooms then I am more than happy to provide a schedule for you so that everyone is aware of where they are needed at what exact time.

You don’t have to wear a mask to get your make up done

When I’m doing your make up I will be wearing mask and visor but you don’t have to. If you would like to wear a mask whilst I work on your eyes/brows etc then that’s fine, just let me know and I’ll tell you the points at which I need you to take it off.

If you feel unwell please tell me

If you want to pause during our service then please just ask I am happy to give you a few moments to take a breath or garb a drink. If you feel that you are too unwell to have your hair and make up service then please do let me know before we start. Anyone displaying symptoms or a temperature will be unable to have their appointment and should seek medical advice. Again, this is for everyone’s safety and it’s important that you are honest if you feel that you should not or can not go ahead.

I’ll be separating and cleaning as I go

You may notice that I put certain things into bags , or use a spray etc. This is just to ensure that I am doing everything I can to make sure that everything is being kept as clean as possible for you.

Please ask!

If you have any questions about anything then please do just ask! This is new to all of us so I am more than happy to talk through the restrictions and requirements with you if you’d like to chat about them in more detail.

The important thing to know is that even despite all of this, it is still possible to have the most amazing wedding day – and I really can’t wait to join you!

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