Things to read when you’re a bride to be

Things to read when you’re a bride to be

Things to read when you’re a bride to be

So, other than heading to your nearest supermarket and stocking up on every magazine you can see with the word ‘bride’ in the title – where exactly to brides to be go to get their wedding inspiration for their big day?

Below I’ve compiled a short list of some of the most popular options when it comes to getting yourself wedding ready. Whether you’re just getting ideas or you’re in full blown wedding planning mode , check out the resources below

YOUR KENT WEDDING MAGAZINE

Your Kent wedding: A popular magazine for Kent Brides gives you the option to read their latest edition online. An easy way to access the latest bridal trends and get some inspiration from their Real brides features too.

https://www.yourkent.wedding/free-download

ROCK AND ROLL BRIDE

Rock and Roll Bride: If you’re planning an alternative wedding or if you just want some fresh new ideas that don’t meet with the typical ‘traditional’ wedding requirements then check out Rock and Roll bride. It’s an online website packed with content about how you can make your wedding different. They also produce a magazine that you can order directly from their site. A great source of alternative inspiration, the editor Kat Williams also has a book for brides to be that want to do things a little different.

https://www.rocknrollbride.com

DIY WEDDING MANUAL BOOK

The DIY Wedding Manual – The perfect gift for the bride on a budget. If you just don’t know where to start with planning then this book ( available on Amazon ) is recommended as a perfect way to begin the planning process.

WEDDING HAIR AND MAKE UP INSPIRATION

Head over to my ‘Guides for Brides’ page to find lots of inspiration and advice for brides to be. If there’s anything in particular that’s not covered then please do just ask and I’ll happily get something together for you .
You can take a look at my own wedding hair and makeup brochure here and I’ve also compiled a 2021 hair and make up look book for you too. It’s full of 2021 wedding trends and inspiration when it comes to choosing your wedding hair and makeup style so be sure to take a look.

If you have any more suggestions or if you’ve enjoyed any more wedding resources in the run up to your big day then please do share them with me!

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DIY Lip Scrub

DIY Lip Scrub

DIY Lip Scrub

Choosing the right lipstick for your wedding day is one of the most important decisions when it comes to your wedding day make up. What’s just as important though is making sure that you have a good foundation for your make up to be applied to, and that includes your lips too.

Perfect Prep

One of the best ways to make sure your lips are wedding ready is by using a lip scrub. This will act as an exfoliator, removing any dead skin and making sure they are perfectly primed for any lip product to be applied.

Make your own

If you wanted to purchase something then check out Lush Cosmetics They do a beautiful smelling, flavoured lip scrub that I personally have in my own make up bag. If you wanted to try something different then this easy recipe below is a quick and cost-effective way to make your very own sugar lip scrub with natural ingredients that you have at home.

Honey Sugar Lip scrub

  • Mix one teaspoon of honey with two teaspoons of sugar in a small bowl
  • Massage the mixture into your lips and leave for 10 minutes or so

Weekly application

You can find a few variations to this recipe with a quick google so if you wanted to substitute any of the ingredients you’ll be able to find something that will suit you quite easily. Some add vanilla extract, others even add pigment using food coloring.

I’d recommend using something like this on a weekly basis in the run-up to your wedding day so your lips can get into the best possible condition. Keep your lips well moisturized too by using a lip balm, especially at night, and you’ll soon start to see ( and feel ) a noticeable improvement!

Hope this helps!

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Survival guides for blondes

Survival guides for blondes

Survival guides for blondes

So it’s official. We’re stuck in lockdown and this virus means social distancing is the new norm. Until we’re told otherwise that means no visiting family and friends, no shopping, and no hair appointment.

I know you hate your roots, and I know you’ve looked at those box dyes as you make your online shopping order wondering what harm it could do but please….don’t.
Blonde hair is a commitment. It’s like dating the best looking guy in the class – it’s high maintenance and hard work. Everyone wants it, you know it looks good and it makes you feel great! But at the same time you’ll doubt yourself every few weeks when you see that first bit of regrowth and wonder why you ever even started on this ash toned journey! It’s a turbulent ride of toners and shades , lighter, darker, more golden, less warm…. And it’s exhausting. It’s also a financial commitment. You know you’ll be back in that chair every 8 weeks without fail because you have to keep on top of it, you cant possibly go out on Friday night with your roots half way down your head, and when did your natural hair get so dark!? If all this sounds familiar then trust me you’re not alone. Being a blonde is no easy feat – even if they do have more fun. I know the situation isn’t ideal, and lockdown means that on a daily basis you’re trying to find the best light for your office zoom call, so that they cant actually see just how ‘bad’ your hair looks but trust me, no body cares. We’re all in the same predicament at the moment and it’s certainly not worth you cheating on your honey and caramel toned highlights and reaching for the box of brown chocolate home hair colour…

So even if you can’t get to the salon, there are a few things you can do to try and make the whole experience a little easier….on your hair at least.

What are you using to wash your hair?

Are you sure you’re using the right shampoo? Does it suit your hair type and texture? Does it help to maintain your salon colour? Or do you simply but whatever’s on offer in Tesco that week as you grab your shopping? It always surprises me how many people will be pay over £100 for a beautiful hair colour, only to go home and wash it with a £2.99 shampoo they picked up on the high street. There is a reason that stylists will recommend professional products and it’s not just because they want to sell you something more expensive than what you can find yourself, its because they know what your hair needs. They know that the products they recommend are the best way to protect and preserve that beautiful colour or cut they’ve just spent the last few hours tending to so lovingly. They want your hair to look as good as possible because you’re a walking advertisement of what they can do. Have you ever walked out the hairdressers feeling like a million dollars with your new do, only to go home and wash it a few days later and you simply cant recreate whatever magic it was they did in the salon!? Next time you see your stylist take a bit of time to ask questions about what products they think would suit your hair best. In the mean time have a read online about your hair type, colour and style. You might even want to invest in something a little more special. After all, and as they say, ‘’ Your hair is the crown you never take off’ . You might just be surprised at how much information and advice you can find…and what a difference it can make.

Leave in conditioner

If you have a home use leave in conditioner treatment then great. Make sure you use the product as directed and follow the instructions to give your hair a little bit of TLC. If you don’t then there are plenty of DIY recipes to enable you to make your own. Failing that, even just something as small as leaving your conditioner in for a few extra minutes can make a big difference to your hair. When conditioning you don’t need to apply product to the roots, it’s the mid lengths and ends of your hair that need that little bit extra so take a wide tooth comb into the shower and once you’ve applied your conditioning product give your hair a good brush through to ensure its evenly distributed throughout your hair. And turn down that hot tap, rinse your hair with warm, or even better – cool water.

Use Protection.

Before you apply any heat to your hair you should always use protection. This might be in the form of a leave in conditioner balm that you apply before blo drying, or a heat defence spray that you add each morning before you get the straighteners out. Either way it’s really important to use a product that’s going to maintain your hairs integrity. Especially, and even more so, when you’re blonde. Blonde can often be dry, fragile and more prone to damage and breakage. Turn down the heat setting on the hairdryer or the tongs and give your hair a breather.

Embrace an accessory

If you’re just hanging around the house then maybe a scarf or headband can help you disguise the natural colours coming through at your roots. Adding an accessory might help detract your mind from your regrowth and might even give you that encouragement you needed to try out a new style or look ( safe in the knowledge that whilst were in lockdown there’s no way anyone’s going to see it! )

Give your hair a holiday

A heat holiday that is. If you can manage it then why not cut out the heat altogether. Do you really need to ‘do’ your hair to ‘Netflix and chill’ today? Let it dry naturally, embrace your natural waves and wear it loose. Use a comb to brush the knots out when your hair is wet and save your hairbrush for when it’s dry. Soaking wet hair is in a more fragile state than dry hair and tugging at it wont do you any favours. Always brush your hair from the bottom up, don’t start at the top and hack your way down and then wonder why you’ve got a brush full of hair!

Lockdown won’t last forever- but neither will your beautiful blonde hair colour if you don’t look after it! Support your stylist by buying a voucher for as soon as they open up again, or even put your name on the waitlist to be one of the first people to grab an appointment. Everyone’s going through hard times at the moment, don’t make it even harder on your hair by attempting a ‘quick fix! ‘

Look forward to seeing you all again soon!

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10 top tips for your preview session

10 top tips for your preview session

10 top tips for your preview session

So you’ve booked your wedding hair and make up artist…

… Exciting stuff! For some brides to be the preview session is the first time they’ve ever personally met the person that will be making them beautiful on their big day.  It’s really important that you’re fully prepared so I’ve put together my ten top tips in order for you to really get the very best out of your preview session.

1. Book your appointment.

Perhaps the most simple, yet the most important. Some brides leave it right until the last minute and struggle to fit in their session. If you have a specific date in mind then get it booked in – even if it’s a way in advance, it’s worth securing your slot so you’re not left disappointed.

2. Be prepared.

Make sure your hair is clean (preferably washed the night before) and your face is make up free ( or at least be prepared to remove your make upon arrival).

3. Arrive on time.

As simple as it sounds if you’re rushing in flustered and late then you’re not going to be in full ‘wedding’ mode! Lots of brides get nervous for this session and you might find yourself worrying things like ‘will she be able to do what I want? Will I look as good as I want to?  Will the style I want even suit me?‘ Try to relax, together and by the end of the session, we will have rid you of all of those worries I promise!

4. Bring ideas.

If you need a bit of help with this then have a read of my‘Preparing for your Preview session’ guide on the galleries page. It’s full of lots of questions that you might want to get thinking about in preparation for our session.

5. Show me pictures.

It’s so much easier for us to understand one another if we’re able to look at something visual. You might describe to me a ‘smoky eye’ but I can guarantee you that my idea of what that is, and yours, will be different. This leaves much less room for error if I can see what you’re describing.

6. Think about your dress.

If you’ve chosen your dress because you absolutely love the intricate detail around the neck, do you really want a hairstyle that’s going to cover it?

7. Tell me what you don’t like.

As well as wanting to know what you do like, I want to know what you don’t. this helps me be aware of anything that you might not have mentioned before. Maybe you don’t like your hair to be pulled too tightly around your face, or you don’t like your ears on show.

8. Be open to try something new .

Throughout the session, I might make suggestions based on my own experience and knowledge. I might suggest we use a specific colour to ‘open’ your eyes and make them stand out, or a certain lip tone to compliment your skin. We need to find a balance between looking like you, but looking like the very best version that we can possibly create. If you feel confident then you’ll feel good, and if you feel good – you’ll look good.

9. Take pictures.

You not only need to look amazing when people see you in the flesh, but you also want your look to photograph perfectly. Chances are you’ve spent money on a professional photographer so you want to be sure that your ‘look’ is just as good on camera as it is in person.

10. Bring a friend.

Whether its mum or a bridesmaid – whoever. Anyone who knows you and what you like to look like will be able to give you an open and honest opinion on what they think of the look we create. Sometimes it’s a little overwhelming for you to see yourself in a way you never have before so having someone on hand to give a second opinion is always a good idea.

And one more for luck….

11. Be honest

If you don’t like something then say. Please don’t lie, and please don’t think I’ll be offended. I’d be more upset if you went for something that didn’t make you feel comfortable and then looked back on the photos of your day wishing that you hadn’t.  Of course, I won’t let you look anything less than absolutely beautiful but if there’s something that just doesn’t make you feel 100% just say and we can change it.

Preview sessions can get booked up months in advance and whilst I will always do my best to fit you in at a convenient time the earlier you book the more chance there is for you to get the date you want! I general suggest somewhere between 4-8 weeks before the day itself, and if you can make that work with a night out or event then even better!

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Your Wedding Hair and Make Up Checklist

Your Wedding Hair and Make Up Checklist

Your Wedding Hair and Make Up Checklist

If you’re planning your wedding then you’re probably familiar, or perhaps even following, some information you’ve found about when to do what when it comes to your wedding… but what about when it comes to your wedding hair and make up?

Like so many brides, the way you look is almost certainly going to be one of your biggest concerns and it’s important that your wedding hair and make up is exactly what you want.

I’ve outlined an ideal timeline for your below. If you’re not following it exactly then please don’t panic – it certainly doesnt mean that it won’t all still go to plan, but if you are in need of a bit of guidance then this should help!

And of course don’t forget that if you want to speak to me about your wedding day then just get in touch. I’m happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have and if you still haven’t booked and secured your wedding hair and make up artist then make sure you don’t leave it too late!

You’ve booked your venue…

Your date is confirmed, then its time to book your hair and make up artist! So many people are left disappointed when they try to book hair and make up services a few months before their big day, and so many people tell me that they never realised how important it was to secure the artist of their choice!  I get booked up to two years in advance, don’t be fooled into thinking you need to know exactly what style or look you want to go for – you don’t, and we have plenty of time to figure that out.  But it is important that you confirm and hold your date. I only book one bride per day so once it’s gone it’s gone!

12 months to go

If you don’t already, follow me on Instagram and facebook. You’ll be able to see first hand what kind of styles and looks my current brides are going for and it might even give you some ideas as to what you like or want. No two styles are exactly the same, each and every bride is unique so it’s important that you look at a variety of options before you start to think about what’s possible. Keep up to date with my social media and blog and get inspired!

If you don’t have a skin care regime then it’s time to get one! It doesn’t have to cost the earth and there are some great an inexpensive products from brands such at The Ordinary so be sure to check them out. . Something as simple as remembering to remove your make up with a cleanser each night and being sure to moisturise every day will make the world of difference.  The key to good make up is good skin.

Have a good hair cut. Get rid of all those dead ends. There’s still time for it to grow a little so don’t panic about length. There’s no point having really long hair if the last five inches is broken and damaged. A good cut will make it look and feel so much better.

6 months to go

Decide on your hair colour. If you’ve changed your hair for the wedding, or even if you’re just maintaining an existing colour , now is the time to start thinking about your colour appointment timeline. Ideally you want your colour to be fresh for the big day so I’d recommend trying to line up your appointments so your final pre wedding hair cut and colour is the week before the wedding day itself.

Stick with the skincare. Be kind to your skin. Drink water, sleep plenty – and keep removing that make up!

Book in your trial/preview session. Dates get booked up in advance. Some brides like to try and schedule this session for the same day as a dress fitting where possible, so they get to see everything ‘come together’. If you have a specific date in mind then let me know, otherwise you can give me your top three and I’ll do my best to accommodate. These sessions are first come, first served. You can book a session any day Monday – Friday, and don’t forget I offer limited evening appointments too.

3 months to go

By this point you’re thinking about your preview session which is probably happening over the next few weeks. Take a look at the preview session pack available on my site for some useful advice. Preparing for your preview session pack and start to think about what type of things you like, and just as importantly – what you don’t. This makes a great starting point for the both of us and it can make you think openly about how you want to look. Do you have any accessories that you want to incorporate? Will they be ready and available for us to try at this session for you?

1 month to go

This month you’ll receive your final invoice from me. Like most suppliers, I take payment 30 days before the wedding day itself.  At this point I’ll also want to check ( again! ) that all the details I have for the wedding morning are correct. Ill confirm timings, contact details etc.  If anything changes then be sure to let me know as soon as possible so I can update my details.

The week before the wedding

The wedding day is almost here! You’ll hear lot of things this week along the lines of ‘I cant believe its gone so quick’ and you might even feel like ‘I just cant wait for this to be over!’  but try not to get too stressed – everything always falls perfectly into place I promise!

You’ve had your last hair cut and colour by this point so be sure to keep your hair in top condition by using a heat spray when using heated tongs and straighteners etc . If you’re thinking about having your first ever facial then now is not the time.  The point of a facial is to ‘clear out’ your skin, releasing any toxins etc , and many ladies can find that it brings them out in spots as it draws all the impurities to the surface. Lots of brides make this mistake and then panic as their skin changes, save it until after the wedding – maybe treat yourself to one on honeymoon!

The night before the wedding

Wash your hair, dry it and then leave it in its natural state.  Unless we’ve agreed otherwise then this is the best condition for me to style your hair. Remove any make up and clean your face thoroughly before bed. In the morning follow your usual skin care routine to the point of moisturiser and upon arrival I will do the rest. I’ll apply any necessary primers and potions to ensure that your make up glides on perfectly. And most importantly – TRY to get a decent night sleep! …….. I’ll see you in the morning!!!

An October Wedding at The Nightyard, Kent // Katie and Matt

An October Wedding at The Nightyard, Kent // Katie and Matt

An October Wedding at The Nightyard,

Kent // Katie and Matt

Katie and Matt’s Wedding at The Nightyard was the perfect setting for their rustic, natural style… and their pet horse too!!

 

I really do love it when I receive professional pictures from photographers. Often it’s the only chance I get to see some of the details that I’ve heard about from the bride when we’re getting ready on the morning. Thankyou to Fleur Challis for providing me with this selection from Katie and Matt’s big day. I loved looking at these and hearing the story from Katie as to how their big day finally all fell into place…..

How did you meet?

We met at secondary school. I said no a hundred times before Matt finally got his way and I let him take me out! Our first date was to see the movie ‘’I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry!”

How did you get engaged?

On my birthday, Matt made me a cup of tea and said he was going to get my present. He called me downstairs and when I came down there was candles everywhere and he whispered in my ear ‘will you marry me’. Very personal and very ‘Matt’

What was the inspiration for your wedding day?

Beauty and the Beast. Our centrepieces were dome jars with enchanted roses and there was a Miss Potts, Lumierre and Cogsworth on the top table.

What did you like about the venue?

The Nightyard was just perfect for us . Really natural and they allow you to decorate however you want ( plus they let me bring my horse!!)

You invited your horse….?!?!

My horse April was my bridesmaid so she entered with the bridesmaids and stayed for the photographs too.  She even got a mention by name from the registrar when she introduced who would be walking down the aisle!

What was your first dance?

A thousand Years by Christina Perry from the Twighlight Movies

Do you have a tip to share with other brides to be?

Do what you want –  not what other people want you to do.

How did you decide how to wear your hair?

Braids and waves. I wanted to keep it natural but I also wanted it to work with our Disney theme. It fit in perfectly with Belle and our other Beauty and the Beast extras.

What was your favourite thing about your wedding day?

I loved all of it but if I had to pick one moment that stands out then it would be walking down the aisle and seeing Matt standing there at the other end.

So there we have it, if you’re after a pet friendly venue in Kent then be sure to check out The Nightyard! 

And if you’re getting married in 2020/2021 then be sure to get in touch! I have selected dates remaining for this year and the diary is now open for 2021 ready to book in a whole new host of beautiful brides….and their horses too!