I was super excited to get an email land in my inbox today from none other than Kate Hennessey. Kate is a Kent Based photographer who’s photos are the very definition of ‘romantic’. She has an eye for the most beautiful images and angles, and she really does capture a bride at her best.
 
I had the pleasure of working with Kate at Lympne Castle for one of our brides Jessica. Now, having married at Lympne Castle myself I know I’m possibly being a tad biast when I say that it honestly is ( in my opinion! ) one of the most stunning backdrops you could possibly find for your wedding day. As Kent wedding venues go, Lympne Castle has it all- everything from breathtaking views to log fires and for your wedding day its totally and completely yours…. your very own castle!
 
My own opinion aside,  it’s easy to see from Jessica’s beautiful wedding pictures just why so many people fall in love and want their big day here. The views across the Kent countryside are something to marvel at , and on a clear day you can see for miles and miles. Inside , the oak panelled walls and separate areas to dress, dance and even the gardens to explore mean there’s something for everyone.
 
I had the pleasure of styling Jessica’s hair for her wedding day. We got ready in a separate area inside the castle, dedicated to the bride on the morning so she can get ready at the venue privately. Jessica’s bleach blonde statement locks were twisted and twirled into a really feminine, pretty, ‘undone’ updo. Keeping everything full of volume we were able to shape her hair into the ‘I just threw this up’ type of casual style that is so popular amongst the ‘relaxed’ bride. We added fresh flowers to her hair which gave the most beautiful contrast between her creamy hair tones and gave the whole style a natural, earthy vibe. I tucked small rose buds and sprigs of gyp randomly throughout her bridal hair style so that no matter what angle people were seeing her from they could catch a glimpse of that little ‘something extra’ at every turn!
 
Have a browse through some of her lovely pictures that I’ve attached below and be sure to check out Kate’s website here. It’s clear to see why so many brides love her style. On her website she really sums it up perfectly when she says…
 
‘’Capturing those natural moments and genuine emotions will serve as a reminder of not just how your day looked but more importantly, how it felt ‘’
 
I’m always reminding brides to be that if you know that you look amazing, you’ll feel amazing – and that feeling , that you’re at your absolute best, on the absolute best day of your life, is simply priceless!
 
If you want to talk with me in a bit more detail about what you’d like for your bridal hair then head over to my contact page and get in touch!

Cooling castle is undoubtedly one of the most popular wedding venues in Kent. The bridal suite is large, light and airy and the perfect place for you and your bridal party to relax on the morning of your big day. It’s a fairly new addition, being only a few years old, but it means that your entire bridal party can be together to relax and enjoy those last few hours before you head off down the aisle. If you haven’t already seen the room for yourself then pop over to my facebook page where you can find a short video and a sneek peek of what its like inside!

Thankyou to David Fenwick for use of these photos. I provided both hair and make up to Alex and her bridal party and even mum got in on the action too! It’s generally quite a big thing for mum’s to trust someone with their hair and make up – sometimes it’s the first time they’ve ever had it done by someone else, but it’s so nice to have them feel like a special part of the whole process too.

Alex was a beautiful bride – she wore a stunning embellished fishtail strapless gown which showed off her figure perfectly. Her long blonde hair was curled and pinned into a relaxed half up style with the addition of a tiara. We wanted to create a really gentle and naturally beautiful look so I pinned the top of her hair loosely to ensure that it didn’t give too much of a structured or formal effect.  I used the side sections of her hair to hide the band on the tiara, giving the illusion that it was simply placed at the front of her style, sitting just behind her fringe which we swept across her forehead. This, along with a few loose side tendrils to frame her face, helped to create an overall softness to her style. At the back, I folded the pieces of hair together to give a woven effect and add a little bit of extra interest so that if she did decide to remove her veil her hair still had plenty of detail.

The bridesmaids both also opted for half up, undone flowing, curled hair styles. For one bridesmaid we used blonde extensions to add length,  and then curled to give the illusion of thicker and longer hair. Clip in extensions are a great way to add length, thickness and even colour to a style,  and when used correctly and blended seemlessley you would never even know that they were present! If you’re considering extensions for your wedding hair style and want to chat in a bit more detail about your options then please do get in touch. I offer all of my brides the chance to colour match their hair for free, ensuring that we can be sure to create the most natural hair style that matches perfectly with your own hair- whatever your need may be!

I look forward to speaking with you!

If you love a half up hair style then prepared to be inspired! 

Below you will find just a small selection of some of the half up hairstyles that I’ve created. A complete selection of everything from short to long, twists and braids to slick and chic! All kids of flowers, accessories, waves and curls covering every wedding theme from elegant to undone and everything else in between! 

Now I make no secret of the fact that when I first started I loathed half up hair. Every time someone requested it a little bit of me inside would scream ‘Nooo!’ . There was so much more fun and interesting styles to select – why would you go for something so basic?! 

HOW WRONG WAS I ! 

I quickly realised there was no getting away from it. Half up hair wasn’t going anywhere so I had no choice but to embrace it! I’d make myself practice, challenge myself silently in my head to adapt and create something more exciting to me than just the standard request. As time went on I started to fall in love with the half up request and even found myself suggesting it for brides who were keen to keep some of their hair around their shoulders.

A lot of brides choose half up hair as they consider it to be typically ‘bridal’. That certainly doesn’t have to be the case. There are a million ways we can vary your hair to ensure that your half up hair selection is a real reflection on you and totally bespoke. Some brides choose to add accessories, pins, combs, tiaras – even flowers and more recently – flower crowns. Todays bridal parties bring everything about half up hair totally up to date with the addition of texture, waves, curls and even crimping! 

It’s not only a great bridal hair style choice but perfect for bridesmaids too. You can make it look as soft and undone as you like or bring in a boho vibe by adding flowers and pulled out twists. The possibilities are endless and I can now honestly say…

I LOVE IT!

Have a look at some of the 32 examples I’ve posted below. And thats not all…..

Theres even more on my instagram page so feel free to pop over there and have a search for even more totally bespoke half up hair inspo for your big day!

Why I don’t always post a before and after …

Now let me just say that just because I don’t always post one – doesn’t mean I’m not taking them. I have over 40,000 images on my phone ( true fact! )  so theres definitely a few lurking in there! Usually ill take one to show my bride or client so they can see just what difference has been made when my work is finished. Its sometimes quite daunting to trust someone with how you look, and how you want to look on your wedding day and Its often easier to look at yourself in a photo, rather than just stare at your new reflection in a mirror .

Some ladies simply don’t feel confident without their make up so a ‘before’ shot can be quite a scary thing. I can totally respect that and It’s ok to tell me that you’d like to keep that private.  I love showing off pictures of my work on my website and social media but only if you’re ok with that.  People love to see a transformation but more than that people like to see brides and bridal parties that look comfortable and happy.

Chances are that most people are going to say they look a little ‘better’ after spending hours in the chair and that a good thing. It’s a make up artist job to work with what you already have – your skin colours, textures and face shape – to create something that you think is even more beautiful and enhanced than your make up free natural self. That’s why they call us make up artists. Its an art. We are trained to know which colours will open your eyes and which shade will make your lips look fuller. Make up is really about enhancing peoples natural beauty, not altering it. I always stress to my brides to be that the point of your wedding make up isn’t to change you completely. It isn’t to confuse everyone as you walk in and make them question whether its really you as your glide down the aisle.  It’s meant to be you, glowing from the inside because you know that you look your absolute best on the outside.

Make up is really the most amazing thing. Some people can look totally transformed with just a few carefully applied products. For example, maybe its mum who hasn’t worn make up since her own wedding 30 years ago, or maybe it’s the bridesmaid who has an uneven skin tone but isn’t quite sure what to use to correct it.  I might be the one giving you a makeover but what I’m really giving you is confidence.  If you know you look good then you’ll feel good too. You’ll want to show it off. You’ll want people to see what you see –  which is just how beautiful you really are ( even though we are all far too modest to ever admit that out loud! ).

So whether you appreciate a ‘before and after’ or whether the thought of going make up free in front of the camera makes you shudder inside, know that you are not alone! It’s great to see just what a difference a true artist can make ,  and pictures are a great way to showcase that but no one has to ‘prove’ how pretty they are to anyone.  Everyone is different, unique and beautiful. You’re an individual, and no amount of temporary product can ever define that!

If you’re after some inspiration be sure to check out my instagram page here 

Katie x 

So what’s a booking fee? And why do I take one?

Once you’ve made contact and decided that you’d like to use me for your hair and make up on your wedding day ill send you across a personalised quote with details of how to pay your booking fee. Some people might call this a deposit payment or ‘down payment’ but essentially what you’re doing is making a payment to reserve and secure your date as stated upon your booking form.

Think about it like this –  Would you find your dream venue, check that they have your date available and then send out all your invites just hoping that it will be ok for your and your guests to turn up on the day without making a payment to ensure that they will cater for you all ?! Why would they?! And yet that’s what some people do with their hair and make up artist.  To me it would be crazy to take such a risk with something as important and how you will look on one of the biggest day of your life but some people don’t ensure that their booking is secure and can end up disappointed.

I always take a booking fee. Sometimes brides will ask why I do this or what it really means so I’ve outlined some of my reasons below:

1. I’m a professional business. Bridal hair and make up is what I do. It’s my ‘real’ job – It’s not just a hobby or a bit of extra cash, its how I pay my bills and It’s important that I run things properly and professionally. I need to know where I’m working and when , how much is coming in and going out so I can plan properly and make sure I can deliver the excellent service you deserve on your big day.

2. Your Peace of mind. You know you have made and secured a booking. You know that Ill be turning up and what time. You don’t need to worry that ill change my mind, or go and do something else rather than turn up for you! The amount of last minute messages I get from brides who have thought they had ‘booked’ an artist, only to receive a message the week before their wedding that they ‘cant do it now- sorry! ‘ is crazy. As much as I wish I could help them all – sadly I cant and there are some brides left scouring around for anyone and everyone who’s left . Professional, talented and popular stylists can get booked anywhere up to 3 years in advance so don’t hesitate if you’ve found the person that you want to join you on your wedding morning.

3. I only book one wedding per day. Once I receive your booking fee then I know that I can turn away other brides for that date because its yours. I do this for a number of reasons. Its YOUR day. Its MY job to make you feel like the most important person and that cant happen if I’m watching the clock or wanting to leave to get somewhere else. On your wedding day, you are my number one priority, and being invited to join you on such a special day is a real honour. Ill be there right until the final moments, making sure every hair is in place and that your make up is perfect as you head off down the aisle.

Every stylists booking process may differ but I personally take 25% of your final balance as your booking fee. This is then deducted from your final balance which is due 4 weeks before the big day itself. It’s at this time also that we will confirm your schedule for the morning, discuss any details and make any arrangements or plans. You’ll find that most suppliers take payment around this time and it saves the hassle and confusion of trying to take organise money on the day. The wedding morning is an event in itself. It’s your opportunity to relax, enjoy and get excited for the events of the day as they start to unfold. It’s your time to have fun with your bridal party and enjoy your last few hours as a Miss, stress free !

If you’d like me to provide you with a personalised quote for your big day then click here to get in touch . Im already almost fully booked for Summer 2020 so don’t hold back if you’ve set your date and want to book!

Katie x