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!!!

Wedding Trial Tips

Wedding Trials and Preview Sessions

Can you believe that it’s already March!? I am well underway with the bridal trials for all my 2017 summer brides now and it is so exciting to be meeting so many of you in preparation for your big day! I’m often asked what a preview session involves and what you can expect so I thought I’d put together some pointers for you. Although it is not a requirement for you to have a preview session it really does gives us a chance to work together and perfect your bridal style – plus it’s so exciting for you to see exactly what you’re actually going to look like!! If you have any questions then please do get in touch, you are more than welcome to drop me an email at info@prettypleasebykatie.co.uk but in the mean time, here are a few of my most commonly asked questions for you …

So what happens at the bridal preview session? The point of the preview session is for us to get some time to talk about what you want from your big day. We start with a consultation, you can tell me a little about the plans you have for the day, what you’re wearing, your theme and colour choices – and together we can develop an understanding as to what you want to look like and how we are going to make your look compliment all of these other factors. The session lasts around 90 minutes for hair or make up, and around 2 1/2 hours for both. We will create your look, based on the things we discuss, so you can actually see what you’re going to look like on the day itself!
Do I need to bring anything? A lot of brides come prepared with a Pintrest board so I can instantly see what ‘kind’ of wedding style you are working towards. If you don’t have Pintrest – fear not! You can show me some pictures of things you like – and especially things that you don’t! This is really important as it leads me to gain a much better understanding of what you expect and require from me. Oh, and if you have a veil or accessories then bring them along too!
Shall I wash my hair or take off my make up? Please come to your make up preview appointment make up free. This allows me to see your skin, your natural colouring etc and means that we can proceed straight into make up application. In regards to washing your hair , ‘day old’ hair is easier for me to style, really clean and soft hair can mean that I end up having to use a lot more product to manipulate it into the shape I want. Please do not curl or straighten your hair before your appointment, let it dry into it’s natural state if you can and then i can take it from there!
Can I only try one look? This is totally up to you. If you know exactly what you want then I will create this look first. If you are certain that it’s what you want upon seeing it in ‘real’ life then – perfect! However, as we go along I might be able to make some suggestions or tweaks that you might appreciate, or as we create the style you may decide that actually it isn’t quite right for you. Either way I am more than happy to show you an alternative – you are welcome and encouraged to take lots of pictures so you don’t have to make any instant decisions either!
When can I have my preview session? I can be flexible in regards to timings when it comes to preview sessions. generally morning slots ( when available) fill fast. Most of my mornings are spent with brides on their wedding day so I tend to schedule preview sessions in the afternoon. I offer both evening and weekend availability so if you work or are restricted in any way then just let me know and we can work something out for you.
What if I change my mind? Not a problem. You can book as many preview sessions as you like! Each session is charged separately but there is no limit to the amount you can book! If you don’t feel that you need another session , you just want a few things slightly different on the day itself then that’s fine. Just make sure you let me know before hand so I can come with everything I need!

Like I said if you need anything else then please do just ask! Stay up to date with what I’m up to and get lots of bridal inspiration from my Instagram and Facebook pages too!

Love Katie x

Westernhanger Castle Wedding Venue

Westernhanger castle is One of the most stunning wedding venues in Kent! Recently under new ownership the beautiful settings and surrounding really are like something from a fairytale! The long private drive, the beautiful marquee and the gazebo all set for an outdoor wedding all add to the magic of this wonderful place!
The building inside is tastefully decorated and pays tribute to many of its original and restored features. The reception rooms down stairs are large enough for a wedding party whilst smaller rooms are available for a more intimate setting.
Westernhanger castle was a firm favourite with me when I did my first wedding there at the beginning of 2014. I had never been to the venue before and didn’t even know it existed! The bridal prep room is one of the most beautiful rooms I have seen in many of the Kent wedding venues I have visited!
The photos below were from the beautiful bride camille. Her wedding morning was a true family celebration and the fact that a lot of the conversation was made in French made it seem all the more romantic! Cami decided to go for a sophisticated updo with intricate details and one of my very favourite accessories- the birdcage veil! Congratulations cami, you made a truly beautiful bride!