Top tips for the wedding get ready

As we reach the height of the wedding season, I want to share some helpful tips regarding

common makeup and hair issues that can arise. Let's discuss potential problems and how to make the process as smooth as possible.

Dresses hanging up in windows

Please do not hang dresses in the window frame or door frame. In the hair and makeup space, It impacts the lighting, everyone can see your dresses, Additionally, the photographer often takes them away to hang from a tree or in the master bedroom. Also, we have makeup products, hair spray, and setting spray that can get all over the production area, and you don't want any of the dresses to be near that.

Steaming

Let's chat about steaming the dresses. It's important to hang them up as soon as you get them to prevent wrinkles. Relying on the steam from a hot shower won't do the job effectively; it won't completely remove the crinkles. Plan ahead to ensure the dresses look fabulous. I strongly recommend booking an appointment with the wonderful Neda from Pristine Cleaning. We've encountered situations like this too many times: bridesmaids rush off to borrow a steamer, only to return unable to fill it properly. The steamer ends up spitting water and splattering the dresses, leaving horrible stains and marks. Can we discuss the impact of steam on makeup and hair? NO STEAMING ON THE DAY OF—steam can cause makeup to run, become slick, shiny, etc., and hair products to become tacky/sticky. If you are home steaming - It’s best to do all your steam treatments for the day before. If Mum or someone else is steaming on the day, please do it in a separate room from the hair and makeup area.

Ready for Photographer

Please have your perfume bottle, ring, invitations, and flowers all laid out for your photographer if they are coming to take photos while you are getting ready. Searching for these items while you are in the middle of hair or makeup can be difficult.

Bride in the Chair

We generally schedule the bride as one of the latter appointments, either second or third to last— never first and never last. We need about an hour or more with her in the chair. This is not the time to bring her a plate of food or ask numerous questions. This is her one and only opportunity of the day to take a moment for herself, reflect, and breathe. Please respect the artist who is working and allow them the space to do their job. The time before she sits in the makeup chair during the morning is the time to ask her questions and get everything ready; the time in the chair is not the moment for any distractions.

Phone Policy

The bride should refrain from having her phone during makeup and Hair. Calls and messages can be a major distraction, slowing down our process. Please hand it to a bridesmaid, planner, or mother, and take this time to enjoy the process without distractions.

Eating & Drinking

Please have a good breakfast and some snacks before sitting in the chair. It will make the day much easier for you. Food beforehand is even more important if you plan on having bubbles or mimosas. Don’t have makeup done and then bite into a foot-long Subway sandwich. It wrecks the makeup. Have straws for the day and have food cut into bite-sized pieces.

Being Ready for Us

If we say we will start at 8:30 AM, we will likely arrive 15 to 30 minutes early to set up our products and be ready to start promptly. Too often, we arrive to hear someone say, “Oh, I’ll just go have a shower” or “Shall I wash my hair now?” We send out all the preparations the week before. Everyone should be in their daywear or fun pajamas, with clean faces and hair — ready to go. A lack of organisation can lead to delays, which creates stress for the bride and everyone involved.

Where You Place Us

We need natural light to work effectively — not a cupboard with dim lighting and yellow that cast shadows on the face. If possible, please provide a table to set out our products.

No Thoroughfares

We cannot work in an area where people will walk behind us, pass by, bump into us, or otherwise disrupt our work. Please designate a space where we can work freely; we promise the job will be outstanding.

Cast of Thousands

Please limit the number of relatives and wedding guests in the prep room in the morning. Having too many people can create a lot of noise, making the job more difficult due to constant interruptions. We understand that everyone is trying to help and offer their services, which can lead to delays and confusion.

Wedding Planner

Choose local vendors because they are familiar with realistic time frames and traffic management - there are a lot of events in and around here. They know the logistics and time needed to travel between places. They also understand our local weather conditions. For all the brides considering a helicopter option, always have a backup weather day in mind, and make sure your other vendors can accommodate alternative dates. We can have very windy days here; you must factor this into your day.

After Hair and Makeup

Please do not go outside and sit in bright sunlight, put on a puffer jacket and wreck the curls, sit hard up against a sofa and ruin the hairstyle. Yes, it will last the day, but we want to give it the best shot. Please try not to touch your face, fluff hair, etc

Collab article with Deidre Read - Road to beauty