The bridal edit
Your bridal makeup guide.
Your trial, your look and your wedding morning—what to expect.
First, let’s get to know you
What happens
at your bridal trial.
Perhaps you’re dreaming of a glamorous transformation. Perhaps you hardly wear makeup and feel a little nervous about looking different. Both are welcome. Your trial is our time to discover what makes you feel beautiful.
We’ll settle in with a drink and talk about your wedding, your partner, the mood of the day and the look you’re imagining. There’s no pressure to arrive with everything decided.
Before we meet, I’ll send you a questionnaire about your skin, sensitivities, everyday makeup and wedding plans, including how you’d love to feel. You’ll share inspiration photographs and pictures of yourself with and without makeup, so I can prepare for you personally.
Your inspiration.
Your features. Your kind of beautiful.
When we look at inspiration together, I’ll help you identify what you love: the warmth of the colours, softly defined eyes, a glowing complexion or the way everything feels harmonious.
Then we’ll adapt those ideas to your features. The same eye look can be created in different ways, and a photograph may have been filtered, edited or generated with AI. It’s a starting point for a conversation, rather than a face you need to match.
My signature style moves from barely-there makeup to fresh, polished glamour: softly blended browns and golds, bronze warmth, flattering pinks and thoughtfully placed definition. There’s room for sparkle, fuller-looking lips or a more striking eye when that’s what you love.
A few things you might find useful to know
The little details
make the difference.
Skin comes first
Once I’ve seen your everyday makeup, I’ll gently remove it and prepare your skin. That might mean extra moisture where it’s needed, or products to manage shine. The preparation changes with you.
Light, carefully blended layers
My philosophy is that a little goes a long way, so I prefer to build thin, carefully blended layers, with powder and setting spray where needed. Clients often tell me they’re surprised by how light it feels—beautiful makeup without that mask-like feeling.
Enhancing your features
Careful lip definition can create a fuller-looking pout; thoughtfully placed shadow and liner can open up the eyes. Subtle highlighting and shading bring balance. We’ll focus on what you’d like to enhance.
The makeup brands I use
My kit includes Charlotte Tilbury, Lisa Eldridge, Rare Beauty, MAC, Huda Beauty, Natasha Denona, Estée Lauder, Laura Mercier and Maybelline. I cherry-pick my favourite products from each brand, choosing what works best for your skin, features and the look you want.
My approach is independent and brand-neutral. I don’t earn commission from product purchases, so any recommendations are based on what suits you and your budget.
See your makeup look
in a way that feels comfortable.
Would you love to see the finished look all at once? Or feel more comfortable checking your complexion, eyes and lips as we go? We can do either, with time to make adjustments together.
Your feedback is welcome. We can change a lip colour, soften definition or explore a different finish during the trial. Afterwards, see how the makeup feels and wears, look in your own mirror and take photographs. Let me know what you love and anything you’d like refined.
There is no age limit on feeling beautiful. I’ve worked with brides, sisters, mums, grandmothers and great-grandmothers, adapting my techniques to different skin and features. Tell me about anything you feel unsure of; I’ll listen with care.
Before we meet
A little preparation.
A lovely appointment.
Bring your everyday self
Please arrive wearing your usual going-out makeup, if you wear it. Seeing how you apply it helps me understand your comfort zone—even though we’ll remove it before starting.
Wear a top in a similar colour to your wedding outfit and, where possible, with a similar neckline. What you wear changes how the colours and finished makeup look together.
You don’t need your whole makeup bag. A favourite product you’d especially like me to consider is welcome, along with any extra inspiration or photographs of your outfit.
Brows and skin
Please have your brows groomed in your usual way before the trial, whether that’s professional shaping or tidying stray hairs yourself. It helps me enhance the shape with makeup and make the most of the eye area.
Give your skin some care in the lead-up, using a routine that suits it. If you’re considering exfoliation to remove dead skin cells, the right approach depends on your skin and sensitivity. Read dermatologists’ advice on safe exfoliation, rather than feeling you need to start a new treatment for your wedding.
Please tell me about allergies, previous reactions or skin concerns before we meet. Also mention planned fake tan or a change in hair colour; I’ll adapt the makeup to your colouring on the wedding day.
The morning you’ve been imagining
Your wedding morning.
A moment to settle into.
Every getting-ready room has its own atmosphere: a quiet few people, a lively bridal party, laughter, happy nerves. It’s a privilege to be invited into that private part of your day.
Where possible, a quieter corner or separate room for makeup gives each person a little breathing space. You can come through to me, settle into my makeup chair and enjoy being looked after, with the celebrations close by.
I work alongside your hairstylist and prefer hair to be finished before makeup where the schedule allows. I have clips that keep hair away from the face without leaving a bend. Allow at least 1 hour for the bride and around 30–60 minutes for each adult, depending on the look. We’ll discuss everyone’s preferences and your ready-by time in advance.
If you can, hand last-minute tasks to someone else and put your phone aside while you’re in the chair. This is a small pause for you before the day gathers pace.
I welcome brides marrying brides, too. Whether I’m creating makeup for one bride or both, each look is tailored to the woman wearing it.
Your getting-ready checklist
- A spot beside a window. I’ll position you facing natural light and usually switch off overhead lighting.
- A table or two nearby for my makeup kit, plus space for the makeup chair I bring with me.
- A bin within reach for tissues and disposables.
- Someone to meet me on arrival. A helping hand carrying my kit and chair to the room is much appreciated.
- A little hospitality. Water, a tea or coffee, and a small snack if one is going are always appreciated during a busy morning.
And then… off you go.
After your trial, I’ll email the touch-up products I recommend for you. Usually it’s your lip colour; sometimes I’ll suggest a complexion product too. You’ll know what to have to hand, without needing to recreate the whole look.
On the wedding day, we’ll return to the look we’ve planned together, with any agreed refinements. The aim is that lovely feeling of being polished, comfortable and ready to enjoy yourself.
A few useful booking details
August Saturdays: new wedding bookings require a minimum of the bride plus 3 adults having makeup. Existing confirmed bookings keep their agreed arrangements.
Travel: travel within Harrogate is included. For venues outside Harrogate, additional travel charges may apply. Travel availability and any costs are confirmed with your quote before booking.
For current packages and prices, visit the wedding makeup page.
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