Wedding Hair and Make up Stylist

11 February 2009 3,410 views No Comment

Whilst chatting to another bride last week, I was reminded to book my wedding hair and make up stylist. I thought I would only need to find one in the last few months before the wedding. There is still 6 months more for my wedding so I began looking for one. I soon found out that almost half of them are already booked out for August 2009 – wow, when did wedding hair and make up stylist bookings become so competitive? So girls, get yours booked out. I would also suggest that you set your trial date a few months before your wedding so that if you dont like the stylist, you could always get another one and there would be time for it. I’m setting my trial for May 19 as I have a friend’s wedding that day and I could just go with my hair and make up intact. Why would you want to waste all those hours sitting around?

I was also shocked at the cost of the trial. None of the artists did the trial for free. If you get your make up done at a beauty counter like MAC or Armani, they do it for 25 or 30 pounds and that can be redeemed against a beauty product you buy that day. If you decide to go for a freelancer, they can charge upto half the cost of the make up and hair on that day.

The average British bride spends 200 pounds on hair and make up. So far, I havent come across anyone with that rate but I must be looking at the wrong places. The first few quotes I got were around 300 pounds. With the trial, it was around 350 or more. Also, some places were really annoying where the stylist could only do make up and not the hair. I would suggest against booking these people as it would lead to more complications if one stylist turns up and another doesnt. You’ll either have perfect hair or perfect make up, not both. But then again, this is a good option if a bride wanted to save costs and do the make up herself. If you were really tight on a budget, you could get your hair done at a normal salon and then make up done at a department store. I think all the running around wouldnt be worth it but if you’re really tight on budget you could always try that.

So when I was collecting quotes for make up and hair, I came across Urban Retreat at the Harrods, one of England’s posh department stores. Urban Retreat is basically like a spa at the top floor of Harrods. So I was asked to look for a certain stylist. He came out in lots of bling and a huge smile, I could clearly see that he was gay and very stylist. He immediately warmed up to me and asked me tons of questions about my wedding dress, the flowers, the whole look of the wedding. No other make up or hair stylist has asked me for this. I found it really encouraging that he whipped out a piece of paper and started drawing my wedding dress from the photo on my phone. I like that he actually cares about the whole vision of the wedding. Another reassuring factor was that his business card actually said Hair, Make up, and Weddings and he said he had done 900. As my best friend said “gay guys know their shit!” In addition to the hair and make up he would do for my wedding, my stylist said he would throw in extras like showing me how to pose, how to walk, and being there for me as a quasi wedding planner. It was like having a gay best friend but paying him for it!

In the middle of my conversation, he sprung up and started showing me how to stand for photos. He said that most brides stand straight and it makes them look fat. He suggests that you stand slightly facing your partner and then move your shoulders. He also had some poses with the bonquet so your arms look slender. Finally, he demonstrated how to walk down the aisle without tripping. Instead of the normal walk, he suggested I criss cross my legs. This way, I dont trip on my dress.

So when I finally left the store, I felt this warm feeling like I was in love. I think I might have just found my perfect hair and make up artist!!!