There are so many designs to choose from! The question is, how do you decide what to wear in your hair on your big day? Traditionally a diadem was only worn by ‘married’ ladies and historical pictures can be viewed which show unmarried ladies with flowers in their hair in place of the diadem.

Nowadays, it seems anything goes! But, the first stage of the process is to purchase the most important part of your attire which is ‘the dress’. Once you have ‘the one’ you can then build upon it to create your own style. This is where the fun starts. The little touches such as the shoes and headpiece make your look ‘your own’ for the most important day of your life. Your dress may have the addition of beaded embellishments so it is important to choose accessories which incorporate the same beads. It is said that any kind of hair accessory, really completes the bridal look.

The traditional style tiara remains very popular and so it should be – who doesn’t want to be a princess for the day? Many manufacturers are reporting a trend in the a-symmetrical styles which are available in Swarovski Crystals, diamontes and ivory pearls. They are just as versatile as a traditional tiara (set on a tiara band – usually made of metal, silver plated or even ribbon wrapped). The beaded embellishment is simply set to one side. For designers of hair accessories, the vintage inspired alice band is the favoured piece of the moment in the fashion stakes.

You may be limited by the length or the thickness of your hair so this could rule out a crystal comb or pearl hair pins. If you are having your hair up, it is worth mentioning that for most of the day (including the ceremony itself) your guests will be looking at you from every angle. In light of this, you may want to consider the addition of some crystal hairpins or a flower hairpin for the rear of your up do in addition to adorning the front of your hair style.

Try on as many different styles as possible so you can get an idea of what suits you. Rather than choosing a mass produced item, you could contact a supplier with your bespoke requirements. Do you have a vision of what you want but cannot find it in the shops? Perhaps you want a particular colour incorporated in your hair accessories or even the bridesmaids?

Once you have purchased, you should store the items carefully – in an air tight container and wrapped in acid free tissue paper. Look for a supplier who uses tarnish free silver or gold coloured wire. Also, never spray your Swarovski Crystal hair accessories with hairspray as this ruins their lustre.

The best advice? Have fun shopping for your bridal attire from head to toe!

Are you getting married abroad and in need of perfecting your bridal look before your wedding day? Are you a complete novice when it comes to make-up and its application? Have you been using the same products and colours for many years and are in need of a complete overhaul of your make-up bag?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, a make-up lesson is a must!

Make-up novice
A make-up lesson is ideal for anyone who is a complete beginner when it comes to cosmetics and their application. With lessons tailored to suit your individual needs and with step-by-step instructions and guidance you will become more confident each time you pick up a brush!

Stuck in a rut?
It is so easy to use the same products and colours day to day and to shy away from experimenting. But the great thing about make-up is that it can be wiped away if you make a mistake! Maybe you aren’t making the most of your best features and are unsure of how to disguise others? By booking a make-up lesson you will learn many new techniques and styles, all within the comfort of your own home.

Why book a lesson with a make-up artist?
Many brides-to-be tend to think of beauty and cosmetic counters when it comes to bridal makeovers and lessons. Whilst this is a great way to find out what look suits you, you won’t necessarily try more than one look and you may also be encouraged to purchase products. The majority of make-up artists will use various cosmetics rather than one individual brand and you won’t have the worry of having to purchase at the end. A lesson is a great way to copy the make-up artist’s techniques under their watchful eye You will have the opportunity to try many different looks until you are happy with the results and feel confident to re-create the look on your big day.

Not everyone feels comfortable with the idea of having their make-up applied by a make-up artist on their wedding day. Some people may feel that only they know the products that suit their skin and know that they would feel happier applying them. If you are one of these brides-to-be, then that is fantastic! However, a make-up lesson will show you exactly what products to apply where and how much of each product to use to gain stunning, long-lasting results.

Photography plays an important part in any wedding day and make-up should be applied to ensure you won’t look ‘washed out’ and ‘colourless’ in all photographs, whether they are black and white or colour. This does not necessarily mean applying more make-up than you would normally wear, but more to do with what you apply. There are a number of products on the market which are not suitable for flash photography and should be avoided on your wedding day at all costs.Yves Saint Laurent’s Touche Eclat Radiant Touch is a good example. This is a fantastic product which banishes shadows and signs of fatigue from the eye area. Great for everyday use, but a complete no-no when it comes to flash photography as its light-reflecting properties will cause panda eyes. Not a good look for any bride on her wedding day!

As a make-up artist, my job is to make you feel and look beautiful and confident on one of the most special days of your life. It is also about giving out advice and tips on make-up application and technique. So whether you are getting married abroad and need advice on products to use for a hot/humid climate, want to know how to achieve a smoky eyed look or just simply would like to learn some essential tricks of the trade, why not book a one-to-one lesson and achieve that look you desire!

The key to wedding day make-up is in the application and once this has been mastered, your look should last all day long and through into the night with as little touch-ups as possible. This does not necessarily mean wearing heavier make-up. It is more to do with picking the right shades and applying the colours correctly so that it will last and look great under several kinds of lighting, including your photographer’s flash!

Look after your skin
In the months leading up to your big day you need to invest some time treating and looking after your skin. This includes cleansing, toning and moisturising morning and night. One of the worst things you can do is leave your day make-up on at night. This means your skin won’t have the time to renew itself and spots and blackheads will start to appear. Once you have a skincare routine in place, stick to it!

Preparation is key
My key tips for long-lasting, flawless make-up would be to always start your wedding day with applying a moisturiser to your face. Once you’ve let this soak into your skin, apply a good quality primer over the top. Smashbox PhotoFinish and Yves Saint Laurent Matt Touch are excellent primer’s and will help your foundation go on more easily and make it last longer.

Concealer
Concealer can improve your skin dramatically, but only if it’s invisible! The best way to use concealer is by applying with a brush and using varying shades and textures, depending on what you are concealing. Everyone applies their concealer at different stages in the make-up process Personally, I always apply it after the primer and before the foundation, but I take great care in blending the two together so as not to remove the concealer.

Concealer is fantastic at hiding those dark circles, undereye puffiness, blemishes, broken capillaries or veins, scars and rosacea.

Foundation
To find the correct shade of foundation for your skin, test along your jaw line. The correct shade should fade into your skin and not leave any unsightly marks. I tend to always use either a brush to apply foundation, especially if a liquid. However, I always blend afterwards with a sponge to make sure the foundation is smooth and flawless.

Highlighter
Every bride wants to look truly radiant on their wedding day and one way of achieving this is to use a highlighter. These can be applied underneath or immediately after your foundation has been applied. My favourite highlighters at the moment are Laura Mercier Secret Brightener and Pout Love Glow. However, a fantastic and less expensive version is Benefit’s Moon Beam. Your chosen highlighter will catch the light and give you a beautiful glow when applied to your cheekbones, browbone and bow of lip.

Powder
Always set your foundation with a loose powder. This will help your foundation last longer and give your skin a smooth, even appearance. Personally, I love M.A.C. Cosmetic loose powder as it is very fine and gives a matt appearance to the skin, which is very important for photographs.

Blusher
To give your cheeks a gorgeous radiant look, I prefer cream blushers. Depending on skin tone, my favourite cream blusher at the moment and one which I often use on brides is by M.A.C. Cosmetics Blushcreme in shade Posey. A cream blush can be applied using fingertips or a brush and I usually recommend you blend with a sponge as well. A good tip when applying any blusher is to smile and then dot the product on the apples of your cheeks. Make sure you then blend the product along your cheekbones.

Eyes
I always recommend curling your eyelashes using an eyelash curler. You can do this using a standard metal eyelash curler or a heated one. Strip lashes are fantastic for anyone whose natural lashes are sparse. They give an instant wide-eyed look. I also recommend individual lashes to anyone who wants to add extra thickness and volume to their own natural lashes Remember, well defined, beautiful eyes always photograph fabulously!

Lips
There will be plenty of people to kiss on your wedding day including your new Husband! So make sure you keep your lips looking luscious by exfoliating them once a week in the run up to your big day and keep a lip balm to hand to stop your lips from becoming chapped in cold, windy weather.

As a make-up artist, my job is to make you feel and look beautiful and confident on one of the most special days of your life. It is also about giving out advice and tips on make-up application and technique.