BRIDAL BEAUTY

In the final weeks leading up to our big day, wedmin was truly in full force. Our heads were full of managing RSVPs, writing our Order of Service, major discussions on our bridesmaids shoes, choirs and wedding ring engraving to name a few... and don't even get me started on the addiction to rose petal collecting and drying for confetti (if you follow me on Instagram you might have noticed my desk gave way to the cause).

One of the things I found toughest in deciding upon was a makeup artist. How on earth do you choose? Especially when trials can be a three-figure sum whether you decide to book them or not? Do you opt for a reputable brand or a reputable makeup artist? And is it worth it when I'll have probably smudged their precious work within a couple of hours?

Excitingly, quite a few close friends have got engaged recently and a lot are asking me about this. Firstly I'd say take a friend along to your trial – one who's a makeup junkie if you can. I enlisted the help of eagle-eyed pal Lucy Williams for her honest opinions. I emailed/spoke to several makeup artists, met with a handful and trialled two or three (two of which were Bobbi Brown but with quite different results, which is worth noting). Recommendations are worth their weight in gold, and I met a great Bobbi Brown MUA Agne through my Sassoon hair stylist Safaa, as opposed to booking through the shop. She listened to what I was after – natural look, flawless skin, nice eyes, a familiar drill when it comes to brides I think. And it was a bonus that they knew one another, not least because they could travel to our home in Sussex together...

And the decision was made.

Makeup | Agne @ Bobbi Brown

Hair | Safaa @ Sassoon

ph. by Helen Abraham