Bridal Makeup
Frequently Asked Questions

How long before my wedding should I get in contact?

Normally, I open my diary for bookings in January for the following year. I regularly take bookings up to 18 months in advance so it's important to get in contact as soon as possible! No date is secured until the booking fee has been paid!

What do I ask for when making an enquiry?

Send as much information as you can! It will save time & ensure I can get you a quote and get your date in the diary as soon as possible! The most important information to send is the date of your wedding, the location of where you’ll be getting ready the morning of your wedding and the number of people, including you, in your bridal party for makeup on the morning. Additional information like ceremony start time, reception venue, photographer or other supplier information and how far you are from the venue is all helpful for me to refer back to when planning the timings of your bridal morning. I have an in depth bridal enquiry form for you to fill out to make it easier for you.

When should I have a trial?

I advise that a trial takes place 3-4 months before your wedding. It’s better to wait until you’ve finalized other aspects of your wedding regardless of having a theme or colour scheme, but decisions on flowers, bridesmaid dresses, hairstyle etc, all of which is conducive to your bridal makeup!  If you have an event or occasion coming up, use that as your trial - however , don’t book your trial on a morning where you’ll be under pressure for time, you don’t want to rush your bridal trial! 

When does a trial take place and how long does it last?

A bridal trial is really relaxed, and it normally takes around 2 hours and we work together to create your perfect bridal look. For Irish weddings, trials take place at my studio room at home in Blackrock. For Destination weddings, I can travel the night before to your venue for your trial. Rest assured, we will have chatted in dept about your bridal makeup vision prior to meeting so there is no need to worry about having a trial the evening before.

I always recommend that you bring along any images, fabrics, makeup items or ideas that you feel will give me an extra understanding into the look you are aiming to achieve. 

Do my bridesmaids need to have a trial too?

Not at all. Although any of your bridal party are more than welcome to have a trial, it's certainly not mandatory, if somebody is apprehensive about having their makeup done, a trial often reassures them. 

What is the maximum number of makeups you can accommodate on the day?  

When figuring out start times, I like to work backwards from your ceremony time. So (depending how far you are getting ready from where the ceremony is)  the earlier the ceremony - the earlier the start time. Also remember, no one wants to be sitting in the chair for hair and makeup at silly o'clock AM. Ideally, I like to have everyone ready 1 hour before ceremony time, to ensure you have enough time to get dressed and photographed and time for touch ups if needed. 

At the moment, due to COVID-19 and additional hygiene practices in places, I’m working on the timings of 1 hour 15 minutes for the bride, 45 minutes for bridal party members with 10 minutes in between each for changeovers. So realistically it’s 1.5 hours for the bride and 1 hour per bridal party, plus 1 hour before your start time! All this will be discussed in dept at your trial and in correspondence in the lead up to your big day.

How far do you travel?

When in Ireland, I’m based just outside Cork City. I travel throughout Munster. I have travelled to weddings in Kerry, Limerick, Waterford, Tipperary and Clare! When in France, I am based in the Poitou Charentes area of France, near where the beautiful Loire Valley meets the Vienne in the South West of France and travel mostly throughout the Nouvelle Aquitaine region.

What products do you use?

I have a range of premium brands in my makeup kit including CHARLOTTE TILBURY, NARS, MAC, DIOR, CHANEL, BECCA and MORE. The products I use are of the highest quality; I trust them implicitly and every product has been tried and tested to be heat, sweat, tear and champagne proof! All brands have been tested to ensure they are compatible with photographic lighting.

Do I need to buy anything for my bridal makeup on the day?

I always recommend purchasing your chosen lip colour. I also recommend purchasing a loose or pressed powder for touch ups, just to control your own natural oils that may peep through throughout the day. Both lipstick and powder recommendations will be given at your trial.

I like some of my own makeup I use all the time, can I use some of these on the day?

Yes of course, it's your wedding day and you can do whatever you like! However, I would never use a product that I know doesn't last well or look good in photographs. I will always give my professional opinion. Best idea is to bring some of these products along to your trial and we can test some of them out then!

Can I have another trial if I want to?

Of course, I have many brides who have more than one trial. A trial is just for us to sometimes meet for the first time, see how we get along, see how I work, my products, my techniques etc. We can absolutely tweak it or change things up for the big day or at another trial. It’s very hard to get your bridal makeup 100% spot on in one go, especially when it comes to lip colours. I always say, a lipstick shade is a very personal choice, I can only ever give my honest professional opinion. But always, go with your gut! 

How do I book?

By clicking the button below and filling out the bridal booking enquiry form. 

Please allow up to 48 hours for a response, I will send back a quote and some additional information and if you would like to book in. I will send details on how to pay the non-refundable booking fee. Once this is cleared, your date is in the diary and we can start chatting all things bridal beauty & makeup related!