Last weekend, I had the absolute pleasure of being part of a beautiful same-sex wedding at Coombe Lodge – one of my favourite wedding venues. Set high above the Somerset countryside, the venue was the perfect backdrop for a relaxed, joy-filled day surrounded by friends, family, and so much love.
As a wedding hair and makeup artist based in Bristol, it’s always such a privilege to be invited into those quiet, excited hours before the ceremony. The wedding morning is often one of the most emotional parts of the day, and this one was no exception. The atmosphere was calm, full of laughter, and wonderfully supportive – exactly how a wedding morning should feel.
Creating Two Individual Bridal Looks
One of the things I love most about working with same-sex couples is that there are no set expectations. Each person gets to fully express their style, rather than feeling tied to tradition. And more importantly, the thing I love about my brides in general is that they can bring their individual styles to the morning and we can incorporate them into the look.
For this wedding, we focused on creating two distinct looks that reflected each partner’s personality while still feeling cohesive together in photographs.
Mollie’s look was soft and romantic, with glowing skin, delicate eye definition, and a relaxed, Hollywood wave that suited the elegant countryside setting perfectly. Brook leaned slightly more edgy, and we opted to use her signature purple winged eyeliner, with a clean, radiant complexion and a hairstyle that felt effortless but structured enough to last all day. Brook has beautiful blonde curls, so we redefined them and created a boho half-up vibe.
Both styles felt natural, timeless, and completely authentic to them – which is always my goal when creating bridal hair and makeup.
A Relaxed Wedding Morning
Brook and Mollie opted to get ready separately in the morning so they could see each others finished look at the ceremony. I started at an Airbnb near to Coombe Lodge with Brook’s bridal party, and when we were allowed into the venue at 10.30am, I concentrated on Brook’s hair and makeup, before heading down the corridor for Mollie’s hair and makeup. I created a schedule that allowed enough time for touch-ups and tweaks, cups of tea, and vegan croissants (obviously).
The light at Coombe Lodge was beautiful too, which is always a bonus for makeup. Natural light helps ensure your wedding makeup looks flawless both in person and in photographs, and it meant we could keep the overall finish fresh and radiant.
Why I Love Same-Sex Weddings
Every wedding is unique, but same-sex weddings often have a wonderful sense of freedom and creativity. Couples tend to focus on what truly matters to them, rather than what’s expected.
As a Bristol wedding makeup artist, it’s incredibly important to me that every couple feels welcomed, supported, and celebrated. My job isn’t just to create beautiful hair and makeup – it’s to help you feel relaxed, confident, and fully yourself on your wedding day.
Planning Your Own Wedding?
If you’re planning a wedding in Bristol, Somerset, the Cotswolds, or further afield, and you’re looking for natural, elegant wedding hair and makeup, I’d love to hear more about your plans.
You can explore more of my real weddings , or get in touch to chat about your day.
