A Glowy Wedding at Clevedon Hall: Caitlin’s Bridal Hair and Makeup
There are some wedding mornings that just seem to flow from the moment you arrive. Caitlin’s wedding at Clevedon Hall was one of those mornings.
From coffee and avocado toast to a perfectly timed bridal party and a little bit of California jealousy, it was such a fun day. I was delighted to be part of Caitlin’s wedding and create her bridal hair and makeup for her beautiful celebration at Clevedon Hall.
Two Bridal Trials to Find the Perfect Look
Caitlin and I had two bridal trials before the wedding. Initially, she had a very natural makeup look in mind. As we experimented, however, Caitlin realised that she wanted something a little more elevated.
The important thing was that she still wanted to look like herself.
This is one of my favourite things about a bridal trial. You don’t necessarily know exactly what you want until you see it on your own face. Sometimes a bride starts with one idea and discovers that she actually wants a little more definition, glow or glamour.
For Caitlin, we both loved the way her skin looked when it was fresh and dewy. So rather than covering that up, we decided to enhance it.
A Bronzy, Sunkissed Bridal Makeup Look
For Caitlin’s bridal makeup, we wanted to create beautifully bronzed, healthy-looking skin with a gorgeous dewy finish.
We used Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter underneath her foundation to give the skin that lovely lit-from-within quality. I also added liquid bronzer into the foundation to create a subtle, sunkissed warmth without making the skin look overly bronzed.
Blush was placed on the high points of Caitlin’s face, including across her nose. I love doing this when creating a fresh bridal makeup look because it gives the skin a natural, youthful flush.
The finished makeup was polished and elevated, but Caitlin still looked completely like herself.
And that’s always the goal.
A Neat Half-Up Bridal Hairstyle
For Caitlin’s bridal hair, we decided on a very neat half-up, half-down style.
It gave her the structure and polish she wanted while keeping the overall look modern and feminine. The hairstyle also worked beautifully alongside the fresh, glowing makeup.
I love creating bridal hair that feels considered without looking overly complicated. The finished look should complement the bride rather than take over.
A Wedding Morning Powered by Coffee and Vegan Cheese
We started the morning in the cottages at Clevedon Hall, where Caitlin had thoughtfully brought her own coffee machine. Along with her own cofee….Lavazza…
I try not to judge.
Thankfully, she also had vegan cheese, so all was forgiven. (I promise I’m not actually a coffee snob, just associated memories of Lavazza).
We had avocado and vegan cheese on toast while getting ready, which is exactly the kind of wedding morning I can get behind.
The atmosphere was relaxed and fun, and everyone was in great spirits. There is something so lovely about spending those few hours with a bride and her closest friends and family before the day properly begins.
From Bridesmaid to Future Bride
One of the lovely parts of the morning was getting to meet Fran, who was one of Caitlin’s bridesmaids and is also one of my future brides.
I had already been chatting with Fran about her own wedding later this year, and we had planned to have a hair trial together in October.
While getting everyone ready for Caitlin’s wedding, I created Fran’s hair and she loved it so much that she decided she wanted the same style for her own wedding day.
Needless to say, I was absolutely delighted!
There is something particularly special about having a bridesmaid become a future bride. It means I get to see her experience my work as part of someone else’s wedding before creating her own bridal look.
Knowing that she loved her hair enough to choose it for such an important day is one of the loveliest compliments I could receive.
I’m now very much looking forward to seeing Fran again later this year and creating her bridal hair for her own wedding day.
The Importance of a Well-Planned Wedding Morning
One of the things I pride myself on as a wedding hair and makeup artist is creating a detailed schedule for the morning.
After 15 years of working in the wedding industry, I know how long different hair and makeup looks take. I also know that wedding mornings rarely go completely according to plan.
Someone needs to find an earring.
The photographer arrives early.
A bridesmaid wants to change her hairstyle.
Someone needs a cup of tea.
There are a lot of moving parts.
That’s why I create my schedules with the utmost care. My experience means I know how long different looks take, and I always build in enough time so that nobody feels rushed.
Caitlin’s morning went incredibly smoothly. We stuck to the schedule perfectly, which meant she was ready in plenty of time for photographs before the ceremony.
That little bit of breathing room makes such a difference.
A Clevedon Hall Wedding Before a California Honeymoon
Once Caitlin was ready, she had plenty of time to enjoy those precious moments before the ceremony and have photographs taken.
And then she and her husband headed off on their honeymoon to California.
If you know me, you’ll know that I was extremely jealous.
I used to live in California and still miss it dearly, so hearing that their honeymoon destination was California definitely gave me a little pang of nostalgia.
But what a way to finish such a beautiful wedding day.
Planning Your Clevedon Hall Wedding?
Clevedon Hall is a beautiful setting for a wedding, and I loved being part of Caitlin’s day there.
As a Bristol wedding hair and makeup artist, I specialise in natural, glowing and elegant bridal hair and makeup. My aim is always to create a look that feels elevated while still feeling completely like you.
Whether you’re getting married at Clevedon Hall, somewhere else in Bristol, across the South West or further afield, I’d love to hear about your wedding plans.
If you’re looking for bridal hair and makeup in Bristol, get in touch to chat about your wedding day and availability.
