There are some wedding venues that feel beautiful the moment you arrive, and Kin House is definitely one of them.
I recently had the pleasure of working at Kin House near Chippenham in Wiltshire for Claire’s wedding. Claire is French, and when we first started planning her wedding, she was living in Paris before moving to London shortly before the big day to be with her partner.
As a Bristol wedding hair and makeup artist, I regularly travel for weddings across the South West and further afield. I also work regularly in France, so Claire knew I understood the kind of classic, understated beauty she was looking for.
And, of course, I was very happy to practise my French!
A beautiful wedding morning at Kin House
One of my favourite things about Kin House is the getting-ready space.
The Dressing Room is designed specifically for wedding mornings, with plenty of space for a group to get ready together. There are hair-washing facilities, styling tools, hairdryers and large mirrors, which makes life much easier when you have several people having their hair and makeup done.
For a wedding hair and makeup artist, having a proper space like this makes such a difference.
There were six of us getting ready, including Claire, so having enough room to work without everyone feeling squashed was ideal.
It also helped create that lovely relaxed feeling you want on a wedding morning. There is something so nice about everyone getting ready together, having a chat, drinking coffee (I seem to be the only one able to use the coffee machine in the room, however) and slowly watching the morning come together.
Creating Claire’s French-inspired bridal makeup
Claire wanted glowing, fresh skin with a beautiful, polished finish.
We concentrated on really good skin preparation before applying Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin foundation. I added plenty of highlighter to give the skin that fresh, luminous finish without making it look overly made up.
I also used vegan skincare products, which is something I have become increasingly passionate about since becoming vegan myself. We used a lot of the vegan range from Caudalie and Beauty of Joseon to give a super hydrated base.
For me, French bridal makeup is all about looking polished without looking like you are wearing a mask. The skin is important, but it still needs to look like skin.
Claire looked like herself, just a very glowy and slightly more fabulous version!
A classic chignon for a timeless bridal look
For Claire’s hair, we went for a classic chignon.
It suited both Claire and the elegant feel of Kin House perfectly. I love a timeless bridal hairstyle because it photographs beautifully and doesn’t date.
There is also something effortlessly chic about a classic chignon. It feels sophisticated without being overly complicated.
As a wedding hairstylist in Wiltshire, this is exactly the sort of bridal hair I love creating: elegant, secure and polished, but still soft enough to feel like the bride.
Six people, one very happy wedding morning
With six people having their hair and makeup done, the morning could have felt quite hectic.
Luckily, I have been doing wedding hair and makeup for more than 15 years, so timings are something I take very seriously.
A good wedding morning isn’t just about making everyone look amazing. It is about keeping everything moving, knowing when people need to be ready and leaving enough time for those last-minute things that inevitably happen.
And somehow, amongst all of that, I still managed to have a lovely time.
And I got to speak French!
One of the things I particularly enjoyed about Claire’s wedding was getting to use my French.
I’m definitely not fluent, but after working on weddings in France, having lessons for a few years and spending time around French-speaking clients, I can hold a decent conversation.
It was lovely to be able to chat with Claire’s family and friends in French during the morning. Weddings are such personal occasions, and being able to communicate easily with your clients makes the whole experience feel much more relaxed.
Why I love working at Kin House
Kin House has such a special feel.
The Grade II*-listed house sits within around 10 acres of walled gardens and private woodland, so there are beautiful surroundings to enjoy throughout the day.
For couples planning a Kin House wedding, I think the getting-ready experience is a really important part of that.
The Dressing Room gives you a dedicated space to relax and prepare, while the grounds provide a beautiful setting as the day unfolds.
It is the sort of venue where the whole wedding feels like an experience rather than simply a ceremony and reception. I do however, get absolutely lost leaving the venue every. single. time! So please, if you book me, hold my hand and escort me out when we’re done.
And as someone who spends a lot of time in wedding mornings, I really appreciate venues that understand how important those first few hours are.
Planning your Kin House wedding?
If you are planning a wedding at Kin House and looking for a wedding hair and makeup artist in Wiltshire, I would love to hear from you.
I’m based in Bristol and regularly travel for weddings across Wiltshire, Somerset, the Cotswolds and beyond. I also work internationally, including destination weddings in France, Italy, Iceland and Cyprus.
Whether you are looking for glowing natural bridal makeup, French-inspired beauty or a classic bridal hairstyle like Claire’s chignon, everything is tailored around you, your dress, your style and the overall feel of your wedding day.
Kin House is already pretty special.
Your wedding morning should be too.
Evie x
Photography by Megan Moore
