#NWWA19 Finalist!

2019-06-19 By Laura-Louise Leave a Comment

It has been an incredibly busy month as a wedding makeup artist in Cheshire and North Wales now we are in peak wedding season. However flaming June hasn’t really arrived yet and…. well…we are all saying”flaming June” for the wrong reasons with some of Cheshire and North Wales being submerged last week in 12 inches or more of rain. Fingers crossed that summer is on its way and we can start whinging about how hot it has been instead!

I wanted to tell you all about last Wednesday, when I got all dolled up in my pretty black dress and headed over to an awards ceremony at the Mere Golf & Spa Resort near Knutsford, Cheshire.

Each year, County Brides Magazine based in Cheshire hosts the prestigious North West Wedding Awards.

I was nominated in 2018 and again in 2019 and having the support all of my previous Brides, I was proud to make it to the finals. Exciting!

Leaving Chester, the weather was pretty grim, dressed up to the nines, my phone was pinging with over twenty+ messages from previous Brides wishing me all the luck in the world. I felt so incredibly proud to have so much support and so privileged to be a makeup artist to my Brides.

When I arrived at the Mere Golf and Spa Resort, the car park was full to bursting but I managed to sneak into a space near the main entrance. I struggled with changing into my heels, almost head butting the steering wheel on one occasion! I even plucked up the courage to make a video for facebook, saying thank you to each and every person who voted for me. You can watch it here: Pre-Awards Video

As I got out of the car, I opened up my brolly and started to run, as well as you can in stilettos. My phone continued to buzz all night with “good luck” messages but I made the most of the event chatting and networking with fellow wedding suppliers from Cheshire, Merseyside, Wirral, and the rest of the North West of England. Wedding suppliers had travelled far and wide, from Carlisle in the North to Stoke in the South.

AS I walked in, I had my virgin bucks fizz (sensible, as I was driving) and queued up for the photo mirror (on my own, how brave!) provided by “A Touch of Glamour” and listened to the talented solo artist who was entertaining the crowds.

There was a really fantastic atmosphere and I was standing there, taking it all in when we were called into dinner. The coolest green lighting in the room made it a really “wow” moment as I entered and headed for my table, Magnolia. The meal was amazing, as were the singing waiters, the charity Auction to raise money for Destination Florida Children’s Charity and on the night, raised a staggering £6503.50.

The awards ceremony began about 9.30pm and yet seemed to be over in a heartbeat but unfortunately, this year wasn’t my year. A huge congratulations to all the nominees and the worthy winners. My hands are still sore from all the clapping. I left the awards evening feeling upbeat and proud knowing that I am working to a fabulously high standard, amongst the best in the north west, in an industry that is fabulous from head to toe.

When I jumped in the car, I checked my phone for one last time before setting off and read this message from my Daughter. As you can image my heart burst with pride.

Once again, a HUGE thank you to each and every Bride who showed me all of your love, kindness and support and here is to winning in 2020!

PS: If you are looking for a makeup artist, or know someone who is, then please do share my website details with them: www.lauralouisemakeupartist.co.uk

January Jaunts, Endeavours & Achievements

2019-02-07 By Laura-Louise Leave a Comment

My monthly blog shining a light on what’s going on at Laura-Louise Makeup Artist

Sometimes, sitting down to write a blog is difficult, knowing what to write on a specific topic, coming across natural, hoping it doesn’t sound cheesy or fake.

With this in mind, I thought I would write a blog as if we were sitting down in a cafe, enjoying a cup or glass of whatever-you-like and having a catch up session (albeit, one sided). It might work, it might be something that people like. It might give you the excuse you need to take 5 minutes to stop and take a breather.

So…January Arrived

Most people feel like January lasts 200 days and each one of those days is grey and dismal. I have to say that I am the absolute opposite. However, I’m also told by friends and colleagues that I am “the most positive person they know” and see the silver lining in every situation. Perhaps, I am positive (annoyingly for some, I guess) but I’d rather be positive than negative.

Website Updates & My New Blog

So whilst my friends were busy adopting veganism and committing to dry January and telling E.V.E.R.Y.O.N.E about how desperate they are for a drink, I threw myself into work. I updated my website, put together a new pricing structure for 2019/20/21 and networked like crazy, making connections with new wedding venues & suppliers with whom I have not work with before. It paid off! I’ve booked into four wedding events and two bridal photoshoots.

Being self employed, you put your head down and being busy creating makeup looks doesn’t always mean I have the time to upload new images to my website gallery as often as I should. Seeing as it’s January, I’ll add that to my “could do better list”….

2020 & 2021 Diary Filling Up Fast

So here are some stats….during the month of January I’ve received 48 makeup enquiries and received 18 bookings spanning 2019, 2020 and 2021. Sadly, many of the enquiries I had to inform the Brides that I could not offer my services because I was already booked.

My go-to response is ” I’m afraid I am already booked for your date, but I wish you a fabulous wedding day when it comes”. However many times you write it, it still doesn’t get any easier. I always feel sad. The lesson here is ladies, don’t wait too long to book someone you really, really like. On your wedding day, when every camera is the land is pointing at you, you should have the pick of the best, rather than pick of who is left.

Styled Photo Shoot at the Gaddum

Before being selected to take part in this shoot, I’d not heard of The Gaddum despite hailing from the Lake District. As soon as you arrive at the Gaddum you know you’ve found somewhere special. Its impressive hilltop location overlooking Windermere and with a breathtaking backdrop of lakeland hills….and that’s just the outside!

The Gaddum boasts a collection of fabulous rooms including the lounge, the orangery and the garden room taking in the stunning lake views.

The photoshoot started at 8.45am and had to finish at 1pm as they had guests booked in for lunch and afternoon tea, so quite a tight timescale to be creative!

Sarah from Olive Owl Flowers was the creative director and florist, basically the entire shoot was down to her. Using the power of social media, she handpicked all the suppliers to create a bridal look for our model Heather at this gorgeous venue. Our photographer Emma Ryan captured the images. Fingers crossed we could even get some additional publicity in a wedding magazine.

As the makeup artist, I created Heather’s makeup using soft coral and bronze on her eyelids, used fabulously fluffy lashes, Charlotte Tilbury Duo bronze and highlight and NYX lip colour Sierra. The flawless skin was created using Estee Lauder double wear. The second lip colour was a bolder plum, created using Arbonne lip colour Hibiscus.

The chosen hairdresser was the super talented Charlotte from Charlotte Elizabeth Hair and Beauty Room and she was inspired by the 1920’s feel of the venue and its’ decor and created soft waves with a side parting and used a stunning diamonte hair slide. For the second look, she created a loose up do. The soft waves added a touch of elegance and the delicate pearls finished the look perfectly.

The photo shoot was a fabulous success and it was a pleasure to meet and work with such a talented bunch of wedding suppliers. I’d love to work with you all again!

Surprise Magazine Feature

I found out that images featuring a photoshoot which took place at The Florist in central Liverpool in late 2018 was featured in this months Your Cheshire and Merseyside Wedding Magazine. I created the makeup for this shoot and a team of suppliers captured this eclectic venue brilliantly. The Florist is combines stunning floral displays and neon lights. You can take a look at the online magazine here: Jan/Feb Issue 43

It’s All About Being Seen

Laura-Louise Makeup Artist blog - January 2019

There are two wedding fair seasons each year, one from Jan-April then September-November. Wedding Events are known as “wedding fairs” and these events give wedding suppliers the opportunity to show you who they are and what they do. Wedding Fayres and Bridal open evenings are great for inspiration and to meet suppliers face to face.

During January, I attended two wedding fairs, the first was the Wedding Open Evening at the Doubletree by Hilton, Chester where there was oodles of newly engaged couples looking for wedding suppliers for their big day. It was lovely to receive two bookings on the night.

The second event was the Wrexham Wedding Trail at St Giles Church in Wrexham town centre. It was so busy, probably the busiest I have ever seen it and 8 Brides booked me for their weddings spanning 2019 and 2020.

If you want to see me at my next events…

I’ll be at the Doubletree by Hilton Chester Wedding Fair
Sunday 17th March 2019
Find out more here

the I’ll be at the Soughton Hall Wedding Fair
Sunday 24th March 2019
Find out more here

Details of events can be seen on the bottom left corner of my Home Page 

Join Laura-Louise Academy Facebook Group TODAY

I’ve launched Laura-Louise Academy for Brides, models and wedding suppliers…basically for all things wedding! Here I’ll be putting calls out for models for makeup practise sessions, photoshoots and general pampering. If you would consider being pampered for a few hours, having some photographs taken whilst modelling a new makeup look, or if you wish to develop your portfolio with a wedding photoshoot, simply complete the questions and join the Laura-Louise Academy page here.

Monthly Inspiration

I’m definitely inspired by visual things. This postcard “spoke” to me when I was in a card shop in Manchester and it now sits on my wall in my office. I said yes to the shoot at the Gaddum, that’s how much it inspired me! What inspires you to chase your dreams and achieve bigger and better things?

Well, my cuppa is almost empty and I’m off on the school run. I’d love you to join me for another catch up soon.

Love,
Laura-Louise x

6 Top Pre-Wedding Makeup Tips from Laura-Louise Makeup Artist

2018-06-14 By Laura-Louise Leave a Comment

My first wedding magazine article hits the shelves….well…. screens!

In March, I was incredibly lucky to be invited to write an article in the 2nd edition of the Finest Wedding Magazine. The Finest Wedding Magazine launched officially in 2017 and has experienced substantial growth and since the Wedding Industry Awards, with more and more engaged couples choosing to read this magazine, full of real life weddings and articles written by knowledgeable industry professionals.

I’m definitely not a writer, but I must say that I did really enjoy writing the article “6 Top Tips” as it helped me to explain as succinctly as possible why it is important to have a pre-wedding skincare regime ahead of any Bride-to-be’s big day. I do discuss the important of pre-wedding skincare regime with my Clients at their makeup trials but putting it onto paper means that I can help even more people in what can be a pretty stressful time.

I recently created the wedding makeup for Naomi, her Mum & Bridesmaids. 6 weeks ago, Naomi had her trial. Before discussing makeup, I asked some important questions establishing what skincare regime Naomi followed. Naomi declared that she works outside on a daily basis and is vulnerable in the harsh weather conditions of the winter and recent warm weather/heat. I informed her about the value of following a pre-wedding skin regime ahead of the big day.

Naomi followed the suggestions I had made and just look how her skin looked, blemish free and glowing (and freckly!) thanks to the beautiful sunshine we’ve been experiencing recently! The key points are: respecting your skin and maintaining a regime will definitely pay dividends. Your skin will glow and it will be the perfect canvas for your wedding makeup artist to create your chosen look. Invest in your skin starting TODAY!

Read the article below to find out how…. 6 Top Makeup Tips To Prepare Your Skin Ahead of Your Wedding Day by me, Laura-Louise Makeup Artist

WEDDING AWARDS 2018 REGIONAL WINNER – Laura-Louise Makeup Artist

2018-03-15 By Laura-Louise Leave a Comment

I was lucky enough to find out today that I have won an award!

The Awards Night

On Thursday, 8th March 2018 I attended the Wedding Awards 2018 event at the Epstein Theatre in Liverpool. The event was a fabulous success and it was wonderful being surrounded by so much talent, expertise and professionalism in one room. On the night, I came away empty handed but found out today that my name had been missed off the list and that I was in fact a Regional Winner as a Makeup Artist and I am now officially an award winning makeup artist!

My dream has literally come true!

What the Awards Stand For

For those people who say that awards are popularity contests, this award certainly isn’t. The Wedding Awards pride themselves on carefully measuring each and every finalist alongside a set of criteria including website, communication and feedback, ensuring reviews are real and feedback is factually correct. Only previous customers can vote for you and provide feedback.

Having had a few days to take in the news, to share it with my family and friends I feel so immensely proud of all my handwork, determination and commitment. Since I trained in London in 2016, I’ve had laser focused plan to reaching out to Brides-to-be who are looking to connect with a makeup artist who fits their makeup requirements for their wedding day. Practising my craft and keeping up to date with training is important to me to become the very best that I can be!

From the bottom of my heart….Thank you!

Firstly, I would like to thank each and every customer from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to vote for me and for reviewing the service you received from me. I was very lucky to receive such a lot of love and support and this has not gone unnoticed.

Receiving this award is such a huge accolade for me; it celebrates all my hard work and effort and it is a huge compliment to be a regional winner. I will use this award to spur me forward and achieve even more for me and my customers in the coming months and years.

And finally… a huge thank you to Yvonne from The Wedding Industry Network and the team of judges for their hard work in the run up to the awards. It was a truly amazing night and I am proud to be a part of this fantastic network.

7 Reasons to book a wedding makeup artist for your big day

2017-03-31 By Laura-Louise Leave a Comment

Your wedding dress has been lovingly chosen and the wedding venue has been booked. The seating plan has been finalised and the menu tasting was fabulous, wedding excitement is building and a Bridesmaids asks the Bride-to-be “who is doing our makeup on the day of the wedding?” The Bride responds…..”Me!”
For some Brides-to-be, the thought of saving money and putting it towards “something else” is more important, however I’m here to give you 7 reasons why you should invest in a professional wedding makeup artist for your wedding day.

1. You will save money in the long term

It will seem strange when I say this, but choosing the right makeup artist will actually save you money in the long term. “How?” I hear you ask…. Well, by the time you pay for a professional makeup lesson and then buy all of the products that you fell in love with when they created your look, you’ll have almost doubled the entire wedding budget and you’ll probably never use any of it again! However, if you research wedding makeup artists in your area, perhaps visit a wedding fair to meet them and book them for your big day, you will actually save money.

2. YouTube can only teach you so much…

If you are an avid Youtube watcher and love watching Mario contouring the Kardashians, remind yourself that not all makeup skills can be taught via Youtube. Many professional makeup artists have a vast array of skills and experience in application and corrective skills and these skills are invaluable. Makeup artists will attend training courses and invest in their kit all of the time. When there is a room of females all wanting to look their best as your Bridesmaids, all with different skin tones, skin types and desired looks, the makeup artist is the one person to bring all of those looks together, so that they fit your theme and style. These skills come with training, experience and knowledge and a professional makeup artist will bring those skills to your bridal makeup preparations. Don’t get married without one!

3. Set a budget for your makeup artist because it is part of your overall wedding look

With the average UK wedding costing £20,195 (2016 – Perfect Wedding Magazine) , it is possible to build a professional wedding makeup artist into your budget for your wedding day. Take a step back for a moment. If you’re spending a large proportion of the wedding budget on your wedding dress, veil, shoes and hairdresser, it makes sense to find a fabulous makeup artist to make you feel special on your wedding day and style you as you wish. Remember that you work hard to earn your money and you’ve hand selected all of the elements of your day. Your wedding makeup artist should be no different!

4. Surrounding yourself with professionals will give you extra confidence on the day

You didn’t ask your friend to make the necessary adjustments to your wedding dress, nor did you ask your chief Bridesmaid to make your bridal bouquet, did you? So why would you accept their offer to do your bridal makeup? Your cake maker is amazing at making cakes and your wedding co-ordinator has planned and executed many weddings prior to yours and has all the necessary skills and experience to deal with any problems. Wedding makeup is no different. On the day, you could have a breakout, sensitive skin or feeling over-emotional. An experienced makeup artist will have an extensive kit and experience to cope with all eventualities and then some! When you stand in front of the mirror doing your final check before leaving for your ceremony, you will be overjoyed that you chose to have a fabulous MUA to bring all the elements together. Every Bride-to-be deserves a makeup artist to help them look amazing and feel fabulous.

5. Look fabulous on your wedding photographs

Your wedding photographs are the longest lasting memories that you will have from your wedding. Photographs from your big day are the one thing that you can pass down to your children and their children and share for years to come and therefore you want to be looking your best. A professional makeup artist will ensure that your foundation is the right colour, your blush suits your skin tone and everything is blended perfectly so that you can be photographed from all angles and still look flawless. Don’t scrimp at the last moment on the finer details as you could regret this for years to come and have photographic evidence to prove it!

6. When things don’t go to plan

If things don’t go to plan on the morning of the wedding, call on the experience and skills of your makeup artist. They will have a wealth of knowledge and expertise to deal with most eventualities. Having worked in the wedding industry for 13 years, there aren’t many situations that I haven’t seen. Don’t panic! Take a deep breath and ask for help.

7. Sit back and give yourself permission to enjoy your bridal preparations!

“Yeah right!” I hear you shout! But as a woman, I cannot think of anything more special than a fully trained and experienced bridal makeup artist coming to my hotel room to create my chosen wedding make up look before I slip into my beautiful, handmade wedding gown and walk down the aisle to marry the man of my dreams. When I compare that to the stress of trying to glue a stubborn eyelash to my eyelid for the umpteenth time….make booking a makeup artist your priority!

I hope this blog post provides 7 reasons why booking a wedding makeup artist for the big day is a great decision. I hope you have a fabulous wedding day when it arrives and enjoy every single minute of being a Bride. Be sure to look back at your reflection in the mirror and tell yourself how beautiful you are!

For those of your who are eager to get organised and book a makeup artist, you can find out more about me here and you can contact me here by filling in this enquiry form. Happy wedding planning!