Wedding Day Trial Run: What To Expect

March 15, 2024September 5, 2016 by Ruby Deevoy

trial run. Bridal makeup for a bride, plus bridal hairstyles for brides with long, thick, heavy hair with natural curls by wedding makeup artist and bridal hair stylist Pam Wrigley at the St Ermin Hotel

As a bride to be, you’ll probably have heard the term ‘Trial Run’ when researching wedding hair and makeup artists but you might not be so familiar with what a trial run actually is. When you’re deciding who to choose to do your all important wedding day hair and makeup, there’s no better way of find out … Read more

How To Choose Your Wedding Dress

March 15, 2024July 10, 2016 by Ruby Deevoy

wedding dress. Bridal makeup for a bride, plus bridal hairstyles for brides with long, thick, heavy hair by wedding makeup artist and bridal hair stylist Pam Wrigley at the St Ermin Hotel

It’s almost ALL about the wedding dress!

There is so much to think about when planning your big day and what’s more, there’s so much that you need to think about in relation to each other. When you’re rifling through wedding day inspiration, pinning like mad and coming up with your dream theme, colour scheme and décor, remember that all of your choices will also have to reflect in your final wedding dress selection.

When you’re finally taking the plunge to choose your wedding dress, the pressure is on to get it just right – you do only get to wear one after all! Make sure that you give yourself plenty of time to browse different designers and styles and don’t forget that the average wedding dress takes around 6 months to make once you’ve found it, so you’ll probably want to start the hunt 8-10 months in advance.

With so many things to take into account, it can be tough to know where to start. Follow my top tips on wedding dress shopping to find out how to choose your wedding dress and know it’s the right one…

Consider ALL factors

There are so many things that play a part in selecting the perfect wedding dress for your big day, some of which are not so obvious. As a bridal hair and makeup artist with over 25 years of experience, I have had the pleasure of working with hundreds (maybe thousands?!) of brides-to-be so I’ve heard just about all wedding dress dilemmas!

When you’re making your decision, here are 3 key points to think about:

Wedding Dress Comfort

Yes, you want to look drop dead gorgeous, but whatever you do, don’t let that come at the expense of your comfort – you can have the best of both worlds! You want your day to be nothing but pure joy, and wearing a wedding dress that makes you feel uncomfortable in any sense (whether that’s down to restricted breathing, tripping up on long skirts, the feel of the material or wearing something that just isn’t really ‘you’) is one sure-fire way to put a downer on your wedding day.

Find a wedding dress that not only looks fabulous, but feels fabulous too. I’ve fallen in love with these vintage dresses designed by Candy Anthony!

The Groom

I’m not just talking about finding a dress that your fiancé will think looks beautiful, you also need to factor it what he wants to wear (it’s his day too!) and almost more importantly, his height and stature. Shoes and hairstyle also play a big part here! If you and your groom don’t have much difference in height but you would both rather have him looking and feeling taller than you on your big day, then you might find a smaller dress works better. You should also consider his outfit – is he going to be wearing a suit? Or perhaps a kilt or other traditional dress?

To look your best together as you say your ‘I dos’, stay well coordinated in both colour and style.

Venue/Destination

Always settle on your venue or travel destination before making a final decision on your wedding dress. It may seem obvious to some, but it is so easy to get caught up in that dream wedding dress idea and end up going for something that, when it comes down to it, is totally inappropriate. If you’re planning on tying the know abroad then check out our destination wedding tips here.

If you’ve always been dead-set on wearing a huge, ball gown wedding dress with a cathedral veil, then perhaps it’s time to say goodbye to getting married on a beach in the Maldives. Decide what is the most important aspect to you and go with that, but whatever you do, make sure that your dress is suitable for your venue, don’t try to make something work that in your heart you know won’t – trust your instincts!

Summer Bridal Hairstyles 2016

March 15, 2024May 9, 2016 by Ruby Deevoy

short bridal hairstyles for brides with short hair by wedding makeup artist and bridal hair stylist Pam Wrigley

Summer Bridal Hairstyles 2016 I Woke Up This Gorgeous Looking ‘made up’ isn’t for everyone – it’s becoming more and more commonplace for brides to want to have a more relaxed, boho feel to their finished hair and makeup look, with a tousled ‘I woke up this gorgeous’ finish, and I have to say, it does look … Read more

Totally Beautiful Bridal Makeup for Mature Brides by Pam Wrigley

May 28, 2026January 28, 2016 by Ruby Deevoy

The art of bridal makeup savoy wedding makeup and high bun bridal hairstyle by Pam Wrigley Oscar worthy Hairstyles on your wedding day. Bridal MUA West London

Bridal makeup for the mature bride Lots of women are getting married later in life these days, and some of my favourite bridal makeup looks have been on my more mature brides. Being a little older doesn’t mean you can’t look just as gorgeous as you did in your 20s, as long you (or your … Read more

Beautiful Bride! Real Brides Hair & Makeup by Pam Wrigley

February 28, 2024December 1, 2015 by Ruby Deevoy

Natural bridal makeup and braided, bridal half up hairstyles for brides with medium length hair. Plus makeup by wedding makeup artist and bridal hair stylist Pam Wrigley in London

I’m always taking snaps on my phone of my beautiful brides, but I just love it when I get to see the photos from the official photographer! Here are some fabulous images of me at work and the finished result, by the supremely talented Jez Dickson, who captures stunningly candid moments with a timeless air… … Read more

Art Deco Vintage Bridal Hair & Makeup: Bride & Mother of the Bride

March 20, 2024October 19, 2015 by Ruby Deevoy

vintage bridal hair & makeup

Vintage bridal hair & makeup is so diverse and never goes out of fashion – there are so many eras with such elegant, classic looks to play with and today’s modern bride can even work with her stylist to take the best bits of her favourite vintage bridal hair & makeup looks and turn it into something truly unique.

Vintage bridal hair & makeup is one of my favourite styles to work with on my clients, it’s so much fun! I adore this 1920s/1930s style wedding dress that one of my brides this year wore. We worked hard on her trial day to find a vintage bridal hair & makeup look that worked for her and made her feel beautiful. We decided upon this gorgeous low bun hairstyle, structured and the back and a little looser at the front for a really romantic edge.

Teamed with a stunning bridal hair accessory and quite natural looking makeup with eyes that pop, this bridal hair & makeup look was absolutely perfect!

From the back of this stunning vintage bridal hair style you can see all of the intricate detail I included to make this look really something special.

This style is a wonderful match for the vintage bridal gown as well, drawing the eye down towards that lovely detail at the back, but adding the the overall effect rather than taking anything away from it.

For the Mother of the Bride, we went for a similarly structured low bun but with just a little less fanciful detail. Again, we have gone for the softer front with a neater back and some height on the crown for added elegance. Check out some more of my low bun hairstyles here!

If you’d like to learn how to do a fabulous 20’s finger wave for your bridal hairstyle, look no further! Follow this tutorial and you’ll be there in no time.

I think that this hair & makeup style is gorgeous. This mother of the bride style would also work just as well for a mature bride and just goes to show that you can look absolutely stunning for your big day, whatever your age

Pam’s Real Summer Brides

March 15, 2024October 5, 2015 by Ruby Deevoy

wedding hairstyle bridal low bun by Pam Wrigley
summer brides

beautiful summer brides

It’s been a busy summer, filled with beautiful summer brides, brides maids and mother of the brides. Wedding season is always so much fun!

If you’re other half has popped the question and you’re looking for some hair and makeup inspiration for your big day, have a browse through my hair and makeup galleries to see some of my real brides this summer, who all looked totally gorgeous.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with any questions, or why not book yourself a trial day to try out some of the looks for yourself? You can’t go wrong with a bit of a pampering sash after all!

Brides have a lot of things to think about as their wedding day approaches and having someone there to make sure you look great can go a long way to making sure your day runs smoothly. I love my job and part of the fun for me is making sure my brides are happy and beautiful! Feel free to get in touch to discuss your ideas and options. Each and every one of my brides are as important to me as the last and I just love seeing them smile :)

If you’re looking for summer brides inspiration, have a look at out my work on Instagram.

Bridal Beach Hairstyles: Beach Wedding Hair Inspiration

February 18, 2025June 11, 2015 by Ruby Deevoy

bridal Pam Wrigley wedding makeup hair down beach hairstyles

Beach hairstyles on your big day

If you are thinking about getting married on the beach then there are several things that you will need to think about when it comes to choosing your hairstyle. Your look needs to be able to cope with a day in the sun, with the salty air, and when you get all hot and sticky. We have picked five of our top bridal beach hairstyles to give you some inspiration for your seaside celebration.

Although Blake chose to sport her messy braid for the Green Lantern premiere back in 2011 this twisted fishtail is perfectly undone for that beachy look. She has accessorised with a pretty gold hairpin which adds a touch of glamour. Definitely high on the list of great beach hairstyles!

Selena’s loose waves are spot on for our bridal beach hairstyles list and it is ideal if you have a long bob. Remember to consider the neckline of your dress when choosing your style, this particular look would suit a dress with a strapless neckline or if it is sleeveless.

Looking for pretty beach hairstyles for short hair? Think about giving your cropped cut a deep side parting which will enable you to wear a cute hair accessory. A fresh flower will also work well with a beach theme.

Braided hairstyles are synonymous with beach hairstyles and Sarah Michelle Gellar’s is perfect. With the braid being positioned on the side it means that it will feature in the majority of your photos. Make sure with this look that plenty of strong hold hairspray is applied to guarantee that it lasts throughout your celebrations.

You can’t go wrong with a messy bun or top knot as a low maintenance option for your big day. This great beach hairstyle is also ideal if you are off to a hot location as all your hair is kept back off your face and neck.

Jessica Biel Bridal Makeup Inspiration

March 15, 2024April 14, 2015 by Ruby Deevoy

makeup. Wedding smokey makeup and bridal hair in a low bun hairstyle for bride with extensions. By Pam Wrigley wedding makeup artist and bridal hair stylist, London.

Time for gorgeous makeup

Jessica Biel’s look was a hit at the Cannes Film Festival back in 2013 and it is no surprise why. It is perfect for brides to be to recreate on their big day, particularly as it suits so many different skin tones. This natural dewy look is easy to do, just take a look at our step by step guide.

DIY Makeup

Step one:

Ideally you should use a HD makeup for your base as you will obviously be photographed a lot and it will give you the best results. Take liquid, fine textured foundation and apply with a brush all the way down onto your neck and chest if your dress has a low front. This will even out your skin tone, just make sure that you blend well.

Step two:

Take a crème blush and apply this to the apples of your cheeks for a healthy looking glow.

Step three:

Prep your eye lids with a primer and then sweep over with a mink shade. Select a plum colour and blend this into the outer corner of your lid to give definition. Blend these two colours together and use this to line under the bottom lashes, adding a touch of the plum to the outer corner again. Sweep over the lid with a rose shade and then add a wash of highlighter to your brow bone.

Step four:

Now you can apply your concealer. It is better to apply this after eye shadow in case and has dropped from the lid to underneath your eye. Your foundation will also have sun in so you will be able to easily spot any areas that need concealing. Next, dust over with powder for a velvet look.
Step five: Take your black waterproof eyeliner and work it into the base of your eyelashes. Make sure that you thicken the line out at the outer corner of your eye. Now you can curl your lashes and apply your waterproof mascara. If necessary you can also apply individual lashes to thicken them out.

Step six:

There is no place for cracked lips in the perfect makeup, so to make sure that they are lovely and smooth rub a cotton bud or toothbrush over them. Use a brown lip liner to stain all over your lips and then finish off with a pinky nude lipstick.

Follow me on Instagram and look through my makeup gallery to get some lovely makeup inspiration and ideas.

Get the bridal look: Poppy Delevingne – Beautiful Bridal Hair & Makeup

March 12, 2024February 25, 2015 by Pam Wrigley

Wedding natural makeup and bridal hair in a half up hairstyle for a bride. By Pam Wrigley wedding makeup artist and bridal hair stylist, London.

We have taken to the archives again for this week’s bridal look. Back in May 2014 Poppy Delevingne married her long time partner James Cook at St Paul’s Church in Knightsbridge. It was no surprise that the naturally beautiful bride looked stunning, and she chose to wear a custom made Chanel Haute Couture dress.

View image | gettyimages.com

This style is perfect for those who have gone for a vintage style dress or one that has heavy embellishment, a high neck, or is strapless as these will complement the understated look. It will suit anyone as long as they have enough length to their hair as the wavy style will catch the light giving hair a glossy shine and show off its colour. It will look particularly good on brides with a square or round shape as it will soften your features. Naturally curly hair will hold the shape well, as will fine hair.

How to get the look

Step one:

Wash hair using a volumising shampoo and condition well. Create a good foundation by applying a strong hold mousse and then blow dry using a round brush so that you can generate extra volume and movement.

Step two:

Allow hair to part on your preferred side. Take a curling iron with a medium sized barrel and curl one inch sections, winding hair around the barrel the same way each time until you have curled your whole head.

Step three:

Leave the curls to cool completely before you touch them. Once cool you can then gently brush through your hair so that it forms full waves all the way around your head. Brushing will also cause the tightness in the curls to relax.

Step four:

Mist all over your hair with light hairspray to hold the shape but still allow some movement.

By Gemma