We require two individuals at one time; 1 for hair and 1 for makeup - to ensure efficient service. It is recommended that the two people rotate every 35-45 minutes.

The choice of who goes where is entirely up to you, as long people are always in hair and makeup.

We arrive 10-15 minutes early to set up, and we would like to ask that you are ready for the service at the agreed-upon start time.

To provide the best possible service, please have pictures of desired makeup and hair looks at the ready. Screenshots on the phone work great!

We usually do the bride’s makeup and hair second/third to last.

Have some pictures saved to your phone.

For optimal facial cleanliness, it is recommended to thoroughly cleanse your face and utilise a gentle moisturiser that does not contain SPF or serums. It is crucial to eliminate any residual makeup from the previous day, such as mascara.

To ensure the best results for your makeup, kindly avoid using your phone or eating during the session.

Brushing your teeth and having your meal beforehand or after the makeup application is advisable.

For hair styling, please wash your hair the night before, using shampoo twice at the roots. If you use conditioner, only apply it lightly and only at the ends to avoid excessive weight on the hair.
Please have it dried in preparation for hair services. Preferably by a BLOW DRYER. Please do not go to sleep with wet hair. Also, make sure to part your hair exactly where you would like it.

It is advisable to avoid presenting with wet hair unless specifically requested by the stylist or if you have a scheduled blow wave appointment. Wet hair may prolong the session and result in an extra charge for blow-drying before starting to style your hair.

Kindly inform us in advance if you would like to have extensions added on the day. We require prior information about the type, length, and quantity of extensions. Additional time needs to be allotted for this, and there will be an associated cost.

Here are some of the things we’ve heard Brides/people asking for and preparing for their day.

In no preferential order :)

CHECKLIST:

Hip Flask

Snacks

Water

Champagne

Sun Block

Blister Packs

Hayfever Tablets

Panadol

Mints

Eye-drops

Heel Guards

Extra Booby Tape

Lipstick

Tissues

Change of clothes

Sewing Kit

Rain Coat

Waterproof Bag

Comfy shoes FOR DANCING !!

Jacket

Hairbrush

Toothbrush

Pillow

Car Keys

Hotel Room Key

Spare undergarments

Any medications

Veil

Ski Gear (If mountain event)

Don't forget to dress warmly and wear appropriate footwear if you are heading into the hills or going up in a helicopter.

We kindly request a space with ample natural light, preferably near a large window or door, but not in a busy area where people have to get in and out of.

Please provide an area/table for us to lay out our tools, such as hair dryers, lay makeup on etc. and for the hairdresser easy access to a power outlet.

If you are in a location we are familiar with, we can suggest ideal areas for providing our services.

While we pride ourselves on our professional abilities, we also appreciate and do a wayyyyy better job if offered water, tea or coffee. ;)

TIMING

Please allow approximately 35 to 45 minutes after completing your hair and/or makeup routine. This will provide sufficient time to calmly get dressed, brush your teeth, pack your bag, and perhaps a wee bubbles.

EAT

Have breakfast/some snacks on the morning of your event - it helps get you through the day.

SPACE

If you're considering having a crowd of people around, remember that things can become quite hectic and frantic. People may be milling about and asking questions, so it's important to think about YOUR space that morning/day. Keeping it Zen ;)

TRAFFIC

When planning your journey, consider potential travel delays and check the local calendar for any events that may impact your route. For instance, events like the A & P Show, Warbirds Over Wanaka, and Triathlons may result in road closures and traffic disruptions.

JOBS

Delegate! - give people jobs.. they love it!

CURVE BALLS

Let us know if there are any potential facets of your day - you are concerned about. With over 400+ weddings and events under our belts - we can bring out the fun, calming, nurturing, or no-nonsense approach to enable your day to be a smooth one. Believe me when I say - “we have seen it all”.

Have Fun, ENJOY !!!! it goes so quick…

TOP TIPS FOR THE WEDDING DAY

I have found that these issues have happened in the past, so I wrote a bit on how to prevent them from happening and causing unnecessary delays, making your day a more enjoyable and stress free time.

Dresses hanging up in windows

Please do not hang dresses in the window frame or door frame. It impacts the lighting, and everyone can see your dresses. Additionally, the photographer often takes them away to hang from a tree or in the master bedroom. While that may seem like a nice idea, it's not practical.

Also, we have makeup products, hair spray, and setting spray that can get all over the production area, and you don't want any of the dresses to be near that.

Steaming

It's important to hang them up as soon as you get them to prevent wrinkles. Relying on the steam from a hot shower won't do the job effectively; it won't completely remove the crinkles.

Plan ahead to ensure the dresses look fabulous. I strongly recommend booking an appointment with the wonderful Neda from Pristine Cleaning.

We've encountered situations like this too many times: bridesmaids rush off to borrow a steamer, only to return unable to fill it properly. The steamer ends up spitting water and splattering the dresses, leaving horrible stains and marks.

The impact of steam on makeup and hair………

NO STEAMING ON THE DAY OF—steam can cause makeup to run, become slick, shiny, etc., and hair products to become tacky/sticky.

If you are home steaming - It’s best to do all your steam treatments for the day before. If Mum or someone else is steaming on the day, please do it in a separate room from the hair and makeup area.

Ready for Photographer

Please have your perfume bottle, ring, invitations, and flowers all laid out for your photographer if they are coming to take photos while you are getting ready. Searching for these items while you are in the middle of hair or makeup can be difficult.

Videographer

Please let me know if one of these will be present on the day. They can take up a bit of space and need to get right in there. Also, they may be taking you all off for interviews and photo shoots, please, we need to know this beforehand so we allow time and space throughout the getting ready process.

Bride in the Chair

We generally schedule the bride as one of the latter appointments, either second or third to last, never first and never last. We need about 45 minutes to an hour or more with her in the chair.

This is not the time to bring her a plate of food or ask numerous questions. This is her one and only opportunity of the day to take a moment for herself, reflect, and breathe. Please respect the artist who is working and allow them the space to do their job. The time before she sits in the makeup chair during the morning is the time to ask her questions and get everything ready; the time in the chair is not the moment for any distractions.

Phone Policy

The bride should refrain from having her phone during makeup or hair styling. Calls and messages can be a major distraction, slowing down our process. Please hand it to a bridesmaid, planner, or mother, and take this time to enjoy the process without distractions.

Eating & Drinking

Please have a good breakfast and some snacks before sitting in the chair. It will make the day much easier for you. Food beforehand is even more important if you plan on having bubbles or mimosas. Don’t have makeup done and then bite into a foot-long Subway sandwich. It wrecks the makeup. Have straws for the day and have food cut into bite-sized pieces.

Being Ready for Us

If we say we will start at 8:30 AM, we will likely arrive 15 to 30 minutes early to set up our products and be ready to start promptly. Too often, we arrive to hear someone say, “Oh, I’ll just go have a shower” or “Shall I wash my hair now?” We send out all the preparations the night before.

Everyone should be in their daywear or fun pyjamas, with clean faces and hair — ready to go. A lack of organisation can lead to delays, which creates stress for the bride and everyone involved.

Where You Place Us

We need natural light to work effectively — not a cupboard with dim lighting and yellow downlights that cast shadows on the face. If possible, please provide a table to set out our products.

No Thoroughfares

We cannot work in an area where people will walk behind us, pass by, bump into us, or otherwise disrupt our work. Please designate a space where we can work freely; we promise the job will be outstanding.

Cast of Thousands

Please limit the number of relatives and wedding guests in the prep room in the morning. Having too many people can create a lot of noise, making the job more difficult due to constant interruptions. We understand that everyone is trying to help and offer their services, which can lead to delays and confusion.

Wedding Planner

Choose local vendors because they are familiar with realistic time frames and traffic management - there are a lot of events here and around. They know the logistics and time needed to travel between places. They also understand our local weather conditions. For all the brides considering a helicopter option, always have a backup weather day in mind, and make sure your other vendors can accommodate alternative dates. We can have very windy days here; you must factor this into your day.

After Hair and Makeup

Please do not go outside and sit in bright sunlight, put on a puffer jacket and wreck the curls, sit hard up against a sofa and ruin the hairstyle. Yes, it will last the day, but we want to give it the best shot. Please try not to touch your face, fluff hair, etc.

We usually arrive 10-30 minutes early. This allows us to find the best lighting and location for our setup. We prefer plenty of natural light, access to power outlets, and a table for our equipment.

2nd/3rd to last.

Please have eaten prior to Makeup.

Do not have phone in chair whilst we create the magic, we need uninterrupted space and no distractions.

Don’t worry if you are the first in the hot seat, our products last all day and night, thanks to our special setting powders, sprays and professional application.

As part of our top-notch services, we will ensure everyone is comfortable with their final look and provide touch-ups before leaving. We understand that emotions can pop up, so we check for happy tears before we leave.

It is suggested to keep a translucent powder with you for touch-ups throughout the day.

We will reapply lipstick and do final checks of all hairstyles and makeup.