What to expect from your bridal preview/Trial from Bridal Makeup Artist North Wales and Cheshire

I am Cathryn, a bridal makeup artist covering North Wales and Cheshire, and I run all my bridal previews from my home studio here in Ewloe, in North Wales but only 7 miles from Chester City Centre. It is a little purpose built space at the side of my house, private and calm, and it is where we sit down together and figure out exactly how you want to look on your wedding day.

A preview is not rushed. It is your time to see everything clearly and to get the full vision. The space is small though. I have two seats and even two people can feel like a push, so please only bring someone whose opinion you genuinely trust. Not someone who will take over or confuse you. And no children please. It is a workspace and it is linked to my home, and it is simply not set up for little ones.

If you do have extra people with you, they are welcome to wait across the road at The Village hotel, St David's Park, where there is a Starbucks and plenty of places for them to sit, but the studio itself is for you and one trusted person at most.

Timings

My previews are usually at 10am in the morning or 1pm in the afternoon. Please be on time. Not early. Turning up early makes things difficult because in the morning I am setting up for the day and between appointments I am cleaning down, resetting the space, having a quick drink or eating something. If you turn up twenty or thirty minutes early, you cut into the time I need to prepare properly. On time is perfect.

Parking

Parking is easy. I am at the bottom of a cul de sac. Please park behind my car which is the Toyota Aygo X. Blocking me in is no problem at all. Try not to block my husband's car in and please don't park outside my neighbours' houses or directly opposite. I have a good relationship with everyone on the street and I like to keep it that way. Behind my car is where best as its my car and I am going knowhere as I am with you for the duration

How to come prepared

This bit is important. Wear a white top. A white top makes a massive difference when you are looking at your bridal makeup because it lets you see the full vision. If you come in a dark top or a hoodie, it is much harder to picture the final look. White helps everything make sense.

Also, come with your hair looking nice. It does not need a full blow dry but brushed, styled, tidy. If it is scraped up in a messy bun or looks like you have slept on it, you won't see the full picture. The preview is about seeing the full vision and hair plays a huge part in how your makeup will look.

Bring as much information as you can. I want to know everything. Your dress, your neckline, your flower ideas, your colour scheme, your styling, your theme, your vibe, all of it. Makeup is a big part of the whole look and the more you tell me, the quicker we get to something that feels right for you.

Come with an open mind as well. A lot of images on Pinterest and Instagram are either AI generated or heavily edited now. Skin in real life has pores and texture. Makeup will not erase that. That is completely normal. I may talk to you about skin care if I think it will help. Good makeup always sits better on well cared for skin, so you may leave with a few suggestions.

Your appointment

A bridal preview is usually two hours. That gives us time to talk everything through, try your full look and tweak anything you want changing. If you feel you need more time or you want to try a completely different look, we can book another preview. The aim is always to make sure you feel confident and supported.

Your bridal preview should feel calm, honest and enjoyable. It is your space to say what you like, what you do not like and to see your wedding day vision come together properly.