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For this year's International Women's Day, I wanted to draw attention to the brilliant company The Spark Company. I'm not being paid to write this blog but there are some ad aff links, which I'll make a little money on if you purchase something via one of their links!

I've got quite a collection of The Spark Company tshirts now, and often wear them at trials or sometimes on wedding mornings. As photographed here on Heather's wedding morning by Ed Godden. I think it's quite ironic as a makeup artist that I don't wear makeup when I'm working, and yet I *am* still radiant and will fight anyone who thinks or dares to say otherwise!

Zoe & Dan got married at The Mill at Rufford Abbey back in May 2021. There were still a couple of restrictions in place, like me having to wear a mask still while working, but as most photos of me at weddings just show the side of my head it didn't really matter!

It's a gorgeous venue, and I was pleased to be back at The Maypole at Wellow to get her and the rest of the wedding party ready before headed over to The Mill for the big 'I do!' and party. 

Imogen and Cai married at Donginton Park Farmhouse in October 2024. Due to the registrar not being available at their chosen time, they had their legal ceremony super quick in the morning, in the middle of getting ready! They didn't want to have their whole day start really early so they did it their way - legal bit, back to finish getting ready, then celebrant led ceremony in front of all their family (including Ruby below!) and friends later - wahey! That way there was zero nerves and 100% fun - what more could you want?

I've worked with some fantastic photographers in my time, but there are few that I recommend unless I've met them and know them to be thoroughly awesome people. Ed Godden is one such person! I met Ed when he photographed Maya and Jamie's big day in 2015. Any time I get a wedding booking where I know he'll be photographing it, I do a little leap for joy. JUST LOOK AT THOSE PHOTOGRAPHS! Ed's been in the business a while so he's quite the wedding photographer alumni, but he's not faced a pandemic before either so I caught up with him about how's his 2020 been so far...

I've brought back my interview series! I did them a few years ago, but I'm going to bring them back and let you all find out for yourselves about some of my favourite wedding suppliers. First up in the list is Rosie, from Everyone's Looking Rosie. 

Following my Christmas Beauty Gift List last week, here's my regular gift list! Lots of great small businesses, and other recommendations from me from over the course of the year that I think you'll enjoy!

It was an absolute honour to be asked by Robyn to be part of her 2024 Signature Collection photoshoot, showcasing some of her most requested hair styles. She organised three models, choosing Alexis Blake, and Kennedy and Meg from zebedeetalent. We took over the gorgeous Stubton Hall for the day back in January and photographed these beautiful looks below!

Summertime, the weather is free and easy... and our faces are at risk of slipping around like they are on a slide at a waterpark!

(by Ed Godden Photography, one of my recommended suppliers)

Hayley and Stu got married in August 2022, having delayed their wedding from 2020 due to the pandemic. They married at the lovely Swancar Farm, but she got ready with her wedding party at home in Wollaton. Hayley first contacted me back in 2018 so it was really lovely to finally get her ready for her big day!

Back in August 2018, I did a promo shoot for alternative wedding fair Tying the Nott - the next one is on 25 October 2020! It was a fabulous collaborative shoot with wedding suppliers from all over the East Midlands that were wonderful to meet and a joy to work with. Louise was one of the models for the day, despite having never modelled before and did a great job!

Louise mentioned she was planning her own wedding for 2019, and it was lovely when she got in touch to book me for her big day.

(Louise by Dave Fuller Photography for Tying the Nott)

Joanna contacted me in late August about her wedding in October 2020, asking if I'd be available do her wedding makeup for her micro-wedding. She was marrying Jeff no matter what COVID-19 tiers we were in; if it was still legal to get married during the pandemic, she'd be saying "I do!" They had to cut their list from 30 to 15 attendees but there was no way they were letting that get in the way of them getting hitched!

Wollaton Hall needs no introduction; if you live in or around Nottingham, you'll know it! For those who aren't from Nottingham, it's a Grade II listed Elizabethan house within the Nottingham City boundaries and is a little slice of calm. It's home to Nottingham Natural History Museum, two different types of endangered Japanese deer and most famously known for being 'Wayne Manor' from Batman's A Dark Knight Rises.

January; the expectation of a new year. "Tomorrow is the first chapter of a new book; make it a good one!"

I've known Nickie through the alt online scene for a fair few years now (Facebook says 5 years, but I reckon longer with the age of Myspace!) she is the owner and founder of Devolution Magazine and The Alt Collective, a fashion and art charity event that started in 2009. She's a one-woman machine with a dedicated contributing team working on the only alternative independent print magazine out there covering fashion, music, art, tattoos, lifestyle culture and photography; Devolution recently released Issue 40 of the magazine signifying 10 years of actual print! A decade of independent publishing is an incredible feat.

I recently wrote up this list for BODY, the Body Dysmorphia (BDD) charity I volunteer for. Lauren the CEO asked me to write a quick list of things that are cheap/easy to do that will help you feel better about you. So if you have 5 minutes for self-care or 50 minutes, there's something in here for you.

Lottie and Emma got married at the lovely Cockliffe Country House in July 2023. They'd originally planned for 2020, but then EVERYTHING happened and they postponed to 2021. Seeing how things we're in early 2021, they decided to postpone their wedding reception to 2023 so that COVID could absolutely chuff off and they would be safe in the knowledge their wedding celebrations would be as full throttle as they initially planned!

And it absolutely was, but they had damn good reason to celebrate. Not only had they dealt with the pandemic, they relocated back to Nottingham after living in London for 10 years. Lottie also underwent emergency urgent spinal surgery the week of her legal ceremony. A rough couple of years, but these two were ready to let their hair down...!

Lottie and Emma both answered these questions seperately by email so don't know what the other answered, haha!

Oh, my poor blog; how I’ve neglected you!

I made a resolution to blog every week back in 2016 and I kept to it! I achieved 52 blogs in 52 weeks… and then I trickled into 2017 and hardly blogged at all. Six times in fact!

Welcome to the season of sparkle and joy! As the festive spirit takes over, what better way to celebrate than by giving the gift of glamour? This Christmas, immerse your loved ones in a world of beauty with my carefully curated makeup gift guide.

Whether you're shopping for a makeup enthusiast or someone just starting their beauty journey, we've got the perfect picks to make their holiday season merry and bright.

Hilda married last February 2016 in Kelham Hall, Nottinghamshire. Sarah from Pin Up Curl and I were in charge of bridal hair and make-up for Hilda and her lovely bridesmaids, but we had a super early start to get over to Newark. Waking up in the morning with a dusting of snow and quite thick fog was a bit of a surprise!

I can remember starting this blog in late 2015 and writing up my review of the year and wondering how I was ever going to get to write a blog each week - well I've done it! I've managed 51 blogs in 52 weeks which is astounding for me; and there's more to come! I did a list back in August 2016 of everything I've done this year, so I've managed to add on the other months to compile the below list. Are you ready?!

Who doesn't love a round up of the year? Here are some gorgeous clients over 2024 that trusted me for their wedding makeup! As we're now in 2025, I'm in my 14th year of doing makeup and I've now tipped into having been part of 400 wedding mornings - how awesome is that?!