One piece of advice it’s important for couples to remember is to plan the wedding they want, not necessarily the wedding others may want for them. This is something that high school sweethearts, Stef and Nick, took to heart as they planned their fun and relaxed summer wedding at Oakley Hall Hotel in Basingstoke. The wedding, with its palette of blush and navy, included some non-traditional aspects, such as Nick’s grand entrance piloting a helicopter to the ceremony. Very James Bond! Make Me Bridal makeup pro, Christiane Dowling, was on hand to create a radiant natural look for the bride that matched him in the glamour stakes!

Stef didn’t have a specific vision for her wedding makeup, but wanted something that was in tune with her day-to-day minimalist look while still making her feel glam and amazing. Christiane was happy to oblige. “Stef is naturally very beautiful and not used to wearing a lot of makeup on a day to day basis,” she says. “It was really important that the look I created only accentuated her features and didn’t mask any of that natural beauty.”

“Within minutes of meeting my brides for the first time, I always make a point of committing to memory what strikes me first and for Stef, that was definitely eyes and smile. It’s not down to any particular physical characteristic, but if you look at any photograph of Stef, you can see that she smiles with her eyes and that shine gives you a little glimpse of the wonderful warm personality underneath. I really wanted to highlight that to ensure that the final look still let that personality shine through.”

To create the look, Christiane started with a canvas of glowing, dewy skin, and used very soft pinks and browns to focus attention on Stef’s stunning eyes. Products used included Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation, Kat Von D Contour, Illamasqua Beyond Powder, beautiful shadows from Natasha Denona, and pink lip shades and pencils from Bobbi Brown.

Here’s what the bride had to say about working with Christiane:

“I found Christiane when the original makeup artist I had booked had to cancel, and I am so glad I did, I truly believe everything happens for a reason. After a lot of research I contacted Christiane and right from the start she was absolutely amazing and helped me to create the look I had been imagining, which I could not even describe. Although I struggled to explain the look I wanted, using her expertise and skills Christiane created the perfect look first time at my trial. She made me feel truly special in the lead up to the wedding, on the day, and even after the day with lots of personal touches.”

Award-winning professional makeup artist Christiane Dowling is based in Sandhurst in Berkshire. Trained at the prestigious Glauca Rossi School of Fashion & Photographic Make-Up in London, Christiane now specialises in bridal makeup, as well as proms, photo shoots, festivals, and all special occasions. You can see her profile here.


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