Helen Pearson Makeup Artist: Elaine Sneyd

I'm Somerford Hall, Brewood

21/3/2015

It was a beautiful bright morning, cold but beautiful. Elaine had decided she would be better getting ready at her friend's house just around the corner from the church. Elaine and Ed (the Groom) planned to get married at the beautiful St Marks church in Great Wyrley and the reception at Somerford Hall in Brewood, one of the West Midland’s most prestigious wedding venues, which has a Georgian mansion set a midst extensive landscaped gardens.

When I arrived I was greeted by an excited Elaine and 4 of her bridesmaids with the fifth coming a little later. Elaine was very good and munching on a melon considering there was the temptation of chocolate croissants. The bridal party had already had their hair done at Chequers in Great Wyrley, Elaine had her hair up, whereas the bridesmaids had their hair half up half down.

Elaine stayed at a local hotel the night before and said she hadn't slept too well, not because of the nerves but because of a strange noise that was keeping her awake. Elaine was updating me about some of the disasters leading up to the wedding. The main one was that she had paid a dressmaker to make her red bridesmaid dresses but when she received them she was horrified. The strap that went over the shoulders was sewn differently on each dress, the side seams to the dress were higglety pigglelty, and iron marks were seen on most of the dresses. Elaine was horrified but was rescued by her bridesmaids who took her emergency shopping and bought some new black elegant dresses from Coast.
Considering the stress that Elaine and Ed have been through with the wedding planning she was very upbeat and still smiling away.

I started the makeup on Elaine and it was visible how nervous she was. But then her flowers arrived and that settled her down a little. The flowers were beautiful. They were unusual flowers, berries and foliage in line with the wedding theme which was enchanted forest. The bright red roses stood out from the deep green leaves. The flowers were done by Ava Event Styling who also decorated the venue. The ladies that delivered them were lovely.

Elaine wanted an elegant but natural look for her wedding makeup so stayed with creams and brown eye shadows from Urban Decay and Motives Cosmetics then a light application of MAC's face and body foundation and lots of mascara.
While While I was doing Elaine's makeup the very talented Photographer Anna Clarke then arrived. She was straight onto it, taking photos of the preparation, the dress and very expensive Christian Louboutin shoes Ed had bought Elaine as a wedding present. Elaine was very excited to be wearing them and it was lovely seeing Elaine get so excited.

Elaine was very excited to be wearing them and it was lovely seeing her get so excited.

Elaine and Ed are both police officers and met through work. Ed proposed outside the O2 arena in London before they went to see Elaine's favourite band Depeche mode. It took the couple 22 months to plan the wedding.

The makeup was done, Elaine was happy so she went to get dressed. Elaine was dressed by her bridesmaids who helped with that dreaded task of getting it over the hair and makeup without messing either up. The dress supplied by Rebecca Jayne's exclusive bridalwear in Rugeley and designed by Ronald Joyce was stunning and very sparkly. Jewellery was bought by Elaine and her bridesmaid Rachel from Buddha Bijoux in Kingswinford.

Elaine just oozed elegance and the whole finished look along with flowers and shoes just proved it.

It was time to leave for the church and Elaine was running slightly late and panicking about Ed so as quickly as the bridesmaids could they went off to the church leaving Elaine, her dad and me.

I helped Elaine get into the wedding car which was a stunning and very elegant Beaufort car from Heritage Cars in Stone. She looked so excited and I wished her luck on her big day.

I’m known to stalk my bride’s Facebook page afterwards for any photos of the day and I was over the moon when I saw her wedding cake. It was very unusual but very fitting with the theme of enchanted Garden. The cake was made by the talented Fairytale Cake Company in Wombourne.

Thank you Elaine for booking me to do your makeup. It was lovely meeting you, your bridal party and your parents. You have a great circle of close friends around you and made me feel very welcome and part of the morning celebrations. I've enjoyed all the photos your friends have put on Facebook and glad you had a happy day, Congratulations x