There's a change happening at Natalie Willingham Makeup Artist

With effect from August 2025, I will be no longer accepting large wedding bookings. Instead, I will be concentrating on offering my bridal styling services for small bridal bookings. These bookings may be for Bride only, two Brides or Bride plus one other person

My availability will be limited between March and October

Making you my priority

Small bookings allow me to focus entirely on you

In addition, I will be providing an opportunity for Brides to learn with me.  These lessons will be specifically tailored to weddings where the Bride wishes to apply her own makeup on her wedding day or for Brides getting married abroad who want to try out their bridal styling ahead of the big day with an artist unknown to them

These lessons are completely unique to you and your circumstances.  Utilising my expert knowledge, you will go into your bridal prep on your wedding day confident and feeling beautiful

You may be wondering why I have decided to refocus my business; recently I have worked alongside Brides with very small wedding parties and it’s been wonderful. It’s reminded me why I love weddings and I’ve enjoyed feeling part of the family

Even if you have a large wedding party, you can still book my services. I’d be delighted to style you for your wedding whilst the rest of the bridal party was styled by another artist

To learn more about these lessons or to check my availability & pricing contact me on info@nataliewillingham.co.uk

Why you should book a makeup lesson

When it comes to investing in a makeup lesson, people often think that its an unnecessary expense or should be saved as a treat but a makeup lesson can actually save you money. Regularly I’m told by the women I help that they have wasted hundreds of pounds on purchasing the wrong makeup products which they don’t know how to use or why they bought it in the first place

Sarah Bruce Photography

Investing in a lesson enables you to feel confident in your application. You know what works for you and costly mistakes are significantly reduced

Before we even pick up a brush I spend time discusing with you what you want to achieve and most importantly how you want to feel at the end of your lesson. We assess your makeup bag and discard any items that don’t or won’t work for you. We chat about your lifestyle, budget and what part makeup plays in all of that. Then we take a good look at your bone structure.

Understanding how your skin is supported by the bone structure below helps you know where to place makeup to achieve maximum value

It’s important to remember that makeup is confidence boosting but should be fun too - it can be washed off if a mistake is made

And finally, ladies who have a lesson with me leave feeling empowered. They realise how easily makeup can work for them, how in several easy steps they can boost their appearance and how makeup can become another self care tool

Beauty treatments and when not to have them

Preparing your skin and hair for your wedding day can be quite overwhelming especially if you are pretty new to the experience. Here’s a quick guide of when and when not to have beauty teatments

FACIALS

Start having monthly facials as soon as you can. I usually advise having your last facial 4-6 weeks before your wedding day to avoid unneccessary breakouts

MASSAGES

Having a full body massage right before your wedding sounds heavenly but all those oils can play havoc with your hair, so I recommend allowing a week between massage and wedding to ensure your hair is fresh and clean

HAIR CUTS AND COLOUR

You should always plan your hair schedule with your hairdresser. However, most brides know when they are happiest with their hair colour and cut - some love it straight out of the salon others need a week or two for it to settle before they are happy. I would always recommend having your last cut no less than 1 week before your wedding

BROWS AND LASHES

You should try out brow shaping / colouring and lash extensions as far in advance of your wedding as possible. This allows you to create the shape and colour brow that suits your face and the style of lash that feels most complimentary. Prior planning and sourcing an excellent therapist or technician means that you can anticipate your lash drop out rate and allow enough time for your dye take before being able to get them wet.

SPRAY TANS

I generally suggest avoiding fake tan especially home / diy application as the potential for it to go badly wrong is huge. If you really need to have a tan, then find an excellent technician and work with them to achieve the right colour and tanning cycle for your skin. Remember tan needs to settle on your skin before being washed off so expect to have your last tan about 3 days prior to your wedding

NAILS / PEDICURE

Thinking in advance how your would like your nails to look will help you find the most appropriate nail technician for your requirements. I would recommend scheduling your final nail apointment for 1-2 days before your wedding.

THE NIGHT BEFORE

Its really important not to add any new skincare or hair treatments to your routine the night before your wedding. Keep hair conditioning to a minimum to avoid hair being overly soft and slippery. Consider a silk pillow case to avoid pillow creases on your face, antihistamines in case of allergies and a lovely calming room fragrance to ensure a great nights sleep. Relax and enjoy a hydrating gel face mask (one that you’ve used previously) to make sure your skin is lovely and plump

If you are thinking of having a treatment I’ve not mentioned above, please get in touch and I’ll do my best to advise accordingly

Are bridal trials really necessary?

Every now and then a bride queries whether or not a bridal trial is necessary or mandatory. I get it, not everyone feels they need a trial, as all they want is a simple look. So I thought I’d share why I think bridal trials are a necessary part of your bridal preparations.

Bridal trials are extremely valuable for both brides and makeup artists for a number of reasons:

PLANNING
Planning is a huge part of the work bridal makeup artists provide as there are lots of factors to consider to make sure your wedding preparations go smoothly

We need to assess skin and hair to determine the type of products/tools that need to be used to achieve your desired look and time how long that takes

We need to plan hair styles to ensure longevity and the correct placement of accessories and veil

We discuss what you require for your maids / mum in case we need to allow more time or need to adjust your schedule

We discuss who is dressing you to ensure they are ready in a timely manner

Knowing who your florist (if having hair flowers) and photographer / videographer are helps me understand their style, how they work and to plan accordingly

We discuss many other things such as breakfast being delivered, working with other suppliers, first looks, change of location, flower girls arriving, key moments with loved ones or anything else that may impact on my timings

EXPECTATIONS

It takes the stress out of the wedding morning as you already know what to expect, how you will look and how you feel

As a professional how I apply your makeup will differ to how you do it and often brides need to get comfortable with that

Expectations versus reality - my natural may not be your natural, what you think might suit you really doesn’t or having your hair up may make you feel uncomfortable or exposed

Simple, barely there looks often require more skill and work than expected

I explain how colour, light etc affects makeup and how your photographer will work with that

I explain how the wedding morning will be structured and where you fit in the schedule

ADVICE

At your trial we have a good chat about skin, your skincare routine, treatments and when to have them (more on that in another post).

I advise of any changes you may need to make to your skincare routine to achieve the best skin possible.

We discuss your hair texture, colouring schedule, hair treatments, last cut before the wedding and any scalp issues

We discuss how to prep your hair & skin the day before your wedding and what to avoid

If your trial is quite a bit in advance of your wedding, I might even recommend other suppliers that you still need for things such as hair acessories, lashes or nails

There’s an awful lot to consider and if we don’t do this in advance, we would need to factor extra time into your wedding day, meaning an earlier start time and additonal pressure on you

Sometimes logistics mean that trials have to be fitted in the week of the wedding and thats ok too. Even the mst laidback of brides have been pleased they had a trial as it made them feel excited and confident about how they will look and feel on their wedding day.

Do you have a question about your trial? Please do get in touch as soon as possible so that I may help

Beautiful Micro Wedding at Newby Hall

Micro Wedding - that’s a term I never expected to use but its one that I am fast becoming familiar with in the current Covid climate.

Small weddings are beautiful, intimate, full to the brim with emotion. They leave a lasting impact on the guests and couples much more than a larger wedding as the event is much more personal and truly very special.

Yet often clients think that small weddings are easier, as they are simpler. The same amount of effort and care goes into every wedding I am part of. I still need to conduct a trial with the bride, I need to collect all of the same information and complete the same planning of schedule and kit. With a small or micro wedding, you still receive the same (if not greater) level of commitment, attention to detail and passion as you would with a larger wedding.

“Beautiful, intimate,

full to the brim with emotion”

I was utterly delighted to collaborate with an elite team of Yorkshire wedding suppliers under the direction of Lucy Wright Events, at Newby Hall. The stunning Orangery was styled and decorated proving how elegant, incredible and truly magical your wedding could be no matter if you have 30 guests, 15 or just two.

Watch the video here to see all the amazing suppliers at work behind the scenes. Thanks go to Lucy Wright Events, Newby Hall and Gardens, Melissa Beattie Photography, Floral Quarter Weddings, Ambience Harrogate, Maya Taygen Hair, Poppy Pickering Cakes, Little Pearl Bridal, Gray Starling Designs, Whitehouse Crockery, Black Event Furniture, Just 4 Linen, SP Wedding Films.

Cheat your way to natural looking makeup

I love makeup that is so beautifully applied you’re not sure if it really is makeup. Are you wondering how you can achieve the same look? Well you can cheat your way.  With my help and a few easy tricks that make a huge difference.

Let’s talk texture.  Personally, I love using liquid, cream or gel products instead of powder.  They leave a sheer wash of colour on your skin, blending seamlessly and creating the illusion that this is how your skin always looks - healthy, fresh, glowing.  Bronzer, blush and highlighters all work incredibly well when applied with your fingers, the heat melting the product into your skin.

If I need to cover a small blemish, maybe some pigmentation / redness, or just sorting out my dark circles, I opt for concealers instead of foundation.  Concealers that are lightweight but that pack a pigment punch and I use them only where I need to.

Being of a certain age, I try my hardest to avoid powdering my skin. The last thing I want is to make me look older than I am.  So I use products and tools in different ways to help me to reduce shine.  For example, I use an spf on my t-zone that leaves my skin looking matt.  If I need to take away more shine I pat a dry, clean fluffy brush use where I need it.

Make the most of beauty treatments such as brow lamination - oh how I love this treatment!  Creating a fuller brow instantly becomes so much easier and quicker, with a little tweak of brow pencil to sharpen the shape or add a few extra hair strokes, you’re good to go in seconds.

Want the illusion of fuller thicker lashes? Work a little eyeliner into your lash line and onto your upper water line (also known as tight lining).  Choose a different colour to make your eyes pop.  I often use a blue toned burgundy to make the colours in my hazel eyes stand out.

Create a fuller pout by using a lip liner in a colour as close to your natural lip tone as possible and take the colour slightly outside of your natural lip line.  A little bit of gloss in the centre of your lips, helps create the illusion of fuller lips.

These are just a couple of my everyday tricks.  Once you’ve mastered the techniques, your daily makeup takes no time at all, perfect for the school run, work or whatever else your day throws at you!

Email me, if you’d like help with creating your natural makeup look..  I offer lessons, skincare consultations, product selection to avoid costly mistakes and much, much more.