SALON
Wyomissing Hair Studio , 948 Penn Avenue, Wyomissing , 610.375.8882, wyomissinghairstudio.com
STYLIST
Kat O'Mara
BRIDE
Kelli Mckeone
PHOTOGRAPHER
Wesley Works Photography
There is one way to be sure every hair is in place on your wedding day – keep your stylist close, in this case as one of your best friends and bridesmaids. Kat O’Mara from Wyomissing Hair Studio had to do a little work before she could play on Kelli’s wedding day. For the longtime friends, figuring out the perfect look was a process. Kelli often wears her hair pulled back, and she wanted to look genuine on her wedding day. After a few trials, they decided together that this wedding was worthy of more than one gorgeous look.
For the ceremony, Kat pulled back the hair around Kelli’s face and added some soft waves to her long locks. She described the wedding ceremony as classy and elegant, a more traditional atmosphere. But the reception was all about fun, so when the ceremony ended, Kat’s creativity and Kelli’s personality took over. With a lot of pins and, yes, hairspray, Kelli’s look went from day to night in the form of a playful up-do. Advice from this duo: be true to your personal style, and put your trust in the stylist to give you the glam you need to make your look wedding-worthy.
SALON
Salon EveLeila, 418 Haig Blvd., Kenhorst, 610.775.1707, saloneveleila.com
STYLIST
Mindy Burgess
BRIDE
Siobhan O'Rourke
PHOTOGRAPHER
Kate Hennessey, Kate Hennessey Photography
After a long engagement and a lot of long-distance wedding planning, Siobhan went back to her roots for her wedding day ‘do. She put her trust in Mindy Burgess, owner of Salon EveLeila, whom she has known since high school, when they worked at the salon location together. Siobhan trusted that Mindy could help her achieve a casual romantic look and found some online inspiration to get her started. After a one-hour hair trial a few months before the wedding, and another hour on her wedding day, they created an elegant yet unrefined look that added balance to Siobhan’s embellished gown.
For Mindy, the hair trial is an important step in planning a bridal up-do, so she can get a feeling for her client’s likes and equally important dislikes. This helps her understand the bride’s personal style, and allows her to infuse her talent into the style but still make sure the bride is true to herself. Mindy enjoyed working with a laid-back bride like Siobhan; they even made some last-minute changes like a more dramatic side placement and the addition of a veil. A tip for brides-to-be: be flexible, and try a few different variations of your up-do before you say, “I do!”
SALON
Sherry's Salon, 536 Penn Avenue, West Reading, 610.374.4006, sherrysalonpa.com
STYLIST
Erin Heiner
FLOWER GIRL
Caelen Ladd
PHOTOGRAPHER
Dennis McDonough, Photography by McDonough
Their cuteness is undeniable. Flower girls are a precious addition to the wedding party. Even these adorable kids are fashion and beauty savvy; just ask Erin Heiner, Sherry's Salon stylist for 7-year-old Caelen Ladd’s flower girl debut. With her mom Kristen by her side, Caelen stepped into Sherry’s Salon with an idea of how she’d like her hair styled for Aunt Allison’s wedding. She definitely wanted a braid – waterfall preferred — but also wanted to show off her long, sun-kissed hair.
Since they hadn’t done a trial, Erin used a mannequin head to display a French, fishtail and waterfall braid, and then let Caelen decide. Caelen stuck with her original plan, the waterfall, which Erin agrees is the go-to braid if you want to leave some hair down. Caelen loved her look and topped it off with some baby’s breath from a local florist. This look incorporated a braid and fresh florals, two trends on the rise in up-dos this year; along with the beachy, messy bun look, they will surely dominate at weddings in 2015. Up-do advice: Do not wash your hair the day of your event — the shampoo makes bobby pins slide off the hair.
Wedding Day Beauty Prep 101
Are you a bride to be? If you answered ‘yes,’ – congratulations! We know you have a long list of planning tasks to take care of, but want to assure you that you don’t have to agonize over what to do with your hair, nails, make-up and the like. Planning a trial with your desired stylists? Here are some things to consider before you go:
Hair & Make-Up. Depending on the style you’re looking to achieve, you might need months to work up to it. Book with your stylist early to work out a customized plan and to allow time for tweaking. At minimum, book your appointment at least four to six weeks before your wedding day. The best time to visit may be on a slow day at the salon; just ask when your stylist recommends you stop in. Hair and make-up trials are essential; after all, practice makes perfect!
Nails. Don’t muck up your beautiful dress on your big day. These appointments are best made a day or two before your wedding ceremony.
Waxing. It’s also best to do some pre-planning when it comes to waxing. Starting a regimen two months prior is ideal. At minimum, three to five days prior to your wedding date should eliminate worries of redness and irritation.
Bring-alongs. When visiting for hair and make-up trials, you’ll want to tote a few things with you. Ideal items include: a photo of you in your dress, a swatch of fabric from the gown, photos of hairstyles you like and dislike, a camera (to photograph successful styles to consider), your veil or headpiece and any jewelry you’ll be wearing. You should also show up dressed up, as casual clothing will not showcase the styles you’re considering properly.
