Romance, beauty and creativity embodied in a fairytale wedding at Hilles House in the Cotswolds
- Isabel
- Jul 12
- 3 min read
I was excited to meet Charlotte ahead of her summer wedding at the majestic Hilles House in Gloucestershire.
We first met on a chilly spring day at my bridal hair and makeup studio in Bristol. It was fantastic to meet her and hear all about her wedding plans for her summer wedding at the venue that she and her fiancé had chosen. I hadn’t been to Hilles House before, but I grew up nearby so was fascinated to hear more about it and have the opportunity to step inside.
But before we could discuss the wedding venue and other details, we got onto the important business of the bridal hair and makeup design. Charlotte was keen to have a pretty, natural and fresh makeup look for her wedding day, so it was important to keep the skin dewy and luminous. Firstly I used a moisturising primer by Charlotte Tilbury. As well as hydrating the skin it also provides a lovely dewy finish, and acts as the perfect makeup base.
I then applied a glow foundation by NARS. Charlotte has quite fair skin, so it was important to get the colour match spot on to blend seamlessly with her complexion.
I decided to keep the eye makeup simple by using eyelash curlers instead of false lashes. This is a great way to open up a bride’s eyes without looking heavy or too made up. I used a Benefit mascara which I combed through with a tiny metal comb to ensure there were no clumps and the lashes looked incredibly natural.
I love this mascara for brides because it lengthens the lashes as well as giving more volume, while still looking natural. It’s a great addition to any professional makeup artist’s kit.
On Charlotte’s eyelids I used a lovely creamy eyeshadow in a gorgeous champagne colour. As Charlotte is fair skinned we felt it was a great idea to keep everything very light and fresh, and this was the perfect eye makeup to create a bit of shimmer without looking heavy or overly made up.
I used a gorgeous liquid bronzer to create some warmth on her skin. I always use bronzer strategically and aim for cheeks, forehead, tip of the nose and chin… where the sun would naturally kiss the skin. This is a great way to add colour to fair complexions and perfect for bridal makeup. We finished the look with Charlotte’s own lipstick.
I think you’ll agree, a simple, natural but fresh makeup look really complemented Charlotte’s pretty features and created a beautiful bridal makeup.
Charlotte is very blessed to have a glorious mane of thick, blonde hair which she keeps in a jaw length bob. We decided to keep the hair design very simple as she was wearing a veil on the wedding day. I started by prepping the hair with a keratin spray, which protects from heat and smooths the hair without leaving a residue. It’s one of my favourite go to products and an essential for any professional bridal hair stylist.
After preparing her hair, I used straighteners to smooth and then added a little bend half way down each section of hair to create a bit of movement. I then took hair from each side and gripped at the back, leaving some hair around the front to frame her face. At the hair and makeup trial, we talked about adding a bow to the hair, but in the end decided against it, due to keeping the whole look more simple and elegant.
I think you’ll agree that Charlotte looks absolutely stunning and her dress and veil perfectly suited her incredible wedding day.
Hilles House is an enchanting wedding venue set on the edge of the Cotswolds. With a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, one feels instantly at home here. The house itself feels much older than it is and the rooms and gardens are so photogenic, it makes it hard not to fall in love with such a magical place. I know I did! I can’t wait to visit again and create more beautiful hair and makeup looks in such a unique Cotswold wedding venue.
