Pre-wedding beauty in Bristol

Your wedding photos will last a lifetime, so it’s perfectly understandable to want to look your best on your big day. It’s not just about vanity, it’s about creating memories that you’ll share forever. So, with that in mind, here’s our little black book of places you might want to try to become the most beautiful version of yourself in the lead up to your big day.

Spas in their eyes
The weeks leading up to a wedding (particularly if it’s going to be a big one) can be really stressful. Between all the relatives arriving from out of town, family politics, and wedmin you’ve got left to deal with, you might find that you don’t get much time together as a couple. One great way to tackle this is to set aside some time to relax together. The Lido in Clifton offers a couples massage (£130 for one hour) that will work out all those stress kinks and give you some time together in a tranquil setting. If, like me, your other half detests massages, there’s still the heated outdoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room to enjoy.
Lido, Oakfield Place,
Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2BJ
0117 933 9530
www.lidobristol.com

Heavenly hair
Pre-wedding hair care should begin early – start thinking about it up to six months before your wedding if you can. Find a stylist you trust and make sure you get regular cuts and condition your hair. Book your wedding hair stylist well in advance and they’ll invite you in for a ‘trial’ to test out looks for the big day – that’s usually about three months before the wedding to give you time in case you change your mind about the style. If you’ve got a big party of people wanting their hair done, Hobbs on Park Row lets you book out the salon for a few hours so you can enjoy a glass of bubbly in the garden and have the facilities to yourself. Prices available on request.
Hobbs, 50 Park Row,
Bristol, Avon BS1 5LH
0117 929 1635
Hobbs-Style.co.uk

Threaded and wedded
Unwanted body hair and unruly eyebrows can be a real pain, but there is a way to sort it out that doesn’t involve too much of it. Threading is a technique that’s been around for centuries that’s quick, efficient and doesn’t hurt too much. Also, it’s not just for the ladies; guys can do it too if there are any areas of facial hair that need tidying. It’s a good idea to do this a day or two beforehand as the area will be slightly reddened afterwards, but the results are super smooth and it lasts up to four weeks. Loads of places in Bristol offer this but the cheapest and quickest I’ve found is Sairaz in The Galleries – the surroundings are not especially glam but with eyebrow threading for just £5 and an efficient service, you can’t complain.
Sairaz
The Galleries,
25 Union Gallery,
Broadmead,
Bristol, BS1 3XD.
0117 930 4444

Face facts
If you’re not booking a professional make-up artist for your big day, you can still get free expert advice from most good beauty counters. Harvey Nichols Bristol now has a NARS concession; this is a brand beloved by celebrity make up artists for its staying power, so it’s ideal for a long day’s wear for your wedding. Or, if you prefer a more natural look, Bobbi Brown (inside John Lewis at The Mall at Cribbs Causeway) offers masterclasses where you can pick up professional tips to get that dewy, Katie Holmes look.
NARS @ Harvey Nichols,
27 Philadelphia Street, Quakers Friars,
Bristol, BS1 3BZ
0117 916 8888

Bobbi Brown @ John Lewis,
The Mall at Cribbs Causeway,
Bristol, BS34 5QU
0117 959 1100

Beautiful beards
Fellas, I can’t claim to be an expert on caring for your beard but if you want a friendly, professional service and advice from people who are, Betties + Baldwins is a great place to go. They can tidy up your facial fuzz from just £5, as well as offering a hair restyle while you’re there from about £25.
Betties + Baldwins
12 Small Street,
Bristol, BS1 1DB
0117 239 8347
www.bettiesandbaldwins.com

Nail it
Caring for your cuticles is critical before a wedding – after all, there are going to be endless shots of your wedding ring hand that will last a lifetime! It doesn’t have to be a chore though; why not get a group of friends together and book in for a pre-wedding manicure sesh together? Kimmy’s nails in Bedminster offers group bookings at reasonable prices – a basic file and polish starts from just £6 – but if you really want to push the boat out, they also offer Shellac polish (super shiny and lasts up to 3 weeks) and various nail art designs. And fellas, you may not want your nails painted, but a hand massage and a tidy up of your cuticles are ideal if you work with your hands and need them to be more presentable for your wedding.
Kimmy’s Nails, East Street,
Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4EJ
0117 966 8889

Tan tastic
While you don’t want to look like you’ve been Tango-ed, if you have naturally pale skin then a light tanning can be extremely flattering in your wedding photos and make you appear slimmer. It’s important to exfoliate for a few days in advance to make sure you don’t get any patchy bits, and have your tan a day or two in advance to allow the colour to settle before the wedding. Having tried a lot of tanning services, The Strip at Harvey Nichols is my tanner of choice – they use South Seas products, which are longwearing and customised to your skin tone, so you can get a nice subtle effect. Prices start from £12 for face, shoulders and arms.
Strip @ Harvey Nichols Bristol,
Bristol, BS1 3BZ
0117 916 8864

Finally, remember to try and relax. It’s easy to get caught up in the wedding frenzy but if you get yourself worked up and stressed out, you could cause spot breakouts, dry skin and all sorts of other body havoc that will affect how you look and feel on the day. Give yourself at least one night a week off where you don’t do any wedding-related activities, have a bubble bath and a glass of wine and enjoy some time with the person you love. After all, they’re the reason you’re getting married.

Illustration by Faye West