Thursday 10 July 2014

Getting Ready for the Big Day



Nothing sepia from me on the prompt topic this week, but it did make me think of these photos from our two daughters' wedding days, back in October 2010 and September 2012 respectively. In the first group in the salon you can see the big dryers looming above people's heads, ready to be pulled down if required by clients, but in our case all that hairdresser Adrian needed was a blow dryer, and here you can see him and the makeup artist plying their trades. I'm sure it was an easier job than many would be, with only the bride, two bridesmaids and the mother of the bride to get ready for the ceremony that afternoon, and the bride not requiring any elaborate style. The whole thing took less than an hour, which left plenty of time to collect the bouquets, corsages and buttonholes from the florist nearby, go home, relax, get dressed, make everyone sandwiches for lunch and have professional photographs taken at home, before getting to the the church on time (2.30 pm on a beautiful sunny Friday afternoon in Melbourne).



Bridesmaid Steph gets the blow wave treatment

Bride-to-be Laura under the blower

Thankfully there was no wind to contend with later 


Makeup being applied

Final touches, then Laura's ready for the wedding veil comb to be carefully inserted later, as per Adrian's instructions


Our elder daughter Claire's wedding took place in Herefordshire England and the hairdresser and makeup lady arrived promptly that morning at the B&B where we had been staying for the preceding week. I imagine the hairdresser would have had a portable hair dryer if she needed one, but again, it was not required. Fewer photographs here, just a couple showing Claire being made up and her sister Laura getting the curling tong treatment to transform her straight hair into ringlets, to match her sister's naturally curly locks, as did Claire's other bridesmaid Penny (not pictured). I'm all done, and just visible in the mirror taking the shots, if you look closely. 








Flashback: The photo above reminded me of these two of Laura, taken when she was aged about 10, either after a home attempt at creating curls, or perhaps just the after effect of wearing plaits for a day or two. 


The weather was inclement unfortunately, but luckily the bride and her wedding party only needed to walk a couple of steps between the B&B to the waiting cars and the same at the venue, and their hairstyles remained intact.

A glimpse of Hereford from the B&B window - oh no, it's started to rain!


Under the big umbrella, the bride was delivered safely from door to door. Professional photograph taken by Russell Lewis

Another arrival photograph by Russell Lewis

You can seek recently posted photographs of the finished products here. I think they turned out very well, but of course, I am just a little biased!

For more blogs on this theme or otherwise, no need to make an appointment, just click here and check out Sepia Saturday #236.

11 comments:

Wendy said...

Oh I love wedding pictures. My daughters both got married in 2013. One had her hair and bridesmaids' hair done together at a beauty parlor (it didn't have pull-down hair dryers -- I didn't know there were such things!) and the other had her hairdresser come to the house. Both did their own makeup since around here makeup artists are quite expensive. And by the way, rain on a wedding day is good luck.

Postcardy said...

I am guessing that there aren't many sepia or film versions of hairstyling. Digital cameras and cell phones make taking such photos so easy.

La Nightingail said...

How fun to take the camera into the beauty parlor. Somebody was thinking ahead!

Alan Burnett said...

Lovely photographs in memory of what must have been lovely days.

anyjazz said...

This a fine series of photographs depicting an important occasion in several lives. Good that you have them to share today.

21 Wits said...

Oh my yes, this is one of the best photo journals of a memories for a life time!

North County Film Club said...

That was a great idea to use weddings as the focus of your post. That's the time when the hairdo has to be perfect. That looked like a really beautiful wedding.
Nancy
Ladies of the Grove

Alex Daw said...

Fabulous photos. Beautiful brides both and I think the rain actually made for some great photos - more dramatic.

Anonymous said...

You have a lovely collection of memories there in those photographs.

Sharon said...

Lovely!

Yes I remember going to bed with plaits so I would have some body in my hair the next day!

Barbara Rogers said...

How enjoyable to see your memories of preps for weddings of daughters. Just as much fun that you shared them with us.