Throughout my career, I’ve always had goals I wanted to achieve and I have pushed myself to keep learning to make myself the best I could be. This has always been very important to me, especially now working as a freelance wedding hair and makeup specialist. Although I have been working solely as a wedding specialist for two years, last year I decided that I was going to work towards gaining wedding awards within the industry.
A big part of who I am and my personality is that whatever I work on whether it’s an; individual client, a wedding, a photo shoot or more specifically in this case, a UK based wedding industry award, I always give it 110 percent effort, that way the reward means so much more. When I first started hairdressing my goal was to work for Toni&Guy and work backstage at London fashion week. I worked hard and it all paid off and I am lucky enough to be able to say I have achieved both of these.
I entered the 3rd English Wedding Awards back in September 2018, however, it was down to my gorgeous brides and clients to vote for me online and leave their testimonies for consideration. I had no idea at the time if I had any votes at all or if I had any chance of being a finalist!
I then received a phone call in October from Head Office of the English Wedding Awards team congratulating me for becoming a finalist in the South-East! If only you could have heard my reaction when they told me the amazing news... I was extremely happy and so overwhelmed with gratitude that I was crying happy tears and on cloud nine!
I then was told to submit something that shows how I stand out from the other finalists, how do I work with my brides and clients? I thought long and hard on how to demonstrate what it is I do and my own personal ways of making my brides look and feel beautiful on their big day! I worked with my team and Ignition Collective, who have also done my entire branding and amazing website, to come up with the best way to get across to the judges my brand, my vision and my work with weddings I have achieved so far.
I was so happy when Ignition Collective showed me what they had created, it was perfect to submit for the finals and was exactly what I had imagined when showing my brand.
The big day for me come Wednesday 14th November 2018 at St Johns hotel in Birmingham. What a lovely change it was for me to be the one getting dressed up! I took my mum with me, it was so rewarding having her next to me and supporting me along with my colleague Rebecca who has assisted me on many of my weddings. It was amazing to meet some of the top industry wedding experts, some of which I have followed and admired their work for a long time.
The night was incredible from start to finish. Another wedding business owner I work closely with, Bridal Reloved Wallingford’s Lee Griffin was also a finalist for wedding dress boutiques. Lee won the first award of the night! Wow! We were all incredibly proud and happy for Bridal Reloved as they truly deserve their award.
At this point I was over the moon for Lee and there was such a brilliant atmosphere in the room I was just happy to be included in the event. My category was towards the end of the evening, I was competing against the top eight finalists in my category for wedding hair and makeup, there was a lot of talent in this category. What with it being my first awards ceremony I wasn't expecting a lot, it just an amazing experience and lovely to meet other talented suppliers.
Before I could even process it, my name had been called out as the overall winner for the South-East of England. I jumped out of my chair in excitement and my table was cheering for me, it was a special moment that I won't ever forget, just incredible!
I'd like to thank all my brides and bridal parties for allowing me to be a part of your special day, my clients and my team around me for always encouraging me to pursue my goals and of course my lovely friends and family. I'm completely overwhelmed by the support I have had and this is such a brilliant achievement to finish my second year working as a freelance wedding hair and makeup specialist! I am excited to see what my third year brings...