Natasha's Bridal Style

Location: Corpusty Church

Reception: The Boat House

Bride Hair & Make-up: Ria Yvonne Lingwood

Photography: Lightening Photography

Flowers: OOps a Daisy

Every now and then, a wedding comes along that feels a little different. Not because of the venue, the flowers or the styling, but because the couple are people who mean a great deal to you.

Natasha and Adam's wedding was one of those days.

They are close friends of mine—practically family—and I was absolutely delighted when it was finally their turn to tie the knot. Not only was I honoured to be a bridesmaid (I really am collecting them at this point!), but I also had the privilege of creating Natasha's bridal hair and makeup.

One of my favourite things about being a bridal hair and makeup artist is that no two brides are ever the same. While many brides tell me they want a natural, barely-there look, Natasha sat down for her trial and confidently announced something along the lines of, "I know everyone says they want natural but enhanced... I don't. I want it all, give it to me!"

I couldn't help but laugh.

Having known Natasha for several years and Adam for even longer, I had a pretty good understanding of her style. After all, I'd been responsible for her makeup for countless nights out over the years. That familiarity gave us a great starting point, and together we refined a bridal look that felt glamorous, elegant, and completely true to her personality.

The only request from the groom was that we tone things down ever so slightly. A compromise was reached, and everyone was happy!

The bridal hair took a little more exploration. We experimented with a variety of styles during the trial process because, initially, neither of us knew exactly what the final look would be. As ideas developed, we discussed incorporating a hair accessory, and Natasha eventually found a beautiful hair slide that completed the style perfectly. Sometimes the best bridal looks evolve naturally rather than appearing fully formed from the outset.

One thing I always try to remind brides is that wedding styling isn't about fitting into a mould. Whether your vision is soft and understated or full-on glamour, your bridal hair and makeup should reflect you. Natasha's look was the perfect example of embracing personal style rather than following trends.

The wedding morning began exactly as you'd hope—relaxed, full of laughter and surrounded by the people who mattered most. Of course, as is often the case with weddings, the final hour arrived and suddenly everything seemed to speed up! Thankfully, everyone was ready on time and the day unfolded beautifully.

The ceremony at Corpusty Church was incredibly special, filled with warmth, laughter and more than a few emotional moments. Afterwards, celebrations continued at The Boat House, which proved to be a fantastic venue. The food was exceptional (I still maintain they serve an incredible lamb shank), the atmosphere was wonderful and the live band kept the dance floor busy well into the evening.

The styling reflected Natasha and Adam perfectly. Their colour palette was beautiful, the flowers by OOps a Daisy were full of natural foliage and texture, and every detail felt thoughtful without being overly formal.

My personal favourite detail, however, had to be the cat sitting proudly on top of their wedding cake—a tribute to their beloved fur baby, Jigga. If you've ever met Natasha and Adam, you'll know that this was exactly the sort of personal touch that made the day uniquely theirs.

It's funny looking back, because I found myself involved in so many conversations throughout their wedding planning journey. We discussed colours, flowers, venues, and all the little details that make a wedding feel personal. One supplier recommendation I was particularly pleased about was their photographer.

As it turned out, the photographer I had in mind was someone they had already arranged to meet. Unsurprisingly, they fell in love with her work immediately.

If you're planning a wedding and are looking for a talented photographer who is not only incredibly skilled but also genuinely lovely to work with, I would highly recommend Lightening Photography.

Most of all, though, this day wasn't about suppliers, styling or even beautiful photographs. It was about two wonderful people celebrating their love, surrounded by friends, family and an awful lot of laughter.

A perfect day for a perfect pair.

Ria x