What I've Learned as a Hair and makeup on 80+ wedding mornings at Hedsor House
- Jennifer Fogerty
- Oct 8, 2025
- 8 min read
There's something unmistakably special about wedding mornings at Hedsor House
The majestic Georgian mansion of Hedsor House sits high above Taplow, overlooking the rolling Buckinghamshire countryside. With its palatial entrance, grand sweeping staircase, and high ceilings flooded with light, it’s a place that feels made for calm, beautiful moments before the celebrations begin. The bridal suite, in particular, is something truly special — light-filled and elegant, with space to breathe and take it all in. I’ve watched so many people see it for the first time, and it never fails to have the same effect — pure, jaw-dropping awe.
It’s no surprise that Vogue named Hedsor its No.1 wedding venue, and if you ask any hair and makeup artist which bridal suite tops their list, chances are they’ll say Hedsor too. It’s the largest in Europe, after all — and once you’ve worked there, you can see exactly why.
Having had the joy of styling brides at Hedsor more times than I can count, I’ve learned exactly what makes the morning flow smoothly — and what to avoid. Every time I return, I find new little ways to make the experience even better for my brides and their bridal parties.
Here are some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from over 80 wedding mornings at Hedsor House — from where to set up your hair and makeup, to the small details that make the day feel effortless.
1. Hedsor House Hair and Makeup - You're Spoiled with Light!
The bridal suite dressing room is flooded with natural light, which is every makeup artist’s dream. I always set up my station in the front bay window for the best light and of course those perfect 'bridal prep' photographs to capture your morning in this beautiful space. I usually suggest that the artists who are providing hair services, set up in the powder room.
💡 Tip: On duller days, you can pull back to voiles to give more light and when its very sunny its best to keep them closed to keep the heat at bay. (There is also a small aircon unit in the Lavinia Suite which helps)
Bride Jess, flooded with soft natural light while Jennifer styles her bridal hair in the best Bridal prep spot of the Hedsor dressing room! Image by Mark Seymour
2. Start Early, Maximise Your Time!
So, the only drawback to the Hedsor Bridal prep experience is, that unless you have booked the night before, you cannot access the house until 10.30am and the average ceremony time is at 2.30pm (at the house itself). This doesn't leave a huge amount of time for getting everyone ready in time, without it feeling stressful or having a huge team of artists. This also doesn't take into account time, for robe shots with your Bridal Party, gift givings or first looks. I also usually recommend that as the Bride, you should be fully ready at least 45 minutes before your ceremony...
Also don't forget that this time with your closest friends and family is also part of your wedding day. Enjoy being pampered and laughing together, this part of your day will be part of your wedding day memories.
💡Tip: Stay the night before locally and have your Hair and Makeup artists start earlier with you at the first location. Then, they can move over to Hedsor with you. Usually there will be a small fee as it's quite a lot of work for your beauty team to set up and pack away twice. But this will buy you lots more time and mean a lot less rushing.
Hedsor has acommodation called The Hive on site. It's a gorgeous and unique, modern space that feels luxurious and calming. It does however come with a price-tag and if you have a large bridal party it may not acommodate you all. It sleeps maximum of 7. Another downside is light, so if you do choose The Hive I'd recommend starting with the hair there, and doing the makeup at the main house or if this isn't possible, then ensure your MUA brings a light with them!
Other close options to look at; Cliveden House, Burnham Beeches, Taplow House Hotel, Chequers Inn
Timings are Everything
Following on from the early start, a calm, relaxed wedding morning doesn’t just happen by chance — it’s all in the timing. Staying on track is key to keeping the atmosphere light and enjoyable, and that’s something I plan carefully for every Hedsor wedding.
For each wedding I create a detailed beauty schedule for you and your bridal party. This ensures everyone knows exactly when they’ll be in the chair, when they can enjoy breakfast or a glass of champagne, and when it’s time for you to step into the dress. It keeps the morning running smoothly, with no rush or stress — just a beautifully organised start to your day. If it's not us providing your Hair and Makeup on the day- speak to your Beauty Team and ask them for general timings. As a rule of thumb, most Hair and makeup artists will allow 45-60 mins per service (hair or makeup) and a little more the bride, depending on the complexity of the 'look'. Personally, I like 2.5/3 hours for Bridal Hair and Makeup, and for them to be fully ready at least 45 minutes before meeting the registrar.
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💡 Tip: Ensure you tell your Hair and Makeup artist about any potential stoppages in the schedule. We do allow some contigency, but anything that takes you out of the bridal prep chair, means delays.
Things that help minimise this are;
Having your 'bridal details' ready ahead of time, so when the photographer asks for your items for a flat lay, that you don't need to scramble to find them all. Have a box with your jewellery, stationary, perfume, shoes and other accessories ready for when they arrive.
If you’d like to take a little time out for those fun Bridal prep ‘gown shots’ — where your gang are all together in the bath or on the bed — do let us know in advance. These moments can sometimes take around 20 minutes, and naturally, everyone wants their hair and makeup finished so they look their best in the photos. I’d always recommend chatting with your photographer about their ideal timing and sharing that with us when we create your schedule. If it’s not a must-have for you, keeping things flexible can be a lovely option too — there will be plenty of opportunities throughout the day for gorgeous photos with your bridesmaids, without cutting into time for those all-important final touches or bridal portraits.
Bridesmaids need to be in their dresses before you get into yours, so often much earlier than they think! Even if they arn't helping you into your dress, they need time to collect their things together and do little jobs, like cutting out labels, drying bouquets and ensuring they have topped up your champagne!
Consider giving gifts to your Bridal Party earlier in the morning or even the evening before, so those emotional moments are out of the way before makeup has been applied and you have plenty of time for those special moments without impacting the schedule.
My biggest bugbear on wedding mornings is dress steaming. Please have this done professionally away from the Bridal Prep area or do it before your wedding day. Steam in the bridal suite is a bad idea, it has a negative impact on any hair and makeup and the discussion about who and where it will happen causes stress and delays evertyime. (sorry for ranting!)
See above for a mock schedule of a typical Hedsor Wedding Morning
4. Keep the Dressing Room Calm and Clutter-Free
The Hedsor bridal suite is large, but with multiple bridesmaids, hair and makeup artists (and their kits) photographers, videographers, and other suppliers, it can fill up fast. Try to keep main dressing room in the Lavinia suite, free of bags and anything unnecessary, so that when the photographer and videographer arrive, they have a lovely clean space for your dream Bridal Prep shots!
💡 What works best: Ahead of arriving at Hedsor House, suggest that your Bride Squad leave their bags in the first room you arrive at, The Powder Room. This is also a good space for secondary hair and makeup and generally where the caterers will serve any food that has been ordered.
Hang your dress up in the main boudoir so it's ready for your photographer. There is a dress screen in the dressing room which works well for the bridesmaid dresses.
There is a large cupboard hidden in a wall panel in the dressing room which you can use to put any overflow bags and coats. It's adjacent to the cupboard with the fridge/coffee makeup and bluetooth speaker.
If you have children in your Bridal party, avoid having them arrive too early if possible.
Busy, high pressure rooms can be overwhelming for them and unintenitonally they can cause a distraction, slowing things down. With hot styling tools, delicate jewellery and expenisve dresses, its not an ideal environment for little ones. Waiting until later ensures the bride and stylists can focus, photographers can capture calm moments, and the children will be at their best when they arrive in the bridal suite.
5. Set the tone -You are in Control
The atmosphere of your wedding morning starts with you. Whether you imagine a lively, laughter-filled start or something calm and peaceful, the tone is yours to set. Think about the music you’d like playing, who you want in the room, and which suppliers will help create the right energy for you. Surround yourself with people who make you feel relaxed and happy — it makes all the difference. From upbeat playlists to a quiet, candle-lit calm, there’s no right or wrong way to do it. This is your morning, and you’re completely in charge of how it feels.
6. Take a Moment to Breathe
One of my favourite parts of a Hedsor wedding morning is the quiet pause just before the dress goes on. The preparations slow, the room settles, and there’s a brief moment where everything comes together — all the planning, all the excitement. Take that time to pause and take it in; it’s often the first chance you have to stop and really absorb the day before it all begins
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After spending so many mornings at Hedsor House, I’ve learned that it’s not just the venue that makes the day so special — it’s how you start it. When the morning flows smoothly, everyone feels relaxed, and you get to truly enjoy those moments before the ceremony. With the right timing, music, and people around you, it all comes together naturally.
If you’re planning your Hedsor House, Taplow, wedding, I’d love to help you create a morning that feels calm, well-organised, and completely yours. I’ll build a detailed beauty schedule around your timings so everything runs seamlessly — leaving you to simply enjoy being in that incredible suite and soaking up the excitement of the day. You can learn more about who we are and what we do by visiting our home page or instagram!
💌 Get in touch to chat about your bridal hair and makeup plans. Our award winning and experienced team specialise in Soft Glam Bridal makeup and understated modern Hairstyles. Let’s make your Hedsor morning every bit as beautiful and memorable as the venue itself.
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