Frequently Asked Questions 

Yes. A deposit of £50 is required to hold the date of your wedding in my diary up until we meet for your trial run. This amount is then taken off the cost of your trial but becomes non-refundable should you need to cancel my services before the trial run occurs.  

I usually allow a couple of hours for the bride's hair and makeup, and an hour to an hour and a half for others in the bridal party. However, it all depends on whether I work alone or with my team and also the required hairstyles and type of makeup. Timings can be discussed at your trial run when we will decide on your chosen styles. We'll make a more concrete plan for the timings on the day of the trial together at that point.

I'm based in Pinner, Middlesex but there's no real limit to how far I would travel for a wedding. If you like my work and would like to book me for your wedding day I'm more than happy to come to you wherever you are, whether in, outside of London or abroad.

There are no travel costs for areas within approximately 20 min drive from where I live (HA5 3AR). Travel costs may apply for areas further afield. Please include the location of your booking in your email when contacting me so that I can get back to you with an accurate quote. I can travel anywhere you need me so please don't assume that you live too far for me to travel to you, don't hesitate to inquire. 

I usually recommend doing the trial 3-4 months in advance of your wedding day. This way there’s time for your skin to get a bit of extra pampering if it needs it (intensive moisturising, or a facial to deal with any pesky breakouts), and time for your hair to grow a little if the style requires it.

I will work with you until you are happy with your look so hair and makeup trials with me usually take up to 2,5 -  3 hours. Before your trial appointment, we will have had exchanged emails, photos and ideas to pin down your preferred style. The trial run is the opportunity to refine and perfect that style until you’re 100% happy with it. However, if you would like an extended trial (if you would like to try a few different hairstyles or makeup looks for example) I charge an additional £40 per hour after the first 3 hours. 

I usually ask my brides to wash their hair the night before the trial as hair can sometimes be easier to work with when washed in advance. However, if you have an oily scalp and tend to wash your hair every day then this is also fine as long as your hair is washed and blow-dried at least a couple of hours before your appointment.

Please come to your appointment make-up free, having cleansed and moisturised your face and neck about an hour before the trial run.

I would advise you to wear a top or dress in a similar colour to your wedding outfit. It will help you to see how the makeup reflects the light and how it looks against the colour palette you’ve chosen for your wedding. 

Finally, if possible, please bring along your veil or any other jewellery or hair accessories that you plan to wear on the day. If you’ve not made a final decision on these yet, that’s not a problem, but the more accurate a reconstruction of your wedding style we can do at the trial, the more confident you’ll feel about your look being right for you. If there are several options you’re considering, bring along pictures of them and we can discuss the pros and cons of each together to help you make a decision.

It is not essential for everyone in the booking to have a trial run beforehand but if your mum or any of the bridesmaids would like one I’m very happy to accommodate this. I would ask however that bridal trial run is booked on the same day as that of the bridal party if possible. Trial run for bridal party will be charged the same as on the day.

Yes of course. Some brides like to book multiple trials with various artists to help make their decision and I don't mind that at all. Your date will remain secure for 14 days after your trial run, so I ask that you make your final decision within that time.  Without a booking confirmation within these 14 days, my availability cannot be guaranteed due to other enquiries.

I am lucky to have a trusted pro team who accompany me to larger bookings so we can work alongside each other and achieve high standards of finish in good time (and have fun while we're doing it!). Please mention the numbers when contacting me so that I can check availabilities before getting back to you. There may be an additional charge for extra artist/s to work with me on the day. Please inquire for details. 

I have a wide range of products in my  makeup bag, and am very practised at dealing with sensitive skin, so please don’t worry. The trial run is a perfect way of checking that the foundation, concealer and other products I’ll use are a suitable match for your skin type. If you are concerned about this, I am also happy to use your own products. Please bring these along to your trial and we can have a chat about how best to approach it.

Yes. All Hair & Makeup by Gabrielle services are available as lovely gift vouchers to give as a presents to a friend or loved one.

Yes, my minimum call out charge for any weekend wedding booking is £300. 

I use a whole range of products in my kit to cater for all different skin types and skin tones. I've carefully selected my favorite products over the years and my makeup kit now includes brands such as CHANEL, Anastasia Beverly Hils, MAC, Charlotte Tilbury, Bobbi Brown, Urban Decay, Bare Minerals, Benefit, HUDA, Armani, Dior just to name a few...My hair kit includes brands such as Schwarzkopf, L’oreal Pro, GHD, Corioliss, Babyliss, Wella and Bumble & Bumble. 

I’ve been passionate about hair and makeup and how it can transform your look for as long as I can remember. I trained in a top salon in West London, but started my own business – Hair and Makeup By Gabrielle – in 2009. I’m so happy that I took the plunge and made this my full-time career; I love it!

We have an initial email exchange to discuss the date and location of the wedding, the number of people needing my services and other important details. A deposit is paid to secure the date in my diary. We’ll then book in a trial, and I encourage my brides to send over images and ideas showing their vision for the big day – including styles of hair and makeup that they like, but also their colour schemes and the style of their wedding gown and jewellery. We’ll meet on the agreed date for the trial run to design and finalise the hairstyle and makeup look. I’ll style the bride’s hair and do her make-up to give her as clear an idea as possible how everything will look. If the trial is a success, then final details are confirmed. On the wedding day I’ll arrive promptly with a big smile, offering a calming, happy presence to help get everyone ready in good time. We’ll recreate the lovely hairstyle and make-up from the trial and I’ll be on hand to help with securing the veil and generally helping out so the bride feels totally supported and happy. 

I love to help women feel good about themselves. Seeing them smile at their reflection and stand tall with confidence after a session with me feels so good. No two days are the same in my job – the variety that this work gives me is amazing and it keeps me feeling creative and inspired. Being able to be a part of someone’s wedding is a very special thing, and I love getting to see the incredible venues and gorgeous dresses and accessories that my brides have chosen.