It’s always exciting to be recognised for what we do through out the Wedding season. There’s a lot more than doing a hairstyle for Bride & Bridesmaids on a Wedding day. It’s pretty cool when your Brides tells you how much they appreciated you being there, helping to keep things running smoothly. Keeping the Mum’s chilled and looking beautiful & having some fun with the Bridesmaids.
These Awards are very much a Couples, Wedding Party, Vendors & Friends Choice. Yip, you guessed it I need your Votes!! I do always wonder how Judges gauge how I actually are with your Bridal clients. So this way it relies on you telling them that you’re glad you had me there with you for your Wedding to style your Hair.
I’m going to put a link in here so you can vote, copy & paste and you can vote. https:/www.nzwva.co.nz/voting
I am in the Makeup/Hair/Beauty category. Look for Laurel Stratford Hair.
March 2025-March 2026 couples = 5 votes. Other couples outside of that time = 2 votes. Others = 1 vote.
In the massive job that it is to plan your wedding day one of the biggest challenges is your personal look. Once you’ve worked that part out it’s finding or collecting all those elements which will complete your vision. I wonder if that’s why there’s that saying about ‘Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue’?
It’s in the Details
Are you the city chic, the boho girl, the beach babe, western vibe, elegant or Undone? So many ways to dress & look, which is cool as you get to be you. But then what about your Bridal Hairstyle? How do you bring that part in so it works well with your look.
What’s your style?
You’ll probably start with Pinterest, keep an eye out for the AI generated images there with perfect hair & makeup. If you’re saving those ask me for images of the same style but with a real person. Hair is a natural fiber and as such it is affected by atmospheric conditions. AI won’t keep your hair perfect if the humidity is high.
Maybe you’re on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook. Check out lots of different wedding hairstylists, we post there most of the time & on our websites. Look at our work, try and gauge who might be a fit for you. Yes, work out your budget. Touch base with us and chat about your hair needs. How your hair behaves, your dream hair.
Have a plan for great weather & terrible weather. Be open to having either styles, it’s easier to cope with if you’re prepared. Be realistic as well. If your hair is super fine, it’s not going to last out in soft curls no matter how much product is in there.
If you have an option to do a hair trial, do it. It’s a perfect opportunity to chat, look at quick hair ups & face framing before doing a full wedding hairstyle. I love being able to hold the hair in ways to show you what alternative style might work. Maybe a middle part or completely smooth around your face. Will extensions help?
My gorgeous Brides
What ever you choose, you want it to complement your whole look. Like an accessory all fitting together. Touch base with me and let’s chat about your options.
There’s been so much planning, so many Wedding Vendors to deal with and you’re hoping it all comes together to make a dream day for you and your Families.
Yes, I am one of your Vendors, I enable your hair dreams to come true. But not only that, I’m part of the morning of your Wedding. The ultimate pamper morning, secret women’s business and the time of trying to keep one’s head together while your body can be running on a weird surrealism or just free fall adrenaline.
I believe part of my job for the morning is about keeping on time for you. I give you a Timeline and work with your Makeup Artist to ensure we have you ready for your Photographer and then to leave for your Ceremony. Most of the time I have you ready at least an hour before that ceremony time and we can make more time if needed for travelling to your venue. It’s often about chatting with those last Vendors to ensure the timing is right but don’t panic you don’t have to make the Timelines we will all do that for you.
The other thing I like to do is keep the morning chilled so you can also be relaxed. To be fair I’m not too sure what it is but I’m pretty calm when I’m doing Bridal Hairstyling. I like to chat with you all and genuinely connect with you. Have a few laughs as that’s always fun. I’m not too worried about your Family, I’m sure it’s as crazy as mine. I know there’s always someone who is struggling with the enormity of the day, it’s a big one eh. So no judgement from me.
I love seeing your wedding gown and all your gorgeous details. I’m a Mother of three boys so your beautiful girly stuff ticks all the boxes for me.
I’m pretty inclusive, I think it’s the Mother of boys thing. I love seeing all the Mum’s involvement. Ask them, include them. Your future relationships are so much easier when you do. I know lots of Mum’s don’t wear makeup or even do their hair. Tell them it’s about the fun of the day, being together and enjoying someone else making the effort for them. They will love it. Invite them to your hair trial as well, then we can chat about their needs. They will be feeling the pressure to be looking good as they will also be in the limelight. Big day for everyone, very special & very exciting.
I love weddings, there’s something about them. So so special. Everything gorgeous. Every wedding is individual, telling a story about each couple, their story, your story…
Contact me to join your story, together we can make some magic…
Am I the only one who feels like there is a lot of change happening right now? Folk seem to be on the move from town to town or City to City.
So although I haven’t moved from Kerikeri but I have moved to a new Salon location. I am so so happy with this move. I am completely independent now and loving it. If you follow my other socials you will see me. I’m working out of Hair by Chris, Kerikeri, with a fabulous group of ladies.
It completely works with the Bridal & Wedding Hairstyling of my business, as well as my Great Lengths Hair Extensions. I’m doing three days on the Salon floor. Cutting, styling, colouring, smoothing & perming and at last some customer orientated styling tutorials. Follow the link to book www.laurelstratford.com/gettimely.com I’d love to work with you and your hair needs.
I have Moroccanoil retail products. I adore these products and have been using them for a while now while styling my Brides in Northland. Beautiful clean products infused with Argan Oil. Their range of Haircare is also divine, clean and sustainable. Designed to give maximum care to your hair.
Touch base with me for any product recommendations.
I have the Chi colour range by Farouk Systems. Again this is a clean colour system. No Ammonia, no PPDs and plant based so also no harm to animals. It been fun to use and I’m enjoying seeing gorgeous colour results with its Hue Definition Technology, Aloe Vera, Silk Proteins & Hyaluronic ingredients. I also have the Royal Treatment ‘Bond Rebuilder’ support system which complements these colours for maximum damage control.
For Smoothing Treatments I have the QiQi (said Kiki) Hair Controller Systems. Three choices here for you. Minimum Control (Frizz reduction), Moderate Control (Curl & Frizz reduction) & Maximum Control (Straightening).
I’ve had a few different versions of Smoothing treatments over time and I’m a big fan. I have a good amount of hair, coloured with a few blondes in there as well as grey around my face. I live in a lot of humidity and these treatments make my life a lot more fun and hassle free. With heat it’s quicker to keep under control, I can still curl my hair or wear it in its natural state. A winner in my books.
I’m back to doing Great Lengths Individual Keratin Bonds Hair Extensions and now their new Essenza Tape-ins. The Keratin bonds are excellent for being almost invisible and filling where you might have thinness like through your sides, lasting 3-6 months. The tapes are a quicker version but with nice thin hair injected tapes, easily moved up every 6-8 weeks. These extensions are traceable, sustainable and very high quality. They feel like your hair. Come and see me to do a consultation for colour matching and suitability.
Anyway that’s where I’m up to. Weddings start for me in a few weeks time and I’m looking forward to bringing the calm, gorgeous hair and fun with me for your big day.
This international crew were just so great to work with. I had an early start, which is pretty normal in the wedding season and my first Bridesmaid was so wonderfully English! She started with ‘Can I get you a cup of Tea?’ Loved that!!
All of these women were gorgeous and I had six different hairstyles to do. Full volume in the front on med-thick hair with a half-up style, low bun with side dutch braid on very fine hair, low bun with full volume on the crown on very thick hair, smooth textured side bun on thick hair, low side French braid & side bun on fine-med hair. The Bride had a high smooth bun, with her med-fine hair.
This sort of styling is great fun for me. I really enjoy different styles for a Wedding day, where everyone has a style to work with their individual hair. Different hair types, lengths, colours keeps it interesting.
Cheers girls for an amazing dayOur international crew for a Northland Wedding at The Duke of Marlborough gowns on…The girls on their way to The DukeLove this gownThe Bride and GroomSunset walks, Bride & GroomSubset dancing,Bride & Groom
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