Bridal makeup studio
Umber Garden is a small bridal makeup practice built around warm, skin-first finishes — prepped, photographed, and tested against long days, bright marquees and happy tears.
Trials welcome year-round
The approach
Bridal makeup is less about product and more about sequence. Everything below happens before a single colour goes on, and it is the reason the look still reads well at midnight.
A short consultation covers what your skin actually does under pressure, then prep is layered and given time to settle rather than rushed in the last ten minutes.
Products are chosen for heat, movement and close photography — flexible rather than heavy, so it holds through the ceremony and the dancing without a reset.
We agree the finish at the trial and write it down. On the morning there are no surprises, no new experiments, and nothing that your family will not recognise.
Collections
Guide prices below cover the artistry and products. Travel within the studio's usual area is included; anything further is quoted plainly before you commit.
Morning cover for the bride, from prep to the last check before you walk. The calmest option, and the one most couples choose.
Guide price from £320
A relaxed session to find the finish, test wear time and settle on the exact look for the morning.
Guide price from £110
Per-person makeup for mothers, sisters and bridesmaids, scheduled around the bride so the room never feels crowded.
Guide price from £75 each
Engagement sessions, dress fittings and styled shoots that need makeup built for a camera rather than a room.
Guide price from £180
Lookbook
Most brides land somewhere between these. Bring a photograph you love to the trial and we will work out which direction it belongs to.
Flushed cheeks, a stained lip and barely-there definition. Suits daylight ceremonies and outdoor receptions.
A smooth, even base with warm umber shadow and a defined lash. The most photograph-proof of the three.
Skin left slightly dewy, highlight kept high on the cheekbone, and colour pulled back to almost nothing. Best for candlelight and evening venues — and the finish most people ask for after seeing it in person.
Every look is adjusted for undertone, lens and venue light before the morning arrives.
The day
Send your date and party size. You will hear back with availability and a clear guide price — no deposit talk until you have both.
Usually six to ten weeks out. We test the finish, note shades and agree the timings for the morning itself.
Arrival with a schedule already written. The bridal party goes first, the bride last, so your makeup is the freshest in the room.
A last look once the dress is on, a blot and a lip refresh, then your touch-up kit is handed over for the rest of the day.
Questions
Most brides book nine to twelve months out, and summer Saturdays go first. That said, dates open up regularly — send your date even if it feels late and you will get an honest answer either way.
Yes. Getting ready where you are staying is almost always calmer than travelling to a studio, so on-location is the default for wedding mornings. Travel beyond the usual area is quoted before you confirm.
Mention it in your enquiry. The trial doubles as a patch test, and the kit includes fragrance-free and mineral options so we can build a version of your look that your skin is comfortable with.
Up to four people comfortably on my own. Beyond that a second artist joins for the morning, which keeps every slot to a sensible length rather than squeezing the schedule.
Come with clean skin, any photographs you have saved, and the top you plan to wear while getting ready. If your dress or veil is already chosen, a photo of the neckline helps more than you would think.
Enquire
Tell me a little about the day and you will get availability, a guide price and suggested trial windows in one reply. Nothing is held until you confirm.