Expert advice: michael van clarke on bridal services
Published
29th Apr 2011
by rachael
The Michael Van Clarke bridal team
Brides are big business for the Michael Van Clarke salon in London's prestigious Marylebone district, and it's a success borne out of dedication to offering a highly professional service.
Why does offering a bridal service make good business sense?
The relationship built between a stylist and a bride can last a lifetime, and a long-standing relationship is worth a lot to any business. Brides will also refer their families and friends.
What facilities are required to offer this service?
It's useful to have a more private area to look after the brides and their bridal parties and we're fortunate to have a separate private salon on the lower floor.
What skills/training is required for the team providing the service?
Continuous training is essential to master the dressing of hair, and keep up with fashion and bridal trends. All our team members attend hair-up training with Patrick Cameron and our in-house bridal director Despina Papageorgiou, who has looked after our brides for more than 15 years.
Every season the team attend a make-up masterclass with the head of artistry for Bobbi Brown. Our bridal team also creates the hair for the models at the Designer Wedding Show, where they learn to produce brilliant catwalk hair in very tight, highly pressured timeframes.
They also liaise with the leading bridal designers and review the forthcoming trends in bridal fashions.
How do you work with the bride?
We offer a full service from the initial consultation up to the big day and beyond for all our brides. For us this is the start of a long-lasting relationship.
Following the consultation, the stylist will outline a haircare plan to get the bride's hair to where it needs to be on the day.
They book in regular trims, treatments and colour and prepare a countdown plan leading up to the big day.
At the trial we ask them to bring along a picture of their dress and any hair accessories and veil.
We often try several styles and take digital photographs which we send over to the bride and also keep as a record. Our dedicated bridal administrators keep thorough records and liaise with the bride every step of the way.
What would a consultation with a bride entail - and how far in advance would it be carried out?
The consultation is normally booked once the wedding date has been set. It enables the bride and the stylist to meet to discuss the bride's ideas and plans for her wedding.
At the consultation they would outline the haircare plan and book in the appointments needed leading up to the big day.
