Spring, Weddings, New Salon...and all that Jazz!

Hello everyone! Nice to finally catch up with you all again and I’m sorry I’ve been gone for so long…but there really has been such a lot going on since January! Do you want to know exactly what? Of course you do……..!

So, Christmas & New Year, they came and went, during which I had my final wedding of the season (and year) at the most gorgeous venue of North Cadbury Court, following which, I became one of the venues Suppliers! I was utterly gobsmacked and very proud to have been selected, a real treat as the venue is right on my doorstep and it has the most gorgeous bridal suite, where I’m lucky enough to make up the bridal party overlooking idyllic grounds and further afield countryside views!

Then, having taken the decision in November, while sat by the pool in Dubai, with my husband, to look for premises to open my own beauty salon, the search began in January to find ‘the one’ before the end of Spring… just 2 weeks into January, thinking I had found the most perfect premises in a town a short distance from Wincanton, it fell through 9 weeks later when the owner changed his position…despondent and utterly gutted, the VERY next day, while sat in my car feeling pretty flat and miserable outside the Post Office, staring blankly ahead, BINGO! I was sat in front of actually THE MOST PERFECT PREMISES…IN WINCANTON! Known for not letting the grass grown under my feet, I found myself inside discussing a tenancy and just 8 weeks later, after lots very late nights, early mornings (not a fan of those) lots of planning, spreadsheets, lists, phonecalls, ordering, suppliers, logo, stationery, website, facebook and instagram re-design, designing, cleaning, painting, decorating as well as blood, sweat and quite a few tears, knocks and scrapes and very bad back ache by the end, I opened ‘Heather Alexandra Beauty & Bridal Makeup along with the help from local trades and suppliers (see below) and, of course, my wonderful family team of husband, son and his girlfrield who worked relentlessy over an 8 day period to get the place ship shape and decorated within an inch of it’s life, forfeiting any free ‘time off’ and my wonderful dad who hired a van just to get an important piece over to me from Hampshire which he had lovingly restored for me as a gift and gesture to my late mum. The Open Event went extremely well, with dozens of local clients, brides, businesses, friends and family coming along to support me, completely overwhelmed, but utterly proud moment in my life, which I couldn’t have done without the support from my wonderful husband, son and dad…and Lucy too!

To say that I am very excited is a total understatement, that not only have I finally put all of my business into one place, hopefully providing beautiful treatments in a serene and relaxing environment, removing the need for travelling around at breakneck speed, dodging the odd speed camera, but that my business premises are in the most beautiful Grade II listed building, situated in the old Market Square of Wincanton. Number 7 is full of delights, with old and new features and lots of gorgeous beauty treatments, products and, of course, an abundance of makeup for brides, maids, mums, occasion makeup for party and event goers, makeup demonstrations and lessons! I’ve hand picked some of the most wonderful products, equipment and furnisings to add to the sense of feeling pampered, all of which are going down a treat already with plenty more bookings in my diary! After my second week in and I am already planning lots more for the salon and my clients. I have to say I have been overwhelmed by the support from local businesses too, it has been very welcome and I feel incredibly lucky to have you as my business neighbours and I’m looking forward to a few collaborations!

Then there were photoshoots! Lots of them squeezed in and around my crazy life during January-March, but they do appear to be paying off and I am very excited to share with you that 3 of the most recent shoots, all staged very differently with a whole host of very talented wedding suppliers, will be published in one of the West Country’s largest bridal magazines imminently! So keep watching my facebook page for further news. With currently 4 more shoots lined up for this year, I’m sure there will be a few more to come on top of that! Earlier in the year I was also privileged to be part of a shoot, which went on to be featured in Bride and Tonic! An incredible shoot, set in the beautiful, idyllic countryside setting of the Old Milking Parlour at Cavokay House near Henstridge. Well worth a visit for all brides-to-be who fancy something a little bit different and rustic in abundantly beautiful surroundings.

Weddings, now there’s a thing, with 3 under my belt so far this year and another 9 over the coming few weeks, not to mention many more into the late summer and autumn, this weekend saw the most fun ever set of bridesmaids, the morning (starting with a 5.30 am alarm call and 7 am start) Saturdays bride was the most adorable woman ever, a nurse with the largest heart and soul I have ever known, a beautiful person inside and out, who married the man of her dreams, her soul mate, with beautiful parents too, I didn’t want to leave the glorious setting of The Longhouse in Bruton... however, a well deserved glass of wine beckoned me at home (well, I thought it was well deserved!), along with the chance to rest my aches after 6 hours of makeup in the hot tub in the glorious Somerset sunshine!

So, what else is coming up! Hmmm, you’ll just need to wait for the next instalment, but I hope to host a few events in my salon over the coming months, attend wedding fairs too, as well as keep up with a very busy wedding season, but you’ll just need to keep your eyes peeled on my social media – (FB) heatheralexandrabeauty&bridalmakeup and (Insta) heatheralexandramua… no that’s not heather Alexandra ‘drama’, it’s MUA! Fitting as it is, sorry to disappoint ;)

Have a wonderful summer, stay topped up with sun protection… and prosecco! Cheers! 🥂

Heather X

For the incredible work in preparation for the opening of my salon, credits must go to the following people and their businesses, with such short notice, they all did a tremendous job and pulled out all the stops, especially Claire who soaked the gel balls for my floral display, adorned the salon with her beautiful tall lantern stands and even did a spot of waitressing at the open event! I’m indebted, thank you so much!

Andrew Whitmarsh (Painter and Decorator)

Jon Markendale (Electrician)

Nick Purcell (Building & Property Maintenance)

Andrew Whitmarsh (AJS Signwriting)

Claire Howard (Creative Creations Weddings & Events)

Julia Moore (Floral Design)

Xaviera (Adorabella Cake Design - Cupcakes)

Bea (The Silver Cake – Iced Logo Discs )

Phil (Lovingtons Bakery – Canapes)

Vanessa & Sandra (Aurora Print – Rebranded Stationery)