MODERN met with Rachel Borrelli, owner of Salon Le Rae of Wallingford, Connecticut, as she was prepping bride Kim Wakefield for her wedding to Josh Woolf. Borrelli, who does up to 20 weddings a season, has done up to 11 women ALONE for one wedding and has learned "the hard way" what must be done to make that day a success. She managed to share her tips to the salon professional to make the big day go smoothly for both the bride AND the hairdresser:
1. Make sure to eat A LOT before the prep. "Chances are you will not get a chance to eat once you get started. You may have several people, including the wedding party, lined up for prep. You will not be able to stop for a bite."
2. Make sure everyone comes with DRY hair. "The last thing you want to do is take the time to dry the hair before styling."
3. Make sure to tell the bride or bridesmaids to NOT use a flat iron before prep. "Hair that has been pre-flatironed may prevent any added curl from holding."
4. Charge appropriately. Offer a flat rate, and make sure to include a travel fee. "If I am going to the event there is an additional fee to cover time and mileage."
5. Go with the flow. "Remember, this is not about YOU, it is about the bride. It is her day. Prepare for emotions and perhaps some drama. The beauty professional can be the one to keep her on schedule and possibly divert her nerves.
Borrelli adds that doing wedding hair is one of the best parts of her job. "Nothing brings me more joy than making a bride feel beautiful on her wedding day," she says. "I feel truly blessed to be part of someones special day. I will do whatever it takes to make a bride feel good about her self on her wedding day."
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