5 of the Best Wedding Prep Venues (in the eyes of a Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist!)

The wedding morning and bridal preparation is all part of the wedding day and there are lots of important things to consider! 

• Who will be getting ready with you? Will it be your Bridesmaids/Mum/Flower Girls?  
• Will your bridesmaids be staying with you overnight or making their way to your bridal preparation location on the morning? ​
• Will it be a very early start? ​

• Does your bridal party need to travel far to get to you?

• Can you Matron of Honour be trusted to even get there in time?! 
• Will the room big enough… the list goes on! 

With our 18 or so years of experience in the industry we have visited numerous wedding venues across Dorset and Hampshire applying bridal makeup and styling the hair for the whole of the wedding party and sometimes some of their guests too!  

So here’s a quick run down of some of our top 5 favourite venues in Dorset and Hampshire to get the bridal preparation done!
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Best for calmness and space!

Sopley Mill, Christchurch. A beautiful tranquil venue for the bride and her bridal party. Sopley Mill is surrounded by meadows with not another house in sight. The Avon suite is not just fab for getting brides ready - grooms can always choose to get ready here too!

It has plenty of natural day light with 3 dressing tables for getting ready at, 5 mirrors, as well as ample power points for our GHD’s, hairdryers and a fan!

Interesting fact: When The Mill was renovated they ensured that the toilet was big enough for the bride plus one to help her put on her wedding dress!

The Avon Suite, Sopley Mill. Photo: Virtualoom

Best for nature lovers!

Marshwood Manor, Bridport. This magical woodland venue has a seperate private lodge exclusively for the bride and her bridal party to get ready in. It has lots of good natural lighting (even on a grey day) in the conservatory where we prefer to get the bridal party ready.

Too many people in one room can make a brides wedding morning feel hectic, hurried and exhausting.  With plenty of space indoor and out there’s no chance of feeling like you’re getting on top of each other. Brides generally feel calm getting ready here as it’s in the forest so it feels serene being so close to nature. Plus there's no chance of feeling like you're missing out on any of the action of the day.

There is a fan, a full length mirror, as well as comfy sofas for the rest of the bridal party to kick back on whilst sipping on a glass of bubbly and the added bonus of keeping half an eye on what the boys are up to!

The Lodge, Marshwood Manor

Best for Sea Views and back drop for that Wedding Dress pic!

The Cumberland Hotel, Bournemouth. This 4 start seaside meets town centre venue with its fab art deco feel is a great location to get ready at. The bridal suite has a lovely light and airy feel to the room with a stunning 4 poster bed and gorgeous wallpaper - the perfect background for that hanging wedding dress shot.

Tea and coffee is also provided and breakfast can be brought to the room for a small supplement too so there’s no need to see any other guests until you’re ready. There is also a balcony with table and chairs fantastic view across Bournemouth seafront right through to The Purbecks and the Isle of Wight perfect for if you need a moment to gather your thoughts and breathe in some fresh Bournemouth sea air.  

Bridal Suite at The Cumberland Hotel, Bournemouth

Best for privacy for big Wedding Parties!

Seaside Sizzle, Sandbanks  This privately rented luxury accommodation is nestled right in the heart of Sandbanks perfectly situated for weddings at The Italian Villa in Canford Cliffs. With space to sleep 14 you won’t ever have to worry about having your nearest and dearest far from you. 

​There is a specially dedicated area with fantastic lighting as well as dressing tables and you can even bring in outside caterers to cook up a slap up meal for you the night before or even on the wedding morning for you and your bridesmaids to feast on before getting your hair and makeup done.

Seaside Sizzle, Sandbanks Holiday Home

Best for luxury open plan living space!

Hotel Du Vin, Poole.  When you walk into the impressive Thierry Lombard suite you are wowed with it's large open plan living space. It has a luxury King Size bed, 2 large TV screens as well as roll top baths for the perfect romantic evening if you're not traditional about spending the night before apart from your fiancé!

Not only does it have air conditioning it has a large balcony too with table and chairs which is where we recently got one of our brides ready to make the best use of the natural daylight. 

Thierry Lombard Suite, Hotel Du Vin

So if you're still looking for your perfect venue to get ready at on the morning of your wedding, that's our top 5 for 2022 in Dorset and Hampshire.

Can you recommend another perfect venue for the bride and her bridal party to get ready at?  

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