Vendor Viewpoint – Patty McGuire Hair & Makeup Artists

Patty McGuire, owner of Patty McGuire Hair & Makeup Artists, popped by the blog to share insight and tips for luxury wedding and special event hair & makeup services. All photos by Joy Lyn Photography.

Brides looking for a wedding makeup/hair services in Chicago have hundreds of options. What makes Patty McGuire Hair & Makeup Artists so unique?

I think one of the most important things that sets us apart is that we commit to fewer weddings so that we can provide a level of excellence that every bride deserves. We approach each wedding as if it is our first, because every wedding is unique and special. As an on-site luxury bridal team, our artists work with only one bridal party per day. Every bride deserves a team who will be there exclusively for them on their wedding day. Our brides are trusting us with their family members, their friends and the people they love the most. That is an incredible gift. We never take for granted what an honor it is to be part of their special day. Our hope is that when brides are doing their research, they will get a sense of who we are, that we see our work as a calling, something much greater than just hair and makeup. We love our brides and take pride in being a part of the most important day of their lives.

What made you fall in love with helping brides look their very best on their wedding day?

I was a singer when I was younger and learned relatively quickly how to do my hair and makeup. As time went on, I would do hair and makeup for girls attending dances, women attending black tie events, things like that. I just fell in love with getting a woman ready for a special occasion. I started out working in salons, then eventually opened a couple of my own, so taking off weekends was difficult because our regular hair clientele needed us on weekends as well. I later became an educator for a cosmetic company that opened my eyes to all things bridal and it became a world I never wanted to leave. As the years went by, I slowly built a team to help me and was able to move towards working exclusively with brides. My team of 28 is made up of artists whose passion for their work is only surpassed by their love of people. As artists, we all have a style. My style and our team style has always been classic and timeless, leaning toward natural beauty and looks that will stand the test of time. I find beauty in every woman I meet and can see their complete look in my mind even before I start working. To see their beauty, highlight that beauty for them to then present to the world on the most important day of their life has been a transformative gift in my life that I am truly thankful for.

What overall trends are you seeing? What looks are popular?

While I do look at trends and want to be mindful of what is going on in the bridal world, Bridal Fashion Week for 2020 was calling for purple lips and hair bouquets. There are some trends, however, that we love for hair such as textured up styles, effortless undone chignons and more brides opting for leaving their hair down in soft waves, sometimes pulling one side back with a jeweled pin. For makeup, we are seeing more brides investing in skin care and customized treatments in preparation for the wedding day. We have a special relationship with Simply Beautiful Day Spa in Downers Grove, Il., who created exclusive packages for our brides to encourage more luminous, glowing makeup looks that allow their natural skin to show through. We love rosy bridal makeup looks with illuminating pops of color, lips in soft pinks, nude and peach tones. Gone are the days of heavy contour and Instagram brows, the modern bride is all about enhancing instead of hiding. Cream blush is another must have, as it creates the most youthful and radiant glow.

How early do you recommend clients book their hair & makeup services?

We book a year or a year and a half in advance. Especially with so many couples postponing their events to later dates due to the limits on event size, we encourage everyone to secure their favorite vendors right away.

What should a couple bring to their hair and makeup trial?

We always ask for hair and makeup images of inspiration ahead of time so that we know what the bride is drawn to. We love them to bring their veil, any hair accessories they might want to incorporate and any other images they want to share that will help us learn more about the vision they have for their special day. This is a special time of getting to know one another and working together to create a look they will love.

What advice do you have for couples when choosing their hair & makeup artist?

There are so many things I think are worth looking at when selecting all types of vendors. First, look at their social media. Do they post on a regular basis? Do you like their style? Read their reviews and the experience that other brides have had. How do you feel when they respond to you? Do you feel cared about and confident in their responses to your questions? There are so many agencies with package pricing, where the cost is less based on how many people you have in your group. The more people you have, the less it will cost. I do not understand that business style because it only hurts the hardworking artists. I respect them too much to discount their work. It is true that you get what you pay for in terms of your vendors. Experience matters. The work matters. Integrity matters. It’s important to choose vendors who understand what an honor it is to be chosen and who will put their heart and soul into making it all about the bride and the people they love the most.

What procedures do you have in place to keep your brides as safe as possible?

Sanitation has never been as important as it is today. Our team will be wearing masks to do our part in preventing the spread of illness. Our industry expects us to have the highest level of integrity in keeping our client’s safe and that is what we intend to do.

Patty McGuire Hair & Makeup Artists is onsite team of passionate and professional hair and makeup artists who are all master-level experts that specialize in bridal and special event hair and makeup. Click here for more information about booking with Patty McGuire Hair & Makeup Artists.