Unfiltered: What Your Hair & Makeup Artist Really Wants You to Know
Nicole Copland on Vibes, Hair Truths & Why You Need a Bloody Good Point Person
Welcome to the “Unfiltered” series - where I chat with some of the best in the wedding biz to bring you the honest, behind-the-scenes advice you actually need.
Today, I’m chatting with Nicole Copland, hair & makeup artist, calm bringer, and champion of chill, no-BS wedding mornings.
(Below image not captured by me - but is of Nicole glamming her daughter for her wedding 🥹)
Your Wedding Glow Starts Here
Nicole Copland gets real about realistic inspo, good vibes, and the unglamorous truth behind wedding morning beauty prep.
1. What’s one thing you wish more couples knew before working with a hair and makeup artist?
Just one thing? Ok, I think it would be that each stylist/MUA has their own personal style.
When you are choosing a stylist, go through all their recent photos on their socials and catch what their vibe is and if it would be a match with yours. If you want full glam but you don't see that in their photos, it's probably not a match made in heaven.
I am always evolving and growing as a hair stylist and mua, but there are definite looks that i'm just not going to do naturally. I mean, i enjoy trying new things and being creative, but on your big day you want someone who can nail your look effortlessly and in a suitable time frame.
Charlotte’s Take: YES. Please stalk your MUA before you book them. This isn’t about being picky - it’s about being aligned. If you’re after a full glam Kardashian moment and their feed is full of dewy, natural looks - it’s probably not your match. Your wedding morning is not the time to experiment. Find someone whose work you love and who can deliver what you want without stress or second-guessing.
2. What’s a small decision couples often overlook - but that makes a big impact on the day?
I have many actually but here's 2.
Nominate a point person! Someone to run interference for you on your day, I see brides who are so busy making last minute decisions, putting out spot fires, organising transport, you name it...they spend most of the morning on their phone stressed. Now some people are micro managers and need to feel in control to ease their anxieties, I get it. So it might not be in your personality wheelhouse to let go completely. But at least whilst you are in the chair getting your hair and makeup done, put that phone away and close your eyes and recharge. A point person is someone you have downloaded your brain to, you have given everyone involved in the morning their phone number, they field and triage whatever dramas or questions flood in. Put the memo out to family members too...you are not the one to contact. Also, as a vendor, if you are constantly on your phone with your head down while im doing your hair and makeup, that's a hard head to work on. Be kind to yourself and your stylist!
Secondly - timing your morning well and then be flexible. I reckon every vendor is saying this, because it's true! After being part of countless wedding mornings but also having just gone through organising a wedding for my daughter, I can tell you it will make all the difference. The point is to make sure you have allowed all the time you need, not necessarily following your timeline minute by minute. Make a timeline, adding in everything into it...hair, makeup, who's arriving when, boob taping (don't get me started on this one), getting dressed, special moments you want to take, add it all in! Then you will have peace of mind that you will have enough time. After you have done that...be flexible. As your hair and makeup stylist we may not do everyone in the order on the sheet and things will change, so have the flex to let it be, but knowing you've allowed the time and it's on the list which means it will happen without stress.
Can I add a third? Just quickly. Music. A morning without background music is weird. It's weird for us, its weird for everyone. Vibe is everything. A chill playlist for first thing in the morning and then your hype playlist later in the morning. Please and thankyou. You're welcome.
Charlotte’s Take: The idea that the morning just “happens” is a myth. It’s a moving machine with a dozen gears. Having someone to wrangle questions (and random relatives), building flex time into your schedule, and setting the tone with music - it makes all the difference. When the energy is good, you look good. Simple as that.
3. Is there a myth or trend in your corner of the wedding industry that drives you a little nuts?
Ok lets rant.
AI. Good grief it's wild out there. I think most of the photos I get sent as inspo pics at the moment are AI. Now i'm ok if you're using it to reference certains colours or vibes, but the expectation to look like the photo is so very unhelpful. And it just ain't gonna happen. I also just think our brains see a beautiful girl or aesthetic and we are drawn to that, we aren't really thinking about our skin tone/texture, eye shape, coverage, why we like it. Being more intentional about what you like in an inspo pic, knowing your own features, referencing real people with real faces and hair, you'll end up with a more realistic idea of what you want. Again, using reference photos from your stylist is a more helpful place to start.
Secondly, choosing styles that don't suit your hair/weather. I know the lady in the picture has beautiful long luscious bouncy curls, but she probably has a truck load of extentions, has a natural wave, is standing in the lovely airconditioning and her hairstyle is 5 minutes old. We have tricks and products and know how to do our best, but if you have long straight hair that doesn't hold a curl, then its not going to hold a curl. If it's raining or windy or hot outside and you want your curls to last, you're gonna be dissapointed. Sometimes hair up is your best friend in the whole wide world. Go with it. I think the other myth that comes with that is that hair out and curled is the easiest to do. It is not. For all the above reasons. There's a lot that goes into a downstyle. I would say at times more work than an upstyle.
Charlotte’s Take: There’s a fine line between inspiration and delusion (sorry). AI filters, Pinterest curls, airbrushed makeup - they set impossible standards that even your dream team can’t match. Real beauty is real. When you trust your stylist, and your own features, you’ll get a look that’s timeless and truly you.
4. What makes working with a dream vendor team so important?
Knowing your fellow vendors is the dream. When i know i'm going to work with people i know, i am more relaxed, I know what to expect, i have an idea of how they work, it's more collaborative, more fun and i love the feeling of team work. The flow on effect to how the morning feels for the couple is significant actually. I also love meeting new vendors. I think when vendors are friendly and are wanting to expand their community, are intentional with introducing themselves, you can get the same vibe.
Charlotte’s Take: The morning sets the tone for the whole damn day. And when you’ve got a vendor crew that clicks? It’s a dream. We back each other, fill in the gaps, communicate without the weirdness, and create a space where you can actually relax. Whether we’ve worked together for years or just instantly vibe, the right team chemistry means smoother timelines, better energy, and a calmer you.
5. One piece of advice you’d give every couple planning right now?
Nothing is perfect. Repeat after me....Nothing is perfect.
There will always be something that goes amiss or is unexpected. It can be a small detail or a series of small details...hopefully nothing major. I'm quite the optimist, so i'm not trying to throw shade on your day. This is just a realistic fact. So plan it all down to the last detail, and then let it be. Don't sweat the small stuff, it'll be ok. Often the mistakes or mishaps make for the best memories. There are actually quite a few things out of your control, so you just have to trust the team you have picked to do their job and roll with it. It's crazy that this big day you've built up to is gone so quickly, so make sure you take it in as much as you can. Keep the main thing the main thing; saying 'I do' to the love of your life. That's the big picture and it's wonderful.
Charlotte’s Take: Things will go sideways - and it’s okay. That’s not failure, it’s just how weddings work. When you release the pressure for perfection, everything flows better. You notice more. You laugh more. You feel more. Keep the heart of the day front and centre: you, your love, your people. The rest is decoration.
Nicole’s take is the kind of grounded, experience-first advice I wish every couple heard before jumping into the wedding day whirlwind. From giving yourself permission to not answer every text, to picking realistic inspo that aligns with you(and the weather), her insight is gold.
We worked together recently on Mia & Riley’s Sydney wedding - a coastal, laid-back day with so much love, genuine connection, and ridiculously beautiful moments. Nicole was behind the scenes as the hair stylist, creating effortlessly chic looks that held strong through happy tears, hugs, and dance floor moves. You’ll spot their images featured above.
Where to find Nicole?
📸 Find Nicole on Instagram HERE
Stay tuned for more Unfiltered chats coming soon. Because your wedding morning shouldn’t be silent, stressful, or staged for the algorithm. It should be full of laughter, music, and people who know what the hell they’re doing.