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About

On Hitched.co.uk since 2022

Last update: February 2025

Hair and Makeup Team

Lara Stokes is a wedding hair stylist and has a talented and strong team of hair and makeup artists based out of Cheltenham, England.

We serve celebrations throughout the Cotswolds, including surrounding areas from Bristol, right through to London along the M4 corridor. We have more than 25 years of experience within the beauty industry and offer a professional and bespoke service. I started my career managing a Toni & Guy salon in London before discovering my passion for wedding hair and all to do with beauty. I then refined my skills with the world-renowned Kasia Fortuna and now offer my brdes a very skilled and experienced team of hair and makeup artists.

Services Offered

We like to give you the experience of a relaxed and friendly approach, which allows us to ensure your wedding day is calm and stress-free. If you don't know what hair or makeup you'd like, we will help you plan and prepare the look of your dreams. We will also take your dress and ceremony theme into consideration as we craft your unique aesthetic. We will make sure we are fully prepared prior to your trial by a questionnaire being completed and uploading your images / Pinterest board here too - images are key in bringing your vision to life! We are happy to travel to your destination of choice on your special day and you will have a beautifully presented schedule for your morning too! We hope to be a part of your special day!

Lara & The Team xx

  • Woman-owned

Frequently asked questions

What services do you offer?

Hairdressing
Makeup

What is included in the wedding package?

Bride, Bridesmaids, Mother of the Bride / Groom, Flower Girls and any other members of the wedding party. We offer Hair & Makeup for any style. We believe we have to be able to deliver all required

How far in advance should I contact you?

As soon as you know your date and venue. I have enquires up to 3 years in advance

Do you work at homes?

Yes

What is the charge for travelling?

Nothing within 30 miles and 0.65p per mile thereafter

What is your main business area?

Make up

Could you stay with the bride until the photo shoot?

Yes

How many people can you beautify for one wedding?

6 if solo and many more with my team on board too

Can you provide your beauty services for pre-wedding and post-wedding photography?

Yes

What are the forms of payment?

Bank transfer. PayPal. Stripe

Served in

Bristol, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, South West London and Wiltshire

illustration notebook

Do you have any questions?

Reviews for Lara Stokes

We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to make your big decisions easier.
4.9 out of 5 rating
4.9 out of 5 rating
53 reviews
98% recommend it
  • Quality of the service
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Response time
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Value for money
    4.8 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    4.9 out of 5 rating
Holly
Holly Sent on 15/11/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Wedding hair with Lara 🩷

What an absolute BABE Lara is 💕

From the second I arrived at her house for my trial, I knew I’d picked the right stylist! She made me feel at complete ease, was so personable and friendly from the get-go and she just fully understood me and my vibe. We did two different hairstyles at the trial and I came away wanting both!!!! Turns out a month later I had done a total u-turn and wanted something completely different so we risked it on the morning of the wedding and it paid off - there were lots of tears when Lara showed me in the mirror! It was everything I could have dreamed of and more. I felt like a princess 🥰 (and not only did she smash this hairstyle, she was able to colour match my hair perfectly from photos and videos we’d taken from the trial, as the style I wanted required extensions for volume!)… the trials didn’t go to waste though as my bridesmaids decided to go for the hairstyles I had at my trial! Lauren also helped with this and did such an amazing job with my girls - everyone felt and looked so beautiful and I’m truly grateful for both of you 🩷
Amal
Amal Sent on 31/01/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Lara embodies the coolest bridal vibe, you'll definitely get your dreamy look and more!

When you start the planning stage of your wedding, you want everything to be perfect and you always have a picture in your head of how your hair style will be something out of a dream or a fairy-tale. Lara was that amazing person / hair stylist who could achieve that and put all the magical touches needed to make you look like the princess you've always pictured. Lara is incredible on both a personal and a professional level and you'll see that the minute you speak to her in the consultation stages, not only she'd get creative with you, but also she will be really flexible and cool in general. The cherry on top is, she makes everyone feels so comfortable and creates a great vibe when you're getting ready and you will feel such a great buzz. I cannot recommend Lara enough, she's the best in the Cotswold!!!
PrincessPipadee
Hannah Sent on 31/12/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Trust me, just book them!!!!!

There aren't enough words to express just how talented the team are at Lara Stokes.
I was lucky enough to have Kathryn do my makeup and Tot doing my hair.
I would trust these women a thousand times over with my look for my wedding day.
Both of them such exceptional and talented, confident artists! Always professional, lovely to sit with and discuss ideas with.
Please just book with Lara Stokes, you will not regret it.
I'm currently in the middle of thinking of ways to thank them......but where do you start in thanking a team that made me a princess.
Wonderful team, I'm obsessed with you guys.
Thank you, and I'm sending you all so much love,
Hannah and my Bridal Squad xxxxxx
Rachel
Rachel Sent on 18/12/2024
4.8 out of 5 rating

Just amazing

We got married a week ago and had Krystyna for my hair and makeup. I just can’t thank her enough, I have never felt so confident in how I looked and she was so lovely. The whole process was brilliant and I couldn’t recommend them enough. Thank you!
G
Georgia Sent on 29/11/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Lara is absolutely phenomenal

From the first email asking if Lara had any availability on the date of my wedding, to the goodbye before I headed to the church, Lara was phenomenal. She is super responsive, and sends lovely emails with tips and reassuring words in the run up to the wedding. I had to move my trial around several times and Lara was nothing but accommodating. The trial was brilliant and when I made one or two minor changes to the brief Lara was more than happy to discuss and helped me ask for the right pre-wedding haircut. On the day, Lara was great fun and a reassuring presence. The hair style was perfect and I couldn't have been happier. Thank you!
J
Jennie Sent on 22/11/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Wonderful experience :)

I couldn't recommend Lara enough! If you're looking for someone professional, friendly, calm, warm, kind and excellent at her job - Lara is who you need!

One of the things I found most valuable about working with Lara was her professionalism and level of communication - she was always quick to reply and was so organised when it came to providing information, asking for information, sending invoice details and advice before the day. I found this so helpful, especially when everything starts to get so busy.

I loved meeting Lara at my trial, we had such a lovely conversation as she did my hair and this meant that on the day, it felt like having a friend there with you.

Lara really cared about ensuring I was happy with my look and encouraged me to be honest with any feedback. This ensured that on the day, my hair was just how I wanted it and my mum and bridesmaid loved theirs too.

Lara also went above and beyond on the morning, staying until I was about to leave for the church and helping me with my earrings - these little touches make all the difference.

Thank you Lara for making me feel like the best version of myself for such a big day :)
K
Kayley Sent on 11/11/2024
4.8 out of 5 rating

Fantastic team of Hair & Makeup artists

A big thank you to Lara and her team for creating the best plan for hair & makeup on our wedding day! Lara video called me to talk through my ideas and she supported me throughout the process. Her questionnaire used closer to the wedding day, helped me decide final plans for my makeup and hair.

Myself, my 3 bridesmaids and my mum all loved the hair and makeup that Nadezhda created on the day. I'd highly recommend Nadezhda to anyone in the Cheltenham/ Cotswolds type area. She visited our Airbnb and arrived in good time, even though the place was hard to find. Every makeup and hair look was tailored to the unique features of each person and Nadezhda did really well with my tanned complexion and adjustments I asked to be made, from the trial a few weeks before the day. My makeup lasted all day, and I didn't even need any touch-ups! Overall a seamless, enjoyable experience with Lara Stoke Hair & Makeup, so many thanks to the team.
April
April Sent on 09/11/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Best experience - Highly recommend!

I’m so glad I picked Lara as my hair stylist for my wedding day! From first booking to the big day, Lara was amazing! Maintaining regular communication with me and always staying so professional and friendly!

On the morning of my wedding we had to head over to the wedding venue half way through getting ready and Lara didn’t once complain about having to move and was very understanding about the situation. Lara’s calm demeanour really put me at ease during the move!

I knew early on that I wanted a hollywood wave but it wasn’t until my trial that I knew it was the right decision! Lara made some great suggestions and asked the right sorts of questions before and during my trial to ensure I was truly happy with my style. On the day, Lara was fantastic, and I absolutely loved my hair! I’ve never felt so glamorous and confident! I had so many compliments on my hair throughout the day!

Lara got on so well with everyone in my wedding party, it was like she was one of the girls! As well as this, Lara is incredibly talented and I’m totally in awe of her work! I highly recommend Lara to anyone looking for that elegant and timeless look.

Thanks again Lara for making my day that bit more special!

April x
Sarah
Sarah Sent on 01/11/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Cannot recommend enough!!

Lara is brilliant at what she does. Whether it was dealing with awkward timing requests for hair trials or last minute adjustments for the wedding party, Lara was incredibly accommodating for our needs. She helped me to figure out the look I wanted, as well as giving great advice in the run up to the wedding.

I had so many compliments on the amazing job she did throughout the day and it was so nice to know that everything was taken care of. As well as being an amazing hair stylist she also did a wonderful job of keeping us all calm on the morning and helping the whole day start smoothly. I cannot recommend Lara highly enough!
J
Josie Sent on 29/10/2024
5 out of 5 rating

5 stars doesn’t feel enough….


Lara and her team did an amazing job for mine and my bridesmaids hair.

From her very first email Lara was helpful, friendly and very responsive. She put me at ease straight away during my trial and took the time to understand what I wanted and advised accordingly- I’d have been lost without her advice!

It was great having Lara and Nadezhda with us all on the morning of the wedding, they are both reassuring kind and fun to be around! Our hair stayed in place all day and I cannot recommend them enough.

Thank you Lara, I feel very lucky to have had you there as part of my day!
J
Jess Sent on 21/10/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Nadezhda is a FABULOUS hair stylist

Nadezhda from the Lara Stokes team did my hair for my wedding day and she was honestly amazing. So nice to have around on the morning of the wedding, incredibly attentive and listened to my thoughts (as I’d changed my ideas from the trial I had). Nothing was an issue and she even made time last minute for someone else to have their hair done too, which was fab. My hair stayed in place all day and I received so many compliments. My hair was something I was worried about for the day but I was made to feel right at ease and felt beautiful all day. Thank you 🩷
K
Kristina Sent on 20/10/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Natural Wedding Makeup

Thank you to Lara Stokes and our makeup artist Nadezhda for making me and my bridesmaids feel naturally beautiful on my big day. Nadezhda really listened and worked with me and my bridesmaids to create a look we felt comfortable and confident in. Thank you xx
Sapphy
Sapphy Sent on 19/10/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Absolute pro!

I was so lucky to have Lara to do my hair on my wedding day - from the first point of contact through to knowing exactly how to calm my nerves on the day, Lara was an absolute pro throughout the whole experience. I was really unsure as to what I wanted to do with my hair but Lara immediately put me at ease and the results were perfection! My hair stayed perfect all day, as well as my bridesmaids - would 100% recommend to anyone looking for their wedding!
Johnsonmatthews
Emily Sent on 19/10/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Excellent team

Both Jo and Lauren were amazing! Such lovely humans and superb at their craft!! Thank you both so so much
Maia
Maia Sent on 07/10/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Best experience!

Lara was simply amazing on my wedding day. Her communication was excellent, and she was always available to answer any questions we had. When I decided to change my hairstyle, she adapted effortlessly and demonstrated incredible flexibility.

Thank you very much

Maia x
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Badges

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Lara Stokes Real Weddings

Holly & Henry
9 photos · 27/07/2024
Lyndie & Liam
91 photos · 14/10/2023
Oscar & Nikita
26 photos · 03/12/2022
Lara & Edward
131 photos · 06/08/2022

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Map

5 Trowscoed Avenue GL53 7BP Cheltenham (Gloucestershire)

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