A day of pampering

Avril Hill married her husband Rob last year, but having been with him for 10 years, she is extremely close to her welcoming in-laws. In particular, her mother-in-law Anne Hill, who has been a rock for the young couple, helping them get settled in their new home and organising their wedding last September.

“We have a great relationship,” Avril says. “She was very supportive after my own mum died and very supportive of me and Rob when we were buying and renovating our first house and organising our wedding.”

The vintage-style wedding in Ballybeg House, Co Wicklow, was a relaxed wedding with lots of personalised touches.

“We put our DIY skills to great use, making as much as we could ourselves, from the invitations, placenames, bouquets, jam and chutney for favours and even the main wedding cake,” Avril says.

“I nominated Anne for a makeover because I think she deserved a treat for a day. She’s always so good at looking after everyone else, including her elderly mother, that I thought she shouldn’t have to wait for special occasions, such as a family wedding, to be pampered.”

Avril kept the nomination a surprise, and when she told Anne it was a complete shock. But arriving in Gorey, Ann was excited about having a day to experiment with her wardrobe and hair.

“Usually when you go shopping, all you’re thinking about is where you can wear this again, is it good value, and where you have to be next. It was really nice to just have fun and enjoy the shopping, and I was really glad to have Avril’s company and her opinion, because she knows me and what I like to wear,” Anne says.

The first stop on our day of pampering was La Creme Boutique, where Marion and Sarah helped select some dresses that would be flattering on Anne, but also take her out of her comfort zone. Anne was tempted to stick with her usual favourite black dresses, but when she took the chance to try bright colours, different fabrics and even patterns, she found that lots of different styles suited her figure and complexion way better. Then Philip Rochford and his team at Takumi Hair gave Anne a completely new look.

“I could tell Philip knew what he was talking about. While I would never have dared to go for such a big change or such a short style on my own, I had huge confidence in him.

“I’m really happy with the new cut and it is so easy to manage,” Anne says.

Anita Conroy of The Powder Room Makeup Studio took care of Anne’s makeup and the natural look enhanced her strong cheekbones and bright eyes.

“Getting your makeup done is such a treat and I think for big events, especially when photos are involved, it’s better to trust the professionals,” Anne says.

At the end of the day, Anne was delighted with the outfits chosen for the photoshoot. After posing for photos in the Ashdown Park Hotel, Avril and Anne visited Anne’s mother to talk about the day and they enjoyed a night out that night. Though Anne had been nervous about the day and having her photo taken, she was delighted Avril nominated her.

“Avril has been a part of our family for so long and she is just such a lovely, sensible girl, and it was so nice to have her join me on a fun day like that.”

As for Avril, she was delighted that Anne got the treat she deserved: “It was lovely to see her as the focus of everyone’s attention. She loved all of the outfits, her new hair style and her make-up.

“It was a really enjoyable day and I think she looked so glamorous during the photoshoot.”

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