Mercedes Hayward: Bridal Hair & Makeup That Makes You Look Like the Best Version of You
Mercedes Hayward is a Devon-based bridal hair and makeup artist with 16 years of experience — from London's fashion and TV world to the intimate wedding venue she now calls her favourite place to work. Here's why we love having her as part of the Millbrook family.
From London's Fashion World to the Devon Countryside
Based in:North Devon | Style: Natural glam, soft glam, editorial | Website: mercedeshayward.com
Mercedes didn't arrive at bridal hair and makeup via the conventional route — and that's precisely what makes her so good at it. After moving to the UK, she built a successful career in the translation industry, but by her late twenties she knew something was missing. So she started quietly building a portfolio in her own time — taking days off, sacrificing weekends, working with models, photographers, clothing brands and creative directors until she felt ready.
Then she quit her city job entirely and threw herself in. What followed was years of working across London in fashion, music, TV and printed press — a world that taught her how to bring any vision to life under pressure, on any face, in any conditions.
About six years ago she moved her family to Devon, and for a moment she wondered if that was the end of her career. It wasn't. It was the beginning of a whole new chapter — and weddings, it turned out, were exactly where she was meant to be.
"When I moved to Devon I genuinely thought it was the end of my career. Luckily I discovered the wedding world — and I got absolutely hooked."
A Style That's Natural, Glam and Unmistakably You
Ask Mercedes to describe her style and she'll say natural and soft glam through to full glam — though she's quick to add that the most requested look right now is no-makeup makeup. That perfectly polished, effortlessly fresh finish that makes you look like yourself, only glowing.
Her years in fashion and editorial have given her a skill that's genuinely rare: the ability to bring someone else's vision to life, seamlessly. Her signature look is luminous and skin-focused — the kind of makeup that photographs beautifully in natural light and holds its own through an emotional, outdoorsy Devon wedding day.
But more than a specific aesthetic, what defines Mercedes is her instinct for tailoring. She doesn't copy and paste a look onto every client. She works from your face shape, your colouring, your dress, your personality — and creates something that feels completely and naturally you.
"My signature look is more of a glowy look that will make you look fresh and beautiful. When they see that it's them in the mirror, it all makes sense."
How She Helps Nervous Brides Feel Completely at Ease
For brides who don't usually wear much makeup — or who feel overwhelmed by the idea of getting it "right" — Mercedes has a reassuringly calm approach. She encourages brides to tune out the noise: the Instagram references, the Pinterest boards, the well-meaning opinions from everyone around them.
Instead, she focuses entirely on the individual in front of her. She carries out a careful face shape and colour analysis with each bride to ensure the look is genuinely suited to them — not just on trend, but right for their features, their skin tone and their overall look on the day.
Communication is everything, especially when most of her brides aren't local to Devon. Mercedes offers unlimited video consultations before the wedding so that by the time the morning arrives, it already feels familiar and relaxed. Some brides even travel down to meet her in person for a trial — that option is always available too.
"I encourage them to turn off the 'noise' around wedding looks. We do not copy and paste someone else's look. When they see that it's them in the mirror, it all makes sense."
What Lasts Best for Outdoor Weddings
Devon weddings are beautiful — and sometimes wonderfully unpredictable. Mercedes knows this better than anyone, and she plans accordingly. For hair, half-up half-downs and updos tend to be the most reliable choices when wind and rain might decide to join the celebration. She preps hair carefully so curls hold, pins everything securely (including veils), and makes sure everything is ready to last the whole day.
Her prep-day skincare advice is simple but effective: plenty of water, regular moisturiser and sheet masks in the days leading up to the wedding — but nothing new or drastic too close to the date. Your skin needs to be happy and settled, not surprised.
The Pamper Room: A Dream Space to Get Ready In
One of the things Mercedes loves most about working at Millbrook is the Pamper Room. It's a beautifully designed space with wonderful light — exactly what a hair and makeup artist dreams of. Combined with the calm, unhurried atmosphere of the estate, it means the morning of a wedding here genuinely feels like a treat rather than a rush.
The whole Millbrook team — everyone from our wedding coordinator Meg through to the wider estate team — creates an environment that's professional, warm and completely supportive. For Mercedes, that makes all the difference.
"The Pamper Room is like a dream place for makeup and hair artists. Millbrook itself is like a little peace oasis."
The Moment That Never Gets Old
Ask Mercedes what her favourite part of a wedding morning is and she'll answer without hesitation: the reveal. That moment when a bride sees the finished look for the first time and realises it's genuinely, beautifully her.
There are always smiles. Often happy tears. And every single time, no matter how many weddings she's been part of, it fills her heart. She stays until the bride walks away too — there for touch-ups, extra powder, and whatever's needed in those final moments before everything begins.
She also quietly loves those moments when a bride sends her a photo of her own work as a reference. It never gets old. Sixteen years in and those messages still give her a genuine kick of pride.
"It never gets old when they look at themselves and give me the biggest smile. There are plenty of happy tears too — which fills my heart."
A Little Bit About Mercedes
It all started at her mother's dressing table. Growing up in the 1980s, Mercedes would watch her mum — a wonderfully chic woman with a love of blue mascara, green eyeliner and perfectly placed fake freckles — get ready, and the moment she wasn't looking, a young Mercedes would sit down and recreate the whole thing on herself. She was hooked from that very first attempt.
These days, when she's not making brides glow, you'll find her on long woodland walks or beach rambles with her two young boys and their two-year-old Jack Russell, tending to her large (if slightly mysterious) garden, attending her local book club, or testing the latest makeup products with the enthusiasm of someone who has never once lost the joy of it.
Her current obsession? Wig making. She's signed up for a course covering front-lace wigs, moustaches, eyebrows and sideburns — real hair and synthetic — and is delighted by how time-consuming and fascinating the whole thing is. Fashion never stops, and neither does Mercedes.
Why We Recommend Mercedes to Our Couples
Mercedes brings a rare combination to a wedding morning: serious technical skill built across 16 years and two very different industries, a deeply personal approach that always puts the individual first, and a warmth and calm that sets the tone for the whole day.
For couples planning an intimate elopement or a small wedding at Millbrook, having Mercedes look after your hair and makeup means one less thing to worry about — and one more reason to feel completely yourself on the day.
If you're putting together your dream team for your Devon elopement, our full list of trusted wedding suppliers is a wonderful place to start. To book Mercedes or find out more about her work, visit mercedeshayward.com. And if you'd like to start planning your day at Millbrook, we'd love to hear from you — say hello here.
