Hair and make-up are a top match

Biggleswade artist Tori Harris – who specialises in hair and make-up for brides and bridesmaids – is in the final ten stylists in the Hitched.co.uk Breakthrough Awards.

Tori, 22, of Brunel Drive started her own business a year ago after graduating from Southampton Solent University with a degree in hair and make-up.

She moved back to Biggleswade in April and has been taking care of hair and make-up at weddings in Chronicle Country and beyond since.

Tori saw an advert for the wedding website Hitched.co.uk awards last month and decided to enter.

The public can now vote for Tori as she hopes to be named as one of the eventual finalists.

She said: “When I was applying for university I wasn’t sure what degree to do but I wanted to study a subject that I could use for work.

“Then someone I knew asked me if I could do the hair and make-up at their wedding and I really enjoyed it, so I decided to start up on my own.”

Tori will travel anywhere within a 75-mile radius of Biggleswade and can spend up to five hours with each client.

She added: “I will meet the bride beforehand so she has a good idea of what she would like to do.

“It is always exciting and very satisfying when the work is done and the bride is ready to walk down the aisle. When her father comes to collect her it is always an emotional moment and makes it all the more worthwhile.”

Tori also helps with other areas like taking up dresses, and also takes care of hair and make-up at fashion shows and other events.

She even fulfilled a booking at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee at Westminster Hall back in the summer, doing hair and make-up for the waitresses.

Tori said: “I came close to meeting the Queen but when we had finished the work a security guard came in and said we would need to leave in the next five minutes or we would have to stay in the room for the next three hours!

“They had to clear the building before the Queen arrived.”