Special Events

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Unforgettable styling for your most important moments

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Make your special moments unforgettable with luxury hair styling and makeup services designed for weddings, proms, galas, photoshoots, and milestone celebrations. At The Refinery Hair Lounge in Middletown, KY, we understand that your special event deserves exceptional styling that lasts from the first photo to the final dance.

Our special event services combine artistry with precision, ensuring your look complements your vision, outfit, and personal style. Whether you’re walking down the aisle, stepping onto the red carpet, or celebrating a milestone moment, our experienced team creates polished, camera-ready looks that photograph beautifully and withstand hours of celebration.

We offer comprehensive event styling including updos, formal styling, elegant waves, braided designs, and modern textured looks. Makeup services range from natural and glowing to dramatic and glamorous, all using professional techniques that ensure longevity and photogenic results. Each service is customized through detailed consultations where we discuss your event timeline, outfit, inspiration, and any special requests.

For wedding parties, we provide coordinated group services with flexible scheduling to accommodate your timeline. Trial sessions are available to perfect your look before the big day, eliminating any uncertainty and ensuring you feel confident and beautiful. We use premium EVO hair care products and professional-grade makeup to create styles that hold beautifully through humidity, dancing, and emotion-filled moments.

Located in Middletown with easy access throughout the Louisville area, The Refinery provides a luxurious, stress-free environment for your event preparation. Our spacious salon accommodates groups comfortably, allowing you to relax and enjoy the experience with your closest friends and family. We handle the details so you can focus on creating memories, knowing you’ll look absolutely stunning from every angle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Special event packages vary depending on your needs, but they typically include professional hairstyling and makeup application tailored to your event. For weddings, packages often include a trial run (so you can test your look ahead of time), day-of styling for the bride and bridal party, false lashes, touch-up kits, and sometimes on-location services (where the stylists travel to your getting-ready location). For prom or gala events, packages usually include hairstyling and makeup application scheduled to fit your timeline. Some packages also offer add-ons like airbrush makeup, hair extensions, updos with intricate braiding or accessories, or additional touch-up appointments mid-event. Because our stylists and makeup artists operate independently, package offerings and pricing vary. When you reach out to book, describe your event, how many people need services, your timeline, and your vision—your stylist or artist will create a customized package that fits your needs and budget.
For weddings, book as early as possible—ideally 6 to 12 months before your wedding date, especially if your wedding falls during peak season (late March through May). Popular stylists and makeup artists fill their calendars quickly, and the earlier you book, the more options you'll have. At minimum, try to book 4 to 6 months out. For prom, book at least 4 to 6 weeks in advance. Prom season is incredibly busy, and appointment slots on popular prom weekends (typically mid-April through mid-May) fill up fast. If you wait until the week before prom, you'll likely struggle to find availability. For other special events like galas, milestone parties, or photo shoots, 2 to 4 weeks' notice is usually sufficient, though earlier is always safer. Bottom line: the sooner you book, the better your chances of securing your preferred stylist, time slot, and services.
Many of our stylists and makeup artists offer on-location services, meaning they'll travel to your hotel, venue, or home to provide hair and makeup where you're getting ready. This is especially popular for weddings, where it's more convenient for the bridal party to stay in one place rather than travel to a salon. On-location services typically come with an additional travel fee, which varies depending on the distance from our Middletown location. Some artists also charge a setup or breakdown fee if they need to move equipment between locations. When booking, ask your stylist or artist about on-location availability, travel fees, and any other costs associated with mobile services. Not all providers offer this option, so it's worth confirming early in the planning process. If on-location services aren't available or don't fit your budget, you're always welcome to come to our salon in Middletown—we have space to accommodate bridal parties and groups.
A trial is a rehearsal for your actual event. It's a separate appointment, usually scheduled weeks or months before your big day, where you meet with your stylist and/or makeup artist to test your look. During the trial, you'll discuss your vision, try different hairstyles or makeup techniques, see how everything photographs, and make adjustments until you're completely happy with the result. The trial ensures there are no surprises on your wedding day or event—you'll know exactly what you're getting and feel confident in your look. Trials are especially important for brides, but they're also helpful for anyone attending a major event where appearance matters. Day-of services are the actual hair and makeup application on the day of your event. These are typically faster and more streamlined than trials because your stylist and artist already know what you want. For weddings, the same professionals who did your trial will work with you on the wedding day, so you'll already have an established rapport.
For the bride, plan on 2 to 3 hours for both hair and makeup combined. Bridal hair and makeup are more detailed and time-intensive than regular styling because they need to last all day, photograph beautifully, and be absolutely perfect. For each bridesmaid or bridal party member, expect about 45 minutes to 1 hour per person per service (so 45 minutes for hair, and another 45 minutes for makeup). If you have a large bridal party—say, 6 bridesmaids plus mothers of the bride and groom—the entire process could take 4 to 6 hours or more with one stylist and one makeup artist working. To speed things up, many brides hire multiple stylists and artists to work simultaneously, cutting the timeline in half or more. When booking, discuss your timeline and the size of your party so your stylists can plan accordingly and ensure everyone is ready on time. Starting early is key—most bridal parties begin hair and makeup 4 to 5 hours before the ceremony.
Bring inspiration photos of hairstyles and makeup looks you love—these give your stylist and artist a clear sense of your vision. Also bring photos of your dress, veil, hair accessories, and any jewelry or other details that will be part of your final look, so they can create something cohesive. If you have specific products you want used (like a favorite lipstick), bring those along. Wear a top in a color similar to your event outfit—this helps with foundation matching and visualizing the complete look. Come with clean, dry hair (unless your stylist instructs otherwise) and a clean, moisturized face with no makeup. If you wear contact lenses, put them in before your appointment. Finally, bring a trusted friend or family member for a second opinion, but avoid bringing a crowd—too many voices can make decision-making harder. And bring an open mind: your stylist and artist are professionals, so trust their expertise even if they suggest something slightly different from what you initially envisioned.
Yes. We regularly work with bridal parties and large groups for weddings, proms, and other events. Because our stylists and makeup artists operate independently, we can coordinate multiple professionals to work simultaneously, ensuring everyone is ready on time without feeling rushed. When booking for a group, let us know how many people need services, what services each person wants (hair only, makeup only, or both), and your timeline (what time you need to be finished). We'll arrange the right number of stylists and artists and create a schedule that keeps everything running smoothly. For very large groups or tight timelines, we may recommend on-location services or staggered appointment times. The earlier you reach out, the easier it is for us to accommodate your group and ensure a stress-free experience for everyone involved. Ideal Image Description A beautifully composed photograph of a bride or formal event attendee having finishing touches applied to their hair and makeup. A stylist and/or makeup artist should be visible in the background or side, adding final details. Setting: A warm, modern salon environment with soft, flattering lighting. Hints of the salon (mirrors, professional tools, elegant decor) visible but not distracting. Natural or soft artificial light creates a glowing, romantic atmosphere. Subject: The subject is elegantly dressed (wedding gown, formal dress, or sophisticated attire visible), seated or standing in front of a mirror. Their expression conveys confidence, excitement, and anticipation. Action: A stylist adjusting a veil, smoothing hair, or touching up makeup—capturing the final moments of preparation before the big event. Mood: Celebratory, polished, emotionally resonant. The image should capture the significance of the moment and the care being taken to ensure the client looks and feels perfect. Technical: Horizontal composition for web display. Soft, warm lighting that creates a romantic glow. Sharp focus on the subject, with the stylist/artist in frame but secondary. Shallow depth of field to keep backgrounds soft. Avoid: Overly busy backgrounds, chaotic scenes with too many people, clinical or harsh lighting, stock photo aesthetics that feel generic or staged.

Our Special Events Specialists

2 stylists