Royale Hair Parlor’s new wedding and special events suite. Photo by Rodney Margison

BY TRACY ZOLLINGER TURNER

Sometimes the most treasured images of a bride’s big day are captured as she and her party get ready for the ceremony—the casual moments when hair is being done and makeup applied. So when Royale Hair Parlor began booking an increasing number of wedding parties, owner Bridgett DiVohl began thinking about how she might create a more private, celebratory space for her clients.

She began by looking at possible downtown locations for a separate wedding suite. But one day while on a hike, her wife, Steph, pointed out that the space she was looking for already existed, noting that much of the salon’s lower level office space was unused.

“It started coming together from there,” says DiVohl. Of Royale’s new wedding and special events suite, DiVohl says: “I love that this is my girly space compared to the upstairs, which is more artistic and industrial. I had fun designing it. I put it together to try and create something that feels really pretty.”

Decorated with velvet furniture in regal shades, an orchid-filled mural, and ornate chandeliers, DiVohl says she wanted Royale’s new wedding suite to have a romantic feel. On the practical side, it also has four stations for hairstyling, two for makeup, a spacious dressing room, a kitchenette for preparing snacks and beverages, and enough room, complete with chairs and couches, for family members and friends to stop in and socialize.

There’s also a selfie station with adjustable lighting that faces a wall stenciled with rows of hearts. Nearby shelves are filled with party favors—things like unicorn and rainbow garland and a glittery stick decoration that reads “Team Bride”—so everyone can create a fun pose.

DiVohl expects the space will primarily be used by wedding parties, but she has also had inquiries for other events, including a Sweet 16 celebration.

While renovation of the space was officially completed in March, DiVohl and her designers wanted to test the new wedding suite before opening it to the public. “We did a lot of practice runs, especially with makeup,” she says. “We wanted a month to experiment with the lighting so we could make sure everything is right.”

For more information, visit royalehairparlor.com.