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In this blog: Meet Monarch Salon & Spa, a Fort Smith, AR beauty team couples love for bridal hair and makeup that feels like you, from soft boho waves and braids to sleek buns and classic Hollywood curls. You will also get their best prep and trial tips so your wedding morning runs smoothly. Dates fill fast, so book early (especially in peak season).
Meet Reagan & Riley, the Dream Team You Want on the Morning of Your Wedding for Bridal Hair & Makeup: Vendor Spotlight on Monarch Salon + Spa in Fort Smith, AR
Meet Reagan & Riley, the Dream Team You Want on the Morning of Your Wedding for Bridal Hair & Makeup: Vendor Spotlight on Monarch Salon + Spa in Fort Smith, AR
September 3, 2026
There are a few vendors I will always encourage you to book early, and hair and makeup is one of them. Not because I'm trying to be dramatic, but because your hair and makeup team sets the tone for the entire day. They're the first people in the room when it's still quiet, still sleepy, still real life.
So for this week's Wedding Vendors of the River Valley spotlight, I want to introduce you to two women I genuinely enjoy being around: Reagan Fox and Riley Moses at Monarch Salon & Spa in Fort Smith.
We recorded this interview the most Monarch way possible: with me sitting in Reagan's chair getting my color refreshed. We were talking wedding timelines and humidity and veils while she was doing what she does best, and it hit me again how rare it is to find a team that can be both highly skilled and genuinely calming to be around.
Reagan described her goal for Monarch as creating "a relaxing experience" for clients, something elevated, peaceful, and welcoming. And honestly, that is exactly what it feels like. You walk in and your shoulders drop.
Their Signature Style: Timeless Hair that Still Feels Like You
Their Signature Style: Timeless Hair that Still Feels Like You
When I asked what brides are actually requesting right now, I loved how grounded their answers were. Not trendy for the sake of trendy. Just beautiful, wearable styles that photograph well and still feel like you.
They kept coming back to a few favorites: soft boho waves and braids (especially when they're "a little bit up away from the face" so the look feels finished and stays put), sleek buns when you want polished and formal, and Hollywood waves when you want classic and glamorous.
And then Reagan said the line that made me laugh because it is so true in Arkansas: "some teasing never hurt." If you want volume that survives humidity, dancing, and hugs, this team gets it.
We also had a very honest salon moment about trends that might not age as well. One of the stylists summed it up perfectly: slicked back looks can sometimes read like "I was sweating in humidity" in photos. Not always, not for everyone, but it is worth thinking about how you want to feel when you look back.
What Monarch Offers for Weddings, and Why it Makes Planning Easier
What Monarch Offers for Weddings, and Why it Makes Planning Easier
If you're a bride who wants a plan, a timeline, and a team that can handle both hair and makeup without you coordinating five different people, Monarch is worth a look.
Reagan shared that they offer both in-salon services and on-site services, and they also have makeup artists available. As a planner, I love a one-stop-shop when it's done well, because it simplifies communication and keeps wedding morning moving.
And if you take nothing else from this post, take this: schedule a trial.
"We'll make sure we schedule a trial before the wedding day," Reagan told me. I also love that she suggested doing the trial on a day that already has photos involved, like bridal portraits. That way, you're not just testing the style, you're seeing how it photographs.
The Little Details that Keep Your Look Perfect All Day
The Little Details that Keep Your Look Perfect All Day
This is the behind the scenes part couples do not always think about until it is too late.
Reagan said it can be really helpful if the hair and makeup team can stay on site through photos, "so that we can make sure the hair is placed perfectly" and do touch ups right before the bride heads out. If you've ever had a veil shift, curls fall, or a bobby pin decide it's done with its job, you know why this matters.
And when it comes to making styles last through heat, humidity, dancing, and happy tears, Reagan talked about the practical stuff that actually works: heat protection, humidity control products, and pinning curls so they can cool and set.
Also, yes, a good can of hairspray. Sometimes a couple cans.
Riley's Pro Tip for Makeup That Lasts (and the Skincare Timeline that Saves You)
Riley's Pro Tip for Makeup That Lasts (and the Skincare Timeline that Saves You)
Riley, their esthetician and makeup artist, shared one of those tips that is so simple you almost overlook it, but it makes a huge difference.
Come to makeup with clean, dry skin.
She said when people show up with oils and heavy moisturizers already on, it can make makeup harder to apply and harder to last.
And if you're doing treatments like peels, she recommended planning around downtime. The goal is to have downtime finished and then still have at least a week before the wedding.
What Clients are Saying About Reagan and Riley
What Clients are Saying About Reagan and Riley
This review made me smile because it captures exactly what you want in a wedding morning team: talent, professionalism, and people who make you feel comfortable.
"Riley and Reagan are an absolute dream team! I've had my hair done by Reagan multiple times, and every single time she nails it whether it's a cut, color, or style, I step out of that chair feeling like a whole new woman! She's incredibly talented, professional, and makes you feel so comfortable and confident.
And Riley? She's amazing at everything she does. Seriously. Whether it's beauty services, organization, or just the way she runs things she brings a level of creativity, skill, and care that's hard to find. These two truly go above and beyond in everything they do, and it shows in every detail.
If you're looking for talented, trustworthy, and genuinely incredible people to take care of you, look no further than Riley and Reagan. They are the best!"
From MaeLeigh Daley
When to Book (and What to Budget) for Monarch
When to Book (and What to Budget) for Monarch
If you are eyeing Monarch Salon & Spa for wedding hair and makeup, my best advice is to reach out as soon as you have your date and venue locked in. Monarch typically recommends booking 2 to 4 months in advance, and even earlier for peak spring and fall weekends when calendars fill up fast.
Pricing is per service (so you can build exactly what you need), and hair styling or makeup can range from $75 to $200 per service, depending on the look you want and whether you are getting ready in the salon or having the team travel on site. If you are not sure what to book first, start the conversation early, share your date, location, and how many people need services, and they will help you map out the best plan from there.
How to Book Monarch Salon + Spa
How to Book Monarch Salon + Spa
The best way to reach Monarch is by call or text: (479) 562-2991. You can also email: monarchsalonspa@gmail.com .
You can check out their latest work (and message them directly) on Facebook or Instagram.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/monarchsalonandspa
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Monarch-Salon-Spa-61572698818272/
Monarch Salon & Spa is located at 7308 Ellis St, Fort Smith, AR.
Final Planner Note From Me
Final Planner Note From Me
If you want a wedding morning that feels calm, organized, and genuinely fun, hire people who bring good energy and a plan.
Reagan and Riley care about the experience, not just the final look. And while Reagan and Riley handle your hair and makeup, I handle everything else. If you're still figuring out your wedding day timeline, I'd love to chat. Schedule a consultation here!
Stay tuned for more vendor spotlights. Drop a comment if there's a local pro you want to see featured next.
Happy planning!
If You're Building Your Wedding Vendor Team, You Might Also Enjoy These Spotlights From the Series:
If You're Building Your Wedding Vendor Team, You Might Also Enjoy These Spotlights From the Series:
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Her other big dream is doing wedding photo booth backdrops where guests genuinely forget that there’s a dance floor nearby. She wants to create an installation so visually captivating, so perfectly styled for the couple, that people just keep cycling back to take one more photo. Backdrops start at $500, which is a genuinely accessible entry point for a design element that will show up in every single photo your photographer takes that evening.
And then there’s what I’m calling the most exciting thing in her pipeline right now: flower balloons. Smaller balloons nested inside larger ones to create a petal-like effect, balloons that look, unmistakably, like flowers. She was up at four in the morning the week we talked, working on perfecting the technique. She’s not offering them yet because she won’t put something out until it’s exactly right. That’s Latia. When she does release them, I expect there will be a waiting list.
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