How long is the drive to Tsinandali?

Two hours. The distance is roughly 100 km, but the route runs through Telavi over the Gombori Pass, which is mountainous and slower than motorway kilometres.

The ceremony is in the garden. Does that change anything?

Yes. Under old trees the light falls in patches, and pronounced shine reads as oily skin, so the base goes on more evenly and highlighter is kept restrained.

Does it get cold in the evening?

The day-to-night swing in the Alazani valley is wide, and the garden's shade widens it. Preparation is built for both the midday heat and the evening chill.

Can you come during the festival weeks?

Yes, but those are the busiest weeks of the summer. Write as soon as the venue is confirmed so the date can be held.

Makeup artist at Tsinandali

Tsinandali sits in the Telavi municipality of Kakheti, roughly 100 km and two hours from Tbilisi over the Gombori Pass. The Chavchavadze estate and its two-hundred-year-old garden give weddings here one defining characteristic: the ceremony almost always happens under trees.

MoodRoom founder — Makeup artist and instructor · Updated 2026-09-08

Dappled light under two-hundred-year-old trees

The Tsinandali garden is planted with tall, mature trees, and afternoon sun filters through their leaves. Light and shadow land on the face in patches. It is beautiful to the eye and unkind to a photograph, where it reads as uneven skin.

So the base goes on with particular evenness here and highlighter is kept restrained: in dappled light, any pronounced shine reads as oily skin rather than as glow. This is an answer to this specific garden, not a general rule.

Hot afternoon, cool evening

The temperature swing across a day in the Alazani valley is wide, and the garden's shade widens it further. Thirty degrees at midday becomes noticeably cool under the trees by evening.

Skin responds to that in two stages — perspiration first, dryness second. The preparation assumes both will happen, because both usually do.

Two hours over the Gombori Pass

The route runs through Telavi and over the Gombori Pass. On flat ground 100 km would take ninety minutes; here it takes two hours, because the pass section is mountainous and winding.

That is close enough to travel the same morning. Arriving the night before only becomes necessary when several people need to be ready before eight.

Festival weeks fill early

Tsinandali hosts a summer music festival, and the estate hotel is full through those weeks. Wedding dates are frequently arranged around the festival programme rather than the other way round.

For July or August, write as soon as the venue is confirmed. September and October are the Kakheti grape harvest and the busiest weeks of the year regardless.

Price and booking

Makeup starts at 150 GEL, with travel quoted separately and stated before you commit.

Send the date, the ceremony time and how many people need makeup. You will get one total and an hour-by-hour schedule.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive to Tsinandali?: Two hours. The distance is roughly 100 km, but the route runs through Telavi over the Gombori Pass, which is mountainous and slower than motorway kilometres.
The ceremony is in the garden. Does that change anything?: Yes. Under old trees the light falls in patches, and pronounced shine reads as oily skin, so the base goes on more evenly and highlighter is kept restrained.
Does it get cold in the evening?: The day-to-night swing in the Alazani valley is wide, and the garden's shade widens it. Preparation is built for both the midday heat and the evening chill.
Can you come during the festival weeks?: Yes, but those are the busiest weeks of the summer. Write as soon as the venue is confirmed so the date can be held.