An important aspect of Bridal by Beulah is featuring and partnering with other Black-owned and minority-owned businesses. When I wanted a new and unique logo for Bridal by Beulah, I reached out to my sister’s fellow Lincoln University alum and friend Aaron Ray. He’s a freelance graphic designer in Philadelphia who makes flyers, logos, invitations, and more. I had seen some of his graphic design work, as well as some of his cinematography on Instagram and YouTube and was all-around impressed. After his incredible work on my logo, I knew that I wanted to kick off my Black Wedding Vendors series with a profile on Aaron.
When asked about his favorite part of working with brides and grooms for their big day, Aaron says his “favorite part of doing wedding work is the love in the air. Everything being done is within the spirit of love and true companionship.” This is one of my favorite things about weddings too, and I know this sentiment is universal. Who remembers the scene from The Wedding Crashers where Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson are trying to meditate a couple’s messy divorce and the negotiations are deteriorating fast, but when Owen and Vince remind the couple of the joy they felt on their wedding day, they’re able to come together for a fair resolution for them both! I think Aaron is 100% right.
When asked how he highlights diversity in his designs while working with the bride and groom to create their dream invitation, Aaron explained “I always try to make the event appear grand and spectacular when designing. I always try and treat the work like it’s my own.” I can vouch for Aaron on this. He worked with me one-on-one to create a logo that highlights who I am, what I want Bridal by Beulah to represent, and what I want to contribute to the bridal industry narrative. And my logo is indeed spectacular!
As a vendor catering to budget-conscious brides, I asked Aaron to talk about why hiring an artist to make your invitations can be a really worthwhile expense. He said:
the advantages of outsourcing instead of doing it on your own is the fact that you can REALLY deliver your vision. It eliminates the ‘If I had’ and ‘I should’ve done this statements.’
I wholeheartedly agree with Aaron on this. Everyone has to prioritize when budgeting for their wedding and decide what aspects they want to invest in. Your invitation and wedding stationary are things that every single guest will see, so this is one of those areas that could be really important to budget for.
Lets use our resources to help the whole team by supporting Black owned busineses y’all!
Something I highlight in this series is what makes Black wedding vendors unique, and Aaron emphasized that “What I bring that’s unique to black business owners is creativity and going beyond the design. I want to actually help my clients.” I know that in my case, branding is such an important aspect of making a small business succeed. In helping me create the visual aspect of my brand, Aaron went above and beyond to help me be a success. I know he’ll bring that zeal to every bride that he works with. And as a community, having a village mindset and a commitment to communal success is woven into the fabric of Black culture. This is something I’ve seen Aaron embody and it’s something I’m very proud to see Black owned businesses bring to the table.
You can check out Aaron’s Instagram here, and his YouTube channel here. He charges $60 to make custom invitations that you can print at home/at your local Staples! If you’ve ever been on Minted or Shutterfly, then you know this is a steal!
This past August I planned my first wedding and I’m so grateful for this wonderful learning experience. Keep reading for some takeaways you can apply to your own big day!
The beautiful bride and groom, Lisa & Addo!
Working your budget!
Because we had a major venue change and a guest list increase from 70 people to 240 people in the middle of planning, I learned about adapting plans and event design on a short timeline. With respect to expanding the scale of an event this much, it’s important to understand how this will impact décor. Even with a significant budget increase, there will be less resources to go around. Think about supplementing flowers with more candles, and doing mixed centerpieces to stretch your dollar. DIY and crafting can make a huge difference when you’ve got this many people and still want your event to look grand. And don’t forget to recruit family and friends to help with set up!
You can have a beautiful table scape and room décor at any budget!
Bridal by Beulah Wedding Crew!
My mom and my best friend were crew for this wedding and they let me pay them with love and gratitude instead of cash. When you’re starting a new business, much like when you’re planning a wedding, you’re investing money, time, and elbow grease and hoping for future returns. When you are planning your dream wedding on a budget, it’s time to call in all the favors you can and to ask your loved ones for their support in making your dream wedding a reality.
Cross cultural communication!
I was really honored to take part in such a beautiful and rich cultural tradition. When you’re planning a wedding that honors cultural heritage, and you have guests and members of the bridal party from all backgrounds, practice makes perfect. It’s really important to have a script/program that everyone involved understands, and to run through it at least once to minimize surprises. This is especially important if ceremonial aspects will be performed in another language. A printed program for guests with translations and a guide to the traditions is also a nice touch.
All of Lisa’s beautiful bridesmaids!
Don’t forget to have fun and go with the flow when you can!
Naturally, I wanted my first wedding to be perfect, but that’s not how life works. Sometimes the DJs equipment will glitch for a little while, or the emcee will forget his glasses and go off script. However, challenges (within reason) give your wedding flavor. As long as the bride, groom, and guests are enjoying themselves, then everything is alright. Remember that a wedding is a celebration of love and the joining of two families, so try to keep it in perspective if a fork isn’t exactly where you wanted it in your table setting.
Don’t forget to have fun!
Best friends forever!
Traditional Ghanaian Money Dance!
True Love!
What an amazing event!
Some key takeaways for everyone who made it to the end of the post:
Work your budget by using your resources: DIY, recruit your community, and choose cost effective décor
Practice makes perfect: have a rehearsal where you run through the program so your event looks polished.
Help make sure the wedding party and the guests understand what’s going on with a printed program.
Keep everything in perspective and don’t forget to have fun!
Thanks for reading and for supporting Bridal by Beulah! Every visit to my blog, like on an Instagram post, and referral for my business helps support my dreams.
Sophie of Sophie Marcs Bridal & Esthetics was one of the first people I met as an undergrad at Columbia University during the New Student Orientation Program, so when she reached out about partnering with Bridal by Beulah as one of our official vendors, it was a no-brainer. I had gotten to see her skills as an esthetician develop in real time, and I knew about her commitment to working with a diverse range of skin tones to create beautiful make up looks. Sophie offers highly customized makeup, hair, and skin care services. Her bridal services include multiple packages, customized routines, and lessons on cosmetic application. Check out Sophie’s website here for the full range of services she offers, but I’ve highlighted two areas that I think would appeal to any bride: bridal services and customized beauty routines/lessons.
BRIDAL SERVICES:
Bride’s TRADITIONAL Hair and Makeup Package for Wedding Day: $350
BRIDE’S LUXURY HAIR AND MAKEUP PACKAGE FOR WEDDING DAY: $425 Includes airbrush makeup, false lash application, and NuFace Lift
CUSTOMIZED BEAUTY ROUTINES/LESSONS:
These lessons and routine revamps run from $35-$225 and Sophie explains that she’ll have customers “Dump out [their] cosmetics bag, and we’ll tell [them] what works and what doesn’t!” Sophie and her team will help you get your skin on track in time for your wedding through expert advice—and teach you how to do your makeup for every day, while you’re at it! All Customized Routine Services include a formal assessment of your collection, and a product shopping list based on your needs and budget. Customized Makeup Routines/Lessons include a hands-on application lesson.
When I asked Sophie what inspired her to get involved in the wedding industry, she told me “I love people and all things beauty— so when I realized that brides were the clients with whom I created the most meaningful relationships, it just made sense. As an Esthetician, Makeup Artist, Custom Blend Makeup Technician, and the person who makes sure hair and makeup goes smoothly the day of the wedding, I enjoy wearing multiple hats throughout the process and making sure my client’s total desired look and feeling is achieved. My aim is to help individuals feel like the strongest versions of themselves, especially on their wedding day!” I know how good I feel about myself when I have the extra boost from a perfect cat eye and great mascara, and I agree with Sophie that every bride and every groom should feel that good on their big day.
Some of Sophie’s fabulous work on a fabulous model! #glowup
Since Bridal by Beulah seeks to showcase brides of color and contribute to a more diverse bridal narrative, I asked Sophie how her business highlights diversity when working with brides and grooms to create their dream event. She explained, “my team has experience working with a diversity of clients and providing services for multicultural weddings. Beauty standards and techniques contribute to a broader diverse bridal narrative. The intention to highlight diversity informs everything I do in my business— from being prepared to accommodate a multitude of skin tones and hair types, to researching trends and techniques across cultures, to highlighting my clients’ opinions of beauty and self-expression on social media. Lastly, if you look at photos of my brides, they all look DIFFERENT, in style, skin color, and age. As an artist and member of the LGBT community, recognizing a broad definition of beauty is both enjoyable and a must!”
Check out Sophie’s work on women of different skin tones
One of the reasons I wanted to partner with Sophie Marcs Bridal and Esthetics was because I could personally vouch for her skill in working with women of color. When we were planning Columbia University’s annual Black History Month Fashion Show, my co-chair and I reached out to Sophie to do the makeup for our models and she did a wonderful job customizing the makeup for women in every shade of brown. Knowing that Sophie had committed to learning to do makeup for women of color back when being a makeup artist was still largely a hobby for her, showed me her commitment to diversity early on, and that’s the type of business that Bridal by Beulah partners with.
Whether you want a dramatic look or a natural glow, Sophie and her team have you covered.
Part of Bridal by Beulah’s mission is making wedding planning accessible to people at all price points, so I asked about Sophie’s budget friendly options. She let me know that “large groups will receive complimentary eyelash applications and touch up kits. I also have a special rate for masculine-presenting brides who would like to look well-groomed and polished without having to opt into the full glamour experience. These bonuses apply whether opting for a traditional package or a luxury package with all the upgrades. That being said, any service or package you pay us for is jam packed with value!” Knowing how much quality makeup costs, and how hard it is to find a MUA that can work with all types of people, this service is a worthy splurge if you can make it work.
You might want a bold lip on your big day, and for that, it’s time to call in the professionals so that you can have the flawless finish you deserve!
Every part of your wedding budget is important, and you’ve got to prioritize while you are planning. Hair and makeup could be one of these areas where you want to devote some resources. I asked Sophie about the advantages of hiring a makeup artist instead of trying to do it on your own and she said that one of the biggest draws is being taken care of and having a stress-free experience on your big day.
Would you want a matching mani & lip? Sophie’s team has you covered with custom lip colors!
We’ve all been through a last minute make-up dash before a night out, feeling rushed and anxious, and then accidentally gluing our eye shut when putting on our lashes (or maybe that’s just me hahaha 😊), and that is not how I want to feel on my own wedding day somewhere down the road. In hiring this business, you know that the Sophie Marcs Bridal & Esthetics team of practitioners is highly technically skilled, sanitary, professional, and knows which questions to ask to help you achieve your desired look. Sophie explained that “Having a team of trained cosmetologists and estheticians means that we have a deeper understanding and prioritization of best practices for client safety when working with different products and techniques. Also, while many clients know or have friends who know how to apply makeup beautifully, advantages to hiring a trained makeup artist are that the makeup will photograph well, last throughout the day, and be applied beautifully and efficiently on the entire bridal party, all of whom have different faces!”
Sophie clued me in that “[her] other priority is to make sure that brides and grooms are prepared for the day of with as little stress as possible, by way of streamlined yet highly personalized systems of communication that ensure full transparency, honest recommending of services, and preparedness.” And when she says prepared, she means it: Sophie has questionnaires, bridal checklists, and reminders set up for all clients and artists/stylists involved in wedding! Sophie Marcs Bridal & Esthetics offers several services that set them apart:
Beauty assistance throughout the
whole process of preparing for a wedding
skin care
eyebrow shaping
makeup wardrobe
NuFace lift
Water-based airbrush for
long-lasting, weightless coverage
Custom Blend Makeup
Practitioners who will wear multiple
hats throughout your process- friend, esthetician, makeup artist, hairstylist
Get the look of your dreams!
I think Sophie explained it perfectly when she said : “With us you’ll receive the luxurious experience that is having your hair and makeup done, without any of the judgment or pretension that often comes with being the average consumer dealing with a beauty professional!” and that’s why I’m happy to partner with her as a wedding and event planner.
Sophie Marcs is a Team Leader, Makeup Artist, Licensed Esthetician, Custom Blend Makeup Technician, who works in New Jersey, New York (Including NYC, Long Island, Staten Island, and Westchester County), Connecticut & Pennsylvania. Check out her website here, her Instagram here, and her facebook here.
Bridal by Beulah 