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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 