Well, the family is back from Disney and we all had a blast! Now, it’s back to my BIG list of things to do for the renewal. One thing that I have already checked off my list is “hair and make up”…and that is because I have chosen Up Do’s for I Do’s to take care of making me beautiful on the big day!
Today, I’m sharing my interview with Ashley Riddle, owner and beauty mastermind! Not only is Ashley the sweetest person on the planet, but she is amazing when it comes to hair and make up and has a whole team of extremely talented artists that come to you on the big day! I can’t wait for my hair and make up trial session. I already have some ideas in mind…waterfall anyone?? I’ll let you guys think on that and share the interview now!
Q. How did Up Do’s for I Do’s get it’s start?
A. Up-Do’s For I Do’s started in 2004 after I got engaged. I noticed the lack of on-site hair and makeup artists in the Baltimore/Annapolis area. I was currently working in a salon where I was 1 of 4 out of 50-something hair stylists that LOVED to do formal hairstyling. I decided to put my cosmetology license to work in a different area other than a salon and expand even further into the wedding industry.
Q. What makes Up Do’s for I Do’s unique?
A. All we do is weddings. We aren’t a full service salon juggling haircuts or color clients. We specialize in wedding and formal hairstyles, long-lasting looks and natural yet photogenic makeup. We also try to give back to the earth while using sustainable and eco-friendly products and tools. All of our artists train and educate themselves strictly on weddings. We have some of the best educators come to our studio to help us learn the best techniques to make sure our brides look flawless.
Q. Do you have a favorite hairstyle for brides? Why?
A. Right now we are loving the soft and romantic styles that look effortless but still require a professional to create. Loose waves and “messy” curls can easily be swept up into an up-do or left completely down. We are also loving the continuing trend of flowers in the hair and often these styles are paired with a birdcage veil. We are loving these looks not only because they photograph well but the soft look keep the focus on the bride.
Q. Are there any make up trends for weddings that you are seeing now?
A. Our favorite trend that we have seen over the past year is that most brides are opting for false lashes. There are so many options and we have one for each type of bride. We offer temporary lashes that last for the wedding day. They can be applied as a strip or individually. My personal favorite is the semi-permanent option. These lashes are applied with a medical grade glue and last from 4-6 weeks. This is perfect for the bride who still wants to have the lashes during her honeymoon.
We also love that brides are upgrading from traditional cream or powder foundation to airbrush. The difference is incredible and the results are priceless. The airbrush makeup technique is especially wonderful for brides who tend become oily quickly or for brides who are tying the knot outdoors on a humid day.
Q. You have a wedding focused family, since your hubby has Beat 2 Beat DJs. Did you both always love weddings?
A. Ironically enough we didn’t enter the wedding industry until we were engaged and married ourselves. We had a whole new appreciation for what a wedding day meant. It truly is the happiest day of your life and the vendors that a bride and groom hire can make the wedding day wonderful or disastrous. We want to offer customized service, personal attention to every detail and keep every element of what we do for our brides stress-free.
Q. What is your favorite moment from your own wedding? Or even a favorite picture?
This is tricky. There were so many wonderful moments that run through my head when I think of my own wedding day. It was waking up with my best friend Julie and sister Amanda in my hotel room, walking down the aisle with my Dad, literally jumping up and down at the altar as I was so excited to marry my soul mate, making a commitment to God and my new husband, the first kiss, taking photos on the Raven’s football field and dancing the night away with everyone who is so important to me.
