Welcome to More Than the Ring! A blog about everything from the engagement ring all the way through the first year of marriage, and everything in between.
I’ve spent years thinking of the perfect niche in my industry to create a blog, and I’ve finally found it! While I have just recently been proactive about pen to paper and forming this blog, I have spent years perfecting my craft and working with clients. I have received tons of feedback about so many different aspects of the beauty and wedding industry, which go hand-in-hand. So let me take you back to my beginning of this 15 plus year career.
At the startling line
Fresh out of high school I thought my career path was Interior Design. I was so eager and passionate about all things design. I searched for the perfect school, the perfect location and off I moved to Denver, Colorado to make my dreams come true! Six months into the program, at an amazing art school I was sorely disappointed. This wasn’t the career of my dreams. While I still loved everything about it, I just couldn’t see myself in that job long term.
So what do I do now? How do I tell my parents this wasn’t all it was cracked up to be and I need to move back home? I summoned up that teenage courage and told them. A few weeks later, and a long cross country drive home with my Mom; I had a new career path ahead of me.
I have been styling and cutting hair for friends and family since I was 13. My Mom said, “Why not a career in cosmetology? If you don’t want to do that forever, at least you will have something to fall back on.” Let’s pause there for a second. The phrase “You’ll always have that to fall back on.” or “That’s a great hobby, but can you really make money?” have loomed around every cosmetologist since the beginning of time. Yet here we are in a pandemic in 2020 and one of the things people are wishing they had access to is their hairstylist and nail technician, or in brides cases wanting their wedding to take place and access to ME!
On with the journey
Fast forward through many years of schooling throughout my career. I am a licensed cosmetologist, nail technician, medical massage therapist and makeup artist. I am also certified in airbrush spray tanning and eyelash extensions. Almost anything I can do in the beauty industry, I am doing. I love versatility and learning.
After an 11-year career behind the chair in a salon, I now do bridal hair and makeup for weddings almost every single weekend. Now that’s a DREAM job! I get to work with the best clients and their family and friends. I am honored to be a part of their special day and enjoy such a happy work environment. As a mother of 2 children, ages 3 and 5, I have a lot going on during the week. Having most of the week to spend with them and then working weekends, makes my home/work life balance a lot easier; which is also a relief for a career.
Heading towards the future
One of my favorite things about the bridal and beauty industry is how much they evolve. As I have said before, I love to learn. The bridal industry fascinates me and being a part of it in multiple ways has changed my career so much. I have learned a lot from brides, bridesmaids, mother-of-the-bride (and groom), fellow vendors and coworkers. I find myself educating clients every time I am working with them, whether it’s hair and makeup, spray tans, or anything else in this line of work. Sometimes it’s just some friendly advice to get through all of the wedding planning and beyond. Once I realized how often I am teaching them all something, I knew I had my blogging niche!
- From the engagement ring to the wedding day: how to decide on bridal party gifts, bridal showers, hair and makeup and more.
- At home preparation for all things to come. Skin prep, physical health prep and even some much-needed relaxation.
- Weeks leading up to the wedding. What to expect, how to deal with “unruly” family, friends or guests and so much more.
- Wedding day! All things wedding day!
- Now that the planning is done, the wedding day is over and I’m married, what do I do now???
- What about that first year of marriage? They say it’s the hardest. Advice from professionals, date night ideas and how to keep that honeymoon phase forever.
All of the above and SO much more will be a part of this growing blog. Please join me on this amazing journey by subscribing to this blog, my YouTube channel and social media for all of the tutorials, daily styling tips and tricks, interviews with professionals, giveaways and DIY adventures to help in your every day life, and especially wedding life.
