Our 10 Favorite Northern Virginia Wedding Venues

Each of these venues offers something unique, whether it’s the allure of history, the charm of rustic elegance, or the beauty of nature’s embrace. There are a few common denominators though. They are all managed by a professional, kind, passionate and organized staff who work with your vendors as a team and have mindfully designed their spaces. Let Northern Virginia be the canvas for your love story, where every moment is a masterpiece waiting to unfold. 💍✨ So where are our couples taking us next?

Dear Moms, { What we wish you knew}

Dear Moms,

We are so excited for this day and can only imagine how you must feel. ALL of those emotions completely valid and flooding through. It’s a LOT all at once that be both exhilarating and overwhelming. We are so grateful to have you here today to celebrate and to have your trust to bring your best beauty self to life. But there’s a few things we wish you knew. It’s time for a heart to heart conversation...

Magical Makeup Transformations on REAL Clients

Are you ready to dive into a world of magical transformations that take you from everyday vibes to "OMG, is that a celebrity?!" We're talking wedding beauty transformations that are more than just a glow-up—they're a full-on metamorphosis! Now, go out there and slay, because your transformation is just the beginning of an unforgettable story!

7 Fall Beauty Trends For Autumnal Elegance

There's an undeniable magic that envelops the autumn season and this time of year offers an enchanting backdrop for saying "I do." With nature's rich, warm palette and all the cozy fall vibes as your inspiration, it's a perfect opportunity to infuse a bit of these beauty elements into your day. Let's dive into the top fall bridal beauty trends that will make you the epitome of autumn elegance on your big day.

hair tipsAshley PetersOctober 2, 2024autumn, autumnal beauty, fal beauty, fall beauty, beauty trends, beauty inspo, fall weddingComment

A Guide To Reduce Fine Lines + Wrinkles

As we age, fine lines and wrinkles become a natural part of our skin's journey. Call them laugh lines or life lines they will inevitably show up due to decrease in our collagen, elasticity and hydration retention. Makeup can reduce the appearance BUT makeup does not change or remove texture + sometimes makeup can exacerbate creasing. The best makeup starts with good skin. Don’t completely fret though! We have options !

5 Wedding Hair Styles To Beat The Heat

Often times people struggle to find a look they love that isn’t suffocating .We have our top five ranked + take into consideration breathability + resistance to alteration because of temps. Whether you’re getting married during summer days or you just naturally “run hot” we hope these options provide some solutions that don’t feel like you’re sacrificing any aesthetic. You can absolutely have a “Hot Girl Summer” while beating the heat.

Define Marrier, please....

Hey folks! You may have noticed the word “marrier” around here + perhaps you’re a bit confused. That’s ok ! We’re here to explain not only what it is but why we chose to use this word. See the nice thing about starting with a gender neutral term is that you were included then and you’re included with any updated preference. It’s going from inclusion to inclusion; not from exclusion to inclusion.

Salt Therapy Pre Wedding

Wedding preparations can be both exciting and stressful but can easily feel overwhelming. Fortunately for you there’s a way to both help you achieve radiant skin + melt away stress. Introducing halo therapy, also known as salt therapy – a natural and holistic approach that has gained popularity in modern wellness sphere.

How to Prepare for Your Trial

A trial is the MOST successful for all parties when everyone is prepared. But what does that even mean? How can one prepare for the exploration of their dream beauty look especially if they’ve never done it before. Don’t fret we have a few guidelines that will help you have the most amazing experience AND receive a stellar look as if your artist is psychic .

No Switcheroos ! You Receive The Stylist You Choose

There are business decisions for the good of the business as well as the client + then there are business decisions that are good for the business but may not be best for the client. We believe in the former. To us at The Stylist Abroad we firmly believe in delivering extrordinary services that have you needs + best interest at the core of everything. I hope this has provided some enlightening, behind-the-curtain information as you navigate the planning process. And remember here at The Stylist Abroad there are no switcheroos.

Green Lights + Red Flags of Finding Queer Friendly Wedding Vendors

Wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t have to worry? Well while I wish I could wave a magic wand + strongly encourage everyone to choose vendors who leave no questions in your mind I understand its a can be a process. So here’s 5 🚩 & 5 ✅ 5 to help discern. Fingers crossed it will make life a little easier.

Is 1 Bridal HMUA Enough?

You may be wondering how many people will be needed to glam you & your squad on your wedding day. Can 1 HMU enough? Can they really do it all solo? Granted artists are talented, speedy & you may not truly be sure what timing they need but when it comes down to it each artist will need a specific amount of time to successfully complete services & it can’t ( & definitely shouldn’t be) crunched into a shorter time. So how do you know if you need additional artists?

Ways to Add Dimension to Your Hair

Dimension in relation to hair is creating depth within the hair so it appears to have multiple layers versus being flat. So why does that matter? Dimension will make every twist, curl, shape & braid POP. Dimensional hair will have more movement than non-dimensional hair even if the styles are identical. There are 4 main ways to create dimension with varying degrees of impact & aesthetic. We’ll go over those along with what your options are if not of these options seem appealing.

Traditions Are Dead People Guilt Tripping You From The Great Beyond

Ok, you can stop clutching your pearls for a moment & hear us out. Traditions are by definition (according to Britannica ) “ a way of thinking, behaving, or doing something that has been used by the people in a particular group, family, society, etc., for a long time.” Traditions aren’t inherently bad if you resonate with them. Think of it as a buffet. Pick up what you enjoy & leave the rest. You don have to have the potatoes if you only want the mixed veggies.

Why Texture Education Matters

Every person with every hair type deserves to be celebrated and not only look but feel thier best. No one should walk away feeling less than stellar. No one should plan for failure and diy fixes. No one should have to opt out of services out of precaution. It’s why we invest in our curl education. Whether you have 1a or 4c we can ensure you’re actually in good hands.

We Don't Do Plantation Weddings & Here's Why

This lead me to think, do people really understand why we don’t ? Do they see what we see ? I understand that people can get swept up in architecture and open fields but taking away the traumatic history seems out of touch as well. So let’s take a look at what has been so romanticized .

Our 10 Favorite North + Central Alabama Venues

There are so many venues out there it’s HARD to choose! Well we’ve been to a LOT so we feel we have some insider insight and wanted to share these details with you. This list is in no particular order. All 10 are equally amazing . I will say this though… if the venue you’re hoping to see is not LGBTQ+ friendly or includes the plantation in their SEO well then you might as well expect to be disappointed because it’s NOT here . That simply doesn’t align with our core values and there’s far better places that do! So let’s get to it!

How to Find Your Ideal Hairstyle

There’s SO much inspiration, ideas, opinions and factors out there that to put it simply navigating your ideal hairstyle can be daunting. Let’s say one thing first there is NO “perfect” hairstyle. I do believe however there are ideal hairstyles for each individual depending on several factors. Think of it as a Venn diagram and in the center is your ideal look or looks. There could be a few that fit the bill. Instead of stressing or spiraling let’s look a few simple factors when narrowing down the options.

Award Season Is Here

We can’t say “THANK YOU” enough to our lovely clients! You made this all possible. You trusted us to bring your dream look to life and took the time to share your experience to the world. We are forever grateful. Cheers to these big WINS and for the incredible year full of weddings to come ! Haven’t worked with us yet? The time to book is now! We are a trusted, award winning vendor who prioritizes your big day, needs, wants and concerns. Simply put dates will be snatched up and we’d hate for you to miss out especially with all this buzz.