Hi everyone! This post marks the relaunch of my blog, where I’ll be posting updates about my life, features on the weddings we’ve worked on, and our favorite makeup tips and tricks. I’m excited to give you this backstage pass to all that we’re doing here at Stacie Ford Beauty Co. I hope you enjoy this blog post, and make sure to follow @staciefordbeautyco on Instagram to stay in the know!

It’s no secret that at Stacie Ford Beauty Co., we love a good wedding. There is nothing like seeing a bride on her big day, ready and eager to step into the next phase of her life. As makeup artists, we’re fortunate enough to spend a good chunk of quality time with our brides, both before and on their wedding day. We’re also lucky in that we get to work with wedding planners, and sometimes, our bride is a wedding planner!

For this month’s blog post, we’re featuring Bridget Beisswenger, who works as an Event Producer at Rafanelli Events—a premier event planning and design company. After collaborating with Bridget for a number of weddings, we were honored that she chose us to do her makeup on her own special day. Read on to hear from Bridget about her experience working with Stacie Ford Beauty Co., and to see some of the gorgeous photos from Bridget and Ryan’s wedding.

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Welcome Party Venue: Baba, St. Petersburg, Florida

Wedding Venue: The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, St. Petersburg, Florida

Makeup Artist: Stacie Ford

Photography: Calen Rose

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How were you first introduced to Stacie Ford Beauty Co.?

Bridget: “I first met Stacie when I was working at Colin Cowie Lifestyle, a luxury experience planning company. As a planner, I’ve always loved working with Stacie. I’ve been at Rafanelli Events for over three years now, and I always show her work to my clients.”

Tell us about your wedding! Where was it, how many people, etc.?

“We had a January wedding in Florida, at the Vinoy in St. Petersburg, Florida. We also did a welcome party the night before at a Greek restaurant called Baba. Our headcount was about 150 people, and Stacie did my makeup for both the welcome party and my wedding. 

Why did you choose SFB for your wedding day?

“With Stacie and her team, you know exactly what you’re going to get, and you know they’re going to do an amazing job. I also love that they have an extensive background of the makeup industry, as well as the technical skill set. 

Also, Stacie knows that, on the day of a wedding, there is a whole program in place—and if you get behind on makeup, it affects everything else. She’s very tuned into that. She doesn’t rush her product, but she gets it done within the time period that she says she will. I’ve worked with other makeup artists that have said ‘oh, it will take an hour,’ and then it takes two and a half hours. I love that Stacie and her team stick to their timeline, while also producing a great product and listening to their clients.”

What was your makeup inspo for your wedding day? How would you describe your look?

“The main look I was going for was full coverage, but with a natural glow to it. I had some reference photos from my Instagram of other brides’ makeup from their own weddings, and we also played off of the colors of my wedding and my bouquet. There were some peaches and pinks, so we went with a pinky color for my lips, and peachy tones for my cheeks. I loved feeling like I matched the look of my wedding. I felt like my makeup was really cohesive with our wedding theme.”

Walk us through your wedding day. How did it go? 

“So around 9:30 am, I started getting ready, along with my mom, maid of honor, and bridesmaids. We were getting ready until around 2/2:30 pm, and then we did a first look, took photos with our bridal party and family, and then the ceremony was around 5 pm. The ceremony went from 5 to 6 pm, cocktail hour was from 6 to 7 pm, and then the reception went until around 11 pm. So it was a long day!

Stacie was very on schedule and there for me on my wedding day. She was even there to do touch ups before the ceremony, which was amazing. She basically became part of the family/bridal party team. She was with me right up until I walked down the aisle, making sure everything was in place.” 

Did working with SFB make your wedding day easier?

“Absolutely! I felt like I could lean on Stacie that day. I liked having her with me because she has been in the industry forever and has worked with so many brides, so she knew how I was feeling throughout the day. She was like a support system to me. And my makeup looked perfect throughout the entire night!”

What do you think separates Stacie Ford Beauty Co. from other makeup artists? 

“Stacie makes sure that she’s only doing whatever you are comfortable with. She talks to you about how you like your makeup and tells you about every one of the products she’s using. If you say you don’t want a heavy foundation or filled in brows, she’s just not going to do that, and I love that about her. 

When I worked with her for my own wedding, I told her that I wasn’t comfortable with heavy eye makeup or heavy lip makeup. In my day to day life, I don’t wear eyeshadow or lipstick, and I don’t do false eyelashes. She understood and only suggested products that aligned with my vision. With other makeup artists, sometimes they’ll say ‘oh let’s do this lip liner,’ and when that happens, I don’t look like myself, and that’s not how I wanted to feel.” 

How did your wedding makeup turn out?

“After Stacie did my makeup, I told her I needed a full written list of the products because I loved how it turned out!! It was so clean and flawless. She only used products I was comfortable with; she even used products and brands I use every day. I’m very particular about my foundation and concealer, and she was very familiar with the products I use. She noticed that the shade I typically use was a little light, so we decided to mix it with a slightly darker one that she had, and it turned out perfectly. She even gave me one of the lip colors she used on me and I use it all the time now.”

What would your parting words be to other soon-to-be brides who are considering working with SFB? 

“I would say that if you ask Stacie to do your makeup for your wedding, you will really enjoy your time with her. She’s a very calming energy, but she also asks questions and gets to know you in a way where it feels natural, not forced. Stacie will keep her work and focus on you, match your vibe, and ensure that you are fully comfortable on your wedding day!”