S1 E11 | You Don't Have To Go Abroad To Remember Your "Why" with The Stylist Abroad
Ashley Peters aka The Stylist Abroad isn’t a regular hair stylist. She is a cool hairstylist. From her peachy rose gold curls to her sparkly peach rose gold high tops, this Alexandria based bridal and editorial hairstylist, totally stands out from the crowd! (You can check out her gorgeous work on her instagram.)
L to R cohosts Closeau and Sara Alepin with guest Ashley Peters aka The Stylist Abroad chliing after the podcast at The Line Hotel DC. Photo by @minus510
SHOW NOTES
YOUR BUSINESS
How long have you been in business?
Wedding Hair 4 years but officially on my own as an LLC for 1 year
What areas do you serve?
Everywhere! Primarily the DMV but I do destination weddings as well so literally anywhere my passport will take me
Why did you decide to start your own business?
I wanted to be able to deliver amazing hairstyles for special events and focus solely on that... no "day job" or salon but be able to have my own schedule, with my ideal clients ( not someone else's) and create a beautiful boss babe world. I wanted to share the things I stand for and believe in and ultimately I knew I couldn't do that to the fullest while under someone else. So I set out to create this crazy gorgeous business that was fulfilling to me and filled a need in the market.
What's the coolest thing about owning your own business?
Meeting really cool people who align with the things I believe in. I embrace my brides for exactly who they are and love to bring out that uniqueness . I tell them "you should still feel like you... just enhanced". So bring me the quirks, the tattoos, the wanderlusters, vegans, and so on whether or not its "conventional" or "traditional" for weddings/brides. Oh and having a really wonky schedule is pretty awesome... redundant work schedules aren't my jam.
Do you have a favorite story to share?
The moment I fell in love with weddings. Don't get me wrong I always liked them but there was a very distinct moment once when a mother and daughter were having a sweet moment after they had been beautified. And it was in that moment that it hit me how important my role was. It wasn't just hair and good looks; it was memories and they'd look back at their pictures and the service I provided them would be there. It made it all feel so much bigger than just me.
What challenges have you had to overcome?
I've had to learn how to turn an idea into an actual business including everything from setting up an LLC, to website development, to general networking and growth. I'm a visual person so I literally sat down and mapped out what I needed to do to make things work out. I believed in my talent but I wanted to do everything not only by the letter but to make a phenomenal impression . While I had worked with others and there's examples out there I didn't have anyone to teach me so instead I had to do A LOT of researching. That being said I think it made me appreciate all the inner workings of a business and feel even more invested if that's somehow possible.
What advice could you offer to someone starting a business like yours?
Do your research and keep in mind your ideal client. Not every client is the ideal client but when they are it's hardly like working so everyones' joy keep that in mind. Oh and charge your worth!
What's the craziest thing you've seen happen at a wedding?
hmmmm once there was a mobile IV person who came to the bridal suite to give all the bridesmaids a "hydration boost" because of their partying the night before. He was a friend of someone and I guess actually in a medical field but I have no idea how legit his "services" were but I was so glad it was done in the other room of the suite... I don't like needles lol.
YOUR WEDDING
What, if anything, would you change about your wedding?
I got married 8 years ago so things have changed and there's new trends....um ..... an outdoor wedding instead of a church (sorry Mom & Dad). And I wish donut walls were a thing them
How did you choose your wedding vendors?
The Knot and friends
What advice could you offer to engaged couples planning their wedding - as both a wedding professional and a married human?
Stick to your guns about what you want. Obviously this can get complicated if someone else is helping to pay but ultimately it is YOUR day so if you have to go to bat for something you really want do it because in 20 years your aunt whoever won't remember the tiff over dress style but YOU will look back at those photos. I tell my my brides I will 100% be their shield if they need me to be ha ha but I've never been taken up on that lol.
What was the most important decision you made about your wedding?
We did our thing and embraced the quirks for the most part... so interesting cake flavors, funny photos, candy bar, non-matching dress and so on but really the MOST important decision was remembering what it was really all about... Us & our love. With that everything else came into focus.
Have something else to share? A funny story? Something crazy that happened? Let's Dish!
My husband's groomsmen accidentally stole the priest's robes. After the wedding at the church the guys had to gather things quickly from the sacristy where they were hanging out prior to the wedding and in the rush they grabbed a black bag they thought was there's . Well it wasn't and the priest showed up at the reception to retrieve them. After talking to several different guys they ended up tracking them down and he got them back. Best of all it was caught on video in the background.
Is there anything else you'd like us to know?
All of my services are 100% cruelty free and vegan. No I'm not mixing up dirt or herbs. I primarily use R+Co which listeners may or may not know that it is a luxury professional hair product line used not only in salons but also by stylists at fashion week, vogue and so on. It just so happens to be cruelty free and vegan. Why? Well I believe the most beautiful things in life come through peace and joy... so why not hair and especially on such a special day.
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