Women Who Inspire Us: Wedding Edition
Women’s History Month is all about remembering the fierce ladies who came before us, but it’s also important to celebrate the women who are making waves right now! We had the pleasure of interviewing five badass female wedding vendors who we look up to. Shoutout to these bold + brilliant women inspiring us every day in the wedding industry! Keep reading to learn where they get their inspiration from.
Michelle | Michelle Dunlap Design
website + instagram
Michelle isn’t just an ultra-talented makeup artist or a master hair stylist - she’s a straight up magician! Every client she glams up gets to experience her joy and her incredible sense of humor, and leaves her chair looking fabulous. She and her team graciously did all the hair + makeup for our Minnesota Bride event back in January, and we’ve never looked so good. She also styled our models for our Pantone Very Peri styled shoot at Urban Daisy!
Where do you get your inspiration?
“At the core and root of who I am- there is an abundance of creativity that comes from my inner child. I pull inspiration from anything and everything! Other people, creatives, the beautiful world around us, & incredible but also hard & necessary life experiences.”
Are there any women who helped you get to where you are today?
“I would say one of the more influential women in my early years would have to be Sue: She taught me that education is key. You can never stop learning & because there is always something to be learned from every experience. Then there is my amazing mentor, Jasmine. I had the privilege of knowing her during my time at AVEDA. She grew my love & knowledge for makeup! I’m forever grateful for that experience. And then there is Julia- my breath of fresh air! My very talented, right hand lady who has helped empower me to create Michelle Dunlap Design to what it is today!”
Brandi| Hunt Wright Design Co
website + instagram
Every single time we’ve collaborated with Brandi, she has absolutely blown us away! She has this natural ability to take a fragment of an idea and turn it into gold - or, paper. We’ve had the pleasure of working with her on a few styled shoots and side projects, and it’s amazing how we can say things like “19th century library meets royal dinner party” and she’ll bring it to life with signage and stationery! Check out her work on our Dark Academia dinner party here.
What does the phrase “empowered women empower women” mean to you?
“I grew up in a very strong matriarchal household. My single mother gave nothing but praise and imbedded confidence in my sister and I from an early age. This foundation has encouraged powerful female relationships and has benefited me in ways I could have never imagined. Lift each other up, be a cheerleader, hold space for, see and acknowledge one another, community over competition and respect; we are stronger together.”
Felicia | Florology
website + instagram
If businesses could have soul sisters, Florology would be ours. Felicia is so dedicated to her craft and always goes above and beyond - when we send her a design proposal, we know she’s going to elevate it to the max! We love working with Felicia so much that we made her a Vendor Partner. Get 10% off her services when you book both Availed + Florology!
Are there any women who helped you get to where you are today?
“I am fortunate that I have a lot of admirable women in my family to look up to. The kind of women who don't take no for an answer, just shoot for the stars. They've really shaped me into who I am. When I first started designing, I had wonderful mentors who saw I had a talent and nurtured that in various ways. I wouldn't be where I am today without them seeing that quality in me.”
What does the phrase “empowered women empower women” mean to you?
“That intelligence, strength, bravery, resilience, creativity, kindness and positivity of character I see in other women just adds fuel to the fire. That empowerment spreads, and from one woman those seeds of empowerment spread to all women. That kind of inspiration can make a woman think of her own ideas and dreams, and craft them into whatever we set our minds to. It feels like less of a mountain and more of a hill to climb, because there was another before her that paved the way.”
Hayley | Hayley Huotari Photography
WEBSITE + INSTAGRAM
The first time we ever planned a wedding with Hayley as the photographer, we got the sneak peek photos back and only had one thought - how soon until we can work with her again? We love Hayley’s work so much that we’ve plastered our website in her photos from Casey + Matt’s wedding. We are always recommending her to our clients because of her kind heart, adventurous spirit, and the way she builds a real relationship with every couple she works with!
Are there any women who helped you get to where you are today?
“My two sweet friends, Kate and Irene, were monumental in getting me where I am today. It sounds cliché, but they believed in me before I believed in myself. They dreamed with me and for me to the point that I allowed myself to start seeing what they did. Their assurance gave me the confidence to just try going for it and making photography my full time career. Within a few weeks of having that conversation, I quit the job I was at and dove into my business full time!”
Photography by Bauer Creative
Erica | Piece of Cake Wedding Planning
website + instagram
One of the best things about being wedding planners is getting the opportunity to collaborate with other planners. We learn more, grow faster, and practice our belief of “community over competition.” We especially love partnering with Erica! When our team needed additional support this year, Erica and her team swooped in to take over the day-of coordination for us. It’s a lovely feeling to have planner friends like her in times of need!
Where do you get your inspiration?
“Our community. I believe our Minneapolis wedding community is truly supportive of one another and lifts each other up. We celebrate each other's work and achievements and are there for support during hard times. That level of community and support is inspiring, and encourages all of us to truly do our best! I always want to put my best foot forward and continue to learn and grow not only for myself, but for my team, our couples and the community I represent as well! Also, from my wonderful husband. I'm lucky to be able to call my partner my best friend, someone I truly admire and respect, and I'm living my own love story every day. I love to celebrate more love stories and help with the beginning of beautiful marriages with our Piece of Cake couples! It's truly an honor to be invited into our couples' lives.”
What does the phrase “empowered women empower women” mean to you?
“Impactful women being amazing, being true to themselves and propelling other women forward as well, encouraging them to shine! We can do incredible things by lifting one another up!”
The Availed team. Photography by Type & Timber
Who inspires you?
I know this post is supposed to be all about other wedding vendors, but I am personally so inspired by my teammates here at Availed - it’s an incredible feeling to work side-by-side with such hardworking and compassionate ladies year after year! I’m looking forward to another season of planning dream wedding days with Lexie, Bethany, Taylor, and Kalyssa.
Drop a comment below and tell us about the inspiring women in your life. Thanks for reading, and happy planning!
🖤 Jocelyn