birmingham wedding

EXPERT TIPS FROM MAKEUP ARTIST: ASIA NICOLE

Hair and Makeup expert, Asia Nicole.

Asia Nicole is no stranger to the love of getting dolled up for the pure pleasure of feeling good for herself. A main character in her own right, she was playing with hair and makeup long before it became her career. Asia’s admiration for all things beauty grew from her dancing roots and in college she found herself working her first wedding. As Asia booked more brides after that first wedding, her calendar wasn’t the only thing filling up. She quickly began to feel the fulfillment in this industry and made it her full time job.

I was a dancer at a very young age and was the designated person to apply all of my teammates fake eyelashes and braid their hair before performances.
— Asia

The beauty industry can come with its fair share of stigmas and sometimes it’s easy to assume how someone will be when you hear what they do for a living. Even the most unassuming careers aren’t free from the occasional skeptical judgement (insert David Rose/Schitt’s Creek gif). We can say with 100% transparency that Asia is one of the good ones. After working with her on Bustle’s last photoshoot, Asia left us with so much joy. She is one of the most comforting and radiant women we’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. It’s IMPOSSIBLE to leave her makeup chair without feeling like you could conquer the world.

As cheesy as it may sound, my favorite part about being a makeup artist is getting to see women light up when they realize how beautiful they are. I point out their glowing skin, gorgeous eye color, long lashes. After applying makeup, not only do they now look glamorous, but they leave my chair noticing their beautiful features even without the makeup on.
— Asia

We asked Asia for some much-needed advice on how brides can best prep for their wedding day makeup. 

1.) Start a skincare routine three months before your wedding.

This will give you the time you need to see which products your skin responds to the best while allowing for time to adjust any steps that might be hindering your skin from it’s full glory.

2.) DERMAPLANE

We will link a full explanation here on this miracle-working skincare procedure here. We personally would like to recommend our friends at Fancy Face for this quick aesthetic procedure. Asia says that the difference in how makeup applies to skin after this procedure is mind blowing and we will take her word for it.

3.) HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE

One of the surest pathways to supple skin is through the art of hydration. Keep that comfort water bottle filled and drink up, ladies!

BONUS TIP FOR WEDDING DAY MAKEUP - Asia assured us when bridal makeup is done properly it should not budge on your wedding day! A good makeup artist is trained in makeup application and longevity. The only exception to this rule is lip product. With an evening of eating, drinking, and kissing on the forecast, Asia recommends buying your lip product and having it with you in the chance that you might need to reapply. Gotta’ keep that lip color looking fresh, honey!

Makeup Artist, Asia Nicole, applying makeup to a client.

One of the standout moments in Asia’s career this far was when she traveled to Los Angeles in February with Sophie Scott and her long-time boyfriend and *cough* *cough* QUARTERBACK of the New England Patriots, Mac Jones. Asia helped them glam up for the NFL honors night on the Red Carpet! We are fangirling hard over you, Asia.

Stunning before and after makeup application by Asia Nicole.

If you would love to learn the art of makeup application or have a bride in mind that would like to learn how to do their own bridal makeup, Asia just launched a dreamy online masterclass that teaches you all of her tips and tricks. There are so many little gems in this course; from what powders help avoid flashback in photos to tips on how to insure your makeup shows up on camera without looking cakey in person. Visit Asia’s website if you need this Master Class in your life or if you would like to set up an appointment for beauty services! You can also freely follow along with Asia’s daily tips by following her on instagram.

Bustle Bride: Anna Beth Cross

I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.
— John Green
Anna Beth and David touching noses in bridal photo.

Sometimes the best love stories are the ones that develop over time: like a cadence of notes all working together to craft a melody that stays with you and earnestly becomes your favorite song. Every note is a moment in time that is essential in telling your unique story of love. Each one is equally cherished because it strands together a life song that can then be shared with those around us. Anna Beth and David have created the sweetest of love stories through intention and heartfelt patience. The couple met while working together at a Birmingham-based summer camp called Passport. They spent two summers serving on the same team, but didn't start to form romantic feelings until the second year. Their romance began with genuine friendship and even though their time together took place over two summer seasons, it was effortless for them to pick up where they left off each year and grow closer with every meeting. However, it is a camp rule that you cannot date while on staff, so they had to wait several weeks until camp was over to go on their first date.

As the summer came to a close and autumn began, Anna Beth traveled to Raleigh to stay with a friend. In true hallmark fashion, David had also just moved to Raleigh, so the pair were able to finally go on a date. David planned to pick up Anna Beth after lunch and take a walk through the beautiful Duke Gardens; however, the weather had other plans after a slight torrential downpour. Quickly coming up with an alternate plan, David picked up Anna Beth and took her to a European-style cafe since he knew she loved studying abroad in Europe. They sat in the sweet little cafe for over three hours and never ran out of things to talk about. The pair ate dinner at one of their favorite restaurants, Tazza Kitchen, and ended the evening by going to see a movie. While their first date sounds like a pretty classic course of events, the 11 hours they spent with each other on that rainy afternoon was the start of a beautiful life that they would share together.

Anna Beth's wedding stationary and bridal details.

Anna Beth knew David was “the one” because of the unshakable friendship they had cultivated in their summers together. This friendship quickly became the most sincere alliance that would set the foundation for their love story.

It was evident that we quickly became best friends and each other’s person, even after dating long distance for two years. Our daily FaceTimes and monthly visits helped make it clear this relationship was meant to last and something special. Also, seeing him with my family made it clear that he was meant to be part of me forever.
— Anna Beth

Bustle’s sweet store owner, Meredith, had the wonderful opportunity to help Anna Beth choose her dream wedding gown. Everything about Anna Beth’s dress spoke to her: the style, shape, color, fabric, the open back. EVERY aspect of her gown was exactly what she pictured in her mind for so long. Anna Beth’s gown is a beautiful Allure fit and flare with a gorgeous v-neck. 

Anna Beth sharing a first look with her bridal party.
Meredith did a great job helping me find the perfect dress without pressuring me into something I didn’t want. I’m so glad I got my dress from Bustle!
— Anna Beth
Anna Beth spending time with her bridal party before the ceremony.

One of Anna Beth’s favorite aspects of her wedding was watching their loved ones come together as vendors for their special day. Seeing each of them play such significant roles reminded Anna Beth and David how incredibly loved they are. Anna Beth’s aunt, her friend, and many of her cousins arranged the florals for their wedding, giving her the autumnal garden of her dreams. Most of the greenery came from Anna Beth’s family farm which added an even more sentimental touch.

Just in case this wedding isn’t already the sentimental work of our cinematic dreams, the couple’s camp coordinator officiated their ceremony and made everyone feel right at home.  Their loved ones set the scene from beginning to end by personally designing their wedding invitations and acting as instrumentalists and vocalists to set the mood for the day. (Where is the tissue box?) Anna Beth’s dear friend, Jenny Dansby, helped keep the day together by stepping up as the day-of coordinator. A wedding day is so much more than the love between a couple. Seeing that love radiate and spread from family and friends is a reminder that a full life is meant to be shared.

Anna Beth and her bridal party holding their beautiful colorful bouquets.
My favorite memory from our wedding day was seeing all of our people in one place, my hometown. David is from Virginia but lives in North Carolina and I’m from Birmingham but lived in Texas. We also worked camp in many states, so seeing all of our people from various places and stages of life in one room to celebrate us was so special. We cherished getting to see and dance our hearts out with everyone we love!
— Anna Beth
Anna Beth and David with their wedding party.
Anna Beth and David on the dance floor with wedding guests during their reception.
Anna Beth hugging her bridesmaid on the dance floor.

VENDORS:

Dress: Bustle

Suits: Men's Wearhouse

Photographer: Allison Naylor Photography

Venue: The Barn at Shady Lane

Cakes: The P'Pool's Bakehouse

Flowers: Beth Edwards and Jenny Loughridge

Day-Of Coordinator: Threefold Events (Jenny Dansby)

DJ: Disco Hristo (Chris Sarris)

H&MU: H+MU by Nat (Natalie Moore)

Caterer: Happy Catering Company

Invitation Suite (plus design for cups, napkins, koozies, & signs): Lauren Brawley Creative

Rehearsal Dinner Venue: The Up & Up at McLellan's