The Heart Behind: Pink LouLou Design Studio

We are excited to announce that we will be starting a new blog series entitled, “The Heart Behind.” This series is dedicated to some of Lexington’s most hardworking and caring wedding vendors and will spotlight the heart behind their business. This will include their goals, passions, and their love for people. We truly cherish these one-of-a-kind businesses and we are so honored to have them in our community. Each week our new intern, Chelsea, will interview these vendors and give you an exclusive look at who these amazing people are and the unique services they offer.

This week’s wedding vendor for “The Heart Behind” blog series are the lovely ladies of Pink LouLou Designs, Allison Johnson and Dana Peddicord. These women specialize in bridal hair and makeup, but also offer services for a variety of life events. No matter the situation, these extraordinary women can make every bride-to-be feel photo ready.  Continue reading to learn more about these amazing women!

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Can you give the readers a little background about your business? How long have you been in business and what services do you offer your clients?

Allison: Dana and I have been friends since high school and have always loved doing hair and makeup for our friends and sorority sisters.

Dana: This is our 4th wedding season since we’ve started our business and we have loved every bit of it. We focus on bridal hair and makeup but we also offer services for an array of special events such as bridal showers and engagement photoshoots.

When did you know this was the business for you?

Dana: One day in June, Allison texted me during work and said, “Let’s quit our jobs and start our own hair and makeup business.” That was the beginning of one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Allison: It took us a year to build up our business and get things into action. Even though we didn’t receive instant gratification from our hard work during the first year or so, it definitely paid off over time and I am so proud of where our business is at today.

Where did the inspiration for your business come from?

Allison: The name for our business came from my blog.

Dana: We both have such a passion for hair and makeup so it was a no brainer that this was something we should turn into a business.

How do you contribute your passions into your daily work routine?

Allison: We are extremely passionate about what we do but it’s easy to get frustrated and overwhelmed from time to time and that is why we remind ourselves that we are unbelievably blessed to be doing what we love each and every day.

Dana: It’s all about balance. It’s so important to have a work/life balance so that I’m able to do what I love without feeling overwhelmed.

What is the best part of running your own business/ being your own boss?

Dana: I absolutely love being able to spend time with my daughter, Elliott Grace, and having the freedom to take care of her whenever I need to. I also love working with Allison, I cannot imagine doing this without her by my side.

Allison: I agree with Dana, I love having the freedom to make my own business decisions and dictate my work schedule. We only have one life to live and it’s important to do what makes us happy. I am so happy to have Dana as my friend and business partner and I’m so proud of our business.

What is the most rewarding part of your business?

Dana: I love when brides get their pictures back from the photographer and I’m able to see the grooms’ reaction to how beautiful his bride looks. I love helping brides feel their best on one of their most special days.

Allison: I agree. It’s so cool to say, hey we did that! We helped contribute to a bride’s most special day. I also love the strong connections that we make with our clients and their bridal parties. It’s so rewarding when I see them around town and they remember who I am and ask how we’re doing. We have made so many great friendships through our clients.

What is your favorite aspect of your business and how does that motivate you in your daily work?

Allison: My favorite part is having fun and laughing a lot. We’re always having a blast.

Dana: I agree with Allison, it never feels like work. It’s more like a puzzle that we’re piecing together.

How do you define “success”?

Dana: To me, success is simply being happy. If you’re happy with your life then you are a successful person.

Allison: We all define success differently but to me it’s all about doing what you love while also being able to make a living.

Where do you see your business in the next 5 years?

Dana: I hope that we have the opportunity to be apart of more destination weddings.

Allison: I agree with Dana, destination weddings are so fun to be a part of. I also see our business adding more Pink LouLou girls in the future and potentially having interns as well.

The blog series is titled, “The Heart Behind,” you were chosen because of your love for people and your caring attitude. How do you pass your grace and love onto your customers?

Dana: We like to donate our services to people in need or to those who deserve something extra special. Once, we donated our services to a bride-to-be who wanted to have a bridal shoot before her mom passed away and we were so honored to be a part of that. It was incredibly special. We truly believe that in life, you get what you give, so we are always happy to pay it forward.

Allison: We also love working with different charities that allow us to offer our services for their events. We always want to pass grace, compassion, and patience onto our customers so that they are able to pass it onto others.

What advice would you give someone who was considering starting his or her own business?

Dana: Be ready to work harder than you’ve ever worked before, but if you’re passionate about what you’re doing than it will be worth it in the long run.

Allison: When you have a business, it’s not your typical 9-5. It’s a 24-hour commitment every day of the week. Sometimes it can be so tough but it is definitely worth it.  Also, don’t be afraid to dream big. Anything is possible if you want it bad enough and there is no dream that is inconceivable.

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Aren't they the greatest?! How fun is it to get to know these ladies on this level? We adore them & we hope that you do too! If you're in need of fabulous gals to glam you up.. look no further! Dana & Allison are your girls. Thanks for joining us on our first edition of "The Heart Behind"! XOXO

Follow them along & get in touch with them here: WEBISTE | Allison's IG | Dana's IG

Marriage Matters | Brittany + Ryan

We are so thrilled to have Brittany & Ryan of Reel Special Productions be our next guest bloggers for our Marriage Matters series. These two exude joy and we love the way they love each other and the people around them. Enjoy reading about their love story & why they believe wholeheartedly that marriage truly does matter.

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Tell us a little about yourself & your spouse.

Ryan is originally from Toledo, Ohio and moved to Kentucky to attend Asbury College (now Asbury University). He has worked for an insurance company for the last fourteen years and handles their corporate communications. Ryan also started two businesses in 2004: Reel Special Productions (wedding videos) and That One Company (creative design and consulting). He is SUPER creative and blows my mind with his talents and abilities.

I was raised in Knoxville, Tennessee and also attended Asbury (but not at the same time as Ryan). I've been an elementary teacher for the past eight years and for the last couple of years also taught for Asbury University. I fell in love with teaching higher education and decided to pursue my doctorate so I could be a professor. Little did I know my dream would happen so quickly; I start teaching full-time at Asbury this fall! I love cupcakes, especially if it’s a Sprinkles cupcake, and I’m a sucker for a good piece of wedding cake.

So, how'd Ryan and I meet? Well, it’s a pretty fun story! Ryan was filming a wedding back in 2008 when I just so happened to catch the bride's bouquet. He was too nervous to speak to me at the that wedding reception, but by the grace of God our paths intersected a few months later and the bride who threw that bouquet set us up on a double-date (we went to a University of Kentucky basketball game!).

We sealed the deal and said "I do!" in 2010. I joined in with Reel Special Productions after we tied the knot and since then we've been blessed to continue producing wedding videos together while also pursuing our full-time careers. We absolutely LOVE filming together and are honored to help capture the best day ever for our couples!

What's your favorite memory from your wedding? 

Ryan and I both agree on this one that it was the moment I walked down the aisle. My most favorite part of any wedding is the groom's face as his bride walks down the aisle. There's something absolutely so special about that moment and Ryan's reaction to me as I walked towards him was absolutely perfect. We shared a first look prior to the ceremony, but it didn't compare to that moment we first saw one another as the ceremony began. I get all teary-eyed just thinking about it!

What has been the greatest joy and the hardest challenge you've experienced as husband and wife? 

We love, love, love building relationships with young married couples in helping them to grow in their relationship with one another and with Christ. Our first year of marriage was incredibly challenging. We both struggled to realize things about ourselves that were less than attractive, and we had to face those things head on. But my goodness, did we grow closer than we could have ever realized at the time. Ryan and I help facilitate life groups for young married couples at Southland Christian Church and we also do pre-marriage counseling with engaged couples. To date, serving other couples has been one of our greatest joys since we've been married.

What surprised you most about marriage? 

The two words that come to mind first are “companionship” and “FUN!” Being married brings about a bond that you never could have imagined. Ryan is my very best friend; he knows me inside and out. Yes, you have your best friends, but the bond you share between husband and wife is like none other. Don't get me wrong, it's not always heart-eye emojis and butterflies. We do annoy each other at times and marriage really is hard work, but every part of it is completely and totally worth it. 1000%.

And the fun part? Wow! Ryan convinced me to jump out of a freaking plane at 10,000 feet while on vacation in Aruba and that is something I can say with certainty I would have NEVER done on my own. I am a very Type-A, organized and by-the-book kind of person, but Ryan has brought so much spontaneity into my life. Whether we go on dates around town or travel halfway across the world, we have SOOO much fun together!

What has been the best source of support and encouragement for you all? 

Godly community has been the key for us. We get our cups filled every time we are with life groups. It's a time to be vulnerable, to grow, to listen, and to just be real. I love knowing that we have a community of friends that love us, support us, pray for us and cheer us on. That’s exactly why we pour our hearts into connecting with other couples because we believe everyone needs that type of community.

Are there any books or other resources you would recommend to other couples? 

We bought a book a year or so after we married called The Five Love Languages Devotional for Couples. We wanted something we could read together each night before going to bed. It's a short daily devotional that talks about a wide variety of "real" stuff and always ends with a prayer. We also love The Marriage App, Love and Respect, The Five Love Languages and of course, The Bible! 

What are some hopes or dreams you have for your family's future? 

Ryan and I would love to start a family. I’m just going to be totally open and vulnerable here: We've been trying for a while now and it's not going how we thought it would. I have some medical issues that we're trying to get worked out and we're trying to seek the right doctors to help make this dream become a reality. Through all of this we know it's in God's hands. We trust Him and know when He's ready for us to be parents, it will happen. In the meantime, we would really LOVE and value your prayers in this journey.

If you could change anything about your all's story, would you? 

This isn't pretty to admit, but Ryan and I have both acted and said things to each other that were incredibly hurtful. I hate thinking about it actually, and yes, working through those things did make us stronger, but those are things that didn't have to happen. Think before you act. Don't ever do anything or say anything that you'd regret. Saying something out of hurt is not an excuse to say it. 

What's the best advice you've ever been given about marriage? 

Ryan would say the best advice he's heard is to always look for ways to “out-serve” your spouse and speak their love language. I echo this, but also want to add some advice I heard early on about learning how to fight fairly. Ryan’s parents and mine handled conflict very differently, and little did we know that as kids that would later influence how we deal with conflicts in our marriage. I tend to process conflict with an emotional heart (go figure!) but Ryan approaches it with a logical mind. In the heat of a disagreement, it is often difficult to put ourselves in the other person’s shoes and think about how they are feeling, but we’re getting better at this and it has made a world of difference in our marriage. In fact, I’m writing this after a few hours of us working through an argument. Sometimes my insecurities can get the best of me, and they sure were fighting hard against me this weekend. Praise the Lord for new days and forgiveness. Can I get an amen?

Why does marriage matter? 

Marriage matters because it creates a bond intended to last a lifetime. Couples get married to fulfill a deeper sense of purpose in their relationship, and we believe this type of "covenant" is a reflection of how God loves us...for better or worse. Ryan completes me in ways where I fall short, and I am able to do the same for him (and find joy and purpose in the process!).

In the words of Jack Johnson, “It’s always better when we’re together.”

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They're pretty amazing, right?! I love their honest hearts and the way that invites people into the rawest form of love. Britt & Ryan, thank you for sharing your story with all of us! I have no doubt that you have encouraged the hearts of many through your heartfelt words & vulnerability. We love you guys! XOXO

Twirl Bride Tuesdays: Shopping for THE DRESS

Hey there, y’all!  This is Mary Stallard again discussing my wedding planning process with the Twirl community!  This month the Twirl Girls asked me to share my wedding dress shopping experience which obviously took place at THE cutest bridal shop this side of the Mississippi, Twirl Bridal Boutique! 

I will start off by saying that I really did not know what to expect going into looking for my wedding dress.  My head was swirling with thoughts like, “this is the most important article of clothing I am ever going to purchase, how do I choose?” and “What if I don’t find anything that I look or feel pretty in?”  Luckily, for me, I did not have any problems when it came to either of these thoughts in my head and although I was still anxious about narrowing down my selections and choosing JUST ONE dress, I was put at peace as soon as I stepped foot into the doors of Twirl.  The atmosphere at Twirl is so hospitable and welcoming that everyone who finds their path leading them there, whether they are a bridesmaid, mother of the bride, mother of the groom, or the bride herself, they all feel at home.  I cannot recommend this place more for brides-to-be!          

There were a few things that I knew I wanted in this wedding dress experience:

1. I wanted to have an environment that my friends, mother, mother-in-law and myself felt comfortable in.  There are no words to explain how perfectly the girls at Twirl pulled this off!  The space at Twirl is so wonderful and private and that is exactly what I wanted when trying on dresses for my closest girlfriends. We had a private room with couches and champagne that was filled to the brim with the most beautiful dresses I had ever seen!  I was so nervous to start trying them on but as soon as we were in the room, I was automatically at peace and knew that I was in the best hands at Twirl!

2. The second thing I wanted during this experience was to be able to share it with my best gals and Twirl’s space is so accommodating for this!  I love my friends so deeply and I wanted them to be a part of this wedding planning process as they can be.  I also know that my bridesmaids will tell me the truth about what looks good on and what doesn’t look good on me, so I knew that I needed my girls with me to make such a big decision!   

3. Lastly, I knew that I wanted to go to Twirl as my first (and hopefully last) dress stop. I wanted to go not only because my bestie, Liz, works there but because of how many success stories of Twirl brides I have heard about.  The selection of dresses that Twirl has is unbelievable.  They are seriously some of the most unique and beautiful dresses that I have ever seen and knowing that Ty and Liz handpicked them to be sold at their little shop is the most precious detail of all!  Those two girls put so much work and love into their business that I was just so excited to support a local business in Lexington!

I was so fortunate to have all of my wedding dress dreams come true all thanks to Twirl!  Without going into much detail about my dress selection, I will say that I tried on a vast variety of dresses before I started narrowing down to the dress of my dreams.  It helped me a lot having already booked our venue before dress shopping. Our reception is in a barn so I didn’t want to purchase a dress that was too formal and looked out of place for that venue.  After narrowing down to a few dresses I grazed through the rack of dresses one last time and pulled one off and asked Liz if I could try it on.  Before I had even gotten the dress fully on, I said to Liz, “This is my wedding dress!”  And… IT WAS!  I can’t explain why I knew it was my dress; it was one of those moments in life where I just knew it! 

There are not enough nice things in the world to articulate how amazing of a business the girls at Twirl run.  They are rooted in what is most important: Christ’s love for us.  They are unashamed to proclaim that in an industry that is constantly changing in our society.  They create an atmosphere that is above reproach, hospitable, warm and straight up lovely!  I wish I could get engaged again just so I can become a Twirl bride all over again!