In an era where AI has captured the imagination of many around the globe, it isn’t hard to see why its promises of easy perfection and presentation of beauty standards mined from millions of images across the web have convinced some this is the future. As someone who has always been captivated by the enchantment of weddings though, I have always found myself drawn to the irreplaceable allure of natural beauty in these precious moments. While the rise of artificial intelligence offers many novel conveniences, I firmly believe that the innate charm, emotional depth, and authenticity of natural beauty cannot be matched by any technological innovation. Let me share with you why, from a personal perspective, I am a strong advocate for natural beauty in weddings:

Unveiling Real Emotions and Genuine Moments:

Having witnessed weddings with teary-eyed fathers, beaming brides, and heartfelt toasts, I am convinced that there is a unique magic in these raw emotions. Natural beauty captures the authenticity of these genuine moments, preserving the quivering excitement, unabashed joy, and unscripted laughter that cannot be programmed into any AI system. Human beauty is intricate and nuanced, requiring the sensitivity and empathy of skilled people.

LILY AND JOHN VINES

Abby Julieann Photography

Photographer:  https://abbyjulieann.com/
Instagram  @abbyjulieannphoto

Bride:
Makeup by Alli
Hair by Alyssa

Attendants:
Makeup by Jessica 
Hair by Ana

Personal Connection and Empathy:

The human interactions that shape weddings are built on a foundation of personal connection and empathy. From the wedding planner who brings the couple’s vision to life to the officiant who shares heartfelt words, these moments are enriched by the human touch. AI might offer efficiency, but it can’t replace the warmth and understanding that vendors and guests bring to the celebration. In a world where beauty standards have become increasingly narrowed, I believe in honoring and highlighting the unique charm of every person. Your hair and makeup should make you look like the best version of yourself, not like a stranger. This is your celebration, after all, and it’s you we’re here to celebrate!

Memories and Nostalgia:

Weddings are memories that couples and their loved ones cherish for a lifetime. The natural beauty of wedding venues, the heartfelt vows exchanged, and the memorable first kiss as married people, all contribute to the nostalgia that couples will revisit throughout their lives. AI-generated content and filters lack the sentimental value that these memories hold, leaving couples with a sense of detachment from their special day.

 

Crafting Memories That Last:

As I reflect on weddings I’ve attended, I’m reminded that they’re not just one-day celebrations; they’re memories that weave themselves into the very fabric of our lives. The natural beauty of the bride, the vows exchanged, and the dances that often fill the night-these are memories that evoke nostalgia for years to come. AI might generate some pretty images, but it can’t replicate the sentimentality and cherished moments that make a wedding the perfection that it is.

 

 A Celebration of Authentic Beauty:

Lexi

Hair by Natalie
Makeup by Leigh Ann

Photos by @haileylaurenphoto

Natural beauty, a topic close to my heart, embraces the real and true while celebrating the uniqueness of the moment. Weddings are not about achieving perfection; they’re about celebrating the love and life of two people who are uniquely beautiful in their own way. That unique beauty, that belongs to you and to no one else, is what I most want to capture and celebrate at the weddings I work with. AI-generated imagery might present an idealized version, but the true charm of weddings lies in the authenticity of real moments and the real people who make them special to begin with.

From my personal vantage point, the enchanting beauty of weddings lies in the genuine moments, human connections, and the exquisite wonder that is the joining of two lives together. AI may be able to do many things, but it cannot replicate the genuine beauty of real people. Your hair, your face, your very being all tell a story, and a story no artificial intelligence or algorithm can truly capture let alone celebrate in your special moment. Remember that it’s you and your loved ones that are celebrating your marriage, and it’s in that place of genuine love and personal connection that the magic of your wedding lives and moves.

HAILEY LAUREN PHOTOGRAPHY
@haileylaurenphoto on Instagram.
https://haileylaurenphotography.com/

Your wedding day is a culmination of many of the best things about your life so far, and as a result you’ve not doubt done some meticulous planning. As you curate every detail to perfection, from the venue to the attire, it's essential not to compromise on the professionals who will help you look your best. While budget considerations are important, hiring the cheapest hair and makeup artist for your wedding might not yield the results you envision. Here's why investing in excellence when it comes to beauty services is a decision you won't regret:

1. Quality of Products and Tools:

Beauty professionals who charge higher fees often use premium-quality products and state-of-the-art tools. These products are carefully chosen for their long-lasting and skin-friendly properties, ensuring that your makeup looks flawless and lasts throughout your special day. Cheaper alternatives might not deliver the same level of quality, potentially affecting the final outcome.

2. Reliability:

Your wedding day is a tapestry of emotions, memories, and cherished moments. In all the excitement and anticipation, there’s one vital aspect that can either elevate your experience or introduce unnecessary stress: the reliability of your chosen hair and makeup artist. A reliable hair and makeup artist isn’t just a professional who shows up; they are a pillar of support, ensuring your beauty needs are met with precision, timeliness, and trust.

3. Expertise and Experience:

Experienced makeup artists bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to their craft. They understand different skin tones, face shapes, and hair types, allowing them to tailor their techniques to enhance your natural beauty. Their skills have been honed over years of practice, ensuring that they can handle any beauty challenge that comes their way.

4. Personalization and Consultation:

Reputable hair and makeup artists take the time to understand your preferences, style, and vision. They offer consultations to discuss your desired look and make recommendations based on your features and the wedding theme. Opting for the cheapest makeup artist might mean missing out on this personalized attention, leading to a look that doesn't align with your vision.

5. Last-Minute Fixes and Touch-Ups:

Wedding days can be unpredictable, with weather changes and emotional moments affecting your appearance. An experienced makeup artist knows how to make last-minute adjustments to ensure you always look your best. They come equipped with the skills to address any beauty emergencies that may arise, providing you with peace of mind.

6. Time Management:

Wedding days are tight schedules filled with various events and activities. A skilled hair and makeup artist understands the importance of time management and ensures that you're ready on schedule. Choosing a less experienced hair and makeup artist could lead to delays and unnecessary stress on your big day.

7. Confidence Boost:

Looking your best on your wedding day boosts your confidence and adds to the overall joy of the occasion. An experienced hair and makeup artist enhances your features while ensuring you feel comfortable and radiant throughout the day. Opting for the cheapest option might result in a look that doesn't match your expectations, affecting your confidence.

Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and it's worth investing in professionals who will help you look and feel your best. While budget considerations are important, compromising on beauty services can lead to disappointment. A skilled and experienced hair and makeup artist not only enhances your appearance but also contributes to your overall wedding experience, ensuring that you walk down the aisle with confidence and radiance.

Image: Sylvia Stahl photography

Picture this: a beaming bride-to-be, clutching her phone, excitedly showing me a photo of her dream wedding makeup. Little did she know that the image was AI-generated. As a beauty business owner specializing in hair and makeup, this encounter reminded me of the power of technology in shaping our beauty ideals. It also made me reflect on my own journey in the world of beauty, where I've come to understand the importance of managing expectations and celebrating authenticity.

In an age where technology has made remarkable strides, the line between what is real and what is artificial is becoming increasingly blurred. From AI-generated images to perfectly photoshopped models, it's essential to address the impact of these altered representations on our perceptions of beauty and self-image. I recently had a bride show me an AI-generated photo for her wedding makeup, a testament to the advancements in artificial intelligence and how easily these images can deceive us. It's time for people to manage their expectations and recognize that achieving the flawless looks we see on Pinterest is often unrealistic and unattainable.

The Allure of Social Media:

AI Generated Photo, not a real person
(Image Credit unknown)

As we scroll through social media platforms like Pinterest, we are bombarded with images of seemingly perfect individuals with flawless skin, impeccable features, and stunning hair. However, it's crucial to remember that these images are often heavily altered through retouching, filters, and AI enhancements. These looks are not achievable without significant investments of time, money, and sometimes even surgical procedures. Most of these pictures are heavily altered, leaving little room for reality. We believe in your authentic and natural beauty.

The Limitations of Makeup: 

Makeup is an incredible tool that can enhance one's natural beauty and boost confidence. However, it is essential to understand its limitations. Despite its amazing abilities, makeup cannot erase wrinkles, change the fundamental size, and shape of your facial features, or completely alter your face shape. Makeup is not a magical wand that can erase all imperfections. Instead, it's a tool to enhance our unique features and highlight our best qualities. I've learned to work with my clients, focusing on what makes them special, rather than trying to mold them into someone else's image.

Hair Styling Realities:

Much like makeup, hair styling has its limitations. I've encountered clients who longed for voluminous, cascading hair like the ones they admired on Pinterest and popular animated movies. But just like with makeup, it's essential to set realistic expectations. While we can style hair beautifully, we can't make it grow beyond its natural length (without the help of extensions*) or alter its texture completely. Embracing the natural beauty of everyone’s hair is a principle we hold dear.

Guiding My Clients to Real Beauty:

Over time, I've learned that guiding my clients toward their perfect look involves more than just replicating a Pinterest photo. It's about understanding their unique characteristics, such as their skin tone, eye color, hair type, and even their age. Taking these factors into account helps me design a makeup and hairstyling plan that complements their features, making them feel like the best version of themselves.

Discovering the Real Inspiration:

I've come to value the importance of authentic inspiration. Instead of relying solely on the filtered world of Pinterest, I encourage my clients to explore a company's website and social media platforms. These authentic sources often showcase real individuals, untouched by heavy editing, giving a truer representation of the artists' work.

Best Practices for Finding Your Perfect Look: Finding inspiration for your wedding or any special occasion is essential, but it's crucial to set realistic expectations. Here are some best practices to help you find style examples that suit you:

1. Find Similarities: Look for images of people who share similar characteristics with you, such as skin tone, eye color, hair color, and hair type. This will give you a more accurate representation of how the look might translate on you.

2. Consider Age: Look for individuals in the same age range as you. Age can significantly impact how makeup and hairstyles appear on different people.

3. Check Authentic Sources: Instead of relying solely on Pinterest, explore company websites and social media platforms where they feature real, unaltered individuals. This will give you a more authentic perspective on their work.

4. Preparation is Key: Plan ahead and take good care of your skin and hair leading up to the event. Consult your makeup artist and hairstylist for recommended treatments and products to ensure your skin and hair are in the best possible shape.

The Price of Beauty

In my journey, I've encountered clients who dream of looking like their favorite celebrities. It's understandable; after all, they exude glamour and grace. However, I always remind my clients that achieving such looks often comes with significant investments of time, energy, and money.

Embracing Your Unique Magic:

I've developed two mantras that guide my work. The first, "Beauty isn't cheap and can't be bought at the drugstore," reminds my clients that achieving certain looks requires dedication and investment. The second, "Makeup isn't magic, but it can make you feel magical," celebrates the transformative power of makeup in enhancing confidence and self-esteem.

In Closing

My journey in the beauty industry has taught me valuable lessons about embracing real beauty. It's about managing expectations, working with the unique features of each individual, and finding inspiration that celebrates authenticity. As I continue this beautiful journey, I hope to guide my clients in discovering their own unique magic, where makeup and hairstyling become tools that empower them to shine as their genuine selves, radiating confidence and joy on their special day and beyond.

*Alea Beauty offers HaloCouture Extensions for both rental or purchase. Ask about our custom color match and fitting appointments.

Image: Sierra Dyer Co.

About Alea Beauty 

Alea Beauty is a luxury hair, makeup, and airbrush spray tanning service that specializes in styling for weddings, lifestyle, and special events. We believe in an authentic, effortless, and inclusive approach to beauty, and our talented team of professional hair and makeup artists strive to continuously create custom looks that best complement our clients’ natural beauty. 

About The Founder  

Carla Welechuk Kowski has been in the beauty industry for over 20 years, working as a beauty educator for Chanel, a celebrity personal travel artist, a corporate and personal stylist for Microsoft, and the senior lead artist and general manager for Salon Maison in Seattle, Washington, and in Orange County, California. She’s also served in various other scopes of the wedding industry, including as a wedding and event designer in the early 2000s. In 2018, Carla founded Alea Beauty LLC to offer a more personal and specialized beauty service. Since establishing new roots in Ohio, Alea Beauty has expanded to three more locations across the U.S., in California, Arizona and Massachusetts. She added Glow by Alea Beauty, a spray tanning service, in 2021. In 2022 Carla launched Kowski Creative LLC, a creative coaching and women's entrepreneur mentorship program to help empower fellow business owners and future Creative-preneurs. 

Image information:
Organizer: @aleabeauty.co, @leighannpachecobeauty
Host: @call_of_julie
Photographers: @sierradyerco @sylviastahlphoto
Hair & makeup: @aleabeauty.co, @leighannpachecobeauty, @rachel.justine
Model: @krrgardner
Gown: @shopgildedsocial
Menswear: @c.stefano.custom.tailoring
Flowers: @sunnycaligirl

Carla Welechuk Kowski - Founder & Creative Director of Alea Beauty, Glow by Alea Beauty, & Kowski Creative. Image by Tiffany Chapman Photography

Check out Alea Beauty’s Founder & Creative Director Carla Welechuk Kowski’s feature on the Canvas Rebel website. The link is posted below!

“Authenticity is key! I fully believe in being true to your own strengths and being fully transparent on any weaknesses. I am very upfront with my clients. If they ask for something that I am not the best at I will tell them and direct them to someone who may be a better fit. Not only does this make you more trustworthy to your clients it also strengthens your connections with your fellow business owners. We all play an important role and knowing when you should direct to someone else will only help you in the long run. If you are pleasing everyone you aren’t being true to yourself.”

— Carla Welechuk Kowski

About Alea Beauty 

Alea Beauty is a luxury hair, makeup, and airbrush spray tanning service that specializes in styling for weddings, lifestyle, and special events. We believe in an authentic, effortless, and inclusive approach to beauty, and our talented team of professional hair and makeup artists strive to continuously create custom looks that best complement our clients’ natural beauty. 

About The Founder  

Carla Welechuk Kowski has been in the beauty industry for over 20 years, working as a beauty educator for Chanel, a celebrity personal travel artist, a corporate and personal stylist for Microsoft, and the senior lead artist and general manager for Salon Maison in Seattle, Washington, and in Orange County, California. She’s also served in various other scopes of the wedding industry, including as a wedding and event designer in the early 2000s. In 2018, Carla founded Alea Beauty LLC to offer a more personal and specialized beauty service. Since establishing new roots in Ohio, Alea Beauty has expanded to three more locations across the U.S., in California, Arizona and Massachusetts. She added Glow by Alea Beauty, a spray tanning service, in 2021. In 2022 Carla launched Kowski Creative LLC, a creative coaching and women's entrepreneur mentorship program to help empower fellow business owners and future Creative-preneurs. 

Alea Beauty is featured on the Smashing the Glass website written by Karen Cinnamon. The happy couple are Jennie and Ben.

Jennie explains in the article, “My makeup lasted all day after my trial, but my hair had come out a little bit, so my matron of honor took some pictures of it for my artist to help with troubleshooting. On the day of the wedding, she looked at the pictures and decided to pre-curl my hair, put more bobby pins in, and spray it up so that it would stay in place. The hair and makeup both lasted the entire day after that!“

This is a perfect example of how having a preview (aka trial) on makeup & hair ended up helping the bride and hairstylist work together to troubleshoot a lasting solution for the wedding event!

Artists: Sam for bride and groom. Denise and Katie for attendants.