Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla VanderZiel. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Ziel Bridal’s founder, Kayla VanderZiel, has a lifelong passion for the art of beauty. At only 8 years old, she had found her passion and would spend hours styling hair and designing up-dos on anyone who would sit still. This award-winning, nationally published hair artist is driven not just by the art of hairstyling, however. Kayla believes that EVERY woman deserves to be lifted up by other women. What drew her to launch her business and focus on brides was and continues to be the belief that brides deserve to have a wedding day where they feel invincible.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like any small business, there are the usual challenges. finances, marketing, etc. When I started my company 5.5 years ago, I didn’t know how much it would personally push me to the edge and back. The 15-hour workdays, 7 days a week, the self-doubt and fear are something I had to push through. In the beginning, it was a constant struggle of ‘am I good enough? Am I going to fail? I want to quit.’ but I’ve had a strong support system with me who believed in me. The people who surrounded me kept me going and made me believe that failure wasn’t an option.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Our nitch is in two industries- beauty and weddings. We offer on-site wedding hair and makeup to brides and couples all over the Midwest. We are known for the high-end service we give each of our clients as well as some of the best hair and makeup looks in Minneapolis. I am most proud of the Ziel bridal team I have been able to work next to. We keep a small team that is like a family. We all share a common goal together- to make sure our brides have the best wedding day experience. Unlike a lot of other companies in the Minneapolis area, we work as a unit and we know the artist working next to us. We’ve seen the awkward mornings of artists not chatting with the bridal party and having fun together and it doesn’t give the bride the best experience. Egos are put aside and we rock out a wedding!
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My very first mentor, Haley Canaday. I met her at 20 years old. It was the first time I had a mentor who would not let me give up or fail. She pushed me to always do better and learn. I think I would have quit the beauty industry from the beginning if I wouldn’t have had her.
My hair and makeup artist, Meagan Taylor. Meagan has been with me for almost 5 years. She’s been my backbone and cheered me on when I couldn’t, even if she didn’t know she was doing it. She’s put more confidence in me that I could say and believed in my company even when I had no idea what I was doing in the beginning. When I moved to Florida for a year, she stepped up in ways I didn’t know I needed her to, and for that, I owe her so much gratitude and appreciation.
As weird as it sounds, my ex-husband, and my current Partner, Abbey. What a weird category to put them both in. Dan supported me in this crazy dream I had. He never questioned if I was doing the right thing when I wanted to quit my salon job and go off on my own. It was like if he didn’t worry then I shouldn’t worry and I knew I’d be able to make this company work. My current partner of the last four years, Abbey, has been my comfort through the hard days and my cheerleader through the wins. She knows exactly what to say to lift me up and keep me going. She’s the best teammate I could ask for.
My entire Ziel artist team. These ladies show up time and time again for this company and for me. The early morning and the 3-hour drives to a wedding site are common for them and they do it without complaint. They understand the vision that I have and they carry that vision with them each and every time they work.
Pricing:
- Complete Bridal Package $650
- Bridal Party/Attendant Package $230
- A-la-carte options available starting at $130
Contact Info:
- Email: kayla@zielbridal.com
- Website: www.zielbridal.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/zielbridal_
- Facebook: facebook.com/zielbridal
Image Credits
Meagan Stezka Photo
Heather Joy Photography
Boxcar Photography
