BEHIND THE BRUSHES
You should probably know who’s responsible for all this glam...
MEET, GABBY
Growing up, lip gloss swatches from the M.A.C. counters during a mall stroll was obligatory. Being a girly girl was less of a choice and more of a birthright. If it was pretty, luxe, and/or sparkly—it had my name written all over it!
Despite an early love for cosmetics, and venturing into this hobby during high school, makeup artistry was never the plan. Considering my artistic abilities (to this day) consist of a stick-figure sun and a flower, it was probably the most unexpected route I could have ever pursued.
I’ve always been drawn to work that allowed me to care for, connect with, and make a difference for others, so naturally nursing was what I thought I loved. But, 2 ½ years into my degree & a behind-the-scenes look at the healthcare system, I realized nursing wasn’t quite the future I had envisioned. Graduation day arrived—and instead of feeling excited to begin my career, I was miserable and in a state of constantly worry wondering if this unhappy feeling would ever fade. The very next day, I gave myself a little pep talk alongside the big man upstairs, trusted my gut, and told myself “If I could be anything in life, it’s happy. If I lead with love, the rest will follow”. And from that day forward, I went straight for the things I had already started cutting class for: clients & makeup.
5 years later, I haven’t looked back once. What started as an unexpected career pivot became a
passion, a business, and ultimately my most prized possession today (besides my dogs).
WHY?
I do this because I genuinely love the the satisfaction of making someone feel beautiful. The instant they see the finished look, the genuine reactions, the smiles, the happy tears, and that little spark when someone absolutely loves what they see! Followed by that, it’s getting to witness people grow. The girls who sat in my chair at 15 are now in their 20’s, getting married & becoming moms. Moms who once sat in my chair for their baby showers now have little ones keeping them busy. And somewhere along the way, clients have become friends, and some even like family. Getting to grow alongside them through all of life’s milestones is one of the greatest parts of what I do.
MEET, Sophie.
Once upon a time she thought she saw herself as a SCAD alum (yes, she was accepted!) with a future in museum curating. But when the reality of an undecided career path (+ SCAD’S tuition) came to light, she found herself down another route. This time, landing in the world of sports + marketing (Football & hockey. She’ll yap forever!). Between life and COVID, it was a tricky time to venture out and explore a career path when interactions were limited. So, she perfected her craft and became a “temporary” asset to the GUBG team, just until the world around settled… or so we thought.
As our weddings took off, so did a spark that had never really gone away—her soft spot for weddings. Somewhere along the way, she found her way back to something she had always enjoyed, and became an official part of our team.
Always the hot mess with a carefree spirit, growing up Sophie was the girl who lived in dress-up costumes (rarely making it through a day without at least 3 outfit changes), cutting her dolls’ hair, crafting something up with her clothes, an art academy alum— naturally finding gravitating to anything creative.
Her love for weddings—especially the dresses—was no surprise. She knows the trends, necklines, silhouettes, and without a doubt who Randy Fenoli is.
