Today we’d like to introduce you to Kellie Santiago.
Hi Kellie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always said my success really started with how I was raised. I grew up with two entrepreneurial parents, so owning a business and working hard were just part of everyday life. My dad started his own restaurant when he was 19 and still runs it today, and my mom sort of fell into business ownership by accident. She was helping out with the books at the dance studio where I took classes, and before long she became a partner and ran it for over 20 years.
From my dad, I learned that what you put into your business determines what you get out of it, there’s no shortcut for hard work. And from my mom, I learned to pause when things get tough. She always told me, don’t make decisions based on temporary feelings. Take a breath, step back, and look at things from every angle. I really got the best of both worlds, the strength and tenacity from my dad, and the softness and perspective from my mom.
Those lessons shaped how I approached my own career. I spent over 11 years behind the chair managing salons and spas, and I was always the go-to for event hair and makeup, that’s where I felt my happiest. After having my first son, I went part-time and decided to dive into the bridal world. My goal was simple: if I could just book two weddings a month, I could leave the salon and have the best of both worlds — being home with my baby and doing what I love.
I never imagined it would grow the way it did. Within a year, things took off and we started doubling our number of weddings each season. What began as a part-time passion project turned into a full-blown company with more than 20 talented artists working with me. It’s been an incredible journey, and my boys have been the heart behind it all. As a single mom, they’ve always been my reason to push harder, the driving force behind every bit of success.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Of course, there have definitely been struggles and bumps along the way. In the beginning, I priced myself really low because I just wanted to build a name and reputation for myself. I knew if I could get my work out there and create great experiences for brides, the rest would follow. For the first couple of years, I was working for far less than what I was worth and struggling financially, but it paid off.
After about two years, the referrals really started coming in, and other wedding vendors began recommending us. That’s when everything started to shift. I was finally able to scale the business and make a livable wage doing what I loved. Every wedding season, I look for ways to tweak things, whether it’s improving the client experience, refining our processes, or elevating our artistry.
As much as we strive to make every experience perfect for our brides, the truth is, mistakes do happen. No business is immune to that. But I really try to lean into those moments, to look at what we could have done differently and how we can grow from it. That mindset has been a big part of why the company continues to evolve and improve. We’re always learning, always adjusting, and always striving to make each experience even better than the last.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Bridal Beauty Couture?
Bridal Beauty Couture specializes in creating elevated looks that still feel like you. My team and I truly love what we do, it’s so much more than just a paycheck to us. We get to be part of one of the most important days in someone’s life, and we never take that lightly. There’s something so special about helping someone feel confident, beautiful, and completely themselves on their wedding day.
I think one of the biggest things that sets us apart is the way we’ve fine-tuned the back end of the business. I’ve put a lot of focus on creating an organized, seamless process for our brides, from the initial inquiry all the way through the wedding day. Wedding planning can already be stressful, and I never want to be the vendor that adds to that. My goal is always to be the one that takes stress away — the team that brides know they can rely on to show up, deliver, and make the entire experience effortless.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My childhood was definitely a little different from most of my friends growing up. While they were busy playing house or with dolls, I wanted to play grocery store or bank! I was never really into the traditional make-believe games, I wanted to create things and be in charge. Looking back, it’s funny how those little moments really foreshadowed who I’d become. That entrepreneurial spark was there from the start, I just didn’t know yet how it would take shape.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bridalbeautycouture.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridalbeautycouture/
