With a business that is more than 50% referral based, I was pleasantly surprised when I received an inquiry from a bride-to-be who was referred by a 'mystery' article printed in the Old Bridge Observer, based in Prince William County. Through a little research, I came across the article and the paper graciously sent me two copies which featured my May bride, Aubrielle Walrond, who was also featured in the Maryland and Washington Brides magazine. For those of you curious, I transcribed the article written by Kate Godfrey for the Old Bridge Observer.
For the most part, everyone would be willing to agree that all brides are beautiful, some more than others. One of those “others” is Aubrielle Alexis Smith Walrond.
Little did Walrond realize that the pictures taken in May for her wedding album would be used in a layout for “Brides Magazine” before the year ended.
Walrond, for all her pending fame, came across at a recent interview as a very unassuming and gracious young woman. This newlywed, who is still trying to get used to writing her new married name, is probably better known by her maiden name of Aubrielle Smith.
A true home-grown talent, Walrond attended Lake Ridge Middle School and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. With every hope of one day becoming a judge, she graduated with honors in pre-law from Virginia Tech, Blacksburg.
So, how did this Lake Ridge resident end up being used for a page in this nationally-known magazine? Through her photographer, Genevieve Leiper.
“Back when the wedding was in the planning stages, we were looking on-line for photographers. We found Genevieve's website, and liked her style. She is more of a photo journalist than a photographer. Her pictures are more candid. She captured our guests enjoying our wedding day. She helped capture the memories for us,” explained Walrond.
Leiper was looking for models to help her expand her photographic portfolio. She asked Walrond if she would be interested in posing for some glamour-type shots. At the time, Walrond was busy with wedding preparations, so she sent her younger sister, Alyssa, a senior at Woodbridge Senior High. Leiper had hired Victoria Stiles of Ashburn, a professional makeup artist, to take care of makeup for all the photo subjects. Later, when Walrond's mother and sister saw how the photos of Alyssa turned out, they recommended that Walrond hire Stiles to do her makeup for her wedding day.
“I told her I liked the 'natural look,' and that my eyes were my best feature, so she really played them up,” remembers Walrond, adding, “I really enjoyed working with her. She listens to what you say you want, and she does excellent work.”
Stiles liked how her expertise helped bring out and accent Walrond's features, too. So much so, that she added Walrond's photo to her website and to a marketing postcard she uses to introduce prospective clients to her services.
No one is quite sure how the magazine editors discovered Stiles and her photogenic newlywed, Walrond, but “the next thing you know, Stiles is using my photo with her writeup for a 'how to' on makeup application for their magazine,” Walrond happily explains.
How can Stiles possibly remember what cosmetics or application techniques she used on Walrond back in May?
Walrond has a ready answer.
“Easy. Before your wedding day, Victoria gets together with you to do a test run. She writes down each item she applies to your face, and where she used it. Then, on the day of your wedding, she uses her notes to make you a perfect recreation.”
“Brides Magazine” with Walrond will be on the newsstands in December.
