Ziel Bridal

Ziel Bridal began as one artist's practice and has grown into a team of 18 professional artists over ten years. Founder Kayla VanderZiel, a hairstylist since 2009, hand-picks every hairstylist and makeup artist. The studio is at 201 E Hennepin Ave, Suite 200 in Minneapolis, and the team travels to weddings across the city and beyond.

The business aims to give brides a relaxed, pampering start to the wedding day, and says it puts the bride's wishes first, with artistry second. A beauty coordinator, Joy, pairs each booked bride with artists chosen for her style, vision and personality. Every hair and makeup look is customized, and the team uses premium, professional-grade products and techniques. Brides can ask their coordinator for an artist's portfolio before the trial, and inquiries are answered within 24 hours.

Bridal hair includes updo and down styles, with a hair trial. Bridal makeup uses foundation and false lashes in the complete package, with a makeup trial. The Complete Bride Package, priced at $660, covers hair and makeup with a trial of 60 to 90 minutes each. The Bride Services Only package, at $775 and available November through April, covers the bride alone with trials, false lashes and a client wedding portal. Hair or makeup for the bride alone is $350 each with its trial, and additional trials are $175. Attendant hair and makeup are $140 each, flower girl hair and makeup are $75 each, men's grooming is $80, and a short hair blowout is $100. Wedding party services for attendants, family, men's grooming and flower girls can be kept on one schedule with the bride's.

Travel up to 20 miles round trip from Minneapolis is included in pricing, with travel beyond that charged at $1.00 per mile per artist. A 20% gratuity is added to the final bill, and artist parking fees are invoiced after the wedding. A hotel room is needed the night before if artists travel more than 1.5 hours one way, and start times before 7:00am carry a $100 per hour per artist early morning fee. Trials are scheduled about four months before the wedding and are recommended four to six weeks before it.

Booking is secured with a signed contract and a 40% retainer of the services booked. Peak season runs May through October, when the hair minimum is the bride plus 3 hair services and the makeup minimum is the bride plus 3 makeup services, with the two not combined. Off season, November through April, the minimum is the bride plus 2 in either hair or makeup. Parties below the minimum may be accepted with an added service or booking fee. Peak Saturdays can be booked up to a year ahead, and the business recommends reaching out 9 to 12 months before the wedding. Services cannot be removed within 60 days of the wedding, and additional services can be added later, though extra artists are not guaranteed.

The business is LGBTQ+ owned and describes itself as a space where every couple feels safe. Same-sex weddings are welcome, and couples booking two bridal packages for a same-sex wedding receive 10% off.

Founder Kayla VanderZiel hand-picks each artist, and every look is customized to the bride's wishes using professional-grade products and techniques.