It’s not every day that you get to serve as both the Maid-of-Honor and the bridal hairstylist for one of your close friends/linesisters (Hey Dr. B. Amber!). But hey, not everyone is a blessed as ME! Full of joy, nerves, and endless love — I found myself in that exact position. What made it even more surreal? I had the incredible opportunity to meet one of my favorite wedding gown designers in person.
Tracey Spruill – Bridal Hairstylist
As a bridal hairstylist, meeting Esé Azénabor-Grembowski reminded me just how beautiful this industry can be when purpose, passion, and preparation collide. I’ve admired her work for quiet some time – her gowns speak volumes — elegant, architectural, romantic, and elite. During Dr. B’s bridal dress fitting, Esé emerged from the back with a warm greeting and some bubbly! It was a pleasure meeting her and seeing Esé in her element behind the scenes making magic on three different bridal gowns (1 wedding gown for the bride and 2 gowns for the mother)! As a fellow black woman entrepreneur, I asked if she was OK with me asking her a few questions and she said absolutely! What followed was a short but deeply impactful conversation that left me inspired and affirmed
What I Asked Esé — And What She Shared
1. “How did you get into making wedding dresses?”
She smiled, instantly going back to the early days. She told me she began designing formal gowns for friends and family while she was still in grade school — never wedding gowns, just evening wear. One of her longtime clients told her, “You’re going to make my wedding dress one day.” She laughed it off, explaining she had never made a bridal gown before. But the client didn’t budge.
“I want you to do exactly what you do… just in white,” the client told her.
That was her introduction to bridal — through trust, relationship, and creativity. I couldn’t help but relate. Just like her, I started young by styling hair for friends for prom, family, building my skills with love long before I had a title or brand. Young hustlers doing what came naturally, fueled by the joy of making others feel beautiful.
2. “What scared you most about starting and building your bridal empire?”
Without hesitation, she said: “The financial commitment.”
That answer was so real. As an entrepreneur myself, I know funding your own dream is terrifying. No outside investors. No blueprint. Just grit, faith, and late nights hoping it’ll pay off. We both knew what it meant to bet on yourself — when your heart says go, but your bank account says, “Ummm girl, you sure about that!?” I remind myself, YES – Hebrews 11:1.
3. “How do you manage working with celebrity clients?”
Her response was grounded and professional: “You learn to see them as people – as customers – just like anyone else.”
That answer reminded me that no matter who you’re working with — a celebrity, a CEO, or a childhood friend — your job is to serve with excellence, humility, and care. The glamor/fame never overshadows the purpose.
4. “What advice would you give to upcoming entrepreneurs in bridal?”
“You have to really love what you do.” She offered this advice because you’re going to be tried and tested along the way.
This entrepreneurial life is no joke. From long hours to financial risk, from imposter syndrome to watching others seemingly pass you by, it can be easy to forget why you started. But her words reminded me that passion isn’t optional — it’s essential. You have to love the work enough to keep showing up for it, especially on the hard days.
The Wrap
Meeting Esé was inspiring. Styling my close friend/linesister Dr. Brittani (I’ll be sharing behind-the-scenes hair from her epic wedding day soon) on her wedding day was meaningful. What tied it all together was the reminder that we are all walking this path — creatives, brides, stylists, designers — trying to build something beautiful from the inside out.
To every entrepreneur reading this: Don’t stop. Keep creating. Keep learning. Keep networking. And most importantly, keep loving what you do.
You never know who you’ll meet on the journey — or how that one conversation might light your fire all over again.
Esé – Thank You for sharing a moment with ME! Much appreciated and many blessings to you, your family, and continued success with your business!
✌🏽| ♥️
Bridal Hairstylist | Maid-of-Honor | Greatly Inspired
Written with AI assistance.