Meet the Founder of The Up North Bride | Hair & Makeup by Cassy Laessig

The Up North Bride
May 7
4 min read

Updated: Jul 23

If you’ve spent any time on The Up North Bride, chances are you’ve seen my work behind the scenes - whether through bridal beauty, content creation, vendor features, or building this platform from the ground up.

I thought it would be fun to share a little more about myself, how I got started in the wedding industry, and what inspires both Hair & Makeup by Cassy Laessig and The Up North Bride.

How did you get started in the beauty industry?

Truly, I’ve always had a soft spot for hair and makeup from a young age. It started as something I’d do for fun in my free time, and eventually I realized… what better path to follow than getting paid to do something you genuinely love? Over time, that passion grew into a career and a love for helping people feel good.

Where are you based?

I’m based in Wakefield, Michigan (just north of Manitowish Waters, WI). After spending the past 10 years living between Los Angeles and Nashville, I’m excited to be settling back down near where I grew up while still traveling for weddings throughout Michigan, Wisconsin, and Tennessee.

What inspired you to create The Up North Bride?

After working with brides for years, I realized how hard it can be to plan a wedding up north. Everything is way more spread out compared to places like Nashville, and finding vendors usually means spending hours researching or asking around in Facebook groups. I wanted to make things easier by creating one place where couples can find venues, vendors, inspiration, and wedding resources all in one spot.

What is your bridal style?

When it comes to hair and makeup, my bridal style is soft, timeless, and natural-looking. I like enhancing your features so you still feel like you, just a little more polished and elevated.

With my background in photoshoots, music videos, film/TV, and commercials, I’m always thinking about how everything will look both in person and on camera because on a wedding day, it has to work for both.

What can brides expect when booking with you?

Once you’re booked, we’ll schedule a trial where we can test up to three different looks for your wedding day and make sure everything feels good to you. If a trial isn’t possible due to travel or scheduling, no worries, we can easily plan everything through email instead.

I also create a hair and makeup timeline based on your wedding day schedule, so everything runs smoothly.

On the wedding day, I arrive with everything needed and handle both hair and makeup so you can relax and enjoy the morning.

Do you work with a bridal team?

Sometimes, yes! It depends on the size of the bridal party and how many services are needed. If there are more than eight services or the timeline is tight, I’ll often bring one or two assistants, depending on their availability, so we’re not starting the day super early.

Thankfully, I have some really amazing people in my corner who share the same love for the craft, and I’m so grateful to work alongside them!

Favorite wedding morning moments?

Seeing the bridal party spend quality time together, especially if they haven’t all been in the same room in a while, is really special to witness. And the moment everyone is finally dressed and ready always feels so exciting.

If it’s an elopement, I just feel incredibly honored to spend time with them on such an intimate and meaningful day!

Advice for future brides?

For hair and makeup specifically, a little preparation goes a long way. I always recommend visiting a dermatologist ahead of your wedding day to address any skin concerns, scheduling a spray tan if you prefer a bronzy glow, grooming your brows in advance, and making sure your haircut and color are exactly where you want them before the big day.

To make things even easier, I’ve linked some of my favorite prep products here as well. These little steps truly make a big difference on wedding day!

What’s next for your businesses?

After 10 years of working across different areas of the industry, including film, television, and commercial work, I’m excited to focus more on weddings and create more content centered around these meaningful moments. I truly love the energy of wedding days and, as cheesy as it sounds, I love being surrounded by love, connection, and the joy that comes with celebrating such an important day.

My goal is to continue growing Hair & Makeup by Cassy Laessig while also expanding The Up North Bride and building it into a go-to resource for couples planning weddings in Northern Wisconsin, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and the surrounding Great Lakes islands.