Woman Behind the Gown - Alyssa Bean
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SOCIAL POINT MANAGEMENT
Today’s feature is extra special to us because Alyssa is on the LVB team! As co-owner of Social Point Management, a social media management and creative consulting company, Alyssa helps us manage our brand and social media accounts. She’s helped Lyra Vega Bridal grow tremendously and we are so honored to be telling a bit of her story today!
LVB: Hi Alyssa! We know you quite well but tell our audience a little about yourself – Who are you? What’s your story?
AB: My name is Alyssa, I’m 25, and I am a travel blogger and Social Media & Branding Advisor. My life completely flipped upside down just before graduating college. I was all lined up for a life I hated: a terrible “good” job, exhausting routine, bills, and a life lacking passion. So a couple nights before graduation I opened a bottle of wine, scanned through my “bucket List” google doc on my computer, and spent my entire savings on a trip to Africa. After spending a month teaching in Cape Town, I knew deep down that I wasn’t done yet. I spent the next two years traveling everywhere from the California coast to the jungles of Thailand. It was not luxurious by any means, but that time of roughing it around the world was one of the best things I ever did for myself. I learned so much about who I am, I gained confidence, began healing myself from years of self esteem issues and anxiety, and I was finally able to become the person I always wanted to be. I had no idea why I needed to make the unconventional changes to my life at the time, but I’m so grateful that I had the courage to go where my spirit was pulling me. Along that crazy journey my blog started growing, and I now make a living blogging and being a branding consultant.
LVB: What are some things you learned about yourself that you didn’t know before?
AB: The biggest thing I learned is that I’m way more capable than I ever initially gave myself credit for. I also learned a lot about my tendencies in thought patterns. Some of my thought patterns were limiting, like dismissing things I thought were impossible or not giving myself credit. Changing those things allowed me to grow as a person, and express myself genuinely. All of a sudden I found myself becoming the person I always wanted to be. That’s the best feeling in the world.
LVB: Our “Woman Behind the Gown” series is all about highlighting the hardworking, independent, and beautiful women who wear our dresses. What does being a modern woman mean to you?
AB: To me being a modern woman means loving yourself, using your voice, and stepping into your power. If any woman does these things despite fear and inequalities, she is guaranteed to make a positive impact on the world around her. The world needs more feminine power and wisdom, there’s no question about that. Having just started my self love and empowerment journey a couple of years ago, I want to encourage other women out there to take the time to dive into themselves. My life has never been so full because of it. I have more love and passion than ever, and it spills into all of my relationships.
LVB: What are some practices that have help you “dive in” regularly?
AB: Meditation has helped me a lot. It forces me to slow down, and become aware of what’s going on inside of me. Journaling is also a huge one. Writing down thoughts, or writing down my bucket list and seeing it on paper is an eye opening experience. Sometimes I’ll look back on a journal entry and feel like I’m getting to know myself in a completely different way, and appreciate myself a lot more without criticism or judgement. We can be our own best friend or our own worst enemy, and making that switch has been one of the best things I ever did.
LVB: You talk about having a “voice”, is there a role model or woman who you look up to that embodies that fearless spirit for you?
AB: I am lucky to have both my mom and my grandma to look up to. My mom is a fierce free spirit, and my grandma is the perfect blend of kindness and assertion, with a hilarious sense of humor.
LVB: What was it like wearing a wedding gown?
AB: This was my first time wearing a wedding dress, and to my surprise it was so much fun. I felt gorgeous, I felt like me, and I felt like no one could get in my way. There’s something very liberating about wearing a wedding dress. Thank you for sharing that experience with me with your Deb gown!
LVB: What do you look for in a partner? What does marriage mean to you?
AB: Marriage to me, is simply one way to express your love to your partner. Every relationship and love is different; it makes sense for some couples and for others they express their love differently. I’m all about zero pressure on love! What I look for in a partner is empathy, humor, and a zest for life. I am lucky to have a love with my partner that inspires me to grow and be the best person I can possibly be.
LVB: What’s next for you? Any big plans?
AB: My big plans ahead are actually tiny! I am renovating a short school bus into a tiny house on wheels. Once it’s finished being renovated, my partner Dan and I will be taking it cross country on the ultimate American road trip, visiting all 48 mainland states. We will be taking off come January 2019. I couldn’t be more excited for this next adventure.
LVB: That sounds like some great plans to us! How can we follow along on your journey?
AB: You can follow me on Instagram at @lyss_bean, and my blog at https://www.lyssbean.com/. For any social media management and creative consulting needs, check out SocialPoint Management - I’d love to help you build your brand!
Thank you, Alyssa, for sharing your story with us! We love hearing how searching within helped you take big steps out of the box and into the world, and so admire your courage for making these tremendous moves in your life! Thanks for following your heart, and for sharing it with all of us! We cannot wait to follow what’s ahead in your journey, and to photograph you again with your bus!
Alyssa is photographed here wearing our Deb gown, styled with her own pair of white sneakers! We love how fabulous and comfortable she looked strutting around town!