What do you like about being in the wedding industry?
My favorite part about being in the wedding industry is being surrounded by incredibly talented and creative people at all times. From the couples & planners coming up with the ideas, to the florists, photographers, caterers, etc. making everything come to life. Our wedding community is pretty incredible in Colorado.
How do you share your creativity with your clients?
When I have my consultation calls with my couples, I always ask them to share their full vision of the day. What colors, themes, location, special details, etc. are they adding? This allows my mind to start spinning with all kinds of ideas. I try to pull them out of the box as much as possible, to help ensure every piece is reflective of who they are as individuals; a couple. It’s pretty amazing when your couples give you full creative freedom because then you know they fully trust your ideas & direction.
How did you develop your skill?
A lot, a lot, a lot of practice. Seriously. I still have my first sketch books and sheesh, have I come a long way. I used to do daily/weekly challenges to push myself to try different techniques. I watched a lot of videos and tried so many different types of writing tools. If there was a blank canvas, I was writing on it! Out to dinner with friends? I wrote their names on their to-go boxes. No blank surface was safe!
What are the elements of a successful wedding?
Just like anything else – communication! Understanding the needs & wants of the couple, how & when they want things done, who’s doing what, all of it. If everyone is on the same page, with the same details, that’s when the magic happens.
What makes you different from other stationery companies?
One thing that makes me different is that I actually have experience on the planning side of weddings too. Before and at the beginning of SheLettering, I was actually a Lead Planner with a local company. I really feel like this has helped me understand the needs for specific signage and when I’m onsite day-of, I have a really good idea of where to set up items based on the flow of the day. When I’m in the planning stages with my couples, I can also ask more specific questions due to my knowledge of how their day will likely go. I’m very grateful to have that experience to lean on!
What’s your favorite part of a wedding?
This is going to sound cliche but I just love, love. Call me a romantic, that’s fine! The love and joy that not only comes from the bride and groom on their day, but from everyone else involved, is just electric. Everyone is there with the best intentions and to celebrate the commitment and new journey the couple is about to take. Who couldn’t love that?
What changes do you anticipate in the future within the industry?
I think we will continue to see couples moving away from super traditional weddings. There will still be aspects of them of course, but I think we’re starting to see more and more that couples want to show their personalities through every detail of their day. We’ve already seen the want for weddings to come back post- pandemic and this is giving couples the opportunity to try new things & activities on the day of. Perhaps an onsite, live calligraphy station? I’m excited to see where we’ll be even next year!
What wedding trend would you like to see come back?
Ok so this may show that I’m an older millennial but are you familiar with the old school ‘wedding mints’? They’re those creamy, often grainy, minty goodness. If those could make a comeback, I’d be so happy!
What was your biggest challenge while growing your business?
Being an entrepreneur, I wear all of the hats. CEO, Accounting, Marketing, Design, Project Manager. Trying to navigate the time to get the business side done, while also allowing time to be fully creative and try new things, while also having a personal life and down time, is really really hard. I tend to be a perfectionist at times as well and want to do my best in every aspect of my business. This has definitely created roadblocks for myself, but in those moments I take a step back, take a deep breath, and remind myself that it’s one step at a time.
If you knew what you knew now when you first started, would you change how you started/grew your business?
Naturally the phrase “Hindsight is always 20-20” pops into my mind first. I guess I would change certain aspects, but really I wouldn’t have had the experiences and the challenges I did, and I wouldn’t have learned and grown from them to be where I am now. I’m not someone who regrets decisions rather I’m grateful for what’s presented to me. I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given and the journey I continue to be on with SheLettering.
Is there anything you would like people to know about your business?
SheLettering is truly my heart on display. So much of who I am is poured into each piece I create. SheLettering wouldn’t be what it is if it weren’t for my dedication to taking care of my mental health as well. Building this company is what has kept me going day in and day out. Because of this, I want to do what I can for others who may be in similar situations. At the end of every year, we donate a portion of our profits to a local LGBTQ+ organization that focuses on the social and emotional well-being of youth and their families in our community. It’s so important to me to give back and I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to do so!
