And so it begins..
Wedding planning is a new venture I am jumping head first into, which I am absolutely sure many would find absurd. Starting a business itself requires a world of planning, trying and failing, and complete commitment. It’s been a dream of mine for a long time to own my own company, but due to lack of courage, resources, and community, have never made the move. For the past 18 years I’ve worked in the world of “fashion”, and primarily in retail. In the last 10 years, most of my time has spent managing small retail teams, often for woman-owned or sustainable/ethical brands. Through the past couple of decades, there have been moments of inspiration, desire, and dreaming of moving beyond retail, but the growth and career stability had kept me in these Store Manager positions.
Since the pandemic, every industry has changed in so many ways, and retail was one of the largest industries affected, both immediately and still in lingering ways. The way people connected and spoke to each other changed. Peoples’ personal boundaries shifted (often for the better), and we found new ways to navigate in spaces we felt so comfortable in before 2020. The growth was sometimes rewarding, and in many cases quite exhausting as someone who leads teams of frequently very young adults. Through all of the changes, one thing always connected each shift in my career that came after- a desire to provide a memorable experience and be remembered as someone you could count on. That feeling hasn’t ever changed, and in fast has grown even larger in my own personal growth. I adore being able to make a memory even more special whenever I can for loved ones, and in a retail setting I’ve loved creating a memorable store experience for each customer turned client.
As the retail industry, specifically luxury retail, continues to evolve so do the workplaces. And my desire to be my own boss and create magical days for people in my own way has grown stronger and stronger. In the past year it has been a luxury to be able to plan my own wedding (this October, 2026), and it’s reignited an interest I felt when I was in my early twenties- wedding styling and planning. While planning my own wedding I have come to realize how good I am at planning my own wedding, and truly how much I enjoy it. Store management brought me skills that are incredibly ideal for this process- 1. Managing projects and people, 2. Forecasting and budget oversight, 3. Event planning and execution, and 4. Conflict resolution. Beyond that, I have a bit of experience with graphic design (often for retail-related events and campaigns) and photo shoot styling. All of these skills plus an extreme love for weddings and the industry (ALL of the vendors!), and an obsession with flowers and floral design… These are the recipe for my own business.
Getting started is a bit more of a challenge without a portfolio of experience (and yes, I will be using photos from my wedding after that happens in a few months), so right now
I am excited to be unreasonably cheap in my services offered. If you are a bride on a budget and need help- please let me! I will be so flexible with pricing to help me build a portfolio of experience. If you have a large budget, but want to work with someone who will bend over backwards to meet your needs, please reach out.
As I continue on this blog I plan to share tips and advice from my own wedding journey, and hopefully from future clients as well. Thanks for sticking around for the journey!
-Kayleigh
