Vendor Feature - Carina Mae Designs

Business Name: Carina Mae Designs, LLC

Website: www.carinamaedesigns.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/carinamaedesigns

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/carinamaedesign

How long have you been in business?

One year, starting in March 2014.

What inspired you to start your business?

Angela: Carina's talent – couldn't sit by without the world knowing about it!

Carina: I have always wanted to start up my own business. My sister's, Angela, engagement encouraged me to begin a graphic design business.

What is your favorite part of owning your own business?

Making our own rules, hours, and schedule.

What is your primary role in your business?

Angela: Managing, marketing, and finance

Carina: Designer and hands on product creator

Who is your ideal client? Who inspires you in your design?

Clients with a vision. We love working with someone to create a unique design solely based on their idea and vision.

How would a couple interact with you from start to finish?

Start with an initial consultation via phone or in-person to determine clients needs and wants. Provide quote and require a retainer to begin the design work. We work closely with the client to ensure all aspects of the design are perfect before printing. We offer complete service to address, tamp, and mail out the final product.

For fun:

What food could you not live without?

Angela: Steak and potatoes

Carina: bread and pasta

Where would you like to travel most?

Ireland

Vendor Feature - Fleur Decor

Introducing our April Vendor Feature, Kristi Pohly of Fleur Decor

Website: www.fleurdecor.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/fleurdecor 

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/fleur_decor/ 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/fleurdecor

Photo of Kristi by Sara Lynn Photography

How long have you been in business?

Fleur Décor bloomed as a business over fourteen years ago.

What inspired you to start your business?

With a genetic background from my mom in art and experience in landscape design, I developed a natural instinct for bringing the amazing and gorgeous aspects of nature together to form beautiful floral designs.

Photo by Laura Murray Photography

What is your favorite part of owning your own business?

To me, floral design is more than a craft--it is an art. I most enjoy the art of bringing together texture, color and shape to portray a specific mood. It is always my goal to emulate the personalities of my floral clients in the flowers for their wedding or event.

 What is your primary role in your business?

Owner and Master Designer

Photo by Shaylynne Imaging

Who is your ideal client? Who inspires you in your design?

My ideal client is one that is full of personality and brings all of that personality to their wedding or event. My clients inspire my designs—again bringing their personalities into their floral designs.

Describe the process of working with you. How would a couple interact with you from start to finish?

Couples can plan to be at ease from the first phone call/email communication to Fleur Décor until their beautiful designs are delivered for their wedding/event. Time is valuable these days, so I try to simplify the floral planning process with a pre-consultation questionnaire and then a face-to-face consultation followed by a proposal. A signed contract and a deposit saves the date with Fleur Décor and revisions continue to be made to the proposal until it is as close to perfect.

Image by Two One Photography

For fun:

What food could you not live without?

I cannot live without eggs—I love a great brunch with an egg dish and a complimentary bloody mary

Where would you like to travel most? 

All around Italy—the country is full of culture, love, gorgeous scenery and architecture, and amazing food and wine.

Image by Rayna McGinnis Photography

Vendor Feature - Once Upon A Wedding Events

Introducing our March Vendor Feature, Ileen Hoekman of Once Upon A Wedding Events. 

Website: http://www.onceuponawedding.biz

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onceuponaweddingevents

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/OnceUponWedding/

Google+: https://plus.google.com/b/109010011902475427637/+OnceUponAWeddingEventsColoradoSprings/

Ileen and one of her very happy brides. http://www.onceuponawedding.biz

How long have you been in business?

I’ve been in business since 2011.

What inspired you to start your business?

It’s surprising to me that it took me so long to start planning weddings. I’ve always been fascinated with weddings. I believe in the power of love and the celebration of it is so beautiful to me. Right before I made the decision to start Once Upon A Wedding Events I worked as a retail sales manager. Wedding and gift registry was one of my areas of responsibility. I enjoyed working with the couples and their families so much. After a while, that’s all I wanted to do. When a friend on a very tight budget and extremely short timeline asked me to help her with her wedding. I fell in love. I quit my job immediately after that to launch Once Upon A Wedding Events.

What is your favorite part of owning your own business?

Being able to do something I love so much that it doesn’t feel like work is one of the greatest feelings in the world.

What is your primary role in your business?

I’m the owner, lead planner and all the other little things in between.

Who is your ideal client?

I love to work with couples that are fun, stylish and laid back. They normally have an idea of what they what to create but need some help pulling it together. They are busy people either working, in school or both. I’m able to help them manage in spike in the demands on their time and pull together all the details that will make their celebration spectacular.

Who inspires you in your design?

My inspiration comes in all shapes and sizes. Most of the time, it’s found in the most unexpected places.  

Describe the process of working with you. How would a couple interact with you from start to finish?

Planning a wedding with Once Upon A Wedding Events is like having a best friend in the planning business. We meet for an initial consultation to see first and foremost if we are comfortable with one another. My relationship with my clients is so important. For them to have a positive experience we have to be a good fit for one another. From there, I develop a package that will suit the clients’ needs. I then, guide them through the planning process and take care of all the logistical details. I become their liaison to simplify the process. I remain available to them as much as possible throughout. My couples feel comfortable calling me any time to talk things through. I become their planner, friend, organizer, stylist, designer, personal assistant, and therapist J. Then on the day of the wedding, I’m the first to arrive and the last to leave to make sure that everything runs smoothly from start to finish.

For fun:

What food could you not live without?

I could eat bread and pasta for every meal! Yummy carbs! Bacon is a close second.

Where would you like to travel most?

If I could go anywhere it would be to Italy. I’m enamored with the whole country and culture. I love everything from the countryside to the city architecture… most of all, the food and wine!

Photographer Credits: 

Beauty By MB Photography

Rayna McGinnis Photography

Anne Benson Photography

Vendor Feature - Love Letters Floral Design

Headshot of Holly Kerr - owner of Love Letters Floral Design

Business Name: Love Letters Floral Design

Website: www.LoveLettersFloral.com

Blog: http://lovelettersfloral.com/loveinbloom/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-Letters-Floral-

Design/121902221240158

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/hkerr0754/

Google+: https://plus.google.com/114633154320600994439/posts

Photo by Libbie Holmes Photography 

How long have you been in business? Three years.

What inspired you to start your business? I have wanted my own floral design business ever since I started selling boutonnieres and corsages for school dances in High School. I have always been crafty and I love making beautiful things. Weddings are incredibly special and each one of them is unique, so the design possibilities are endless. When a couple is happy with my arrangements and services, that is just the best feeling!

What is your favorite part of owning your own business? I love being able to have unlimited creative power in determining what direction to take my business. What is your primary role in your business? Love Letters Floral Design is a one woman business. I wear all the hats within the business: owner, lead designer, marketer, accountant, etc.

Photo by Rayna McGinnis Wedding Photography

Who is your ideal client? Who inspires you in your design? I absolutely love working with couples who value beautiful wedding flowers. As a Wedding Florist, I know what kind of impact flowers can have on the overall feel of a wedding, which not only affects the couple, but all the guests in attendance. There is a saying that people will not remember what you said to them, but how you made them feel. Beautiful flowers can transform a wedding into something that feels absolutely amazing, and besides your wedding pictures, this will be one of the takeaways that is ever-lasting. A wedding is one of the biggest events you will ever host in your lifetime, so incorporating elements, such as flowers, that allow your event to feel beautiful, romantic, natural, fun, soft, inviting, and welcoming is priceless. I get inspired by couples who not only value beautiful wedding flowers, but who are excited about getting married, like to have fun, and are easy-going. 

Describe the process of working with you. How would a couple interact with you from start to finish? The process of working with Love Letters Floral Design is a fun, creative, and collaborative process. Clients can contact me via phone or e-mail to set up an initial consultation. During the consultation we first discuss the overall basics, such as quantities, and then we dive into aesthetics by playing around with color combinations, styles, and flower options. Most of the communication after the initial consultation is done through e-mail or phone, however I have had second or even third in-person meetings. Sometimes it is just easier to discuss things in person! After the consultation I put together collages for the different floral pieces and get feedback from the clients on their likes/dislikes. Once the specific flowers are chosen I then put together an estimate for all the arrangements. There is fluidity to tweak the estimate depending on the couples budget by changing out flowers, decreasing the number of stems in each piece, or thinking of non-floral alternatives for some pieces. Once the estimate is okayed with the client I send over a formal contract. Generally I communicate most with clients when they are in the process of hiring their wedding florist and then again a few weeks before their wedding to finalize any outstanding details. I am always available, though, to be reached via phone or e-mail with questions.

Photo by Sarah Joelle Photography

What do you like to do For fun: There was a time when I used to say that for fun I created floral arrangements! My other fun involves getting together with friends, biking, cooking, yoga.

What food could you not live without? Gosh - this is probably the hardest question to answer! I love lots of different kinds of food. I would say it would be hardest to live without warm beverages, whether that be coffee, tea, cider, etc. A warm beverage always makes me feel better!

Where would you like to travel most?  Thailand is on the top of my bucket list of places to travel to. Not because of the beautiful beaches, amazing food, incredible culture, but to work/volunteer at an elephant sanctuary. I read an article in a magazine once of a woman who went to Thailand to work at an elephant sanctuary and it was the hardest, yet most incredible experiences she has ever had. I still have that article.

Photo by Brian Paul Mallik Photography

Photo by Tin Photography

Vendor Feature - Good 'Ol Fashioned Party

Its time for our first Vendor Feature and up today is an interview with Good 'Ol Fashioned Party owners, Heather and Kelly. 

Website: Good 'Ol Fashioned Party

Facebook: Good' Ol Fashioned Party

How long have you been in business?
Our website went live in September 2012, but we began working on our business plan early in 2012. So many times when working on a project,the planning becomes tedious and mundane and you can't wait to finish the planning and get started already. But I have to say that from the minute we conceived the idea of doing this, throughout the research, the networking, the meetings, and the creating it was a joyful process. And our excitement and love for this business has only increased with each and every event that we have been involved with.

What made you start Good ‘Ol Fashioned Party?
Kelly, my daughter got engaged early in 2012. Kelly and Jed had a very clear idea of what they wanted for their wedding and it involved a very vintage look. Therefore, we began early that year to haunt estate sales, vintage stores, and auctions. As our amazing collection grew, we knew that the items that Kelly needed to make her dream wedding come true would be perfect for other people wanting that vintage, shabby-chic feel for an event. My 20 year sales and marketing career with Warner Bros. was winding down and I had always dreamed of owning my own business. So, you might say it was in the cards to launch Good Ol'-Fashioned Party. We had the time, the desire, the creative spirit, and some perfect inventory items to start our business. And the rest is history!

What is your favorite part of owning your own business?
Honestly, what I love most about owning my own business is the industry itself. We have met so many amazing vendors, clients, venues, and other business owners. The event industry in Colorado is a very welcoming, helpful, and friendly group, and we have gotten some really helpful advice and support from so many people. Far and away, though, we have loved the families, couples, and corporations that we have worked for. Our 2013 events were all amazing and perfect, and the people that we met will always be a part of our business—they live on our website!

Since there are 2 of you, what are your primary roles in the business?
Although we have quirky titles, I think that our roles are very well defined, and Kelly and I work incredibly well together. Kelly is Director of All Thing Creative—she has the vision. Kelly will take a very abstract idea from a client and in a short amount of time expand it to every element of an event. My title is CEO—Chief Event Organizer. Drawing from my corporate event experience, I do the detail work of flawlessly pulling off the event. What has been interesting for both Kelly and I is learning how to work together as mother and daughter, and how her creativity rubs off on me and how Kelly has developed a great eye for organization and attention to detail, so our responsibilities are really interchangeable.  

Who is your ideal client?  Who inspires you in your design?
Our ideal client is someone who has a vision for their special day—that vision may be just a hint of an idea or a full-blown plan—and is looking for some help to pull it all together. We use our experience and creativity to make every aspect, every detail, a special and unique element a part of the whole. We are quirky and whimsical and our inventory for the most part is vintage, but we have worked with just about every style imaginable. We are inspired as our clients tell their stories, plus we're constantly using Pinterest as a repository for ideas and visions.

Describe the process of working with you.  How would a couple interact with you from start to finish?
We usually start with a phone call and a discussion of what services they are interested in—and many times even the couple isn't quite sure yet. Next, we will arrange an informal coffee meeting to get to know the couple, what their vision is, and how we can fit into their special day. Many times in that meeting we will share vendor suggestions, as in most instances we are one of the first contacts after securing a venue. (We've also done Day Of services with a 2 week notice, so this process can be very flexible.) We will be as involved as our clients want us to be, including helping with DIY projects, creating event timelines, running rehearsals, creating sitting areas, connecting with all vendors, and working with the wedding party. We are Girl Fridays when it comes to events. 

For fun:
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Kelly had the Coaches Scoop ice cream truck at her wedding—it was her husband's one request—so I'd have to say 30 flavors.

Where would you most like to travel?
A better question might be, "Where would we not want to travel??" My daughter inherited my wanderlust. My husband and I recently went on a tour of Spain, which included my friend's wedding in the hills above Malaga, and Kelly and Jed took their extended honeymoon in the fall to Paris, where they spent 2 glorious weeks immersed in the culture and spirit of Paris. We are planning Italy and Greece for next year and in between a historical trip to Savannah and Charleston.

Kelly in Paris with her husband Jed