I want to start by first thanking everyone who has supported me along the way. Everyone who encouraged me, starting with the very first blog post, the very first wedding with the first business I worked for and those who encouraged me and gave me advice. When I was beaten down because of a terrible interview and told I wasn’t cut out for this, there were a few of you who told me they were wrong and I could do anything I wanted to do, thank you for that. When I got negative feedback from my very first blog post and most of you told me not to quit and just keep going, thank you, I have now written 19, this one will make 20. The encouragement I’ve gotten from friends, family and even people I haven’t talked to in years has been so overwhelming.
I’ve been striving for this dream for over 3 years. The first week of college I started emailing wedding planners in the New River Valley and Richmond area asking for advice and if they needed any extra help, for no charge! I found one company and helped them a few times, I learned a lot, mostly what I wouldn’t do. I had a terrible interview with a woman who was a planner, by the time I got home I was in tears questioning if wedding planning was the path I should be on. My parents, Huck and his parents told me otherwise and to keep trying. There was so much rejection and I was giving up hope on my dream, that was until I met Katelyn Alsop for coffee. She and I have been friends ever since she and Michael came to the church, I’ve been so blessed to have such amazing friends who can inspire, encourage, laugh with and help. Katelyn gave me Kat’s information and from the first email I got in response to Kat, I knew I was going to love learning from her.
Kat was welcoming to me from start. I emailed her to ask her for some advice and what she recommended me to do since I was still in school and had no idea where to start. Not only did she answer my questions but she also told me I could shadow her at a wedding, I was elated. This was two years ago. Since then I have assisted Kat with numerous weddings, a styled shoot, and a conference, but most importantly I have learned so much from her. I’ve learned how to focus on detail, think on my feet, get creative, love deeply, be inspired and so much more. I am beyond grateful for Kat’s friendship and being able to learn from one of the best. Being a part of Kat’s team is something I have wanted but never thought would happen. When I got the phone call from her asking if I would want to be a part of DSE, I was speechless. All I could say was yes over and over, everything was a blur after I got off the phone. I immediately called my parents to tell them and was so happy!!! Since then, I’ve worked a couple weddings with her and the most recent one I was all by myself as soon as the ceremony began!!!
I was so nervous for this but I knew that if Kat trusted me enough to leave it all in my hands I could do it. I was surprised, but it went so well!! I only had to call Kat once and afterward we met back at her house and talked about both of our weddings. It was a long weekend, I was exhausted, drove more than I would have wanted but it was one of the best weekends I’ve ever had. I can’t wait for those weekends to continue and become the new normal.
So thank you, to everyone who helped me, encouraged me, inspired me and let me ramble on about all things weddings and pretty!
