This January marks 10 years that I've owned MasterPiece Weddings and Events! An actual decade of MasterPiece!
What?! TEN YEARS!!
Ten years that I've gotten to do what I love. Ten years that I've watched my business grow into something that I'm unbelievably proud of. Ten years that I've gotten to be a part of this amazing industry full of incredibly talented fellow vendor friends. And ten years that I've worked with wonderful couples, many of whom have grown into friends after their special days.
I couldn't be more grateful, thankful, or excited to have made it to this point.
I was the girl who always wanted to be a wedding planner. Father of the Bride was a favorite movie of mine and ever since watching it as a tween-ager, I never could let go of the idea that I wanted to be a part of creating weddings in some way.
I collected ALL the bridal magazines growing up and made file after file of planning tips, floral inspiration, decorations and favor ideas. (Yes, this was most definitely before Pinterest was a thing!)
I gave my boyfriend's roommates some concerns when they found me surrounded by wedding magazines one day in college. That boyfriend, who is now my amazing husband of 18 years, calmly explained to them that this was just my dream and that I wasn't trying to convince him to propose. (He did that all on his own a couple of years later!)
It's been a crazy ride full of ups and downs, slow periods, and ones that were so busy I didn't know how we'd get through it. (Running a business with a newborn and two other boys under five is no joke!) And who could have ever seen covid coming, right?
I guess at the start of this brand new year, I'm getting a bit sappy and sentimental looking back at the last ten.
I continue to be in awe of the support of my husband, Chad, who's always been my biggest cheerleader and rock. He's someone who will brag about me to friends he knows getting married, listen to my crazy wedding stories, take care of dinner or the boys if a wedding emergency arises, and be the hard truth or kick in the butt I need when motivation might be lacking or frustrations run high. I know that I never would have made it all this way without him by my side.
I also get misty thinking back to my very first Mother-of-the-Bride, Kathy Wood, who took a chance on me. She was an employee at my bank and helped me open my bank account for the business. Her daughter just happened to also be getting married. She knew I was just beginning, but believed in me any way. Her faith meant everything to me and still does.
I'm more grateful than I could ever express to the fabulous Melissa Di-Stefano who literally taught me everything I know about wedding planning and was an invaluable mentor and friend. Because of her, I've had the opportunity to do the same for a truly amazing group of interns over the years who have gone on to accomplish fantastic things. A few have even opened their own businesses in the industry now too! I seriously couldn't be prouder that they were a part of the MasterPiece team. I also couldn't be more OVER-THE-MOON that 8 years after interning with me, Crysta Brown is not only rocking the catering scene with FTG Catering, but is re-joining MasterPiece as an Assistant Lead Planner!
I always share with students that the best way to learn how to do this job is LOTS of experience in it. It's not something you can learn out of a book. Every wedding is completely unique with it's own joys and challenges, family dynamics and love story. It's been an absolute honor learning something from each and every one over the last ten years.
Looking forward for 2022, it seems like the perfect idea to share the best tips and advice I can think of from weddings that stand out the most to me over the last decade of MasterPiece. Join me each month coming up for a bit of reminiscing with LOTS of best-practice tips thrown in on all things weddings! I can't wait to share what I've learned with all of you & hopefully provide a little inspiration for your big day as well!
I'll be picking a wedding topic a month and giving my favorite examples of it from past weddings. First up are First Looks! We've helped coordinate some truly magical ones over the years and I've got all the tips for how to make yours just as special!
In the meantime, I'd love to wish you and yours a very blessed & happy New Year! Thank you for being a part of a decade of MasterPiece Weddings! Let's see what's up next, together!
Happy Planning!
- Rachel
"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be the glory."
Ephesians 3:20
PS. A big shout-out & thank you to Kristin Kozelsky (who's about to become a MasterPiece Bride this spring!) for the amazing images, and to Kara Winslow Makeup Artist and Graceful Strands for the beauty skills and love! They've been a part of our wedding tribe since the very beginning, and I can't wait to work with them into 2022!
PPS. Did you just get engaged? Congratulations! Contact Us to see if we have your date available & how we can help make your wedding all that you've been dreaming of!