We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gabrielle Nelson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Gabrielle, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

Before I booked my first paid client, I was literally begging my friends and family to let me help with their events to gain some experience. A former coworker and a friend from high school ended up letting me coordinate their weddings, for free, in exchange for reviews. Those two events taught me a lot about how to prepare for a wedding, especially one you didn’t plan and don’t know the ins and outs of.
I used those reviews and my new-found knowledge to advertise on popular wedding vendor websites and post on Instagram, but it was slow moving. I had what felt like endless zoom consultations explaining to couples that I’m new to the industry, but I learn fast and work hard.
Eventually I had a call with an out-of-town bride who was looking for a local planner. I thought there was no way that she would trust me from across the country, but it turns out I had experience she wasn’t finding with other planners the area. We had a similar religious upbringing, I understood her traditions more than other planners she was talking to, we were a similar age, and just seemed to hit it off immediately.
I still remember when I got the notification that she paid the deposit and emailed over the signed contract. I told everyone who would listen that I had just booked my first client. I don’t think I slept that night. All I could focus on was putting together mood boards, updating spreadsheets, prepping binders, and building timelines.
I think about that wedding all the time. I’m so grateful that she gave me the chance and for how much I learned from that event.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I began Weddings by Gabrielle in June of 2022, but my true introduction into the industry started years earlier. Like many wedding planners, I learned how much I really enjoy planning after go through the process for my own wedding. In my case, I had gotten engaged in 2019 and planned on having my wedding in July of 2020. Due to a certain global pandemic, we had to postpone. All in all we ended up postponing 3 times. I have a collection of 4 different invites somewhere in my office because we had to change the date so many times.
After all was said and done, I spent 3 years planning my wedding. During that time, some of my vendors moved away, shut down their business, changed their offerings, or ended up being unavailable on our final date. Needless to say I learned a lot about pivoting, adapting, and I got really good at reading contracts. I’m also very skilled with a spreadsheet and iPad. I never thought of myself as very entrepreneurial, nor did I ever see myself owning a business, but I knew I could be good at this. I got started as soon as my husband and I got home from our honeymoon. It didn’t take long for me to find my footing in this industry.
Today, Weddings by Gabrielle is a premier wedding planning and design boutique serving couples throughout the Salt Lake Valley, Park City, and across Southern Utah landscapes like Moab. I offer full planning and design, taking all of the pressure off of couples who want a gorgeous wedding but are leading very busy lives. I offer coordination, for couples who prefer to plan themselves, but want to make sure the day runs seamlessly. I plan micro-weddings and elopements, design stationary, plan destination weddings, and everything in between. If I don’t have a package that fits your needs, I’ll create one.
My weddings are planned very intentionally and personally. My clients want a luxury and editorial feel, a focus on the guest experience, and a memorable events that’s talked about for years to come. I’m here to provide that.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Without a doubt, the idea you can please everyone. The pivotal backstory happened midway through planning a wedding for a couple with a beautiful vision. We had spent nearly a year carefully designing a cohesive, intentional reception that perfectly balanced their style and budget. However, later in the planning process, extended family dynamics shifted, and the parents of the bride stepped in with an entirely new set of demands that contradicted almost everything we had built.
In an effort to keep the peace and avoid confrontation, I attempted to accommodate everyone. We began reworking design mappings and pivoting vendor structures to appease the new requests. Ultimately, the compromises led to us going over budget, which was really disappointing after we had already been over an extensive budget forecast. Also, because I was trying to hold a middle ground between the couple’s original wishes and the parents’ new demands, I inadvertently became the “bad guy” to the family anyway.
It was a tough, eye-opening experience, but it completely revolutionized how I operate as a business owner. I had to unlearn the fear of setting firm boundaries.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I believe my reputation has been built on a foundation of intentional patience, open communication, and true vendor collaboration. There’s a lot of pressure in events, especially weddings. Not only is a lot of money poured into these events, but it’s one of the biggest days of the couple’s lives.
When hiccups and issues arise, we vendors do our best to keep the tension out of the reception halls, and it can really fester in the back of house. As the planner or coordinator, you can really turn that around. I always try to show up to weddings ready to be flexible and offer solutions. I always reach out to vendors I work with after an event and thank them for all their hard work. In turn, those organic relationships have become the primary driver for our high-end client referrals.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://weddingsbygabrielle.com
• Instagram: @weddingsbygab
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weddingsbygab/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@weddingsbygab