We were lucky to catch up with Kirsten Bierlein-Hollenback recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kirsten, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

After begrudgingly leaving a job that I thoroughly enjoyed in March 2020- my newborn and toddler in tow- I knew in my gut that it was time to pursue my biggest fear- life as an entrepreneur.

Starting a business is not for the faint of heart. Starting a business when the world has turned all topsy-turvy even less so. But that’s exactly what I did. And it was not without its trials and tribulations.

After witnessing the immense need within the wedding industry for planning (or, more specifically, RE-planning) weddings due to COVID, I knew deep down that there was an opportunity to use my skill set and background to my advantage by starting a wedding planning and coordination company. I started out small, primarily working events in conjunction with a local photographer, until I gained the confidence to step into my own and fully embrace life as a solo entrepreneur.

And what a wonderful, terrifying, anxiety-inducing, rewarding whirlwind it’s been. From developing a strong voice in a sometimes-oversaturated market, to building a client base, to the constant push and pull regarding decisions to scale, every day there is some sort of seemingly monumental decision that needs to be made.

But what makes all of that push-and-pull decision-making worth it is really quite simple: freedom. It’s the freedom and flexibility to choose my own hours- my own clients and projects! It’s the ability to pick up those two little kids- now almost 6 and 4- from school every day. It’s the flexibility to attend field trips and serve as a Room Parent.

COVID negatively impacted so many of us, in so many nuanced and complicated ways. Ways that we as a society will have to continue to sort out for years to come. But for all that it took, it also sometimes strangely, gave. I truly don’t know if I would have ever had the courage to start my own business had it not been for leaving a job I loved to protect and provide for my kids in the midst of a very unknown time. But in the midst of so much sorrow and chaos, something beautiful was built, and for that I will forever be grateful.

Kirsten, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

The OPAL Affair, LLC. is a licensed and insured event planning company that specializes in curating expressive & meaningful events for the bold, stylish af, and slightly irreverent anti-bride in all of us.

Providing wedding planning services ranging from Month of Coordination to Full-Service Planning, we are experts in logistics, problem-solving, and creative design. We invite our clients to experience wedding planning (and beyond!) the OPAL way; very calm & level-headed.

Personally, one of the aspects of business ownership that I am most proud of (and passionate about) is our fierce commitment to our company Core Values: Responsibility, Collaboration, Innovation, and perhaps most importantly, Integrity. In an industry where anyone can call themselves a business owner, The OPAL Affair strives to set ourselves apart by maintaining a deep responsibility to self, others, and our planet, innovation in the ways of always seeking education and embracing improvement, using collaboration as a language of love, and showcasing integrity through radical sincerity, honesty, and authenticity.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

One of the first things I tell every client is that coordination and planning services are not always about simply preventing things from going awry, but rather being able to quickly and successfully pivot when they inevitably do. Events are planned, hosted, and pieced together by humans, and humans inherently just are not perfect. Something- no matter how miniscule or massive- will go just slightly askew of the plan, that’s a promise. And it’s the job of an exceptional planner or coordinator to successfully navigate those situations.

On the jobsite, I’ve done everything from cutting a massive wedding cake on-the-fly when catering wasn’t staffed to handle it, to getting an impromptu education in plumbing when the portable toilet trailer sprung a leak and water gushed out the front door and down the stairs at an immaculate, outdoor tented wedding. How much time do we have? I could tell a few more…

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I’ve had the unique and distinct pleasure of growing up in the shadow of some of the wisest, most successful and sincere entrepreneurs. And while for many years I may have been too young and rebellious to fully grasp the lessons they were teaching me, everything I learned came back full circle after starting The OPAL Affair.

I strive to get it right, every time. I strive to give 110%, every time. For years I watched my mentors be impeccable with their word, and that is an aspect of business ownership that I hold close to my heart. Empathy is needed, but so is accountability, and I never stop working on perfecting that balance in all of my business interactions.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theopalaffair.com
• Instagram: @theopalaffair
• Facebook: @theopalaffair
• Pinterest: @theopalaffairevents

Image Credits
Jill DeVries Photography Mary Shelton Media The Smiths Film Evan Davies Photography