Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Charity Hairston. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Charity, appreciate you joining us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?
Our plan began with us figuring out our targeted area, and deciding who we would service. Martinsville/ Danville VA and surrounding areas, Greensboro, Winston- Salem. Charlotte, NC and surrounding areas. Next on the list was creating a business name. We went back and forth for weeks with different names and Marvetta stated that she wanted to come up with a unique name that represents the both of us and our personalities. Ivy means devotion, loyalty and reliability, and this is what we bring our clients. Then we decided what services we were going to offer. Our services start with a discovery meeting with potential clients. This leads into finding out if the couple needs Full Planning, Partial Planning or Week of Coordination. After discovery, we develop a general plan that will be presented and finalized by the couple. Once a couple or client is booked, we move to the next phase by building and planning their timeline, finding a wedding/party venue, selecting vendors, booking and planning appointments, based on their needs and wants. Our first event together was the planning of our best friend’s wedding! We helped her find her perfect dress, venue, and much more! Although we both were in the wedding we had our very first team member Evande (Carla) Tarpley, execute the day of coordination. Everything went well and this is how we started Ivy Weddings & Events LLC.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
It all started with two long time best friends combining the love for planning and designing! Marvetta was in Atlanta, GA planning baby showers, birthday parties, weddings and corporate events. While I was here in Martinsville, creating invitations, websites and floral arrangements for weddings. Fast forward a few years Marvetta moved to her current location of Charlotte, NC. While she was planning a corporate event for her job and I was planning my brother-in-law’s wedding, she asked me, “What do you think about us combining our dreams and starting a business together?” First thing that came to my mind is “how is this going to work with me here in Martinsville and her in Charlotte?” After a talk with my husband, he said go for it and give it a try! So, the two of us sat down one weekend and made a business plan! Our services include, Full & partial wedding/event planning, Week of Coordination, Destination weddings, Anniversary and Birthday parties, including Baby showers and Gender Reveals. We also currently offer Invitation designs and prints for weddings, birthdays, baby showers and graduations, along with website creations and funeral programs. The main thing that I am proud of is that we started this business as friends, we have remained friends and that at the end of the day we will always be friends!
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
Marvetta and I met in kindergarten. Our teacher Mrs. West would always assign us as buddies for like lunch, bathroom, and classroom tasks, and from there on we have remained best friends for 35 years!
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Word of mouth has been our best marketing! We have started doing daily content such as Inspirational Monday’s where we will give you a color scheme, bride, groom, bridesmaids & groomsmen attire, wedding cake designs and floral bouquets. Tuesday Tips where we provide wedding planning tips & tricks, Working Women Wednesdays, where we promote women owned businesses. This or That Thursdays where we get your opinion on different wedding styles and lastly on Friday we will post our specials that we may offer or events that we have done! Be sure all of you follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok- @ivywedevents. We have also added our online bridal store, where you can purchase bridesmaid dresses and bridal accessories and our printing services! you can see both of those at www.ivythbrands.com and htt
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ivywedevents.com
- Instagram: @ivywedevents
- Facebook: @ivywedevents
- Other: https://printsoflove.com/ref/Ivywedevents www.ivythbrands.com tiktok: @ivywedevents
Image Credits
Mal’s Eye Photography