We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cherae Crump a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Cherae, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
As a venue owner and event designer, my business is all about celebrating life. The motto “You only have one life to live, and it deserves to be celebrated” speaks to the heart of what I do. This mission came to be as I went through my own journey of healing and self-discovery and I came to the realization of the deeper hidden layer that many of us struggle to see and celebrate our own worth, as did I. However, through my personal breakthrough and discovery of my true self and worth, I now have a strong passion and desire to share that same transformative experience with others through my work.
I am passionate about utilizing my gifts and creating beautiful memories for my clients, focusing not just on the aesthetics of their events, but also on the emotional impact. I’ve learned that many people battle feelings of unworthiness and celebrating themselves, and I want to change that narrative through my services.
When clients choose to work with me, my aim is for them to have a truly special experience, surrounded by beauty and feeling valued and important. I believe that everyone deserves to feel celebrated and appreciated, and I strive to provide a personalized touch for every single one of my client’s events that leaves a lasting impact.
At the core of my work is the desire to help clients recognize their value and the beauty of life, by creating beautiful memories where they can celebrate themselves, their loved ones, and truly enjoy life… because at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. By infusing my events with positivity and love, I hope to bring joy to every celebration I am a part of. Making a difference in the lives of those I serve is my ultimate goal, and I am inspired by the transformative power of connection and celebration.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Cherae Crump and I am the owner and creative mind behind Valor Venue and Valor Decor, a venue and event design company with a mission to celebrate life and create beautiful memories for our clients.
My journey into this industry began from an instagram ad lol. I was on a personal journey of self healing and growth and at the time, I was working a 9-5 that I wasn’t very happy at. As I began to truly heal and grow, I began to want more for myself. So one day, I came across this instagram post, of my now mentor Nehemiah Davis, that caught my interest. He was offering this event space course, but what truly caught my interest was seeing the freedom that he had in his life and how he was truly able to enjoy it, and that’s ultimately what I initially wanted. Financial freedom and time freedom. So I took a leap of faith in 2020, at the height of Covid, quit my job and started Valor Venue.
At first I was just following the course guidelines and hosting events, but as I continued to evolve personally, so did my business and I began to infuse more of myself in the business. I always had a creative niche and enjoyed doing DIY projects and creating different things, so in 2021, I made the decision to start utilizing my creative gifts and started offering decor packages at my venue and decorating m my client’s events. At first, I didn’t think too much of it or really see it as being something, but shortly after, the decor packages became our #1 most booked service and my clients fell in love with my work and began requesting it for off-site events.
Again, I still really didn’t think too much of it or see it as being something at the time, but once again, as I continued to evolve personally and unlock hidden layers within myself, the same happened for my business. My craft evolved and my vision for the business continued to expand.
In 2022, Valor Decor was birthed and I started offering decor services off-site. And here we are now, continuing to grow and expand.
At Valor Venue, we offer a range of services including venue space, event design, and coordination to help our clients bring their visions to life. Our goal is not only to create visually stunning events but also create an overall experience to where our clients feel truly seen, special, and worthy of celebration.
What sets us apart from others in the industry is our deep commitment to fostering a sense of self-worth and appreciation in our clients and not only focusing on how the event looks, but also how it makes them feel. It’s not just about creating beautiful aesthetics; we look at it as another opportunity to connect with and pour into another soul and strive to create a meaningful moment and experience that will leave a lasting impact. Our dedication to celebrating life and creating uplifting experiences is at the core of everything we do.
One of the things I’m most proud of is the journey of growth and transformation that I have experienced, both on a personal and professional level. This evolution has not only shaped me as an individual but has also played a pivotal role in shaping the direction and success of my business. I’m proud of the strides I’ve made in honing my craft, expanding my creative abilities, and deepening my understanding of the impact that thoughtful and intentional event design can have on individuals and their experiences. This continuous growth fuels my passion and commitment to delivering exceptional service and creating unforgettable moments and experiences for my clients.
What I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know about Valor Venue is that we are more than just an event design company – we are a team of passionate individuals who are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of those we serve. Our work is driven by a genuine desire to bring joy, love, and positivity to every event and life we are a part of, and we strive to create unforgettable experiences that celebrate the beauty of life and connects us all.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Absolutely. So last year 2023, my business hit a rough patch. In the previous two years, everything was going smoothly, business was doing great, I was in an amazing space personally, and then suddenly, out of no where, it all started going downhill. Bookings dried up, clients were calling to cancel or postpone their events, we were marketing but nothing was coming in, people and things in my personal life started falling apart… it literally seemed as if everything around me started crashing down and the ground had been pulled out from under me. At first, my initial reaction was I panicked. But when I truly took a moment to sit and be still and really observe what was happening, I knew everything that was happening was happening for a reason.
Even though this was one of the toughest and most challenging times in my life, I can honestly say that it was exactly what I needed to propel myself forward. Instead of giving up and calling it quits like I could have, it pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone, to think outside the box and truly tap into my creativity, to innovate, to adapt, to dive deeper within myself, and to push myself harder than I ever had before. And now, standing here today, I can honestly say that I’m thankful that everything happened the way it did because if it weren’t for that difficult period, I would have never known or unlocked my true capability and be the strong, resilient, and determined business owner and woman that I am now.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I’m actually experiencing a turning point in my life right now lol. The direction I thought things were going to go with my business, with life, and the way I visualized it all unfolding, actually took a turn and went in the complete opposite direction. The venue location I thought I was going to forever be at, I’m no longer at. The home I thought I was going to be at for the next year or 2, I’m no longer at. People who I thought were going to be in my life forever, are no longer there. Literally everything happening in my life has caused me to SHIFT… But one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned on this journey as an entrepreneur and also through this journey of life, is to not resist and learn to flow with life. There’s a deeper reason behind everything that happens and I’ve learned to trust how life unfolds for me, and not fight against it because I know everything is happening FOR me, both the good and “bad”. So even though on the surface of things, it look like everything has fallen apart… on the deeper side, I know it’s all intentional and everything is being put together and aligned perfectly, and I couldn’t be more excited for the shift that’s taking place and this new beginning that’s emerging. Just as the famous quote says, “The vision remains the same, only the path to reach it may change”. And I can now fully understand and attest to that.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.valorvenue.net
- Instagram: @valor.venue | @valor.decor
- Facebook: facebook.com/valor.venue
- Youtube: Valor Venue
- Other: TikTok: @valor.venue
Image Credits
@noceilingz @clearshutter.photo @taurin.mcc