Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cheryl Palmer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Cheryl, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

It may sound cliche, but I really would love it if when people spoke about me, they say that I was kind and loving. In my family relationships, my friendships and in my work life, my biggest goal is to make the people around me feel calm and at peace and most of all to feel valued. Having been given the blessing of raising three boys, I think it was God’s mission to teach me patience and to understand that perfection is not real…that the relationships we build and the impression we leave with people are everything!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am excited to have the opportunity to share a little bit of my story with all of you.
I can honestly say that I truly had no idea I would be living out a dream in this phase of life that I didn’t even fully understand I had for myself. I have always been content within each stage of my life, recognizing and appreciating the opportunities and the relationships that came along with it. I am grateful to have had an awareness for what was in front of me at the time and I continue to try to be mindful and present in the moment with those around me that matter most.
Marrying the love of my life (David) and having the privilege of being mom to three amazing boys (Taylor, Payton and Eli), is by far the greatest joy I will ever experience!
Here is a little bit about how I ended up where I am now in my career. When my boys were old enough to start to school, I was so excited to dive into volunteering for just about everything I could be a part of. After several years of volunteering, I started “officially” working at the school which enabled me to expand on the relationships that had been forming in what had become our home away from home for several years already. The parents, the co-workers, the students ~ they all became extended family, forming friendships we will treasure forever.
I had no way of knowing that 12 years later I would go through a challenging discernment process that would lead me to make the decision to leave the comfort, security and familiarity that I knew for so long and walk straight into the unknown. With the support of my family, and a huge leap of faith, it felt a lot like jumping off of a cliff without a parachute, but even with all of the emotions that come with leaving someplace that held such a huge piece of my heart, there was a contentment that it was the right thing to do, and that it was all going to be okay.
Well, I am here to tell you it was more than okay, it was the start of a transformation I still have trouble describing to people.
I was able to dive into the artwork that had taken a back seat for a really long time, participating in some art shows and doing a lot of commission work.
People knew that I had worked on several events over many years at the school and started asking me to help out with their special events which included birthday, dinner, graduation and engagement parties, bridal and baby showers, and even a couple of weddings within the first year. It is hard to explain how quickly that turned into multiple events every week, I am really not even sure when that happened…I am just so very grateful that it did!
I remember the hardest part about making the decision about leaving my position at the school was missing out on the relationships, I had no idea that not only would those relationships continue into their next chapters as well, but that it would expand tenfold as I now get to meet and work with the people that are important to them as well.
My goal when working with families is to take the stress out of the equation for them, I want them to lean on me for everything that makes them feel overwhelmed in the process. It should be a fun time for everyone involved, and if I can help make that their reality, then mission accomplished!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I began this new adventure in the summer of 2017, In the spring of 2022 our world was turned upside down with the loss our youngest son to a brain hemorrhage due to a dual arteriovenous fistula and sudden onset acute leukemia, just a few days after his 20th birthday (and just two months after losing my mother). To say our hearts shattered into a million pieces would be an understatement, it was unexpected and unimaginable. Eli was the heart of our family, the best of all of us. The outpouring of love and support brought us to our knees with prayers of thanksgiving for the community that rallied around, lifted us up and still continues to do so. This support, and our strong faith, helped us to recognize the beautiful gift we had been given for 20 years. I had been told was medically impossible for me to have any more children after some complications with my other two boys, so he was truly a miracle from the very beginning.
In addition to all of the amazing love we experienced in the days and months following the loss of Eli, I also had this job that I believe played (and continues to play) a huge role in my healing. You can’t just postpone someone’s wedding because you are sad, you can’t cancel events because you aren’t feeling up to it. No, you have to get up, get dressed and be “ON” every single day. I know with all of my being that God placed me where I need to be, surrounded by all things love and joy and hope and promise…every single day.

I don’t for a moment take for granted the trust people place in me to help them plan their special days, and although it can be physically exhausting at times, it is always humbling to get to be a part of someone’s story, and to get to share in the biggest days of their lives.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Because of the way my business started, and because I was doing so many different things, I never really had the time to formulate a true business plan. I stayed busy helping people I knew with their projects and special events and then their friends and family members started to reach out as well. All of my clients are either people I know personally or have been referred by someone I know or have worked with. What I love most about this is that we get a chance to start off our new venture having a connection already and we just build from there.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @cherylpalmerdesigns
• Facebook: Cheryl Palmer Designs

Image Credits

Geaux Garcia Photography – Eric Garcia
Butterflies of Hope -BOH by Katelyn
Natalie Miller Photography
Jennie Frey Rhodes Photography
Lizzie Jones Photography