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

Denise, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

My career has been event planning for over 6 years but in the corporate world. I worked for Harley-Davidson for the past 6 years along with corporate Managing at a local wedding venue. My daughter was married a year ago and being a planner of course I planned the wedding it was during that process that I sat back and thought about where life was heading after she got married. She would be moving out and our son was right behind her heading off to college. I always wanted to take the leap to start my own planning business but never had the guts. My husband, Marc told me after our daughter’s wedding I really needed to take the chance because he had such faith in me! Literally 2 weeks after her wedding I gave my notice and started One Fine Day! We were sitting at a family dinner and I brought up the idea and my daughter came up with the name. Every event is a FINE DAY even if it rains and the song One Fine Day was a song my dad and I used to dance to when I was little so it all seemed very fitting! Scared beyond belief to start a business but God has been so good along with vendors in the industry, friends and family! Our first official year has just closed and we celebrated 23 couples and 9 additional events so to say the least making the jump to start my business was definitely a blessing.

Denise, 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?

I have always been the type of person who loves to throw a party and over the top at that, haha……….. Making people smile and celebrating makes the heart happy so why not! I started One Fine Day with the goal of making peoples dreams come true no matter the budget. There are ways to make a celebrity wedding on a grapefruit budget you just have to be creative! I wanted my business to be more than a transaction but a real relationship with me and the client. If they lost a family member we grieve together, if they are stressed or frustrated I am a sounding board and of course we celebrate the exciting moments too! I have 2 couples who I helped plan their weddings and now are having babies and planning showers so the relationship continues which is what I really want; you become family! One Fine Day offers not only wedding planning but showers, birthdays, retirement, the possibility is endless!

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I began my social media presence by commenting under vendors in the industry, asking for information on their venues, catering, photography, etc. striking up conversations in DM’s, posting in my stories and tagging fellow vendors, doing a giveaway and including others in the industry to join no matter how small of an item. Consistency is key also.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Marketing, marketing and more marketing! I work my business daily! Posting on social media, visiting venues, attending open houses, grand openings and simply talking to folks about my business. Honesty and being personable will take you along way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.onefinedaysc.com/
• Instagram: onefinedaysc
• Facebook: One Fine Day Event Planner

Image Credits
Meredith Boggs, Lens with a Flare, Hannah Decossas