We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ehko Luckett. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ehko below.

Ehko, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

My mission in the wedding industry is to create and share memorable experiences that amplify the voices of others professionals and uplift the overall industry.

To accomplish this, I serve fellow wedding professionals through associate planning responsibilities, day-of-event support, and content creation via blogs, newsletters, and graphics. Because the industry is interconnected, I am able to serve almost all wedding professionals in the same way.

I appreciate seeing the world through the eyes of others, and this gives me an opportunity to draw inspiration from them to bring both our visions to life.

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?

I always wanted to own my own business, but never really knew what I wanted to do. I love so many different things and it seemed difficult to narrow it down to just one thing to start the business.

However, when I was forced to make some quick decisions during the pandemic, that’s when I realized everything I love had to do with supporting someone else and helping them achieve more. Combining that passion to serve others is how Ehkoing YOU was born. I didn’t want to be a wedding planner to a few couples. Instead, I chose to be an assistant to other professionals so I could maximize the number of people I serve.

I choose to support other wedding professionals in making their dreams come alive because it gives me a chance to serve more than just myself. I am able to write creative content for wedding planners and photographers and still be a part of the wedding day as a lead or associate planner for a different wedding professional.

The wedding industry has been my home for almost 10 years. Each wedding is like bland pieces of chicken; each one can be the exact same if you don’t add some seasoning. But when you add the right spices, each wedding is as unique as the couple being celebrated! Learning those unique concepts and ideas about each couple is what I enjoy the most about a wedding day.

From showcasing another wedding pro’s work to writing a blog article that captures your ideal client’s attention, the wedding industry provides a creative outlet that lets me serve others in the process. Even talking about my own wedding provides an opportunity to showcase the good, bad, and ugly sides of the industry. I don’t want couples to get “tunnel vision” on the things that are hyped up and forget about the real things that should matter.

For instance, I was so focused on the favors and giving “stuff” to my guests that I totally missed writing my vows and actually eating all day. Now, I am an advocate for not disturbing the couple during dinner. I want to protect that time for them to eat as newlyweds and just enjoy each other. There is plenty of time after dinner for them to enjoy everyone else. #sorrynotsorry

When it’s all said and done, each wedding professional has a unique way of going about their business. I want to help them grow their team, serve better-aligned couples, and reach new heights so they can enjoy the freedom their hard work has provided.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being a creative entrepreneur is the freedom I have. Being inspired is very important as a creative. There are days when I am overflowing with ideas and may work late into the evening or early morning hours. However, there are other days that I am completely tapped out and unable to function.

The freedom to work on a schedule that provides me harmony and satisfaction is truly rewarding. I can be at the park with my daughter and be inspired by the leaves falling or the joyous laughter of children enjoying the world around them.

I can work from almost anywhere as long as I have an internet connection. Respecting my body and my need to refuel lets creativity flow naturally. I give myself time and grace to meet deadlines so I never have to worry about “forcing” something on anyone.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The hardest lesson to unlearn was that there was only one way to go about growing my business. I thought that as an entrepreneur, you struggled for 2 – 3 years to get off the ground. You had to follow a certain path and do it the way that everyone else was doing it.

This isn’t further from the truth. My business has pivoted in so many directions and taken on some less-than-ideal clients who I served ineffectively. It wasn’t good for me or them, but the more I tried to force the path everyone else talked about, the less I felt like my business was serving others.

When I took a step back, talked to the right coach in the industry, and learned that my faith needed more focus, things became clear. I created a plan, stayed on the set path, and that’s when I began to flourish. It didn’t look like the path others took, but it looked like the path that was best for me and that was the best feeling of all.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ehkoingYOU.com
• Instagram: @ehkoingyou
• Facebook: @ehkoingyou
• Linkedin: @ehkoluckett

Image Credits
Photo credit: www.angelikakrugphotography.com IG: @angelikakrugphotography