We recently connected with Emily Vera and have shared our conversation below.
Emily, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
When I first started my college career at Oakland University, I had absolutely no clue what I wanted to do in the future. I started as a health science major and quickly transitioned to marketing. I was lucky enough to find an on campus group that planned an annual ball at Meadow Brook Hall & Gardens, a historical venue on campus, as a way to meet new people. Within a few weeks on the planning committee, I knew what I wanted to do with my life. As crazy as it sounds, I fell in love with the chaos and fast-paced environment of event planning. Throughout the planning process, I began to fall in love with the venue itself. I quickly researched job openings for students and I felt so lucky they were hiring an event specialist. The next 4 years of my life consisted of early mornings and late nights at Meadow Brook assisting the event planners through weddings, showers, corporate parties, and more.
Meadow Brook hall is where I fell in love with the idea of having a role in one of the most important days of someone’s life. While also working at the venue, I was able to intern at the corporate level for a company which later transitioned into a full-time role, post-graduation. Forty hour work weeks and several work trips on the calendar meant I had to step away from the place where my love for events began. I always knew in the back of my mind that it would be something I come back to one day whether working for a venue, or fulfilling a dream and working for myself.
In 2022, I had a friend reach out requesting I be her day of coordinator for her wedding. Having someone seek me out to be a part of their day meant the world to me and I knew it was the right time to return to the industry I truly loved. It was the perfect time. Slowly I began to have more friends and family reach as they began planning their own weddings. A few years later, I’m fortunate enough to have multiple clients each month that I get to work with across so many incredible venues and working alongside so many talented wedding professionals within the industry.
On the other hand, I’m also incredibly lucky that I have a full-time job in addition to my wedding planning business that I love just as much. A job that of course, involves events as well.
Finding a spot in this world where I can do what I love in two different industries has been nothing short of a blessing. I’m incredibly lucky to work with the people that I do and I wouldn’t change a thing.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Within my wedding planning business, I offer both day of planning or full-service coordination. Essentially the packages are just as they sound, either day of, or planning from engagement to the end of your wedding day!
One thing I’d love my clients to think when looking back on our experience together is that we have built a friendship along the way. Being trusted with someone’s wedding day is something I don’t take lightly and having a friend & someone you trust can make such a difference. For many couples, they’ve spoken about their wedding day for years and what they envision it to look like. I take pride in doing anything I can to bring the vision to life, as cliche as it sounds.
I’m incredibly proud of the business I’ve built on my own. Occasionally I’m lucky to have friends or peers assist on a wedding day when I need extra hands and for that I’m very grateful. The work and hours I put in on my own behind the scenes and outside of my day job hours are what I’m proud of. Early mornings and late nights (currently one of those late nights as I’m writing this) prior to the wedding are not always easy, but when I get to see the smiles and happy tears on my clients faces, I know it is worth every second.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
I’m very lucky that I meet a lot of clients through existing or past clients! Whether it is during the planning process or at a wedding day of, I often have couples approach me asking if I’m the planner and if I’m available on their day. These moments and referrals mean so much as they’ve heard directly from other clients or have seen how I operate on the day of the actual wedding. Plus, then I get to see previous clients at future weddings too! Seeing them at other weddings I’m lucky to be a part of is one of my favorite things about this job.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
Truthfully connecting with my clients on a personal level has been instrumental in growing my clientele. Sometimes, I work with a client for years and others, they book me a month out from their wedding if I’m available. Building a friendship and rapport with them is crucial. I won’t even get in to how hard it is once the wedding is over and we essentially say good-bye!
I am so lucky that a majority of my business is based on referrals of past or current clients. Building a relationship with my clients throughout the planning process whether I’m their day-of or full-service planner is the most important part of what I do, As I’ve mentioned, they’re trusting me with one of the most important days of their lives. When I get a text, DM, or e-mail from a couple and they mention I’m currently a planner for their friends or family members, it means the most. In several cases, the wedding hasn’t even happened yet and they feel that confident in my skills to deliver and plan the perfect day for them!
I wouldn’t change a single thing about my career. I’ve grown a business on my own and absolutely love my corporate job as well. I really don’t know how I got so lucky.
Contact Info:
- Website: emilyveraevents.com
- Instagram: @EmilyVeraEvents
- Facebook: Emily Vera Events
Image Credits
Main photo of myself – https://capturedbyk.com/ & instagram – @capturedbykelseymi All others were taken by me.