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

Lauren, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

The reason I started Lauren Yvonne Design 6 years ago was clear to me from the beginning: I wanted to move forward with my own business and was dead set on not getting another 9 to 5. I have always been creative and I was looking for an outlet where I could work with people, create, and, most importantly, make my own schedule. I’d say the first few years were spent discovering my style and fine-tuning it. I also had to figure out everything associated with running a business. When you’re not self-employed, the back-end stuff is all taken care of for you: taxes, licensing, overhead, supplies, etc. Being your own boss comes with a lot of up-front costs. I had to research exactly what I needed to set up a business in Phoenix and get it taken care of. From there, I started my Etsy shop and offered only printable invitations. It was ok, but I still felt like I was missing something. So, I started to offer printed invitations and a line of semi-custom invitation designs. With that, I had to find reputable printers and suppliers. While all of this is happening, I still had to learn social media, Pinterest, photograph my designs, and set up a stand-alone website…and then there’s networking. It’s a LOT to take on and a never-ending process.

Lauren, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a native New Englander and started out as a jewelry designer after graduating from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. I was in the fashion jewelry industry for over 20 years before my husband decided he didn’t want to stay in Massachusetts. So, long story short, we moved to Phoenix right after Thanksgiving 2016 and I found myself in a new city, not knowing anyone, and trying to figure out what I wanted to do. So I started to think about what I could do, and what skills I have and can bring to the table. I really enjoy working in programs like Illustrator as well as watercolor painting and drawing so I wanted something where I could use these skills and create. Wedding invitations were the most obvious to me. I really enjoy the process of creating custom wedding invitations from sketch to the final product. I work with couples on a personal level and pull elements from their lives that have meaning, celebrate their connection, and tell their love story. Whether we work with bold colors, soft pastels, or classic black and white, I strive to create invitation suites that are timeless and unlike anything else.

One of my favorite invitation suites and one I am so proud of is from Zhenni and Will’s wedding last March. It’s a beautiful combination of their history as well as traditional Chinese elements and colors. Zhenni requested I include mudan flowers (peonies), Yuanyang birds (Mandarin ducks), and the double happiness symbol in their suite. Her color palette was red, pink, and dusty blue. I also remembered her mentioning that Will proposed on a trip to Japan so I wanted to include an element from there (the yagasuri pattern on the back). Once I had this information, I started my research, my initial sketching, and then put together their first invitation suite mood board and sketch. This is always the part where I get excited because I’ve taken everything we talked about, everything they shared with me, and put the colors and elements together to put their vision into something more tangible. It’s this part that is such a beautiful challenge to me because I am getting out of my head and “out of the box”. It’s not about me, it’s about the couple. I want them to see themselves in their invitations and I want their wedding guests to know that it’s from them the moment the envelope is opened. Even before they read the invitation.

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

The best source of new clients for me is from other Phoenix wedding industry professionals. I cherish each and every connection I make and have so much respect for the people in this industry. I have never met so many hard-working and creative people. I often wish I had started in the wedding industry sooner. I really enjoy it.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I think communication, honesty, and being real have helped me build my reputation. I value these things and I expect the people I work with the hold these same values. I believe it’s a good base for any relationship.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://laurenyvonnedesign.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenyvonnedesign
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurenyvonnedesign/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenyvonnedesign/
• Other: Etsy: laurenyvonnedesign.etsy.com

Image Credits
@lesleybodwellphotography @melissaivyphotography @sajephotog