We were lucky to catch up with Lauren Shoemaker recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lauren, appreciate you joining us today. We believe kindness is contagious and so we’d love for you to share with us and our audience about the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

I remember a time when I felt like my dreams were nothing more than fleeting thoughts. I had an idea for a business—a wedding coordination business where every detail was not only perfectly planned but also perfectly executed—but the fear of failure is real. I spent weeks overthinking every detail, convinced that no one would take me seriously.

I casually mentioned my business idea to my husband, fully expecting him to dismiss it or brush it off as a pipe dream. Instead, he looked at me, really looked at me, and said, “That’s an amazing idea. You’re incredibly talented, and people love you, I love you, you should do this.” He believed in me.

His words weren’t groundbreaking, but the way he said them hit differently. There was no hesitation in his voice. No hint of doubt. In that moment, I also believed in me.

From that day on, his encouragement became a constant reminder that I was capable of more than I had given myself credit for. I slowly started building my brand, creating the website, and reaching out to potential customers. Every time I hit a roadblock or felt the familiar weight of uncertainty, I just remembered that I need to believe in myself for others to believe in me.

That belief fueled my confidence and pushed me forward, step by step. My business didn’t take off overnight, but with each small success, I felt more certain that I was on the right path.

Today, my business is thriving, I’ve built a six-figure business on my own and I’m truly passionate about what I do. While I’m much more confident in my role as a business owner, I’ll never forget my start and the belief my husband had in me.

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?

Hi, I’m Lauren!

Welcome to LS Planning & Co., an event planning company that focuses on making your dreams become your reality.

My passion for the wedding industry sparked when I was just 17 years old while I was working as a bridal stylist. It was then that I realized I had a servant’s heart and I not only wanted to help people, but I needed to. Nothing gives me more fulfillment than knowing I had a small part in making someone else’s dreams a reality.

My family can attest to this,-my love languages are gift-giving and acts of service, and I am naturally a terrible gift receiver. If you want to see someone clam up and go into an awkward spiral, give me a gift (no, really…don’t.)
I started this business, quite frankly because I was a recent bride who simply couldn’t cope with the idea of not making magic anymore…

Why LS Planning & Co?

I’m truly passionate about what I do.
My NO. 1 priority is making sure your vision is achieved.
Preparedness is my middle name! I’m committed to ensuring a smooth event from start to finish.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

No one really tells you how to start a business, right? There was tons of research involved to make sure I was ready to actually become a business owner.

Domains
LLC filings
BOI filings
Start-up fees
Legal fees
Initial advertising fees
Branding fees
CRM fees
CPA fees

It seems like the list is never-ending, and honestly, it’s really intimidating. Talk with people you admire, with peers, and with people who own similar businesses. When I did this, I was able to gather information on all of the things I needed to do and the associated cost of each item. I ended up spending just over $3,000.00 on my initial capital. I was able to save up by working my full-time position and set money aside.

Invest in yourself.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

I pour my heart and soul into each and every wedding-ensuring that I do everything I humanly can to ensure that my couples remain happy and stress-free all day. As a type-A Leo, who is also the oldest sibling, it’s in my blood to go the extra mile, and my couples feel that.

When you are a business owner, you are constantly selling yourself.

The best source of new clients for me is client referrals.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lsplanningandco.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ls_planning_/

Image Credits

(1) Kinsey Ann Photography
(2) Megan Smith Photography
(3) Kinsey Ann Photography
(4) Brittney Clapp Photography