We recently connected with Marquita Gooch-Voyd and have shared our conversation below.
Marquita, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One of the toughest things about entrepreneurship is that there is almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?
The pandemic was definitely an unexpected occurrence. It was definitely an eye opening experience. I had to implement several safety protocols to continue to marry people especially requiring masks and routinely getting COVID tests. The upside of such a tragedy is the fact that it made many couples rethink their wedding plans and choose an elopement over a huge wedding. Many of my couples opted for smaller ceremonies at the peak of the pandemic and had a larger ceremony some time later. There were several couples that enjoyed my services so much that they asked me to officiate their large ceremonies.
Marquita, 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?
Named for Marquita (owner and primary Officiant), her husband and their child who’s names also begin with the letter M, MV3 Events is a wedding officiant and ceremony consultation small business. In addition to officiant services, we have also offered DJs, photography and videography packages. We also have a preferred vendor list serving as a one stop shop for everything that the happy couple will need!
The main thing clients will get from us is a high level of communication and respect for their wishes. Weddings are meant to be memorable for all parties involved but most importantly the happy couple. The two people who are committing their lives to one another should be the focal point and they rely heavily on the officiant to convey that message of love to their guests.
We’ve also added two new officiants to the fold so that if I’m not available, we can bring in a junior level officiant to deliver the same quality service, even down to just signing the marriage license.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
I’ve had two really consistent methods of sourcing new clients. The first is profiles on both Wedding Wire and The Knot. Those are the top two websites that most couples visit to begin their marital journey. They allow couples to contact potential vendors directly creating a more personal touch, especially for the DIY couple. There is a cost to being on these sites but as the old adage goes, you have to spend money to make money. So far, it has definitely paid off.
The second source is simply word of mouth. I’m incredibly grateful for all past couples that have shared testimonials, reviews and even social media posts! Those things really help spread the word and have allowed me to meet some great people. One of the greatest testaments to this is the fact that I had an opportunity to marry sisters! The second sister was wed almost a year after the first. When I asked what made them think of me, she said, “you did such an amazing job with my sister’s ceremony, I just KNEW you had to facilitate mine as well.” Those kinds of moments are what keep me going.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
One lesson I had to learn was to not sell myself or the services I provide short. It takes a lot of planning, organizing and coordinating to craft a wedding ceremony script. Sometimes, there are couples that have everything planned which makes it easier and others need a bit of coaching to get things together. I married a couple once that booked and paid for a basic ceremony. When I arrived, they had completely changed what was discussed and added in things that I normally would charge more for because of the time it takes to write it all out. I was caught so off guard that I didn’t have a chance to process what was really happening before it was time for the ceremony. I didn’t want to cause a ruckus, especially on this bride’s big day, so I made the adjustments as quickly as I could and everything else was off the cuff. I pride myself on being a person who is quick on their feet and can roll with the punches but if I can be prepared ahead of time, I make sure to do that. I didn’t bother worrying the couple with what would’ve been an extra fee. I chalked it up to a lesson and definitely learned from it. I’ve implemented protocols to prevent this from happening in the future and so far it has worked out nicely. I think it also lends itself to my ability to adjust quickly and not let a setback be the downfall of my business or make me think that every couple acts in this manner.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://g.page/mv3-events—wedding-officiant?share)
- Instagram: @mv3events
- Other: https://www.theknot.com/marketplace/mv3-events-atlanta-ga-2033361
Image Credits
Melvin Voyd