Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Olivia Nelson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Olivia , thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?
I’ve been a wedding coordinator for over 5 years and spent almost 10 years in the entertainment world, so I’m very used to having to be prepared for the unexpected & think on my feet! When I got into the wedding industry, I leaned heavily on the skills I had cultivated in production to anticipate others’ needs and be ready for anything! I built out a very extensive emergency wedding kit that I bring to every wedding just in case something goes wrong. I’ve sewn a bride’s veil back onto the comb moments before she walked down the aisle, hemmed lots of groomsmens’ pants, built bridal bouquets & boutonnieres – I even super glued a bride’s father’s shoe back together!
In the summer of 2022, I was at one of those weddings where every single thing that could go wrong did go wrong. The bride & her mom had brought their own “emergency kit” consisting mostly of safety pins, a mini sewing kit and extra lip gloss. Needless to say, by the end of the night, we’d used almost everything in my own kit. I remember thinking “Man, I wish there was a place where these girls could save themselves the trouble of thinking through yet ANOTHER detail on their day & just buy a box that includes only the things they will actually use.” Thus the bridal box idea was born!
I spent months identifying the most common needs on a wedding day & made sure they were accessible for everyone. My brides & grooms are always so grateful when I show up with my kit – and now anyone can buy a mini version of it!
Olivia , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I was raised in small town North Carolina & after graduating from college in 2015, I moved to Nashville to pursue a career in film production. My time in TV & entertainment was spent designing & staging sets, wardrobe assisting, crew work & producing music videos. I started coordinating weddings about 5 years ago when a friend asked me to coordinate her son’s wedding. Shortly thereafter, they opened a wedding venue and I coordinated every wedding for them! It was through those opportunities that I realized the skills required to design & follow a wedding timeline are almost exactly the same as those required to produce & run a film set – so it was a natural transition.
I love, not only creating an experience for the guests, but bringing a couple’s dream wedding to life. At every wedding, there’s the moment when the couple walks in, looks around & smiles. That’s my favorite moment of the whole day. If I can help them get through the night with joy and laughter, then I’ve done my job well!
After hundreds of weddings, I really have a handle on exactly what is good to have around – and what is a waste of money. So, when I designed the boxes, I spent time a LOT of time on the details. I crafted the boxes where every single thing inside can be used or re-used (including the box itself!). I also include little tips & tricks for making the day even more wonderful & stress-free!
My proudest moment was when I gifted a box to a bride and her mom told me that for her other daughter’s wedding day, they spent almost $400 on an emergency kit and still didn’t have everything they needed!
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I once thought that, if you have a great idea, success will naturally follow. But that’s simply not the case. A great idea is just the jumping-off point. Success comes with hard work, consistency & perseverance – emphasis on the “work”.
A great mentor once said to me, “There are people out there who’re much less creative than you but much more successful than you simply because they were willing to put in the work.” I never forgot that.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I think our society often forgets how important it is to take care of other people… To love well and to truly will the good of another person. So, in my own little way, I try to extend that to my couples.
Here’s this beautiful couple that has put so much time & energy into making sure that their guests have a wonderful time & that every single person in attendance is thought of. Why wouldn’t I want to give that same attention & thoughtfulness back to them?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bridalboxesbyliv.com
- Instagram: @bridalboxesbyliv
Image Credits
Product Photos: Liz Courtney Photography Photo of Me: Arielle Thomas Photography