Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Taylor Strope. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Taylor thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risk taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

Starting your own business feels like taking a step and not knowing when you will touch the ground again. Your foot falls and your stomach sinks, until all of a sudden you feel the step was there all along. I felt that when I took the risk to start Mountainside Events 6 years ago, and again when I decided to take it on full time 2 years later. However, with risk comes reward. I never thought that I would be under 30 and able to build a company like I did in such a short amount of time. I am so grateful for taking the risk so I can be my own boss, and plan so many amazing weddings and events. It truly is incredible to be a part of some of the best days of my clients lives and I will never look back!

Taylor, 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 first got started in the events industry over 10 years ago. My first large scale event I ever had to plan was a reception party for the state of Colorado in the middle of Austin, TX. Strange, right? From there I learned the trade of planning events for a non-profit until I stepped into a wedding planning role. However my story didn’t end there and it actually came full circle. I currently use my previous festival knowledge to plan an International Film Festival in addition to the other 30 weddings we do a year.

I am proud to have build a brand for my company, not only embracing the Colorado culture but also creating an amazing overall experience for the clients, guests, and attendees that go to our events!

Any advice for managing a team?

When I first built my team I didn’t realize how much I needed them. However, I think my favorite part about my team is how much fun we have at our events! When guests see our energy they want to match it and so when seeking out people to join our company I made sure to put that in the forefront. I want our work environment it be fun and exciting and even when it gets hard we keep a smile on our faces!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I am sure a lot of business owners can relate but immediately after the pandemic hit we were obviously effected and had to adapt to the circumstances. When our industry counts on large gatherings we were hit after what was supposed to be our best year yet. However, with that comes changes and we needed to adapt. One of the ways we did that was by introducing elopement packages and micro wedding packages for clients. We were able to partner with a local photographer to collaborate, not only to bring in income but also to support other local businesses. We are huge advocates for supporting local so these all-inclusive packages included products or services from 100% local businesses. If we succeed, we want our community to succeed too!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mountainsideevents.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/mountainsideevents
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/mountainsideevents
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mountainside-events-fort-collins

Image Credits
Johnny Robson Photography Sweet Justice Photography Lyndsey Leach Photography Janae Lopez Photography Love and Lens Jennifer Morgan Photography Danielle Roth Photography