We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Veronica Andrews. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Veronica below.
Veronica , appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear how you think where to draw the line in terms of asking friends and family to support your business – what’s okay and what’s over the line?
I was so nervous at first to tell friends/family I finally wanted to start my own event planning/wedding planning business. I’m not sure why I was so nervous! The first person who made me realize I needed to open my own was my best friend Brenda. After working her wedding as her Day of Coordinator, she received a lot of compliments from family and friends regarding how attentive I was, caring, detail oriented, and on top of things. She then said “Babe, I don’t know why you don’t do this for a living,” I thought about it and finally asked myself the same; “Why didn’t I do this for a living?”
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
It all started with me having to be creative for my birthday parties as a teen. My mother was a single disabled mother, and we did not have very much money. I remember making a lot of my own decorations and making a Schedule of Events for all my parties. Including what time, we’d be playing games, cutting the cake, and doing gifts; even when the party ended. My guests always loved my list, and homemade baked good we normally had the parties. They were always memorable for all of us. When my Super Sweet 16 came out, most girls watched it and dreamed their Sweet 16 was like that. As for me, I sat with a notepad and took notes on all the things I would change about the show, and how I would make my party better. I should have known back then this is where I was meant to be, I planned my parties the rest of my teenage years, and then in my young adult years, I started doing surprise parties for all my close friends. I started to realize I absolutely adored seeing their surprised faces, planning the food, drinks, games, gifts… everything brought me such joy because I LOVE making others feel good, and make them smile. But most girls always dream of their wedding day when they were younger, and my love of wedding never stopped. Weddings are magical because every single one you work/go is different. I had been waiting over 9 years for my best friend Brenda to get married so I could be her Maid of Honor for her big day. Well, in March 2019 I got the Facetime she was engaged. I already knew I was going to be her Maid of Honor, and I was so excited to help her plan everything! Brenda was to be married on October 10th, 2020, but unfortunately with Covid, she ended up switching the date twice and ended up marrying her soul mate April 9th, 2021. Because she had to switch her big day to a micro with the Covid guidelines she needed a Coordinator and planning help. I ended up stepping in to do the job to give her a stress-free day. I helped keeping everyone on time, I showed vendors where to set up, and I even told guests when it was time to take their seats for the big day. The day was a success, and then Brenda finally said “Babe, I got so many compliments on how lucky I am to have a maid of honor like you, and how they had never seen someone go so above and beyond for me. You really need to finally go into business for this.’ I then looked at her and say “Yeah, maybe you’re right.” After doing research, on June 25th, 2021 I opened the doors to I Can Go The Distance Events. Where my motto is to “Go the Distance” for anyone who needs an event planner. Because of how busy I’ve been, I’ve added two assistants to my Team of Heroes; Gina Davis who is the other half of my backbone in this and travels with me on your big day to help make sure everything goes as planned. Gina and I have known each other for years, and we work very well together. (considering Gina used to be my boss) My second assistant is my incredible boyfriend Tom. He loves my business as much as I do, and wants to really see it “go the distance” so he goes the distance for the business by helping relieve stress, move things around, and helps me with anything I need help with. He is truly a team player, and I’m so excited to have him! I go the distance for anyone who comes into my life, and sticking by my motto means so much to me. I now help plan events for any special event there is, and I couldn’t feel more blessed to have all the support I do from My “Team of Heroes,” best friends, boyfriend, and mother.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the many lessons I have learned while working in this industry is not everyone is going to like you. I love meeting new people, talking about goals with others, and spreading joy/ positivity to everyone I meet. Some vendors I have personally met in this industry do consider it to be a competition when I consider the wedding industry to be one big union of individuals that love what they do, and love their clients. When reaching out to vendors I idolize and look up to in this industry I have gotten the cold shoulder a lot because they think I’m a “threat” and have made it personally clear they feel me as one. I make sure if any coordinator, vendors, etc reaches out with questions I help them with open arms. I want everyone to succeed and because each planner is different in ways they work with clients/day of its nice for couples out there to have variety.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
Honestly the best source of clients for me has been word of mouth. I’ll get referrals from new clients from past clients, vendors I work along side, and friends and family. I do have reviews on Facebook that I notice people constantly are looking at and writing about me so that helps as well! I feel so blessed to be this far with word of mouth being my fastest way of gaining new clients!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.icangothedistanceevents.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icangothedistance_events/?utm_medium=copy_link
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/icangothedistanceevents/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJxoiG-zfwYvt3S3mQKu_Fg/about
- Other: https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/i-can-go-the-distance-events/b1491dd619872f21.html https://www.theknot.com/marketplace/i-can-go-the-distance-events-canton-oh-2049532
Image Credits
Sailboat media, Natalie Erin photography, Michelle carter photography, Vps swain photography