Women’s History Month is an important time to recognize the contributions of women to society, and the wedding industry is no exception. Women have been integral to the success of the wedding industry since its inception, from wedding planners to photographers, from stationery to bakery and let’s not forget the hair and makeup artists, the evolution of this industry rests on the shoulders of these hard-working female entrepreneurs.
(Photo Credit: MCG Photography)
We want to honor some of those dedicated Charleston locals by asking them to help us kick off this March with some words of wisdom. Most of us in this industry are, let’s just say it, workaholics and continually struggle with finding a work-life balance. Sarah Reed, from Dodeline Designs (our favorite stationery artist) has really tuned into finding that balance as a mother and business owner.
(Stationery by Dodeline Designs; Photo Credit: MCG Photography)
“I find that it’s very important to first recognize the needs of my personal life – for example, that I want to and need to be the one to pick up my daughter from school each day (they are only little once!) – so I set boundaries around that time and do not compromise them. Some days that is perfectly fine, and some days that means she and I need to come back to the office or I may need to work for a bit after she goes to bed. That said, I’ve received two pieces of advice throughout my career that really impacted me. The first is that, within reason, how you spend your time demonstrates your priorities. The second is that most people allow their work obligations to expand and fill the time they allot to them, when the work probably could have been done more efficiently and in less time.”
(Stationery by Dodeline Design; Photo Credit: MCG Photography)
“For my workaholic personality that is very true – I could keep drawing, working, tweaking at all hours of the day and night if I allowed myself to (and I definitely used to). Setting firm boundaries like dinner with the family, getting to bed at a good time, making time for exercise, etc. has been very important and life changing for me. Of course, there’s always the occasional emergency where you might have to compromise a bit, but it’s important to reserve that for extraordinary occasions.”
(Make Up and Hair by Silhouette on Site; Photo Credit: Shore and Summit)
It is a fact that so much of our job is time management and delegation. As Laura Pascazio, owner of Silhouette on Site, puts it “I have to fight my natural instinct to want to do everything myself and realize that it is more effective to give my focus on a couple of tasks and delegate the rest. I became a better boss, wife and mom when I don’t do everything.” She attributes some of her success to this fact but also stresses how vital her team is to her. “For myself, it was really important to be surrounded by supportive and successful women. I relied on the experience and encouragement of my peers while trying to stay humble and teachable. I would definitely attribute my growth on realizing I don’t know everything and being open to asking for help.”
(Make Up and Hair by Silhouette on Site; Photo Credit: Shore and Summit)
Knowing when to say no, when to ask for help and being surrounded by good people seems to be the common theme to these lovely ladies’ advice. Having a strong support system both at work and at home is crucial. Lucky for her Lauren Robertson, co-owner of The Cake Stand, gets the best of both worlds as she and her husband run their bakery straight out of their home!
(Cake by The Cake Stand; Photo Credit: MCG Photography)
“My husband is very creative and really the reason we started our own business, he believed in us and that I was good enough to make a business out of cake! Covid was definitely the toughest time we’ve ever had and we only made it through because of my husband’s determination to keep us going. We rely on each other in tough times. We decided a few years ago, that we would not take any orders or weddings on Sundays to officially have a day off for family and church. You definitely have to learn that its ok to say no.”
(Cake by The Cake Stand; Photo Credit: MCG Photography)
Our final words of advice come from another wedding industry power house couple. Corrie McGovern, the co-owner of MCG Photography, says that their secret to success is staying authentic to their selves. “Our style stays clean and classic avoiding fads while allowing room to personalize based on our couples. It is also important for us to maintain good relationships with a handful of vendors that we respect as professionals and value as friends.” They persevere through tough times by being open to adjust and pivot while simultaneously working to showcase the best qualities of their work. “We are thrilled with couples that resonate and book with us and we are also ok knowing that we are not the best fit for everyone. Our relationships with couples and vendors play a significant role in maintaining a joyful work life. The kind email that comes in on a Monday morning when we need a boost or a review that we didn’t ask for makes me do a happy dance. We are aiming to broaden our brand as a safe space to reflect all the pairings of love through some styled shoots, so each couple sees a reflection of themselves.”
(Photo Credit: MCG Photography)
All year round, the women of this industry work hard to make the dreams of their couples a reality while concurrently juggling busy lives. Take it from the professionals, be open minded, flexible and know when it’s time to take care of yourself. This month, lets honor all women who provide community leadership, raise families, blaze paths and live their own truths. Thank you to our Charleston wedding industry family and to women in all walks of life.