We are celebrating 2 years in business!
Today is a big day for all of us at Events by Melody... We are celebrating TWO years in business!
Photo Credit: Krista Reynolds Photography
Some of you know the story about how the company got started, but some of you do not. Since I was a young child, I always had that entrepreneurial drive. In elementary school, I would bring a box of brand new pencils to class and when a fellow student asked to borrow one, I would tell them they had to purchase one for a quarter (talk about a hustler at the age of 7!). That's not all! I would also collect rocks in my parent's front yard and sell these (well I tried, come to find out nobody wanted to purchase basic landscaping rocks -- lol).
As I got older, I always knew I wanted to start my own business but I wasn't sure what exactly that was. During my college years, I tossed around the idea of opening a doggy day care for quite a few years. However, ALL the questions kicked in like, "where do I even start?" With fear being a major factor, I decided to continue pursuing my college degree in Marketing at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. After I graduated, I landed a job in marketing in the Engineering world and did that for a few years since it was secure and the normal routine. I wouldn't be lying though when I say that was SO boring. I knew I couldn't keep up the 9-5 job the rest of my life. I had dreams much bigger than this!
During my years as a marketer, I was also planning corporate events for the companies I worked for (holiday parties, retirement parties, etc.) and I really did enjoy this aspect of the job. I was also at that age where my friends were getting married so I was helping them plan and coordinate every last detail which I also really enjoyed. My friends would always tell me that I should start my own event planning business but I just laughed it off (I was still thinking about that doggy daycare dream!).
That's when in early 2016 I was bored at my FT job and made a logo and website -- the same one you're seeing now! Events by Melody was born! Well, sort of. I never actually did launch the website or promote the business until July 2016 since fear kicked in and I wasn't exactly sure what I was doing. Starting a business seemed SCARY. However, one thing led to another and I launched my Facebook page, website, email address -- you name it. A few weeks went by I had my first prospective client email (whaaaaat!?). It was a couple getting married in Duluth, Minnesota and you can bet I made the trip and fulfilled my first wedding under the Events by Melody brand.
In 2016, the company did 11 weddings and 1 corporate event. In 2017, we did 41 weddings and a handful of corporate events. This year we're doing even more weddings and had added some more corporate and nonprofit clients to our list. Not to mention, I have a whole team to back me up! In 2017, I had to spring into action and bring on some help to get through the massive growth I was experiencing. Oh, and did I mention I made the leap of faith and quit my FT job. Events by Melody is ALL I DO! To this day, I still have people ask me, "So, what is your secret?". Honestly, there is no secret except for the fact that I wake up everyday and work hard. My clients come first and I will do whatever it takes to make their wedding or event exceptional.
Cheers to another year in business! I can't thank my husband, family, friends, EBM team and clients for all the support you've shown me these past two years. I can't wait to see what the future has in store!
xo, Melody