“As an iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” Proverbs 27:17

While there are SO many amazing aspects of running my own business, one of the sad truths is business ownership can be a lonely endeavor. When I first started out, I had the idea in my head that I needed to be an expert on everything, do everything on my own, to look and feel successful. Boy, I learned quickly I couldn’t have been more wrong! I don’t know about you, but studying tax law is NOT my idea of a good time.

When I decided to go full steam ahead and rejuvenate my business last February, I stumbled upon the idea of community over competition. Community over competition is the simple idea of putting relationships before opportunity. It’s about using your time and passion to serve others, lifting them up in their endeavors. It’s an understanding that the best businesses serve others first. After all, humans weren’t made to be alone. Our lives feel fulfilled and are enriched by the strong family bonds and friendship we cultivate. I knew this was a main focus of how I wanted to run my business differently this time around!

So in this series, I’ll spend some time introducing you to the amazing vendors in the wedding industry I am lucky enough to call a part of my community. It’s the perfect way to brag on them and help my clients find and create the vendor team of their dreams!

Christina Burton Events

I drove down the streets of downtown Indianapolis in amazement. It was the first day of spring. And it was snowing. As I parked my car on Mass Ave and hopped out, I wrapped my scarf a little tighter around my neck and felt grateful I hadn’t been too stubborn to pull back out a pair of my winter boots. After what was thankfully a short walk,  I bustled in the door of Coat Check Coffee, grateful for the blast of warmth and smell of roasted coffee beans. Seriously, is there anything better than the smell of fresh brewed coffee??

Today’s Vendor Spotlight is all about Christy of Christina Burton Events. It’s crazy to admit, but reaching out to wedding planners about meeting and learning more about each other seemed so intimidating! Especially when you send out messages and there are only crickets. Like hello, I won’t judge you for saying no, I get how crazy busy this industry is! Just like any other entrepreneur, I fall into the comparison game and can feel like I don’t belong, I’m not good enough, or vendors in town won’t have room to work with someone new. The first few minutes spent with Christy put all that doubt right out of my mind!

Christy began her journey in wedding planning right out of school down in Kentucky, where she worked with other companies for over ten years as a planner. She felt the call that it was finally time to branch out on her own when her fiance accepted a job here in Indianapolis. While business ownership can be lonely, scary, and intimidating, Christy is having the best time connecting and growing her business here in town as well as keeping her network down in Kentucky. Christy is all about community and is a true advocate for building a tribe that loves and supports each other. She has a full year of lovely brides to plan for and I am so excited to see what amazing things she does!

You can check out Christy’s website here and tag along to see her beautiful and her Instagram here. For now, enjoy some snapshots of her work below!

Headshot and outside shots: The Malicotes

Inside shots: Kristen Bowen Photography

Much love friends,