“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!

Hoosier By Design

I have had the best time meeting up with fellow wedding creatives here in Indy! In today’s Vendor Spotlight l want you to meet Allison of Hoosier by Design! I stumbled upon Allison on Instagram (are you noticing a theme here?!) right before she officially launched her website. I was instantly drawn to her gorgeous work and I just love her heart for serving Hoosier brides!

After the slightest mishap due to a location change that ended up with us at two different restaurants, I enjoyed sitting down with Allison over coffee at The Garden Table in Broad Ripple. It is amazing how much of our journey has been the same! Allison received a degree in event planning/hospitality from Indiana University (which I only teased her about a little – Boiler Up!) after only three years. This girl sure knows her stuff! After studying under an established wedding planner to gain experience, Allison also spent time as an event coordinator at the JW Marriott Indianapolis. We didn’t overlap in our time there, but boy it would have been fun! The hotel industry is no joke and while she enjoyed working with her lovely clients, Allison knew that the grueling pace of hotel events was not for her. She took the leap, left that 9-5 (but let’s be real, if you work in a hotel you never work from just 9-5), and Hoosier By Design was born.

Allison is making each bride’s day perfect by offering day-of coordination services and hopes to soon move into full wedding planning services. She is so sweet and easy-going, it’s easy to see why her brides love her! I’m excited to see what she does next!!

You can check out the Hoosier By Design website here and tag along to see her beautiful Instagram here. For now, enjoy some snapshots of her work below!

Headshots: Heather Sherrill Photography

Styled Shoot Images: Holly Lea

Much love friends,