Certified Timeline Genius
Veronica Thompson
What inspired you to launch your own business?
I landed in the hospitality business by “accident”, as I had been laid off my job and was seeking administrative work. I started as a sales secretary at a hotel on the beach. I absolutely fell in love with the industry and the details in planning meetings and events of all types. From there I quickly worked my way up through three positions to then be a Convention Services Manager, Asst. Director of Catering and then Director of Catering, at different venues and hotels. The last being 5 years as a Director of Catering. After twenty plus years of being in the industry it was just another day, going out on outside sales calls, but this time with my new General Manager of only two weeks. We weren’t even out of the parking lot when he asked me, “So, what is it you really want to do with your life, because you hate your job”. What? I loved my job and what I was doing and told him so. He then said “you love the details and the planning, but you hate where you are and being tied to the desk. You want to be out making things happen, being creative, being social with people, and making a difference.” After telling him that was crazy, I did share with him that I had dreamed of having my own event planning business one day. He asked, “So what are you doing about it? You need to be doing something, even if it is very small, every day to make it happen.” I told him I was working 50-60 hours a week for the hotel, that I didn’t have time for that. I then went home that night and shared it with my husband and he asked me what I was going to do. I then pondered the conversations, prayed about it, talked more with my husband Mark, and then we set a plan to exit my full-time job to transition to a part-time one and then to be able to just work my business. That conversation with my GM was in April, 2013, and then in October, 2013, I went to get my business license and have never looked back. I started working full-time with my own business in June, 2015 and was fortunate enough to find a studio office that I absolutely loved. My husband and I also started a small event rental company in 2015. The past 8 years have been such a journey of learning to run a business, attending industry conferences, and then of course actually doing the event planning side. The event planning has been the easiest because details and organization are God-given gifts that I have. I am learning to delegate though and having others take on the things that I am not gifted at, but they are. I can say it hasn’t been easy, but I have grown so very much, and the lessons I’ve learned have been worth it. It is at the end of a 10-12 hour day, of executing an event or wedding, and from the client’s perspective everything has gone flawlessly (because there are things that happen behind the scenes that they never know about, because we have handled them!), and they are beyond thrilled, that I know why I have chosen to have my own business and serve those that value my experience and expertise.
What keeps you passionate about weddings?
It is the true joy and excitement of the clients and their guests. It is the life-long friendships that have been built with individuals and couples, as we have worked together to plan their once-in-a-lifetime special day, that I am so blessed to be a part of that experience with them. It is the client that can’t see how everything will come together, but trusts that I can see their vision and I won’t let them down, that I am fortunate enough to do something that I love and am so passionate about!
Please share a recent testimonial from a happy client!
"Veronica was absolutely amazing! Any issue we had throughout the planning process, she took care of and I did not have to worry about a thing. On the day of the wedding, the only thing I had to worry about is having a great time and enjoying time with friends, family, and my new husband. When it comes to decor, I don't even know where to begin and Veronica was a big help in making my wedding gorgeous. She is very knowledgeable in everything wedding and what is standard in the industry. She made sure all contracts were standard and did not have any hidden gotchas before we signed them. I don't know what I would have done without her!" --Marrissa Webster, bride