Today we’d like to introduce you to Menisha Mahan.
Hi Menisha, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
First off, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to share about my journey of wedding coordination and how I came about!
My story started when I was in high school. I grew up working in my local hair salon in Superior, WI. At a younger age, I want to say I was a sophomore or junior in high school, and I was working the front desk there for several years! We specialized in doing bridal hair & makeup on the weekends, and oftentimes, brides would ask me during their trials if I would like to help decorate, etc. I absolutely LOVED doing this, I am a very creative person, and it gave me a kind of a change of pace from being behind a desk. I also have a very administrative brain, so the organizational skills that I have really helped me as well.
Fast forward, to 2021, one of my best friends is getting married at a beautiful venue, Pinewood in Cambridge, MN she knew my aspirations of wanting to get more into the wedding industry and we decided that this would be my trial run to doing coordination for her wedding day and I just fell in love with the whole process but at that point in my life I was still very busy with my day to day job and being amidst COVID for the wedding industry it was a more difficult year, so I decided to put the coordination aspirations on the back burner for a short time.
In September of 2022, I experienced a very tragic loss of my best friend, who was 26 years old. We grew up together and had lived together for several years. She had an undiagnosed heart condition and experienced sudden cardiac death. This significantly shifted my priorities, as grief often does, I was determined to A) do something that would make her proud and carry on her memor,y and also B) do something that I was truly passionate about and loved because it was a very harsh reminder that we have a limited time here and we need to make the most of the time that we are given. So I made the decision in January of 2023 to start my own Wedding Coordination business and I named it SJR Coordination, which are my best friend’s initials who had passed away. It was a way for me to channel my grief into something positive! Starting a business in Minnesota is truly a fairly easy process; however, what you put into something is what you will get out of it- so those out there eager to do the same, if you have the passion for it, you can do it!
Since I have started my business, I have worked with over 40 couples to bring their visions to life! I was nominated this year for Best New Wedding Business for the Minnesota Bride 2025 magazine, and even being a contender for that title truly showed me that I am where I need to be! I travel all over Minnesota and Wisconsin for weddings, and this is truly a passion of mine I can’t wait to see what the future brings for SJR Coordination and how I can grow.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Obviously, every new business has its challenges from technology malfunctions to miscommunications between vendors, but I think that is my strength, if you will in being able to flip a challenge into quickly solving the problem.
As someone who has been in this industry for several years, I always joke that I could write a book about certain situations that we have run into at weddings and having to quickly solve the problem!
I have sewn wedding dress straps that have snapped 10 minutes before the ceremony, I’ve rewritten entire seating charts day of the wedding, and created floral pieces for arches that decor had been forgotten at home. Basically, I learned very quickly how to problem-solve on the fly! Also, I attribute my professional skills to the MANY very independent and successful women that I have had the pleasure of being surrounded by as I grew up from my salon owner Lila & all of the amazing women that worked at La Peinado, to the women at MN Brow Lash Academy that truly are all successful entrepreneurs, I would not have the skills I have today if it weren’t for them.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
SJR Coordination is a Day of day-of-wedding coordination Business that allows couples to book with me for 10 hours or longer to make sure everything on their wedding day goes as smoothly as possible.
I do several meetings with the couples before their wedding day to make sure I have all of the details from attire & beauty, guest seating, wedding decor, wedding party details, vendor information, timelines, etc, having all of this information will allow me to successfully execute the wedding day without their friends or family to have to stress about setting up and answering any vendor questions. It is becoming a very rapidly popular service in the wedding industry.
I think what sets me a part from other coordinators in the industry is I will do a start-to-finish day, I will arrive early in the morning for set up and stay through the night to tear down and pack up decor as well. This allows family & friends to be fully present for the wedding day and have as little amount of stress as possible.
My company is named after my best friend, who passed away a few years ago. I think that I am most proud of as far as my name and brand. I try to bring awareness to heart disease as much as possible, and being able to talk about her and do something that would make her proud really brings me a lot of joy amidst this grief. It really brings me a sense of purpose and drive that furthers my business each year.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to know your worth and protect your boundaries. In the beauty industry, it’s easy to overextend yourself — saying yes to everything, working long hours, or undervaluing your skills just to build your name. But burnout can happen quickly if you don’t take care of yourself first.
Remember: your time, talent, and energy are valuable. Set clear boundaries with clients, schedule rest, and charge what your work is truly worth. Longevity in this industry comes from balance — not hustle alone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sjrcoordination.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjrcoordination/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sjrcoordination
