Today we’d like to introduce you to Brooke, Hailee and Karen Thoen.
Hello Brooke, Hailee, and Karen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
A Family Affair Event Styling is owned and operated by a mother + daughters team. Our business is based in Western Wisconsin, but most clients are in southern Minnesota and the metro area. For many years we were the ones that planned and decorated for family and friends’ events like bridal showers, holidays, and other gatherings, which we loved. We turned that love of designing and decorating into a full-service event styling + rental business. When many businesses were shut down during the Covid pandemic, and most get-togethers were put on hold, we got the idea of starting this event styling business, and we went all in from day one. Our main goal was to turn something we enjoyed into a business that could help others, bringing their vision for their special day to life. In addition, we wanted to make styling + rentals accessible to everyone, so we knew that our services and inventory needed to be customizable for our clients. We could never have imagined how fast this business would grow! In just over one year, we have had our work published in several bridal magazines, and our calendar is booked out over a year in advance. We have had many opportunities to work with other vendors and venue owners, and those connections and relationships continue to grow. Of course, the most rewarding part is knowing that we are part of creating our client’s dream event.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting a small business requires a lot of time and patience. It also took time to figure out our strengths and responsibilities in working through all planning stages and event day. The paperwork and legalities were more than we expected, but thankfully, so many resources helped everything fall into place. From emails and paperwork, purchasing supplies and inventory, meeting with clients, and creating style boards, we have settled into our roles in making this business run smoothly and successfully.
We’ve been impressed with A Family Affair Event Styling, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We often get asked, “What is event styling?”. Event styling brings a client’s vision of their special day to life through a wide range of decor and rental pieces. For example, many couples want a beautiful head table at their wedding. We can bring in candles, vases, special glassware, and other tablescape items. Another trend is creating lounge spaces at events. Guests enjoy sitting in these inviting spaces and conversing with others. We have furniture pieces in a wide range of styles – traditional, modern, vintage, and boho. We are proud to offer customizable packages for our clients so that no matter your budget, we will work with you to create spaces to elevate the event. A Family Affair is a full-service business, so we take care of delivery + set up and take down rentals so clients can relax and enjoy their day.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
The Covid-19 Crisis has taught us to be flexible! Although things are more stable now, we started our business when many planned events had to be canceled at the last minute due to positive Covid cases within the client’s friends and family circle. We were fortunate that very few scheduled events had to be canceled. However, when it did happen, it was disappointing to see all of the planning halts, and even more, to see how this impacted each client personally. Fortunately, many venues found creative ways to move things outdoors and create additional spaces for people to come together.
Pricing:
- Lounges starting at $350
- Tablescapes starting at $60
- Photo Op Areas starting at $100
- Wedding Ceremony Decor starting at $200
Contact Info:
- Website: https://afaeventstyling.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afa.eventstyling/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afa.eventstyling
