Today we’d like to introduce you to Josey Stafford.
Hi Josey, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Although I’ve always been a planner, Details being my best friend, I never had the plan to work as one professionally. A friend wanted to start a business to avoid going back into the corporate world after her maternity leave, and luckily she picked me to be her partner. While I was reaching out to venues, and signing up for The Knot, and getting acquainted with this new platform called Pinterest, my business partner was realizing that weddings weren’t what she wanted, and we parted ways before the years was up. I am so grateful that she gave me the impetus and the financial backing to dive whole-heartedly into the world of weddings.
In reading everything-that-has-ever-been-posted about how to be the best wedding vendor, I latched on to the idea of blogging. Every week for 5 years a new post was live on my website, shared to everywhere with custom images scheduled to be released to my million or so Pinterest followers. I attended every networking event and open house and took coffee dates with anyone who requested one.
All of that research led me to find my niche and latch on to it pretty strongly. A Sixpence wedding is one that is tailored to the couple and non-traditional in some way: dry weddings, gay weddings, restaurant weddings, cultural-fusion weddings, game show reception weddings.
When COVID happened and weddings were nearly illegal and everyone wanted to postpone or minimize, I happily bunkered down. I chose to enjoy the time isolating with my new baby daughter and my husband, and I focused on evaluating: what works and what can I postpone or minimize?
I’ve let go of the hustle, I’ve branded to really speak to the weddings that bring me the most joy: sustainable, elegant, minimalist, non-traditional. I’ve slowed the blogging to a trickle, quit social media, and realized that a work-life balance means more life and less work.
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?
As a wedding planner you can fulfill three main roles: day of coordinator (or event management), partial planner or full wedding planner. But in any instance you are looked to as the keeper of knowledge/the knower of all things/the person in charge and responsible for all of the happiness in the world. Or at least that has been my biggest struggle.
Even at weddings where I am not hired to be the knower of all things, I still want to support my couples and their guests fully. I want to know all the things so that I can truly be useful no matter if there’s a missing decor tote, or a question with the napkin fold, or the specifics of the hora dance.
Relying on systems to ensure all the details are accounted for has really helped me push past this struggle and turn it into a strength.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Sixpence Events & Planning?
Sixpence Events helps eco-conscious couples who want to plan a Minnesota wedding that fits who they are together as a couple. Couples who want to cut the bullshit and enjoy their engagement while planning an elevated experience for their nearest and dearest.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
My business thrives on word of mouth referral, if you know of a couple who needs support planning their wedding please send them to my website www.sixpenceeventsmn.com
Pricing:
- Sixpence clients spend an average of $4500 for their wedding planner services.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Joe and Jen Photography
