Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra Rupe.
Hi Alexandra, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
After my wedding in 2016, I realized there were so many things I wished I could have done differently. Of course, I got to marry my amazing husband, but I was so stressed all day that I felt like I never had a chance to be fully present in the moment. From then on, I made it my mission to help all my friends who were getting married so they never had to go through what I did. After helping at several weddings, I had people coming up to me and telling me how amazing I was and wondering if I had done wedding coordination for a living. I had never thought about turning it into a career, but came to realize how much I truly enjoyed planning and coordinating weddings! Despite my realization, I was too nervous to actually start a planning business on my own and I had gone on to utilize my business degree and work in marketing, where I planned coorperate events. It wasn’t until the pandemic in 2020 that I realized life is short, so why not act on my dream of starting my own wedding + event planning business?! That was when All of the Above Weddings + Events was born!
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My road to becoming a small business owner has not been easy! In March 2020, my husband and I had our first child four days before we had to go into full lockdown mode. We were not allowed to have any friends or family visit, which made for a very lonely few months with a colicky newborn. My husband is also self-employed, so our world felt unknown. My husband and I decided I would stay at home with our child and help manage the back end of his business while he went back to work. While I cherished my time at home with our child, I realized I had this dream of being a wedding planner, and I didn’t want to sleep on it anymore! With the support and encouragement from my husband, in August of 2020, All of the Above Weddings + Events was born. My first year of business was presented with many challenges, as we were still in the middle of the pandemic, and so many weddings that I helped plan my first year constantly had to be changed based on the COVID guidelines that week. The first wedding I helped coordinate had to be completely changed 3 weeks before the wedding day. I found a new venue, caterer, hair and makeup artist, and DJ within the week of finding out we had to make changes. Just when we thought we overcoame our challenges, on the day of this couple’s wedding, their photographer ended up in the ER. I went to work and I found a new photographer within the hour. To say I learned a lot at this first wedding was an understatement! My first couple was the sweetest, most fun people to work with and were happy to roll with the punches. I was very blessed to start with such a laid-back couple, and even moving forward, all of my couples have been so sweet and amazing to work with!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an event planner and specialize in planning weddings! I always strive to advocate for my clients, ensuring they are getting the wedding of their dreams and can enjoy every moment of it. I am most proud that I started this business amid a pandemic with a newborn, and despite the challenges I was handed, I pushed through and have created a sustainable business. I like to think of my team and me as a combination of your wedding day BFFs and your fairy godmother, making your daydreams come true! As for what I am currently focusing on, my next goal is to continue to expand our ervice area and the number of planners on my team so we can work with even more couples and making sure they are getting the wedding of their dream!
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My husband: He encouraged me to leap of faith and start my business. He gave me the confidence to put myself out there and show people what I was capable of doing!
My Family: Being a wedding planner comes with busy weekends. Since both my husband and I are self-employeed, there are many weekends when we both work, so my family always steps in to help watch our child, so we can continue to grow our businesses.
Megan Giliken, The Planner’s Vault: After doing so much research, I found the Planner’s Vault and ended up getting a membership. Megan and her associate, Gina, became my business coaches and were always available to connect with me and help mentor me as I started and continued to grow my new planning business.
The wedding planner community: The support I received from fellow planners throughout my state (specifically through the Facebook group, MN Planner’s Unite) has been overwhelming. When you’re just starting, there is so much to learn, and the community I have been able to fall back on when I have questions or need help, has been amazing!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://alloftheabovemn.com
- Instagram: @alloftheabovemn
- Facebook: @alloftheabovemn
Image Credits
Sarah Larson, Sarah R. Larson Photography (couple at a table image) Kristen Perala, Perala Creative (couple walking along the lake + image with confetti and cheering) Ashley D’Angelo, Gilded Sparrow Photography (white tables with greenery image)
