Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Bloom Paden.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Brittany Bloom. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
Well, if we really want to take it back to the beginning… I was born and raised in Leawood, Kansas. After graduating from high school, I went to the University of Kansas (GO JAYHAWKS!) to study political science and after three long years of studying realized that law school wasn’t something I really wanted to do. I felt like I was missing a creative outlet ever since I had to quit dancing and gymnastics due to several knee surgeries. While going through my (not even) quarter-life crisis, I went home a lot to help my parents renovate their house. My mom kept asking for my opinion about this and that because when I was a senior in high school, they let me completely redo my own room. It was then that I found my new outlet. I spent 2.5 years at the Art Institutes – Kansas City and graduated top of my class with my bachelor’s in interior design. Immediately following graduation, I packed up my stuff and moved to DC to get my Masters at George Washington University.
While pursuing my degrees, I helped my boyfriend’s sister get married, got engaged, got married, and worked full time at a design firm. It wasn’t until Eric (my husband) realized he wasn’t doing what he loved that we moved to Dallas where he took a position as a swim coach. The next two years and some change were spent working at a couple different architecture/interiors firms specializing in everything from multi-million dollar education buildings to five-star resorts. I found myself working long hours in a cubicle, often weekends, and even though I was designing, I wasn’t happy. I found myself on a Monday morning after I had taken a ten-day vacation, sitting on my bed crying, trying to find any excuse not to go back to the office. That was the day my husband told me to quit my job and finally start that business I always talked about. Two days later I put in my notice and six months after that I launched my website. October 2017 was when Bloom & Co. Events were born. It’s been a whirlwind since then in the best way. I’ve met amazing people, clients, and industry professionals alike, and it’s really been an incredible year.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Absolutely not! When I quit my design job, I knew things were going to get rough. Almost overnight we became a one-income household, but we believed in this new venture. I had to come up with a way to help bring in some income while starting a business and that’s exactly what I did. I took on nannying during the week and babysitting on weekends. I would work on my website or contracts in my (limited) spare time. Even though things were tight and the future was completely unknown, I was happier than ever. I was finally doing what was best for me. That’s definitely a piece of advice I would give others, do what makes YOU happy. Find a way to make your dreams a reality, even if it seems impossible. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it.
One other major bump I had was being taken advantage of by a scam artist. I was planning an anniversary party for a client who claimed he was in Kansas City (near where I grew up). I later discovered that he paid for my services as well as his “vendors” with stolen credit cards. It’s been a difficult situation, but I learned some valuable lessons. I voided my contract with him and contacted authorities once I realized something was off I now have a policy against accepting money from a client to pay vendors. When something like that happens, it’s almost like getting punched in the gut. There was a time that I worried my business couldn’t survive the fight with the credit card company, and I was ready to give up. Luckily I have some fantastic people in my life, and they reminded me that I was stronger than one con artist. If I learned anything from that, it’s that no matter what gets thrown at me, I can handle it. I will stand up for myself and fight for my business – advice I would give anyone starting a new business.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Bloom & Co. Events story. Tell us more about the business.
Bloom & Co. Events is a full-service event planning company. I take care of everything from wedding coordination to full-service wedding planning, birthday parties, and corporate events. You name it, and I’m up for it. Weddings are what I do most, and I absolutely love them! It’s really something special to be the person that a couple trusts to make sure the biggest day of their lives is as perfect as they always imagined.
I pride myself on being able to work with just about anyone. I keep my packages customizable so that I can work with a variety of budgets and also make sure that my clients are getting exactly what they want from me and aren’t paying for something they don’t need or want.
My design background is definitely something that sets me apart from other planners. I’m more than just a planner, I’m a designer, and I like to be able to use my background to help my clients create a cohesive event from concept to execution. I am able to genuinely envision how a space can come together and offer a unique perspective on how to create design elements for each event.
Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
I have had some unbelievable teachers/educators in my life. Without them pushing me to reach further I don’t think I would be where I am today. In particular, there is one former teacher of mine, Heather Carter. Heather was the head of interior design at AIKC and I was so lucky that she was there. From the beginning, she always seemed to hold me to a higher standard and would push me harder than some of the other students. She would nominate me for student-led positions or suggest I pick up an internship/job in addition to my full class schedule. It made me realize that I am capable of more than I may have believed. Now I try to always push myself just a little harder than before. I want to keep moving forward, always trying something new.
I also feel that many women in my life have inspired me. In the age of social media, I can see how many of my peers have grown and moved on in their lives. I’ve seen many of these women decide to start their own business or a blog and, with hard work, become successful. It’s extremely motivating to see how someone can transform her life by simply making a decision that is entirely for her. I hope that I can offer that inspiration and encouragement so someone else can take that leap of faith.
Pricing:
- Wedding Coordination – Starting at $1000
- Partial Planning – Starting at $1800
- Full-Service Planning – Starting at $3000
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bloomandcoevents.com
- Phone: 913-481-3314
- Email: info@bloomandcoevents.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/bloomandco_events
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/bloomandcoevents
Image Credit:
Bloom & Co. Events
Wondery Photography, Catie Ann Photography, Scott Aleman Photography, C. Elyse Photos
Alba Dahlia, Olive Grove Design, Wild Rose Events
Beautiful Event Rentals, Borrowed Treasures Tx
Paper Affair Dallas, Bloom & Co. Events
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
