Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Willis.
Megan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always had a pretty serious party obsession. I loved planning parties as a kid even though we didn’t have the resources to make them happen. It was fun just to plan.
My husband, then boyfriend, transplanted to North Texas from the southern part of the state to attend UNT. Back then, I was trying to pursue a career in music but quickly changed to Hospitality Management as soon as my first roommate explained what it was. I didn’t have any interest in hotels or restaurants, but I lived for those event management classes. Throughout college, I interned for an event planner and worked for a bakery and I always loved watching those wedding cakes go out the door to their final destination.
Upon graduation, we moved 40 minutes down the interstate to Dallas and, as most recent grads do, took the first job I could find. Accounts Payable management for a mortgage servicing firm wasn’t exactly thrilling, but it paid the bills. Two years in and I was starting the get the itch. There was no semester end in sight. If I didn’t make a decision, I could literally work here forever.
In July 2014, I decided to stop waiting at started Celebrate Dallas. It was just part-time at first. That year I had one client. The next year, I made it up to 10 weddings. And now we coordinate, plan, and provide flowers for over 30 events per year.
In the beginning, when it was just me, we offered coordination and planning. I found my partner, Caitlin, and she came on and began to handle so much more than I thought the control freak in me could give over! I found flowers and since I had a partner to have my back, I could dive in full force and learn everything I could to offer a new service to our clients! Now, I handle flowers almost exclusively while my partner kicks ass with logistics and wedding day management!
In 2014, I would have been happy just having 10 weddings a year, now with over 30 events each year and many more private events and workshops, I feel so over-the-moon to have made this venture my full-time job! Is it scary at times? Hell yes! But it’s worth every up and down to have something that is my own.
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?
Of course not. Working full time and being an entrepreneur on the side nearly killed me! It was hard work!
And of course, we’re human. We’ve made mistakes, made bad judgments and missteps, wasted money on things that seemed like good opportunities, and trusted people we shouldn’t have, but we take a deep breath, tell ourselves this isn’t going to break us and keep going! You can let something take you out of the game or you can say “Nope, this isn’t going to be the end” and work to make it right!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Celebrate Dallas story. Tell us more about the business.
Celebrate Dallas is an event design studio rocking bright + fearless weddings. We offer coordination, full planning, and floral design for couples who want a fresh, modern, and customs take on their wedding day.
Our brand and our vibe is my proudest accomplishment to date. From the beginning, I wanted to embrace color and fun. Weddings are parties! Let’s freaking make your wedding the best party ever! I love getting to know our couples, being able to laugh and bond with them throughout this long, and sometimes ridiculously stressful, process!
All of our couples are different and so are all the weddings we create. No one is the same and we love everything about that!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’m not a big believer in luck.
There was a day early last year when I was wrapping up a photo shoot and I was posting behind-the-scenes on Instagram. I was writing the caption and about to post how lucky I was to work around such pretty things. But then I stopped and I told myself, “No, this is not just luck. I’m here, working with gorgeous flowers and beautiful couples because I hustled my butt off.”
I’m so thankful for the opportunities I’ve been given through my life that have allowed my hard work to flourish, but no way am I going to give “Good Luck” all the credit and neither should any other entrepreneur! You made it happen! Own that and let it give you power!
Pricing:
- Month Of Coordination – $1450+
- Full Planning – $5000+
- Floral Design – $3000+
Contact Info:
- Address: 620 N. Bishop Ave. Ste. 1 Dallas TX 75208
- Website: http://www.celebratedallas.com
- Email: hello@celebratedallas.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebratedallas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/celebratecolorfully
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/celebratedallas/
Image Credit:
Shay & Olive Photography, Feather and Twine, Apryl Ann Photography, Jeff Brummett Visuals, Chelsea Q. White, Adria Lea Photography
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