Today we’d like to introduce you to Yvonne Saldivar.
Hi Yvonne, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey started 7 years ago, when I got married. I planned EVERY detail of my wedding myself from top to bottom. It was the best day of my life, besides having my beautiful daughters – Leilani, Analise, & Mikaela. I knew then that I would somehow make my way into the wedding industry, but I knew it would have to come later after I had my toddlers.
Fast forward to April 2023, a week before my birthday I unexpectedly lost my older sister Patty who was special needs. She was the biggest ray of sunshine and joy that my family could have ever asked for, the best sister I could have asked for, and the best aunt and friend to my girls. Losing her sent me into a pretty deep depression and sadness. I was crying every night after putting my kids to sleep, and one night I looked up and said, “please give me some clarity, I can’t keep letting this grief take over me.”
And it happened, at 3 a.m. I thought to myself – “It’s time”. I decided that officiating was the route that I was going to take in terms of joining the wedding industry. I put out my marketing materials that night, and 3 weeks later I had my first wedding. That is how Blissful & Blessed Unions was born.
I’ve married 175 couples now, and I have bookings into November of 2025 currently. There’s no looking back for me now.
That night I realized that life is so short, and so precious and I needed to do what I loved while I still could. My business grew out of my grief, and I find that every wedding and every couple that I marry heals my heart and makes me feel so honored to be part of their story. Because what all of my couples don’t know, is that they’re part of my story too. My journey through healing and self-discovery. Blissful & Blessed Unions is the heart and soul of who I am, and I dedicate all of my success to my angel, my sister Patty.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a smooth road at all. I’ve always been a big believer that your network is your net worth, and it definitely couldn’t be truer than in the wedding industry. I didn’t know ANYONE in the industry and I was starting from scratch, so I followed others on social media. I also went to a few styled shoots and open houses which was a big help with meeting amazing vendors.
Another struggle was not knowing how to market myself. Being new with no reviews ALWAYS makes people more hesitant to book you, so I had to reduce my prices to bring clients in the door. I was also offering a lot of travel at no cost to boost my bookings as well. As the reviews came, the bookings came. Truth be told though, I still struggle with marketing. I’m definitely not a pro with Canva or reels. It’s a daily struggle.
However, my biggest struggle is my work/life balance. I absolutely LOVE what I do, but I’m also very aware that it takes away time from my own family. I work hard to keep a schedule between my part-time role as a Senior Tax Accountant, as a mom and wife, and as a wedding officiant – but it’s proven to be very difficult. If it weren’t for my husband Dustin, I most definitely could not be as successful as I have been thus far. He’s a keeper.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Blissful & Blessed Unions operates 7 days a week, 24 hours a day – anywhere in the world, all in the name of love. I’m always carry-on and passport ready.
I am a traveling bilingual wedding officiant (English/Spanish).
I specialize in personalized ceremony scripts, regardless of the size of your wedding (elopements, microweddings, destination weddings, traditional weddings). I have a zoom call with my couples prior to their wedding day to get to know them so I can create a ceremony that is 100% authentic to who they are as a couple so they experience the same magic that I once did. I’m also available to my couples 24/7.
My personality, attention to detail, and dedication to my couples most definitely sets me apart from other vendors. I always empathize with my couples, knowing the stress that weddings cause them and I do my very best to make sure that the ceremony from beginning to end is as painless as possible.
I’m most proud of the fact that those who work with me know me and my brand as one where the minute you book with me, you’re like family. I will give you everything I have in order to make the biggest day of your life, the best day of your life!
I want the readers to know that my officiant services are for ALL couples. Love doesn’t discriminate, and neither do I.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Honestly, I’ve been winging most of this this past year. But I will say – to all of the wedding vendors that I follow and love, I see you and I’m cheering you on. Especially the wedding vendors who have referred me and praised my work, I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!
Pricing:
- Stop & Signs – $100
- Elopements – $150
- Microweddings – $200
- Traditional Weddings – $300
- Vow Renewals & Quinceañeras – $200
Contact Info:
- Website: bio.site/blissfulandblessedunions
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blissful.and.blessed_unions
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saldivar.yvonne
Image Credits
Estera Matras Photography Acuñas Portraits Your Moments Photography Brenda Bolden Photography Sugarwater Photography Hey Felicia Studio
