Today we’d like to introduce you to Sierra Eldridge.
Hi Sierra, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
As soon as I graduated college I began working for an Oil & Gas company. 9 months into working full-time they began doing lay-offs. Luckily, I was not laid off at that time, but it had me thinking of what I would do if I got laid off. I began thinking about a backup plan, but all I knew at the time was that I wanted to start my own business. My husband and I began planning our wedding and this is what made me start thinking “I want to start a business in the wedding industry, but I’m unsure of what I want to do.” After our wedding it finally hit me as I was scrolling through social media, I wanted to start a rental and balloon business. So, I ordered some balloons and did a ton of research on how to make balloon decorations and tried it. It turned out pretty well and I enjoyed doing it, so I told my mom what idea I came up with and she was on board. This is when we began our adventure together. We started our business in January 2021 during this time we both were working full-time jobs as well as working this as a side business. We had just begun to be busier and busier, of course, there were tons of bumps in the road but we worked together to get through them. After being laid off, I started doing our business full-time, which created more time to focus on our business. We couldn’t have grown our business as much as we have without our amazing clients, team, support, and vendor friends.
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?
With any business there are bumps in the road, but just because there is a bump in the road doesn’t mean you just turn around and go home. You just keep driving. There were times where a balloon wall or flower wall would fall over from the wind and we would have to go back and figure out ways to keep it from falling. Balloons do not like being outside, especially in the heat so we would have to figure out what works best for them. We would typically try out our new creations before the day of the event so we are prepared if anything would go wrong. There was one time as we were unloading the vehicles at our event and the balloons flew away with it being so windy. We brought extra deflated balloons to every event so we began blowing up balloons at the venue to make up for the ones that flew away.
There was another day where we had two events in one day with the same planner, but the second event’s date got mixed up. As we were leaving the first event, they had asked me if we were headed to the next event and I was confused as in my head it was 2 weeks away not today. They then advised me it was the same day, so my team and I headed to the balloon store where we gathered as many balloons as we could. We got to the venue and began blowing up balloons as my team was installing them. Luckily, we were able to complete the big event in an hour, just 30 minutes before guests were starting to arrive. It was as if there wasn’t a mix-up and the clients never knew there was a bump in the road.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We rent flower walls, photo booths, backdrops and create balloon decorations. I am a Balloon decor specialist who creates the plans for the balloons and mock-ups. I am most proud of our team and team work; we all get along and are able to show our strengths while working together. I am proud of how much we all have grown and how our bonds have strengthened.
What sets us apart from others is that we are a mother-and-daughter duo who love being creative and trying new things. We love when clients come to us with new ideas or projects, this way we are able to show more of our creative side. We are both crafty in both the business and personal life.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I’ve always had an outgoing personality- great for customer service. I was always interested in being crafty. Anytime I was able to do a craft instead of an essay in school I would always choose the craft. My mom and I would be the ones making mums for my friends and I. I have also always been told I am the nicest person they know, but as I have grown, I have been able to stand my ground while being nice. I have always been a caring and fair person since I was a little kid, I guess having siblings has helped that.
Pricing:
- Flower Walls: $350
- Balloons: $22 per foot
- Photobooth: $450
- Neon signs: $125
Contact Info:
- Website: celebrationsintheair.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrationsintheair/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/celebrationsintheair
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/celebrations-in-the-air-fort-worth
Image Credits
Lila Mae Weddings
