Good Morning!

Our vendor feature for this week is Natalie Dawley and you will soon see she is one busy woman! I met Natalie while working on a big photo shoot in Houston about a month ago! (More on that coming later!) From the first time I met Natalie I knew she had something special, she is very goal oriented and knows how to get the job done!

Meet Natalie!

Photo Credit: Philip Thomas Photography

Q .Hi Natalie! Thanks so much for wanting to be part of our vendor feature! How about let’s start with what made you decide to get into the wedding industry? And how long have you been a part of it?

 A:  I graduated with a Communications degree from the University of St. Thomas with hopes of building a career in public relations. I worked for a non-profit organization and planned all the social events and business luncheons. When it came time to plan my own wedding it was second nature- I created my own official wedding planning binder, met dress designer Lazaro at a Louise Blum trunk show, designed and handpicked fabric for the bridesmaids dresses, and did all the proper research on vendors in order to make the best decisions.

Following my wedding, I became the official “unofficial” wedding planner for my best friends, and the go-to person for questions and advice during their planning process. Then one day I woke up and asked myself why I was continuing to do it for free when there were so many brides out there who would pay me for my time, resources, expertise, and creativity. I immediately began doing freelance wedding planning, and in 2006 I launched Two Be Wed, a boutique wedding consulting and event design firm.

 Q. Can you give us a little history of Two Be Wed, how it was founded, and how all of your team splits up responsibilities to make such a successful and recognized business in the Houston area?

 A:  I am the sole owner of TwoBeWed, with 8 consultants on the planning team. My approach to this business has always been to think beyond the success of TwoBeWed to raising the overall standard of ‘the wedding event’ in Houston. My goal is to inspire everyone I do business with to greater and greater levels of creativity and expertise. The Two Be Wed Planning Philosophy is unique and I believe both our clients and fellow industry professionals have responded well to us.

At Two Be Wed, we respect and honor the institution of marriage. This once-in-a-lifetime event should be tailored to reflect the distinctive personality, style, and taste of the bride and groom. We believe successful wedding planning requires a significant amount of time, energy, and organizational ability-we take that role very seriously.

The engagement period should be a creative journey full of eager expectation and we make it our mission to eliminate any undue stress to our clients or the vendors working with us. When the big day arrives, our clients have full assurance that their day is in good hands because of the experience they have had along the way. We want to be remembered for our expertise and for being efficient, resourceful, helpful, and fun to be with for God’s sake!

 Q. Since starting Two Be Wed, what has been your most important lesson learned as a vendor?

 A: I’ve learned to be very selective about the vendors I recommend to our brides and grooms. Our clients trust that when we refer a wedding professional it is with full confidence that the person or company recommended is going to abide by their contract, communicate in a timely fashion, and provide an excellent service throughout the planning process as well as on the day of the event.  Unfortunately, a few times over the years I’ve had to discontinue professional relationships because of a lack of character or business ethics. We hold a high standard for recommended vendors and I believe Two Be Wed is a respected resource as a result.

 Q. What is your favorite part about helping brides plan for their big day?

 A. A wedding is a life statement- it should be a reflection of the bride and groom’s personalities. Two Be Wed is a wedding consulting AND event design firm so we love helping our clients discover their style and design- From browsing fabric stores to establish colors to designing custom invitations that set the bench mark for the entire look of the wedding. Each decision, whether on floral, linens, lighting, or favors should be intentional so that the wedding is cohesive.

 Q. I’ve recently learned you also have an event venue as well, can you tell us about it?

 A: In 2008 I co-founded The Patio on Mercer, Houston’s premier patio-chic venue in the West End District off of West Alabama Street. It is a unique outdoor setting for weddings, corporate functions, luncheons, birthdays, or holiday celebrations.  It’s far from a ballroom and gives you a unique taste of the Hill Country without leaving the city limits! Visit www.patioonmercer.com for more info on how to host your next event at POM.

 Q. What advice can you give vendors who are just getting into the industry?

 A:  Go for it! But don’t be deceived- it’s a lot of work. Do plenty of research about your industry, focus on what sets your business apart from the competition, beat the streets, and maintain your integrity regardless of what situation you find yourself in. And always remember to have fun!!

 Q. You are also one of the owners of Recollection Vintage Rentals, how did that partnership come about, and did you expect that it to be such a huge interest with brides?

 A: The Recollection Vintage Rentals team is a match made in Heaven! My partners (Patty DePierri and Ashley Dernick) and I have an affinity for antiques and love repurposing old things for unique décor concepts.

We had a hunch that RVR would be filling a huge void in Houston for this kind of design style and have been so pleased to see how excited everyone has been about the venture.  We are Houston’s first vintage rental company offering furniture, fixtures, floral vessels, and accessories for weddings, special events, styled photo shoots, and photo booth backdrops. Visit www.recollectionvintagerentals.com or follow our blog for décor ideas and inspiration.

 Q. How do you juggle your time between business, wife and mom? Can you give other women who juggle multiple tasks any advice on making it work?

 A:  I am often asked this question and my first answer is: God’s Grace!! My second answer is that I have a loving and supportive husband who encourages me every step of the way and helps me make the difficult business decisions that I frequently face. I also am blessed to live near my mother and my mother-in-law, who are there for my boys when I have meetings and events.

Now that I have to limit the amount of clients I personally take per year, I spend a great deal of my time training a team of very talented and trustworthy consultants. I am not the only face of Two Be Wed. A bride could close her eyes and cherry pick any Two Be Wed planner and she would have an equally wonderful planning experience. It all goes back to our planning philosophy- this is what sets us apart from others.

 I want to thank Natalie so much for the time she took to answer our questions! Please check out her website and facebook and let her know we sent ya!