Did you know that for the first 1.5 years of my business, I worked full-time in Washington DC at a non-profit serving inner-city elementary school students in literacy and mentoring? I worked late into the night every night on wedding planning while commuting hours a day, working full time, and having a social life, and it was exhausting but truly so worth it. You can read a longer recap about my road to full time on my blog with lots of details, the how/why/when, and how I was financially able to make the leap. I am now married, yes (as of 10 months ago!), but I am really proud of myself for growing my business and being able to take it full time on my own financially. It was such a challenge (especially living in an expensive city and working in non-profits), but I think it’s shaped me into who I am today. I hope my story is encouraging, and I hope anyone out there who dreams of launching her own business or who is in the beginning stages realizes that it doesn’t all happen overnight! But it’s so deeply gratifying when you see those baby steps and progress add up.

I also uprooted my business from Washington DC and moved back down South to Raleigh, NC when I took Stephanie Shaul Events full time a little over 2.5 years ago. I’m from Charlotte and went to UNC Chapel Hill, and I knew I wanted to move back home to North Carolina for several reasons (which are all shared on my blog post!). So yes, I’ve only been in Raleigh since the summer of 2015. I have to say, the moment I moved here, I truly felt like I was doing the work God wanted to me to do in the place I was meant to be. And I was welcomed with open arms by so many in the wedding and creative industry, which was an incredible blessing!! The wedding industry is thriving here in the Triangle, and it’s truly been the best fit for my business.

Styling has become an integral part of Stephanie Shaul Events and the work that we deliver for our couples and clients! When I first moved to Raleigh, I did about 15 styled/editorial shoots in the first six months, which was a key component of meeting fellow creatives and vendors, getting my name out there, showcasing my creative side/editorial direction/styling, and having all of those shoots published on major, renowned wedding blogs or in print (Once Wed, Magnolia Rouge, Southern Weddings, Style Me Pretty, Style Me Pretty Living, Trendy Bride Magazine, Dear Gray Magazine, The School of Styling, The Everygirl, Borrowed and Blue, and more). It also molded me into becoming a full-fledged stylist, which is still such an honor (and something I never imagined for myself!).

I’ve been able to teach at a few workshops and conferences (like The School of Styling and the Creative at Heart conference) on editorial, tabletop, and invitation suite styling and wedding planning, and being able to style bridal and wedding details on a wedding day is one of my favorite aspects of my job – and an incredible asset to my couples! So here’s to artful, meaningful, creative styling and to chasing dreams + believing in yourself,

I am so honored and proud to be a Southern Weddings Blue Ribbon Vendor for the last 2.5 years, as they recommend the best of the best in the wedding industry! Their mission and heart aligns so closely with that of mine, and the entire team of ladies is so genuine, kind, encouraging, and inspiring. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside them in many capacities over the last couple years, had several editorials and weddings published on their blog, and it was also a dream come true to blog our own wedding planning process and share our entire wedding day online as the Southern Weddings bride blogger. Such a joy! A big thank you to Southern Weddings for authentically advocating for marriages even more beautiful than your wedding day, a mission I wholeheartedly endorse!

Another aspect of Stephanie Shaul Events is mentoring and coaching other small business owners, creatives, stylists, photographers, and wedding planners! I’ve been mentoring dozens of incredible, inspiring women over the last two years; in fact I kicked off a mentoring partnership a few days ago with a lovely lady who launched her wedding planning business just last week. It is a complete joy and blessing to be able to pour into others, to encourage them in their businesses, to share my story and all that I’ve learned over the last four years, to teach best practices, and to provide tangible, measurable results for them. (And if you’re interested in this service or learning more, I have only two slots left for February.)

I love sharing (again and again!) the heart and mission behind my business and my work. The core of Stephanie Shaul Events is to plan grace-filled, elegant, joyful weddings with beautiful, meaningful, Southern details and design, and we believe in loving our couples well throughout their entire engagement, on their wedding day, and as they begin married life. We are rooted in legacy and strong marriages, kindness and gratitude, serving others wholeheartedly, intentional living, genuine community, and hope and grace-filled love. Stephanie Shaul Events aims to authentically make each wedding uniquely gorgeous and meaningful to our couples’ love stories. Weddings are definitely about the beautiful details and smooth execution, but they’re also about much more than just that! Weddings bring together all of the things in life that I adore the most, and I believe that each wedding is the perfect opportunity to celebrate that couple’s love and the legacy, traditions, beauty, and joy that make up their life.
We believe in marriages that are strong and lasting and that your wedding day is the first day of that beautiful marriage! And yes, we love LOVE and celebrating that love alongside you!!

Being a recent bride and now a newlywed has tremendously impacted and shaped my business and how l serve my couples. It was such a unique, insightful season waking alongside my brides during our engagements as we planned our weddings simultaneously, choose vendors and details, celebrated our love stories, and prepared for marriage – and it also taught me so much about how to serve, celebrate, and love my couples even better. I know our wedding vendors went above and beyond throughout our engagement and on our wedding day, which is something I’ll never forget and am forever grateful for. And that’s precisely the kind of care, attention, expertise, and love I always want to ensure my couples experience from start to finish (and beyond)!

Thanks for celebrating alongside my this week as Stephanie Shaul Events kicks off its 5th year! It’s been so fun sharing the heart and mission behind my business and the path that’s led me to where I am now, and I have loved hearing from y’all. I’m a newlywed, believer, encourager, optimist, blogger, mentor, and wedding planner/designer/stylist all in one! In all that I do, my goal is to glorify God wholly, to wisely and generously use the gifts I have been given, to serve and love my couples well, to celebrate marriage, and to plan joyful, love-filled, meaningful weddings. I know how important it is for us to have a marriage more beautiful than our wedding, and that’s what I want each and every one of my couples to experience, too! I adore my work and love sharing it with you all, so I’m incredibly grateful that you’re reading this today.