The School of Styling | Part II

Day Two

The second day started with a scrumptious breakfast.  After everyone arrived we went downstairs to learn about Floral Design with Rebecca Rose. After learning some helpful tips on making a floral arrangement, we were given our own vessel, pair of clippers, and choice at any flowers we wanted! I like seeing the really loose and horizontal type of floral arrangements that a lot more people are starting to do, versus the really tight circular arrangements that were the style not too many years ago. I am pretty happy with how mine turned out!

After our floral designing, we learned about copy writing by Ashlyn Carter. She taught us about different ways to approach a reader on our website or through other writing. She told us we needed to find our “onlyness factor” in our field and sell it. I feel that I will find my “onlyness factor” the more weddings and events I do.

After lunch, we came back to another gift of a book, pen, cute pineapple paper clips, and a pretty garment bag. First we discussed Three Essential Keys Every Project Needs with Emily Freeman. She talked to us about staying true to ourselves and not to apologize for thinking and doing the way we do. She told us every project needs frustration, passion, and hope and without all three we can be left with rote duty or boring optimism. She ended her class with giving us a coloring book!

Next we were given the opportunity to choose our next two courses in our Breakout Sessions.  For my first breakout session, I chose to learn about Building & Leading a Team by Nancy Ray of Nancy Ray Photography. I chose this session because I own and run my business and have been thinking of building my company and adding on additional planners. I felt like this was a perfect time for advice! Also, I have followed Nancy Ray on Instagram for some time and wanted to meet her! She gave some great pointers about hiring and training as well as leading your team. She talked about her personal experiences through her company and made her discussion very relatable. I feel more confident in growing my company now!

We were surprised with a small break that consisted of going outside to a fully stocked coffee truck! This was PERFECT! After several hours of class, a frozen coffee and a cookie was just what everyone needed. The staff of Wired Café Coffee was extra speedy too. This truck would be an awesome addition to an event in the future!

My other breakout session was with Emily Thomas who works for Southern Weddings Magazine. It was awesome to get first-hand insight into what they as a company look for when publishing a wedding. (For those of you who do not know, being published is an incredible honor and can be a rare occurrence since so many weddings and styled shoots are entered every season.)  Emily also told us about some special requirements of shoots that not many people know but that can immediately disqualify an entry. I’m so thankful to be given this perception of the publishing process!

We ended the afternoon with Tabletop Styling with Rebecca Rose. We were able to select linens, silverware, plates, glasses, and other décor to make a mock table-scape. This was one of my favorite parts of the course! It was an opportunity to style something using my own imagination instead of something the client chose and a chance to use some really nice place setting materials that are not always readily available. After Ally & Bobby got some snaps of our work, we were dismissed.

                                      Day Three

I was extra excited for this day! We started the morning with Makeup and Hair Styling by Tease & Blush and professional head-shots by Ally & Bobby! I had some head-shots made before but I was thankful for an opportunity to have access to more shots of myself for my website and social media.

After pictures, we were offered mimosas and breakfast. Kaitlin and her team made the cutest mimosa bar I have ever seen! All the essentials were on the bar top including berries, juice, champagne, and cute glasses. The cutest part of the bar was the acrylic signs made by Happy Tines, instructing you how to make a mimosa! I absolutely loved it! The "cheers" sign on the bar was also really pretty. During this time, I asked a fellow student Emily Bolt to take some pictures of me with my floral arrangement. She was so sweet to take a few great shots and she even sent them to me immediately after we were done so I could have something to post! I’m so appreciative of her kindness!

Later, we had Branding Course by Whitney Hawkins who is currently an art director for a book by Emily Ley called Simplified, who used to be a brand consultant. She spoke about details, colors, style, and fonts and how they all need to correlate together. This inspired me to go a little further with the floral theme I have on my business cards to having the same theme on all my printed marketing material.

This afternoon consisted of learning Modern Calligraphy with Caitlyn Baumberger of Happy Tines. This was another favorite of mine! I have always watched videos online of people doing calligraphy and wondered how to actually do it. I can fake the look with a marker and bigger strokes but I wanted to know how to do it with ink and the special utensil, and this was my chance! It  was a little hard to do at first but with my artistic background, I caught on fairly quick! It is actually A LOT of FUN! I have since practiced several times and hope to maybe add it as a service to my clients.
 
Class ended and we were all sent to our hotels or homes to get ready for our final dinner. We returned to a charming dinner set-up. Each place at the table had a word instead of a name place card. It was the word we started the week with! Mine was L I S T E N.  This was so personal and it just goes to show how much Kaitlin and her team pay attention to every.single.detail.

It turned out to be International Women’s Day and I couldn't think of a better way to spend the day than with a creative group of female entrepreneurs! This week was truly phenomenal and so inspiring! I was able to spend time with creatives from all over the country with different perspectives and styles and speak with each one of them about their successful businesses. All while learning from some of the best women in the industry! I'm so proud to say I am a #girlboss and have my OWN company that is quickly flourishing!

This experience was everything, between the great food, fun hands-on activities, new connections, knowledgeable speakers, professional photography of our work, lovely little details, and new friendships!   I enjoyed every minute of it and totally recommend it for anyone trying to run a creative business and anyone interested in taking that creative business to the next level. The courses give each individual plenty of ideas of new routes to take their business or even to add to an already well-established business. I believe every woman at the School walked away optimistic and motivated in multiple ways! I’m so thankful for the special people in my life who made it possible for me to attend!

Photographer: @allyandbobby
Workshop: @theschoolofstyling
Venue: @mcalisterleftwich
VintageRentals/TabletopStyling China/Glassware/Flatware: @the_prettiest_pieces
Floral Design: @rroseevents
Signage/Calligraphy: @happytines
Linens: @nuagedesignsince
Chairs/Tabletop Styling Linens/Final Dinner China/Glassware/Flatware: @partymakerseventrental
Wine: @speakwines
Desserts: @sugareuphoria
HMU: @teaseandblush
Catering: Holly Tate Catering

Day Two Gift: 
Book, pen, paperclips: @simplified
Garment bag: @plumprettysugar