Today we’d like to introduce you to Shayna Papke.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I starred Cherry Bomb while working at a Boulder non-profit focused on health care for women.
I was slowly working on learning the ropes of non=profit event planning including volunteering on the fundraising committee and working with the development staff to train and soak up as much info as I could. I spread the word that I wanted to plan weddings and some of my amazing co-workers connected me to people in their lives planning weddings. I had 45 co-workers, all women, at that time, and so many of them were instrumental in guiding me to my entrepreneurial path. I was constantly looking for creative and independent projects and hitting a wall within such a structured environment, even with a handful or magnificent advocates pushing for me.
I knew from a very early age, I wanted to plan events, especially weddings. I just didn’t know how to start. So learning about event planning and fund development from within an established nonprofit seemed like the way to go.
Our first wedding was on 10.10.2010 at the Denver Botanical Gardens the same month as our first big fundraising gala. I remember every detail of both events and wish every day I could re-plan both. We have learned so much since. There was a lot of “fake it till you make it” at our first events.
From 2010-2013 I planned countless events within the non=profit sector and continued to plan weddings for friends and friends of friends.
In 2013, I had my first baby and took a very scary leap of faith into my business. I wanted to be in control of my career and my time. I wanted to be a mother on my terms. So with the support of my family I left my secure job, at nine months pregnant and planned to spend a few months just adjusting to mom life and then go full force into the business. The goal being to replace my income from my business alone within three years.
The ultimate goal for Cherry Bomb Events was to create a business that was creatively fulfilling to me personally, progressive, inclusive, lucrative and uplifting to other women-owned business. I want to give couples support navigating the craziness of wedding planning and help them through the best party of their lives.
I busted my butt with my sister as my only assistant from 2013-2016. We double the amount of weddings we did every season and eventual hired more staff, expanded services to include Day of/Month Of Coordination and floral design, now even lighting and tech support
I went to every networking event, I went to every seminar, training and webinar I could find on social media, small business ownership, marketing and the wedding industry and I even bought actual books on those subjects as well. I bought a book at Barnes and Noble about using Twitter.
We were finally included on a few venue’s preferred vendor lists. The Rembrandt Yard in Boulder and the Lyons Farmette. Both women owned local businesses, with their support of our little business our bookings exploded.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The biggest struggle is balance and boundaries.
I was a new mom and completely dependent on income from a new small business at the same time.
It took several years to establish clear office hours, email etiquette and meeting boundaries.
As a business owner you want to say Yes to everything. You never want to lose business because a potential client thought you weren’t available or responsive. So for a long time, there wasn’t any balance, my phone was always on, my email notifications were always buzzing and I was taking meetings until 10pm. I stayed up to 2am running my business for a lot of years, with a toddler or two.
It does take a ton of hours and sleepless nights to be the boss. But now I know it isn’t in my client’s best interest to be spread that thin. They need a rested, balanced, relaxed planner as much as my kiddos need an engaged mama.
I don’t want clients who are expecting me to answer calls while at other client’s weddings. I don’t want clients expecting me to take my downtime for granted. We love our clients who care about their families, their self-care and their work-life balance. That means they value those things for themselves and their wedding pros. We set those standards and we find those clients, or they find us. Our best clients are strong, independent, ambitious, progressive women and their partners. Identifying our dream clients, finding them and owning who is the best fit for us was a long and hard process, but I would never go back to saying Yes to every client and every wedding. We’re not the best planner for every bride.
I have a team now and delegation and collaboration are the bedrock. I would say to any young women out there to find a partner; creative professions need collaboration. Confidence and pressure also play a huge role in owning a business as a woman. It’s better to navigate all of that with a buddy. I include my husband in all things to do with the business now and I have Jolie, my Administrative Coordinator. I am not an island. I need help and I ask for it.
We’d love to hear more about Cherry Bomb Events.
Our mission is to alleviate the stress of wedding planning for our couples, their friends and family. We help our clients navigate the craziness and expectations of wedding planning to create a once in a lifetime memories and bad-ass parties.
Our perfect couple describes themselves as “not interested in traditional wedding crap.” They want an amazing party, great food, open bar, great music. Their guests will not be waiting around, hungry and lost in a cookie-cutter cocktail hour or eating a cold piece of chicken with seasonal vegetables. They want a fun-filled reunion for friends and family. Yes, there is a gorgeous dress/tux/suit/jumpsuit, probably some show stopping flowers or views, but maybe not. The setting is beautiful and attention paid to details and decor, but that’s not the most important thing. Getting married and creating spectacular memories is what matters to our couples.
We provide Day of/Month Of Coordination, Full Service Wedding Planning, Custom Planning Packages and Floral and Decor Design.
We are known for colorful, eclectic, outside the box weddings that say more about the couple than their budget.
Our Day of Package very much sets us apart. Our base Day of/Month of planning package includes three planning meetings and unlimited email support, with the first meeting happening when they hire us hopefully 9-12 months before their wedding. We meet, grab a coffee or boozy seltzer and talk and talk. We go over everything. We start with their goals and work back from there. We talk about all of their ideas, dreams, hopes, family drama, venue obstacles, first look vs. cocktail hour photos, Lyft vs. limos, where and when they will each eat breakfast the morning of the wedding, literally everything. We give our couple custom vendor recommendation lists from our very cultivated vendor list. Our recommendations will match their budget and personality.
We then create customized google planning docs including timeline, family roster, song lists and more.
After that first meeting our couples are set up for the ultimate wedding planning success. They know how the day will flow, where and when to have vendors arrive and when and where to spend their money.
Weddings are extremely expensive. We help our couples spend their money with clear, thought out, prepared intention. We specialize in saving out clients from spending money on frivolous or overrated wedding b.s.
We want guests to see our couples in all parts of the wedding. This is a party with a hugs price tag but all of the elements should reflect the couple, the start to their love story and their values as humans.
We are known for being down for whatever floats our client’s boats. Food Trucks, cotton candy machines, confetti cannons, beverage burrow, 80s cover band, outdoor disco ball installations, choreographed jumps into a swimming pool in full formal wear, baby doll heads in glass terrariums as centerpieces, Chipotle catering at a Black Tux wedding, we’ve done it all and were happy to do it.
I am so proud to produce weddings that truly reflect our clients and there is nothing better in the world than helping two people share their love and start their life in a personalized authentic way.
There are a ton of wedding planners in Colorado. What we provide is kind, authentic guidance every step of the way. We provide support with a sense of humor, a fearless drive to support independent thinking, a realistic warning of how this industry can be corrupt and take advantage of couples and an army of talented and vented vendor recommendations.
Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
I have found mentors early on in my career who were interested in the same type of professional fulfillment and work-life-balance. Intelligent women who are not even in the wedding field, but who care deeply about supporting other women. For me, finding other moms in the wedding industry has been invaluable.
I worry about over networking. I try to sustain and cultivate a handful of exceptional professional relationships rather than always try to go to every event and meet a million people. The wedding industry networking scene is a bit competitive, cliquey and vast. There is an event every week at least. And I find it easy to get caught up in “being seen at events.” I’d rather have a lunch with someone and really get to know them and trust how they serve their clients. But we do also love to meet new friends and go to events. Again we have to find the balance.
Pricing:
- Day of/Month of $1,500-$2,000
- Full Service Wedding Planning $4,000-$6,000
- Floral and Decor Design $1,500-$10,000
- Custom Packages $2,000-$6,000
Contact Info:
- Address: 4350 Drew Cir
Boulder, Co 80305 - Website: https://www.cherrybombweddings.com/
- Phone: 3038772640
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cherry_bomb_events/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cherry-Bomb-Events-165056463522304/?fref=ts
Image Credit:
Alchemy creative photography, cassie roach photography, lindy hickman photography, valeria heine photography, mary meck photography, Sharee Davenport Photographer, From the Hip Photo,
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