Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsie Thomann.
Hi Kelsie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
While in college I was asked to do a report on a career path I wanted to follow. To be completely honest, I was unsure what I wanted to do. I’m the youngest of five girls; two are doctors, one is a nurse and the other works at a law firm. I felt pressure to figure it out and be successful no matter what path I chose. I got out a piece of paper and started writing down my various skills and interests, which led me to Event Planning. At the time I was a little unsure of what it meant to be an Event Planner but after some searching, I found a Wedding and Event Planner that I was able to interview for my project. She gave me some great insight into the industry and a few weeks later, she offered me a part time job. The job was primarily setting up chairs and tables on a Saturday, which was not the most ideal for a college student who just turned 21. BUT something most individuals don’t realize about wedding planners, is that it is not all glitz and glam. You’ve got to start somewhere, and for most in the industry it starts with setting up the tables and chairs on a Saturday and taking them down at the end of the night. My job working for the Wedding & Event Planner was only part-time so I decided to get another job. I was lucky enough to find a job in the industry, but this time it was working for a small, outdoor venue. The drive was a bit far so I later found a similar job at a nearby venue, The Uptown Theater.
This venue was much larger and nationally known, and not to mention has five venue spaces in the building. This position challenged me but I gained amazing experience and unparalleled working knowledge. My role here was many things, it was booking, planning, giving tours, sales, marketing, social media, completing follow ups, meetings, working the front desk, day-of coordinator, serving as the point of contact for catering, and so on. Last year when the pandemic hit, I decided I had grown tired of the freezing Kansas City winters so my boyfriend and I packed our bags and made the move to Austin, TX. Not only did I bring my two fur babies along but also I brought my love for love and events, and launched The Groovy Wedding Co.! And that is where I am today. 🙂
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My journey has been far from smooth sailing – I’ve been underpaid, worked longer hours than you can imagine and challenged A LOT. What I will focus on is my recent journey that led me to my current company and position. A friend, with a similar working background as mine, also moved to Austin recently. We put our shared interests and passion together to create a wedding planning business. However, shortly after launching, we soon realized that our friendship meant more to us than arguing over our creative differences. With my passion for love and helping others, I decided to pursue The Groovy Wedding Co. on my own, it has been a challenging but exciting and rewarding journey. Most would call me an energetic extrovert and I love collaborating with others, so once I realized I was doing this on my own I had a big wake up call. It was either “you’re going to do this, or you’re going to need to find something else to do,” and my dad didn’t raise a quitter! Sure there are times where I wish I could ask someone for their opinion, someone to help make decisions or just simply collaborate with, but this experience has lit a spark within me and has allowed me to have complete freedom with my creativity and decisions. This “bump” in the road has challenged me but it has also brought about a sense of accomplishment that I have never felt before, and for that I am thankful.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a wedding and events planner serving the wildly in love couples in Austin, TX and beyond! I am definitely one of the more laid-back planners that you will meet, and you can almost always find me with an iced latte in hand. My passion for the industry stems from my love for helping others and my knack of always planning something. I love thinking outside the box with couples and dreaming up such beautifully unique ideas. Our world isn’t rainbows and butterflies but weddings can be! The Groovy Wedding Co. supports all relationships and welcomes couples with open arms, no matter their race, sexuality, gender or beliefs. As a business owner, that is what I am most proud of. Love is such a beautiful thing to experience, we should not frown upon those that are lucky enough to find it. I would definitely say that I am known for being non-traditional. I am not your cookie cutter wedding planner; I am not perfect nor do I strive to be. I love thinking outside the box and bringing designs and concepts to life that some only dream of.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Gosh there are so many, I don’t know where to begin! I love the entrepreneur lifestyle that Austin is made of. Everyone is always building others up and supporting small businesses which warms my heart beyond belief, especially being a fellow entrepreneur. I love seeing what the thousands of creatives that live here make and dream up. Being surrounded by such ambitious individuals has definitely inspired me in ways I never imagined. Being a Kansas girl at heart, the warm weather gets me going every day. I love being able to be active outside, year round. I go paddle boarding, biking, hiking or camping at every chance I get! The only thing I would say I dislike about Austin is the traffic, but thankfully I am located on Lady Bird right across from downtown so I never really have to deal with it.
Pricing:
- Full-Service investment starting at $5,000
- Partial-Planning investment starting at $3,500
- Month-Of investment starting at $2,500
Contact Info:
- Email: kelsie@thegroovyweddingco.com
- Website: https://www.thegroovyweddingco.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegroovyweddingco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegroovyweddingco
Image Credits
Mackenzie Smith Photography Epaga Foto
