Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Lerman.
Kate, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Chicago Vintage Weddings started in 2012 and quickly grew from a storage-based small business with a home office into a storefront on Grand in West Town. After several years of offering planning services ranging from month-of coordination to full service planning and design, as well as a wide collection of vintage rentals, we bought and renovated our own building in Pilsen. We now offer a stylish small event space and a vastly expanded vintage rental collection, in addition to the comprehensive planning services we have always provided.
The company focuses on giving back, with membership in the Green Wedding Alliance and support of causes including animal rescue and elder care.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
When the company was new, I struggled to balance everything and adjust to being self-employed. As it grew, new challenges continued to present themselves: taking on part-time and then full-time employees, managing larger budgets, developing and implementing new protocols, and, of course, always keeping clients satisfied while steadily taking on more events.
One personal struggle is remembering to step back and look at how far the past few years have taken us. It’s easy to see little flaws and to focus on the negative, so I work hard to also appreciate the things I’ve accomplished and the praise that is given. It’s hard to do! Thankfully, I have a wonderful network of colleagues who have become friends, and we are very supportive of one another.
What should we know about Chicago Vintage Weddings? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Chicago Vintage Weddings does both planning and vintage rentals, which was a completely new concept when I started the company. It’s a challenge to excel at both but when done right, there is a lot of amazing overlap between the two things.
For rentals, we offer a wider range of unique vintage pieces than most companies: china plates, glassware, furniture, and decor. Our farm tables are very popular and we just got more custom made! We focus on keeping things sustainable by using recycled materials and objects with a history. There is a lot of big growth in the future for our rental collection, so stay tuned.
Planning services are extremely comprehensive, even at our most budget-friendly level. We offer coordination, partial and full-service planning. The approach to planning is three-pronged, with a focus on design, logistics, and budget. I love connecting with clients and tailoring the process to each couple’s needs! Being able to connect with people in a creative way, especially during one of the most exciting and emotional times in their lives, keeps me feeling very fulfilled.
We are lucky to have an incredibly talented, passionate team who have a wide range of talents. All of us work hard and collaborate with a focus on each of our strengths. I’m incredibly proud of what we have built!
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
The best mentors will come when you aren’t looking for them. Work hard, be passionate and put yourself out there. If you network in a meaningful way, you’ll simultaneously enrich others’ experiences and your own.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2018 S Ashland, Chicago, IL 60608
- Website: http://chicagovintageweddings.com
- Phone: 312-504-1478
- Email: kate@chicagovintageweddings.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chivintagewed/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoVintageWeddings/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/chivintagewed
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/chivintagewed/
Image Credit:
Anjali Pinto Photography, Roots of Life Photography, Paper Antler, Jordan Voth, Dawn Roscoe Photography, Studio This Is, Perregeaux Photo
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