May 8, 2017

Meet Ashley La Fleur of La Belle Fleur Events in Bucktown

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley La Fleur.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Ashley. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
From a young age, you could find me tearing out clippings in bridal magazines, and spending hours perusing the latest Martha Stewart Weddings at the local book store. It was a Saturday morning ritual that my mom and I would do together, but it wasn’t until I moved to Chicago that I realized my passion for weddings could be a career. When I graduated from college, it was the height of the recession, and no one was hiring. I figured if no one will hire me, then I’ll create a position for myself. That’s how La Belle Fleur Events was formed!

I would say that I got to where I am today by perseverance and genuine connections. I enjoy meeting and working with others, and genuinely care about my clients and fellow business owners. Of course, owning your own business comes with some hardships, but continuing to persevere during those tough times has led to where I am today.

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?
It has certainly not been a smooth road, but I find that during those hardships, I learn a lot more about myself and business. There are always growing pains as you try to reach new levels in your business such as taking it to full time, hiring employees or increasing your profits. All of these moments have really stretched me personally and professionally, but led to quite a bit of growth.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the La Belle Fleur Events story. Tell us more about the business.
La Belle Fleur Events is a nationwide wedding management and design company located in Chicago. We work with luxury clientele with a focus on romantic, out-door events. We are a full service company and take a limited amount of weddings each year. We focus on quality over quantity, so that we can provide impeccable service to our clients throughout their whole planning process.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I think I was lucky to have such a supportive mom and partner. I was also lucky to have stumbled upon an amazing group of women, Little Black Desk Society, that have supported me throughout my last couple of years in business.

Additionally, I think there have been times when I have been lucky to get noticed by a certain publication, and been able to get featured in that magazine or blog.

I believe in good luck, but I’m not sure I believe in bad luck. I think even bad luck has a way of working itself out, and teaching you a lot about yourself!

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