Today we’d like to introduce you to Valerie Turner.
Valerie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
For as long as I can remember, I have been the go to person for planning trips with friends, holidays, and parties. I have always enjoyed styling, whether it be through interior design, fashion, or even just creating my own floral arrangements with flowers from the grocery store. Coupled with my type A personality (my daily planner is color coded), wedding planning was a natural fit for me. I was introduced to Ashley Kuehnel, the owner of Midwestern Bride, through a friend, and was essentially given a tryout opportunity at a bridal expo the company was organized in Milwaukee. Under no circumstance was I going to let this opportunity slip through my fingers. During the expo, Ashley challenged me to create a wedding tablescape on the spot, to show what I could do. Now, here we are, three years and dozens of weddings later, I am the Chicago based wedding planner for The Midwestern Bride.
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?
I struggled a lot to get to where I am today. I come from a south suburb of Chicago, where it is not very common to pursue an education, for a variety of reasons. I faced a lot of adversity throughout my childhood, but never let the setbacks deter me from going after the future I wanted for myself. I was a first-generation college student, at one point working three jobs while enrolled in school full time. I would wake up early to work my first job, go to class, go straight to my next job and often times, work until two o’clock in the morning as a bartender. I was regularly reading flashcards and textbooks while making customer’s drinks! It was because of this rigorous schedule, that I had to learn to be meticulously organized and focused. I learned a lot about setting goals for myself and never giving up on the task at hand. Even after graduating and wanting to pursue wedding planning, it was a struggle to find anyone to consider me with little experience. If I could give one piece of advice to young women, it would be that perseverance pays off. I live by a quote my father has said to me for years. “I may not be as smart as the guy next to me, but I will always outwork them”. Thinking back on this serves as a reminder to keep pushing, even when I want to give up.
We’d love to hear more about Midwestern Bride.
The best way to summarize Midwestern Bride is that it is a refreshing take on the wedding planning experience. Nowadays, there is no right or wrong way to get married. A wedding should be reflective of the couple and their own personal style. Midwestern Bride truly embodies this ideology. Our mission is to make the wedding planning experience one that is stress-free, and that is done through getting to know each couple on a personal level. I think what sets Midwestern Bride apart in such a saturated market, is the relaxed nature of all of our planners. We all feel at ease while working because it is what we are truly passionate about and we all exude that. I always find meeting new vendors so intriguing, because the talent out there in the industry is insane! Having the opportunity to create with new industry professionals, keeps me in love with this job and makes me truly appreciate the diversity of this city. I will always be thankful to have the opportunity to play such a large role in moments that will be cherished forever.
What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
If an opportunity does not exist- create one. Nothing was ever accomplished by sitting and waiting for things to happen. Get out there and make it happen.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.midwesternbride.com/
- Email: val@themidwesternbride.com
Image Credit:
Kate Romenesko Photography, Sweven Floral, Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
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