UNCOMMON

Founder of Uncommon Camellia.

When I was just 10 years old, my parents took me and my two younger siblings to a swanky lawyer's cocktail party at this historic railroad museum in Baltimore. And let me tell you, it was a whole vibe. The ballroom was this big, circular space with old trains and engines all around the edges, and in the center, there were tables for the guests and a live jazz band playing. The lighting was low, with spotlights on the band and the trains, and the waitstaff was walking around with glass bottles of fancy soft drinks and fancy-pants hors d’oeuvres that I just wasn't ready for yet. But I was completely swept up in the adventure and the charm of it all, and in that moment, I realized how a well-designed event could really transport you and create lasting memories.

So, naturally, I decided I wanted more of that and...became an attorney. Yeah, I know, I missed the mark big time. But it's all good, because eight years later, when I started college as a pre-law student, I quickly realized that what I was really interested in were the events my parents used to attend. One visit to the career advisor's office later, and I'd changed my major and was well on my way to finishing my degree in record time, with plans to pursue a master's in hospitality and tourism. But in my last semester of undergrad, I took a long, hard look at the future I was heading towards and questioned whether it was really what I wanted. Would I be happy working mostly weekends, could I also have my dream of a family with this career, would I be fulfilled by "throwing parties"? Would there even be a job for me after graduation?

So I did some soul-searching and decided that my real strengths lay in counseling. I made events my hobby and set my sights on becoming a professional therapist. And that's what I did. One master's degree and professional license later, I was settled into my career as a therapist, but the events industry kept calling to me.

Then in 2016, my second daughter was born and my mother was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer's, and I knew I couldn't ignore my true calling any longer. So I took the leap and jumped headfirst into the wild and wonderful world of entrepreneurship. I put everything I had into building my own business, Uncommon Camellia, and making it a reflection of all the gifts life had given me.

Within a year of starting out as a wedding planner, I was booked up and bringing other women onto my team. But let me be clear: these women were never traditional employees. I taught and still teach each team member my proven processes and provide them with the tools they need to excel and enjoy their work as in weddings. Now each one of them books her own work under the umbrella of Uncommon Camellia. We're not just a team of wedding professionals, we're a family that supports and uplifts each other.

Thanks to this amazing team, we've been able to take our business to the next level. We're serving more clients than ever, and we're doing it better than ever. With our collective knowledge and expertise, we have deep insight into the New Orleans wedding market, working with over 1,000 vendors and venues every year. We are the largest and most accomplished team of wedding professionals in the Gulf South, with over 500 5-star reviews, multiple prestigious awards, and features in national magazines. 

We never forget that the real heroes of this story are the couples who trust us with their weddings. That's why we keep them at the heart of everything we do at Uncommon Camellia.

I am still writing this story alongside my UC Team, and I can't wait to see where it takes us next.