Today we’d like to introduce you to Natasha Ford.
Hi Natasha, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Welcome to our story! Nearly a decade ago, we embarked on this entrepreneur journey with big dreams and unwavering determination. Chef John (my husband) & I began by focusing on catering for small backyard parties and weddings, slowly making a name for ourselves. We were hungry for opportunity, so we reached out to venues, cooked for them, and gave it our all. We eventually landed spots on many of the area’s Preferred Vendor lists.
The wedding industry is tough, although many can enter this industry….. maintaining success is a whole other story. Many didn’t give us the time of day. But thanks to a chance introduction to Forever Bridal (Bridal Show) and the support from Dom and Laura, our first booth at their wedding show made all the difference. They helped us expand our booth when we could only afford a small space, and that was the turning point in our story. We soon found ourselves becoming regulars at top venues as Preferred Caterers, and things began to take off. We didn’t really take time off, we worked our butts off and always maintained a workmanship attitude of professionality. We took everything we did very seriously, and it showed.
I always knew we wanted a venue of our own. I also knew my husband, Chef John, deserved a real kitchen to showcasing my husband’s culinary talent in the kitchen. After countless setbacks and many doors closing on us, we finally got the “YES” we’d been waiting for in June of 2019. We officially opened our doors to the beautiful – Chandelier Event Venue – at the end of October 2019. A few months later, COVID hit. The next few years were full of challenges. The life of an entrepreneur is definitely not for the faint of heart.
But with constant faith, perseverance and a lot of hard work – 2022 was finally the push we were waiting for! With every event, we reinvested in upgrades, and over time, we’ve completed more than 60 improvements to the venue. Every sacrifice has been worth it.
Today, we are more grateful than ever. We’re 100% invested in this business—no one else will ever take over because we built this from the ground up. We’re committed to providing the Raleigh-Durham areas with the most beautiful events, and we’re honored to serve our clients with every celebration we help create.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As we started on our Catering journey back in 2016 it was—and still is—a beast. Catering is not easy, but our work was ten times harder when working at venues without true commercial kitchens. In the beginning that is what we did, we worked all over North Carolina. We had to get creative, turning any space into a makeshift kitchen, and those early years were tough. It was backbreaking work and very difficult. I will not sugar coat it by any means. “We’ve met many along the way — some lifted us up, others reminded us why discernment matters. Not everyone was meant to walk this road with us, and that’s perfectly fine, I can admit this now, but it was very hard lesson to learn.
Not to mention the countless struggles of opening up a venue, so many setbacks, I can’t even begin to tell you. There were so many times I wanted to just throw in the towel, but we always had enough faith to keep pushing no matter what.
As mentioned earlier, the venue is far from what you see today. With every event, we reinvested in upgrades, and over time, we’ve completed more than 60 improvements to the venue. Every sacrifice has been worth it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We are the Owners of Chandelier Event Venue! We specialize in creating beautiful weddings and special events in the Raleigh Durham area. We are so lucky to host couples from all over the East Coast.
At Chandelier Event Venue, we proudly embody the essence of an all-inclusive wedding and event venue in the Raleigh-Durham area. For over a decade, we’ve refined systems that make every celebration effortless and extraordinary. From the moment your event begins, our team handles every detail — table setup, breakdown, china settings, and flawless event logistics — so you can focus on the joy of your day.
With years of hands-on experience attending, planning, and executing events of every kind, we’ve built a process that runs seamlessly from start to finish. Every design choice and service offering is built around one goal: to make your event stress-free and unforgettable.
Our culinary side of the business, led by Chef John Ford, brings the world to your plate. From Southern favorites to international cuisine, our menus reflect a deep belief that food is the universal language that connects us all. Every dish is prepared fresh, beautifully presented, and full of flavor — the perfect reflection of your celebration. ✨
We are a full service event venue, meaning we also handle all the staffing (bar & catering), linen rentals & provide so many amenities to our clients!
Why outsource every single element to a wedding or special event? Let us take care of you ✨
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Visiting my grandparents in Georgia & California! They both gave me love and always spoiled me, I was very grateful for those moments. And, I cherish those as an adult so much.
Also…not a childhood memory, but an adult memory I will always cherish – meeting my husband. Talk about for better or worse, 10 years later we love each other more and just have a bond that cannot be shaken. We give all the glory to God for everything we have and everything we have achieved.
Thanks for taking the time to read our story! We are humbled and grateful for your support!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chandeliereventvenue.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chandeliereventvenue/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChandelierEventVenue/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@chandeliereventvenue
