Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Katenkamp.
Hi Victoria, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I was introduced to the wedding industry in 2013 when I took a serving position at Bald Head Island Club after college. Becoming a wedding planner, or having any career in the event industry was never something that had crossed my mind as a possibility, or even an interest until I was able to experience it (as wait staff) for the weddings at this club.
As silly as it sounds, I was mesmerized by how effortlessly coordinated and beautifully the event planner at the club made everything and knew that I wanted to do what she was doing one day. After about a year, I was fortunate enough to become an event coordinator for that club, working underneath this planner, and having every opportunity to learn (which I loved).
I did later go on to take the position of the event planner (she decided to open her own wedding planning company!), and as much as I loved that opportunity, I also knew that I wanted to expand my knowledge to have a better understanding of how to manage weddings & events. So, throughout the next six years, I worked for some amazing venues in North Carolina, where I learned sales, event management & coordination, planning, and design. The end goal was to still eventually open my own wedding planning company, but I wanted to do so with a strong background in the field.
I wanted to confidently say that I have not only helped but planned, managed, and coordinated nearly 100 weddings since 2013; that I understand the logistics of delivering successful events; and that my knowledge of the industry was there to benefit my couples when it came to planning their wedding. I also wanted to give my couples that reassurance through reviews of my services throughout the years, while also making sure that I portrayed confidence (something that comes with time and experience) that left them feeling secure in their decision to hire me.
Before Covid, I had taken a job at The Carolina Club, hoping to expand their wedding industry (something I had done for my previous employer). Unfortunately, this position was cut short due to the event industry coming to a halt. However, something told me that now was the time to take that leap of faith and pursue what I had always intended to do – open Cardinal Events. So, in February of 2021, Cardinal Events was established!
I took on two weddings for the 2021 year, expecting to hit 5-6 weddings for the 2022 year, and have been blessed to work with over 15 couples since starting last year.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I believe with my background in sales and event management, I have learned (sometimes taking things hard) that you are not always going to appeal to everyone. You are going to get turned down, told “no”, and sometimes people are just not going to like you. When I was younger, and first starting out, I definitely took a lot of this rejection as something that I did wrong.
Letting people tell me that this wasn’t the right career for me, or that they don’t like how I do things. It was hard, I won’t lie. I definitely cried more than I probably should of, and was let go from positions because bosses didn’t think I had what it took to be successful in this career. So, no, it was not always an easy road, but a necessary one in order for me to be where I’m at today.
Through constructive criticism, trial-and-error and lots of “no’s”, I was able to learn what my strengths were, how to handle unexpected situations and conflicts, and find other like-minded people (vendors and couples).
What makes you happy?
On days that I’m not working, I love being with my family.
I am married to my husband, Ben, and we have a daughter, Evelyn, and are expecting another child in July 2022. I’m very fortunate to be able to spend a lot of time with them, and the opportunities to travel, explore and just relax at home with them, is my happy place. I also love baking.
On wedding days, I love when the entire family and guests are happy with the overall experience of the day. I really try to make sure that the wedding experience doesn’t just begin and end with the couple.
The couple, although they are the foundation for the event and its success, guests play just as important of a role in how the couple perceives the day. So making sure that they, along with family, enjoy their day with the couple, and seeing this reaction in people, is so rewarding!
Pricing:
- Partial Planning – begins at $2,500
- Full Planning – begins at $4,000
- The average couple spends anywhere from $3,200-$4,500 for their wedding day experience
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.cardinaleventsll.com
- Instagram: @cardinaleventsllc
- Facebook: cardinaleventsweddings
Image Credits
Griffin Hart Davis Photography, Caitlyn Whitman Photography, and Jennifer Hagen Photography
