Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Kadwell.
Dana, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Our story starts like a lot of entrepreneurs – we saw a need and thought – hey, this could be fun! The story goes that we were planning my (Dana’s) wedding, and being the 21-year-old I was, I had a bazillion friends. There was no temperature-controlled space other than a hotel that would work. So, one day at Bear Rock Cafe in Cary (RIP), we sketched what my ideal venue would be. Spoiler alert- it looks nothing like the one we built. We spent the lunch strategizing, discussing, and dreaming about how amazing it would be to own a venue. Well – we quickly realized that it could fail miserably, seeing how we knew nothing about weddings. I was a Chemistry and Math Major, and Courtney a biology major. We decided that if we were going to do this- we should first become planners and do some market research. I went home thinking not much about it. 2 days later, Courtney calls me and says – So (our friend) Megan is getting married, and we are planning her wedding. And that is how C&D was born. We advertised on Craigslist, got out first paying gig in Mebane (for a measly $250!), and we me Beau Bennett with Beau’s Catering. Beau gave us start in the industry, and for that, we will be forever grateful. Fast forward 3 years, and we were rocking and rolling doing 40 events a year. And one day, we were looking around and found this piece of property and thought- this would be perfect for a venue! My husband and I immediately put our house up for sale and made an offer. The offer fell through, our house sold in 24 hours, and we were left figuring out what in the world we were going to do. We put our dreams on hold and starting building our team. 2 years later, we had a nice nest egg in the business, and we were doing around 80 events a year as C&D with 4 additional team members. And this time, we found the perfect piece of property. We struck Chatham County gold. This was after the recession so we bought it for a song and a dance and it perked for a ridiculous amount of bathrooms- which you just don’t find in our area. We went through the year-long process of re-zoning, permitting, and in 2013 we broke ground. The venue finished in May of 2014, and in 2019, we added an addition that was set to open the week the world shut down. Now, we do around 120-130 events a year and have a full-time staff that we love like family.
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?
There are times it has been. But the start was super rocky. We aren’t independently wealthy. Everything we have, we built. We had no investors. We built The Bradford (the house part) with a traditional mortgage, and the ballroom was supposed to be financed through a business loan. I am not sure if you remember the lending environment in 2013- but it was not good. We went through the whole process, was given assurances, and the week we were supposed to get the loan, the bank backed out. At this point, we were 1/2 done, and we couldn’t turn back. So, we liquidated everything we had. We pulled all-nighters and did the work ourselves. We maxed out every credit card we had and honestly just prayed that every time we went to Home Depot or Lowes, there were enough cards that would go through. It was brutal. Once we were open, it was easier but also really rocky trying to navigate owning a venue, running a very successful planning company, and also realizing that the venue was not 100% – so there were always changes and tweaks and updates. The first 3 years were utterly exhausting.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Bradford?
The Bradford is an event venue in New Hill, North Carolina, right outside of Raleigh. We are an event space that believe that everyone should be celebrated. We want people to walk into our doors and immediately feel like they are home. We specialize in weddings and are known for weddings. But we also do corporate events, fundraisers, and other social events. We are a French country estate on 16 acres. We are not far from downtown – but it does feel like a different world when you are here surrounded by trees and tons of green. I wasn’t sure what I wanted our business to do when we first started. After working in events, I realized how powerful hospitality was. Creating a space that was warm and welcoming became our first and top priority. I am so proud of how our brand espouses that. We want people to feel that warm southern hospitality not only when they meet us but through the entire process. Our team loves what they do, and it is evident in the way they interact with their clients. Events are stressful and what the pandemic has taught is that people love to celebrate, they love to gather. And the events that are the most successful are the ones that truly reflect the client. Here at The Bradford, we don’t believe in the cookie-cutter wedding machine. We want every single person who books here to feel like our space represents them, and when their guest arrive- they say, “Man, that is so them!” This means everything is customizable, from the event space you use to the drinks you serve. We want people to feel like they are having the event that accurately represents who they are as a couple.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Mentors and networking are crucial. We found ours through a local networking group (NACE). NACE really opened doors for us and connected us with the best in our industry. If you are looking to find a mentor and to network – see if there are some local groups through your industry. What I love about NACE is that it has local chapters, but it is also a nationwide organization. So, I have met people (and have gotten business from) from all over the country. It is a powerful resource that I think a lot of people don’t realize is out there. For me, I had a tendency to just not go or to push it off. Being a parent and business owner seemed like enough for me. However, it gave me the comradery I was looking for. I grew as a professional, and my business soared as a result. If you are struggling to find the time – give yourself a goal of X amount of networking a month or a quarter and make it attainable. Also- find a buddy! It’s always easier with a friend.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thebradfordnc.com, www.canddevents.com, www.hustleandgather.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebradfordnc/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/thebradfordnc
Image Credits
Fabiana Skubic Photography
Amanda Lane Photography
