Today we’d like to introduce you to Jalonna Kearney-Rodgers.
Hi Jalonna, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve been the owner of Blue Room Bride for a little over two years now. I was involved in a lot of different activities, clubs, and organizations as a child and although that didn’t really leave a lot of room to craft, I was able to pick up the skills I use daily as a wife, business owner and high school math educator.
Since graduating from Clemson University, I have taught math in South Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana. As I reach a decade in education, my love for education has extended beyond the classroom and into Blue Room Bride where I teach women to “craft the wedding of their dreams”.
In December of 2019, my (now) husband purchased a Cricut machine for me to explore my crafting skills. Three months after that, he proposed during halftime of Super Bowl 54. I had been talking to him about being a DIY Bride but little did I know him gifting me my machine was the kickstart I needed to create all the important aspects of our wedding!
Since being married, I’ve had the chance to reflect on my experience as a DIY Bride and the freedom in design, personal pride, and total control over aesthetic is something I am grateful to have had and want every bride to experience. No arguing with vendors, no returning mishandled or misspelled orders, and certainly no calling customer service to be on hold forever.
Experiencing those unpleasantries led me to focus my crafting and business direction on wedding and engagement-related DIY projects. I strive to make it easier for DIY brides to create the wedding items that reflect their personality and truly make their day special.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. At the onset of my planning process (which was also the onset of COVID), hubby and I were both laid off from our jobs.
I needed to find an outlet to relieve my increasing anxiety about the uncertainty of our future. Like many brides, I thought the only way to execute the vision for my wedding was to outsource and purchase everything.
Not only was I unable to find other small black-owned businesses to patronize, but without steady income, it became progressively difficult to justify spending money on our wedding — at the height of COVID, we needed to be saving as many coins as possible to ensure we could survive the pandemic so…
After a little encouragement from my fiance’, we decided that I would hand-make the save the dates, stationairy, bridesmaids boxes, groomsmen gifts, wedding favors, and welcome baskets. 😅
It was a large undertaking especially because I had never produced such a high quantity of items before. Not to mention, I still needed to set aside time to purchase, cut, and assemble the materials all while supply lines and business operating hours and communication with vendors were stalled and/or completely disrupted.
As you know, we’re big fans of Blue Room Bride. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Blue Room Bride is on a mission to empower more women to #BrideOnABudget. We support and encourage future wives to craft the wedding of their dreams by sharing DIY projects and money-saving tips that help brides pay for their weddings in cash. Blue Room Brides are fearless and learn to create their own wedding items and decor and are unafraid of imperfections even on their big day.
We specialize in creating items that celebrate brides throughout their wedding journey. From engagement to honeymoon and beyond, we help you navigate, manage, and settle into your new role as a BRIDE. Blue Room Black Tees have consistently been best sellers and our customizable printables work well for brides who are low on time but still want to rock personalized items at their events like our bottle labels and bridesmaid gift tags.
Personally, I am extremely proud of my growth as a wife, business owner and educator. Brand-wise, I am most proud of the collaboration opportunities I’ve earned and connections made through working with supply companies, other creators, influencers, and vendors in the wedding industry. My goal is to help share knowledge and expand the image of black brides. Shout out to everyone else who is doing the same!
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Currently, I am hosting #MakeWithMeMonday on Instagram Live at 7pm. Brides bring their craft supplies, we talk about trending topics and DIY a wedding item together. Stop by and say 👋🏾👋🏾👋🏾👋🏾! I’d love to know who all is visiting from this article!
Also, you can visit blueroombride.com/pages/linkinbio for all shop, social, and affiliate info!
Contact Info:
- Email: info@blueroombride.com
- Website: blueroombride.com
- Instagram: BlueRoomBride
- Facebook: facebook.com/blueroombride
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2dEgPgBcXIYL06uuMhrDag
Image Credits
Dandellion Wedding Company
