Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Swanson.
Hi Anna, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born and raised in Georgia. Being the outdoor and beach lover that I am, I attended the University of Georgia in hopes of working in resort recreation. It should have been no surprise that during my time in hotels and resorts, I would be drawn to weddings and formal events. After marrying my husband Mark in 2011, we relocated to the Savannah area from metro Atlanta.
I took over all wedding-related events for Savannah Riverboat Cruises and grew them into being a well-known waterfront venue for weddings and private events before leaving to be a stay-at-home mom in 2015. Not wanting to completely leave the industry, I started Rustic to Ritz Events to assist couples needing wedding coordination. Rustic to Ritz Events has now rebranded as Swanson Signature Events!
Today, I have a business partner, Renee Peterson, as well as two Lead Planners and a few part-time event assistants. They run our Savannah location, and I recently relocated back to Marietta in the fall of 2022 to raise our children closer to the family after a decade near the coast. Of course, I am back and forth a bit due to a full event calendar for 2023, but I love it!
We plan and execute about 35 weddings annually and a small number of adult birthday parties, corporate events, and fundraising galas. When I am not planning or working events, I am a busy mom of four to Wilhelm (10), Wyatt (8), Paisley (6) and Palmer (2). In my free time, I enjoy cooking, gardening, interior decorating, antique shopping, and traveling to explore new places – small coastal towns are my favorite!
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?
The life of an entrepreneur and business owner is bound to have some struggles if not roadblocks, but I am an overcomer. I work hard to get things right. When I don’t have the answer, I find someone who does. When I need help, I seek a mentor for future growth. Knowing my strengths and weaknesses keeps me humble and also gives me room to invite others on my team to use their talents and skill sets which are different from mine. I never dream of having employees. I was scared of all the taxes and legalities and having to train and mentor others, but I hired a lawyer and an accountant while my husband gave me some sound advice on leading others.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Swanson Signature Events is a wedding planning and event design company that services clients across Georgia and South Carolina. We have teams in Savannah and Marietta. We offer full-service event planning and production, as well as event management. Our ideal clients are those looking to wow their guests with unique experiences in a Southern setting with Southern hospitality and custom details tailored to the client’s individual interests. We have seen continued growth annually since we opened in 2016, and in August 2022, we were hired by Colin Cowie Lifestyle as the local planner for Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’ wedding at their home south of Savannah. It was a fabulous educational experience for our team and a lifetime of memories we will never forget!
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
We had 19 wedding postponements and three cancellations in 2020. I felt very blessed to be in the part of the United States that I was in at that time because we were able to still hold safe events within our city’s precautionary limitations. Other planners were not as fortunate. As a result of that year, we also diversified our profits and began taking on non-wedding events like surprise birthday parties, corporate fundraisers, and ticketed galas. We manage a few event venues now as well.
Pricing:
- Event Production services begin at $7500.
- Event Management services begin at $3000.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://swansonsignatureevents.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swansonsignatureevents/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swansonsignatureevents
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/swansonsignatureevents/
Image Credits
Nicholas Gore Photography Meredith Ryncarz Photography Amy Arrington Photography
