Meet Rachel Slauer of Slauer Events & Design in Inman Park and Krog area

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Slauer.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My love for weddings began when I got engaged to my high school sweetheart, Ryan. We were planning an Atlanta wedding while living in different cities (I in Columbia and he in Athens). We set the date for May 23, 2015- about two weeks after I graduated from USC and moved back to Atlanta. It was an extremely busy time. Finals, graduation, packing/moving, and also preparing for a wedding. You’d think that all those big changes on top of planning a wedding would cause some crazy stress, but I actually loved the planning process from start to finish.

After graduating and getting married, I tried my hand at teaching, the profession I had always thought I wanted to do. I planned to go to grad school for teaching as soon as possible. As I prepped for the GRE and researched teaching programs, though, a small idea began to grow in the back of my mind.

I knew I loved weddings and I wished I could plan another. I envisioned myself helping other couples plan their day, guiding them through the confusion and frustration that often accompanies the planning process. I imagined myself starting my own company, opening a website, conducting meetings, hustling and bustling around a venue on the day of a wedding, soaking in the excitement and anticipation that saturates these special days, serving couples and their families so that they’re able to let go and fully celebrate.

But all that would require way too much risk for someone like me! I’d already started down the teaching path, and I’d have to give that up for the possibility of a different, more uncertain path. I’d have to invest time, invest some of our savings, and I’d have to risk failing. I’d never been much of a risk taker, but as I prayed and discussed with friends and fam, I realized that this was in fact a risk worth taking. So I did!

It definitely hasn’t been a glamorous road, but after a year and a half of learning, making mistakes, and growing, I was finally able to quit my “day job” and commit my time fully to this little business. It has been one of the most rewarding experiences, and I am so grateful for it!

Has it been a smooth road?
The first year was tough. For many reasons:

Time:
I continued in my full time job, staying up late to work on my website, squeezing vendor meetings into early mornings or evenings (always RIGHT in the middle of rush hour!) It wasn’t producing income in the beginning, so I couldn’t quit my full time job, and yet seemed the business would never grow enough to produce an income unless I devoted all my time to it. It was such a balancing act!

Unknown:
The other tough part of owning a small business is the unknown. I am such a planner (obviously), so it was unnerving not knowing how many clients I’d be able to book in a year, what my salary would be, whether or not it was worth it to purchase advertising, etc. I also did not study business in undergrad, so my poor dad got a lot of frazzled phone calls from me asking about insurance, accounting, financial planning, how to hire employees, things like that. Gosh I am so thankful for his expertise and his willingness to walk me through all of that!

Insecurity:
Lastly, it was especially easy to compare myself to other planners in the industry when I first started out. It seemed that I’d never feel as established as they all appeared to be. I kept Ryan up many nights, venting my anxious thoughts, wondering if this would ever go anywhere, if I should just quit now. While the weight of comparison continues to be a struggle for me, I have definitely realized that everyone in this industry is human and makes mistakes. We are bring different strengths and weaknesses to the table, and that is a good thing!

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Slauer Events & Design takes on the typical tasks any event planner would: we define vision and aesthetic for an event, create budgets, recommend vendors, order quotes, negotiate quotes, organize information, obsess over timelines and inventory lists, manage vendor teams, bustle dresses. I’m so lucky to have found some of the most talented assistant coordinators around, and we pride ourselves in doing all of these tasks extremely well. We put a lot of sweat into making the planning process efficient, organized, and enjoyable for our couples.

But I think what sets us apart is the relationship we build with our clients and their families. When I was engaged I remember feeling so helpless. Vendor after vendor would listen to my vision for about 30 seconds before inundating me with information and opinions about what I should do. I had no knowledge of the science behind planning a smooth event, so I had no idea whether it was worth it to hire an extra bartender, purchase an extra hour of photography, or pay the extra fee for cake cutting service. I knew it would be easy for someone to take advantage of my inexperience, and I hated that! That’s why relationship is a high priority for us at Slauer Events. Being a good listener is a rare trait in this industry, and it’s something we pride ourselves on. We take time to listen to our clients’ vision, priorities, fears, desires. We tailor each experience so that it fits their vision and personality. By wedding day, we have usually become friends with our couple and their families! Shout out to the amazing MOBs we’ve worked with!

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
A successful client experience is one in which the planner helps the client feel seen, heard, cared for, respected, listened to, treated fairly, and excited about the wedding throughout the planning process.

A successful event is one in which the planner helps the client feel at peace and ready to celebrate! The planner also helps the vendors to feel prepared and supported throughout.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.slauerevents.com
• Phone: 7707151096
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slauerevents/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/slauerevents/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/slauerevents/

Image Credit:
Hannah Forsberg
Abby Waller
Abigail Malone
Grace Jayne Photo
Amy Strang

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