Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Fortner.
Hi Erika, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Beautiful Weddings started in the most unintentional way and has become one of the biggest blessings we have in this family. The owner had just come through one of the hardest chapters she has faced with overcoming the many challenges post partum depression presents. She took it minute by minute pulling herself through with the love and support of her amazing family for a little over 2 years. Shortly after getting on the right medication and finally feeling the weight starting to lift off her shoulders… her middle child, Faith, got engaged and did what all “little girls” do- started dreaming of their big day! She told Faith whatever she could dream, she would provide. Faith imagined the dream wedding in the Twilight movie, so Marlene started collecting invoices and researching what all it would require from location to decor and florals, down to restrooms and transportation.
Being someone who had been in the wedding industry with hair and makeup for over 10 years and holding years of interior design experience with a certain vision in mind- she knew she could pull this together. Marlene alongside her talented husband Jason who is also a business owner of his own and licensed contractor, child Michael and his wife Erika, Nephews, soon to be son in law Jeremiah, and many friends worked on the various aspects of the event. Marlene found chairs, tables, linens, tents, draping to purchase. She made custom chandeliers, strung lights and wisteria in the middle of the woods, found the perfect dresses, place settings, and accents. It was a dream come true for Faith and Jeremiah and a proud moment for all those involved to bring it together. From there, this family knew we could do this as long as we did it together. We are going on year seven and still value each client as if they were our own family. We still are family OWNED and OPERATED business and take great pride in that.
From the owner down to the labor, we are all related/close to in some way. We began in the garage of her personal home and are now finalizing a purchase to build our 2nd shop with the showroom our clients have raved for. Marlene gives and gives from the bottom of her heart and no client ever walks away with the minimum. Forgot to order something to fill the welcome table & Marlene has something extra that wasn’t rented in the truck to fill the empty space? You bet it will be placed. You have a vision but budget limits what’s available and Marlene has the ability to provide it? Yup, you guessed it- complementary upgrades. New vendor in the area and need some advice or connections? Yup, Beautiful Weddings would love to guide and SUPPORT you. Stress is getting to you on your big day and Marlene is near by? She will hug you, pray for you, offer to help take off the load, crack a joke, or even take on a new role with you! Don’t know where to begin or what vision you need? She can help design that for you too. The team at Beautiful Weddings leads with their heart and won’t stop until everything is perfect. We owe all our success to God and love the blessings this business bring each day as it continues to grow.
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?
Nothing good comes easy! The bigger the dreams, the more challenges it presents BUT that doesn’t mean it won’t be worth it. It started with a her daughters dream and now holds many other brides dreaming of their big day but there have certainly been a few bumps in the road. We officially opened Beautiful Weddings LLC at the end of 2018 and we all know 2019 hit hard with the struggles COVID-19 brought. We had a new business, products to pay for, employees needing work to keep the lights on all while the world around us was shutting down and requiring to isolate or social distance. Weddings and social events were certainly not essential work and for most would bring too many people too close together- risking the lives of those they loved. Many event companies, venues, florist, etc. shut down and closed their doors through the struggles and challenges COVID brought which certainly brought fear. But with God, our team, our amazing clients, and being flexible with those who needed to reschedule with no knowledge of when that would be- we got through it and grew faster than we could have imagined. Walking through our first commercial shops doors we thought we would never be able to fill it up (Candy Castle for any long term Loganville residents- a day care known to Loganville).
It held a significant spot in this family as well since it was where her son Mikey and daughter Faith, her nephews Austin (one of our very essential assets of our dream team), Dustin who is a big part of our growth; all attended daycare over 20 years ago there. Many moments Marlene has looked around and smiled at the thought of where each of them napped, ate, or did art. We now own so much inventory that we could hardly turn around in the building and it was time to look into expanding. Growing is exciting but with it brings many concerns and considerations of what is to come and if we are moving to fast or not fast enough. We looked at various buildings in various cities and several pieces of property but kept coming back to the piece we all really wanted in the heart of our home, Loganville. Following many prayers, meetings with the City, DOT, our real-estate agent, Michelle Hernandez, surrounding business property owners that would be effected, etc.- we are getting ready to close on our next biggest piece… our property on highway 78 where we will build a shop to support our growth, a showroom to share with our potential clients, and a place for our team to continue to call home! We sold our first location in December of 2024 and will be officially moved out April 01, 2025. Temporarily while building our new home we are leasing 765 Conyers Rd Loganville, GA 30052. We will have our first ever showroom and plan to hold a grand opening once we get everything settled! Even with all this excitement we still have the challenge of moving and progressing while providing all our spring and summer couples/clients the best we have to offer. We are sure to see more challenges along the way but we know with our amazing team and Gods blessings, we will continue to grow and prosper through it all!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Beautiful Weddings is a family owned and operated one stop shop for all your wedding and event needs! We offer tents, Rentals, Draping, Lighting, Decor, Florals (Real and Silk), Dance Floors, Furniture, Linens, Place Settings, Restroom Trailers, Arches, Custom Pieces and much more! We work with many wonderful vendors for the services we do not offer and love to share that info with our clients as well! We are local but do travel all over to bring everyone’s dreams to life. Our team involves a group of people who work with all they have and give from the bottom of their hearts. Owner, Lana Marlene Fortner is supported by various people who make working an enjoyable process. Jason Fortner, Owners Husband, is our go to for all custom builds, measurements, repairs, tent installs, good conversation, and is the best bear hugger around! He is a licensed contractor so that asset/experience helps all the creative ideas our team develops to bring the big day together. Her daughter-in-law, Erika Fortner, is by her side in all things floral and decor, scheduling, bridal consults, client invoicing, tent setups, marketing, and anywhere else she is needed. Her nephew, Austin Fortner, is our team lead on all things tents, rentals, draping, installs, maintenance, and all shop related needs. We like to call these 4, the dream team and most often will always be together on the job sites.
Marlene is supported by one of her closest friends and mother of Erika, Lyn Moss, who has mastered the linens, dishes, and all things organization! Various other members stop in from time to time and help where it’s needed from nephews, children, her sister, in law members, and close friends. Our support is endless in this blessed business.
Marlene Fortner is a master of many crafts and can see the vision that sometimes the client doesn’t even know they have. Anything she touches is left with an elegance and beauty brought by no other. Her kindness to all those she surrounds herself with never goes unnoticed. If you choose to hire Beautiful Weddings, you are gaining a team who treats your event and your family as if it was their own.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Faith and Kindness. We all stand strong in our faith that this is the path God has intended for all of us. We are passengers on the train that he is directing. Love is the root of marriage and our team is full of love, support, kindness, dedication, and drive to bring the essential parts of marriage into everything we provide for the big day. We also provide services for showers, events, corporate, parties, and more to which we treat all with the same dedication. Our team is composed of various talents from different people that are essential together to meet the needs of all types of celebrations as well as hard work and determination!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://beautifulweddingsllc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautifulweddingsllc/#
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Beautifulweddingsandeventrentals
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@beautifulweddingsllc
Image Credits
Jasmine Lackey Photography
