Pro Q&A Series: Simply U Events & Proposals

February 23, 2010 | by Shannon Ayers

Today we were lucky enough to talk with the ladies behind Simply U Events & Proposals: Heather Vaughn, Lead Director & Kendall Holiday, Business Relations Director. These girls have taken the wedding industry head on. Not only have they mastered the difficult role of wedding consultant but they have also created an entirely new branch of the business: wedding proposal consulting.

Combining Heather’s education from the University of Colorado’s Journalism School in Advertising, and Kendall’s degree in Communications with a Human Relations emphasis from Texas Christian University (not to mention both girls’ experience working in the world of catering & event coordinating), it’s no wonder these girls have created a new art form when it comes to popping the question!

PROPOSAL: What is your background in the field of weddings and proposals?

HV: All of our Simply U Events and Proposals consultants started in the wedding planning industry before

branching off into marriage proposal planning. I did multiple internships related to the wedding/events industry throughout college. After I graduated from the University of Colorado, I took a catering manager position at Dove Canyon Country Club in Southern California. That experience gave me the confidence and resources to branch off on my own, which is exactly what I had always wanted to do, and Simply U Events and Proposals was born. Finding experience in the wedding planning industry is one thing, but the proposal planning business was unexplored. It turned into a lot of research.  I needed to find out whether or not marriage proposal help would be useful to gentlemen. I realized men wanted to be romantic and creative with their proposals, but didn’t always know how to be, so I created different proposal packages. Our proposal business has been a hands-on learning experience through clients.

PROPOSAL: What is your business and where is it located?

HV: Simply U Events and Proposals is a wedding and marriage proposal planning company. We are a team of wedding coordinators for brides-to-be and female marriage proposal consultants for “nearly engaged” gentleman. We have different proposal packages just as we have various wedding packages depending on what each client needs. Many don’t even know what a proposal consultant means; we assist men with personalizing their proposal ideas (they fill out our relationship questionnaire and we create at least two personalized proposal ideas) and/or plan any details needed for their perfect proposal (researching and booking vendors).  The way we see it is, if brides hire wedding planners for their day, then a man should be able to consult a female for a personalized proposal idea.

Our home offices are located in Northern and Southern California. I recently moved to Solano County with my husband, but Kendall still works in Orange County.  However, we help with proposals all over the country.

PROPOSAL: How did you come up with your business?

HV: Since high school, we’ve had a love and passion for wedding planning and the dream of starting our own event planning company.  The proposal planning idea came later. Originally a friend and I were chatting about how fun it would be to help with proposals. Then I starting listening to women tell their proposal stories, sensing some disappointment in the lack of thoughtfulness, and listened to gentlemen explain how hard it was to think of something romantic and creative.

PROPOSAL: When did you start your company?

HV: January of 2009

PROPOSAL: How can our readers contact you?

HV: Readers can visit us on our website www.simplyuevents.com and our blog www.lovetheyesgirls.com.  They can also email us directly at heather@simplyuevents.com or kendall@simplyuevents.com

PROPOSAL: What would it be helpful for a person to know before they come in to consult with you?

HV: Our goal is to help them create a personal and memorable occasion whether it’s for their wedding or engagement. Knowing the budget they prefer to stay within is definitely helpful. We are there to customize packages to their needs so essentially we will figure out the rest together.

KH: Even though we put the final details on the proposals, it is very helpful when the guys give us a lot of

information about their girlfriend, or have a few things in mind.  Of course, they don’t have to have the whole idea, just maybe one or two things he knows she for sure wants or for sure doesn’t want!

PROPOSAL: Can you give any advice on making a proposal special?

HV: Personalize, Personalize, Personalize! Spend time going down memory lane, finding unique characteristics about your relationship and use those. Tune into little things she loves (favorite vacation spot, gift from you, flower, book, etc) that you can include in your proposal. The extra touches of thoughtfulness are priceless. It never hurts to get another female’s opinion too.

In our experience, we found our proposal services to be effective because we customize the proposal to each couple. No proposal is alike because no other couple has shared the same memories, has the same loves, personalities, etc. We found that using our relationship questionnaire to gather significant details about the couple is key to creating their perfect proposal.

PROPOSAL: How do you assess on what would be the best proposal for a couple?

HV: We first start with clients filling out the questionnaire.  We find out the necessary details about her personality, his personality, and them as a couple. According to his answers, we each brainstorm proposal ideas. Then we share our ideas in a brainstorming session so we can create the best two or three proposal ideas for that couple. Many times, the proposals are a combination of different consultants’  ideas.  Knock on wood, but so far we’ve only received positive feedback!

KH: It really helps because anytime we all go through the questionnaires we write down words that pop out to us or seem very important. When we come together, we see what words, places or ideas we all have written down. We know that if all of us felt that was important, and it stuck out to us, that it needs to be a part of the proposal!

PROPOSAL: Obviously, your clientele is mostly men. But have you consulted women?

HV: No. We’ve never had a woman ask for proposal help.

PROPOSAL: Are you married/engaged?

HV: Yes, I am married.

KH: Not married, but close to being engaged. My boyfriend always gets the question, “Do you feel a lot of pressure ‘cause of your girlfriend’s business?” He laughs and says he feels pretty confident. I am excited to see what he decides, but trust me I have definitely dropped a few hints. How could I not?

PROPOSAL: If so, can you share with us your proposal story?

HV: My husband is in the Air Force, so he wasn’t able to leave pilot training in Mississippi which made things a little challenging. I flew out to visit Kyle for a few weeks and he planned a trip for us to visit a mutual friend near the beach in Florida (it was driving distance from where he lived). We stayed at this beautiful resort on the water. One night after we went out to dinner, he proposed to me in a remote spot on the beach. The summer we started dating, we spent ALL our time at the beach (we’re both from Southern Ca) so it was significant to us. He knows me so well though, because he knew I would want to go back and get the camera. When I walked into the room it was decked out with my favorite flowers, favorite champagne, favorite dessert, candles, etc. The camera was sitting there ready to go. It was beautiful. He even planned a day of jet skiing to continue celebrating the following day. The best part is, when he actually got down on his knee to propose I thought he was joking. Throughout the weekend, he would “fake” the proposal pose. For example, go down to tie his shoe and look up at me.  He had to show me the ring so I knew he was actually proposing. That was such a Kyle thing to do which made it even more memorable.

PROPOSAL: What was your wedding like?

HV: We got married outdoors, up by a ski lodge in Park City, Utah. My family has a place there for skiing and we just love it. The reception was inside the Empire Canyon Lodge. I think it was gorgeous! I chose white, ivories and champagne bridesmaid dresses for a classic, yet chic style. I played off the aspen trees, nature, to bring in natural elegance for the ceremony. It was one of the few times I saw Kyle cry! He is going to kill me for saying that. We brought in a little more color into the reception (blush pinks and yellows) but it was very subtle. The day was so full of love and support from our family and close friends that it was better than I imagined. I had so much fun!

Thank you, Heather & Kendall for taking the time to answer our questions!
Make sure to check out more about their amazing company at http://www.simplyuevents.com/ !

Check back next Tuesday for another interview with a Wedding Pro!