Meet Jamie Rapavy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Rapavy.

Hi Jamie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.  
I went to school for hospitality management and graduated from FIU. I had managed country clubs, restaurants, bars, hotels, and event venues. One of the companies my husband and I were working for in Florida transferred us to Ohio, which is how we landed here about 29 years ago, and we haven’t left yet! After we adopted our first baby, I wanted to raise her from home, so that is when I started my wedding planning business- 23 years ago. This business grew into running networking groups, a wedding directory, producing bridal shows, publishing a wedding magazine, running resale markets, and during COVID, my husband and I started a mobile bar company. My future lies in licensing our wedding directory across the US so other wedding pros can run these amazing local wedding resources in their area and then building our bar business up so I can sell that and the Columbus Directory and run these from the Carolinas, where we hope to reside! 

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?
Oh no- being an entrepreneur is extremely difficult and sometimes can be lonely. The financial part of the business has always been a struggle until I hired people to take care of that for me. There is a lot of trial and error so slow growing. If I were to give anyone a tip, it would be to hire coaches to speed up the learning process for the things you do not know. Hiring great people is difficult. When you own your own company, you are always working- it is hard to shut down. Staying on task, focused, motivated, and organized is something that I have to work on daily. Covid was horrible for the event planning business and really set our company back, which is why we started the mobile bar company in the first place. I do want to say there are so many positives about owning your own business as well, and I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way! 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I would say that I build an excellent brand and name in the Columbus area, and I am very proud of my reputation, my customer service, my dedication, and my passion for helping our wedding community. I love helping couples find amazing wedding vendors, I like to make sure they have fun in the planning process to reduce unnecessary stress, and I love to save them money! On the vendor side – I enjoy sending them engaged couples, helping give businesses great exposure in front of these engaged couples, and I thrive on helping businesses grow and become successful! No one really does everything I do so I think that sets me apart. There is no other wedding resource in Columbus like what I have built, and I am super proud of that. 

Who else deserves credit in your story?
My husband deserves the most credit- he has to hear all the good and bad things about everything I do on a daily basis. He deserved a huge award! He is my biggest supporter and my biggest fan, and he loves bragging about me to other people-it is so cute. I have had 3 great people stick with me through all the difficulties (Tammy, Michelle, and Molly), and they have really supported me in all I do. My parents and daughter are wonderful cheerleaders. I have had business coaches- Be Sage Consulting. I also take a ton of educational courses every year- Grant Cardone, Rob Dial, Mindvalley, Danielle Delgado, Molly Mahony, Pete Vargas, Robbie Banks, and so many more!! These coaches and trainings help motivate, educate, and keep me on my toes! 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://devotedcolumbus.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devotedcolumbus/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DevotedColumbus
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devotedcolumbus/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZoDZleUc3zWSAcvaVrVNdA/videos

Image Credits
Brent
Jamie
Kismet Visuals & Co
Ash Tree Images