Daily Inspiration: Meet Anna Wise

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Wise.

Hi Anna, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I began working in the wedding industry in 2018 while working under another wedding planner. I started just helping on the weekends but loved it. I ended up working with her for 4 years before moving to northeast Ohio. We moved for my husbands job and at the time, I thought, it would be nice to work a corporate 9-5, with a more predictable schedule and no weekend hours- So I did just that! It lasted about 2 months before I realized I loved weddings too much. So 2 months into my corporate job I launched Anna Kay & Co. on the side!

I took on my first clients in 2023 and have been steadily growing the business ever since. If there’s one thing that has truly propelled me forward, it’s the relationships I’ve built within this industry. Hospitality is at the heart of what I do, and I believe that extends far beyond the wedding day itself. Building genuine relationships means taking care of the people around you, not just your clients, but your fellow industry professionals, too. That means showing up for one another, offering support, being someone others can count on, and building friendships that extend beyond the professional setting.

Those relationships have taken me further than any marketing strategy or social media gimmick ever could. A genuine word-of-mouth recommendation from someone who knows you, trusts you, and has experienced the way you care for others is invaluable. A little over four years into my entrepreneurship journey, I’m incredibly grateful for the community I’ve built and the role those relationships have played in getting Anna Kay & Co. to where it is today.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Entrepreneurship is rarely smooth, some just weather the bumps better than others! Today, we face a unique challenge to adapt to such a quickly changing world. We are working to keep up with trends, social media platforms, new expectations and new ways of communication. We are trying to capture the attention of a generation with a small attention span and more things fighting for their attention than ever before. That’s truly the hardest part!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a wedding planner and designer based in Northeast Ohio, with a focus on intentional design and thoughtful hospitality. I work with couples to plan, design, and coordinate their events like most planners do, but what sets me apart is my approach to events.

When I start designing an event, I don’t ask, “What do you like?” I ask, “Who are you?” Because I firmly believe that every wedding should be reflective of the couple themselves.

You’ll find that my design boards aren’t filled with Pinterest inspiration images of weddings, bouquets, and cakes. Instead, you’ll find images of the couple’s favorite restaurant, their favorite games, or their favorite vacation spots. I pull details from those things to weave into their design in subtle ways that all point back to the couple, while still maintaining my own signature style throughout each design.

The second thing that sets me apart is my approach to hospitality, and it’s also the second question I ask my couples: “How do you want your guests to feel?” Because design doesn’t stop with a beautiful room. It extends beyond a pretty table setting and contributes to the overall guest experience.

We’re creating events that ensure guests feel taken care of and thought of. We work to cultivate environments where everyone feels welcome and at ease when attending a wedding planned and designed by us.

This hospitality is the backbone of what we do. We strive to be professional, warm, and communicative with our couples from the start so they feel taken care of throughout the entire process. We extend that same approach to our creative partners, too. We want our involvement to make pulling together a wedding easier, smoother, and more enjoyable for everyone involved.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
This is an impossible question, but I grew up with a sister who is 3 years younger than me and she has always been my best friend, I have so many good memories with her, but one that sticks out is the two of us meeting in our hideout to make a plan to save our money to buy ourselves American Girl dolls. We would meet, count out our money, talk about what chores or jobs we could do to make more money, and look through the American Girl doll catalog together to try to pick which dolls we wanted.

Eventually, we saved enough, and we each ordered our own dolls. They were our most prized possessions! We took such good care of them, organized all their outfits, and kept them in pristine condition. I still have mine even today!

Pricing:

• Services start at $3200

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.annakayandcompany.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annakayandcompany