Today we’d like to introduce you to Colleen Briggs.
Hi Colleen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I previously worked as a Tasting Room Manager at Stone Tower Winery in Virginia. We had a gorgeous event space and an incredible Events Team, and I learned about the wedding industry during my time there. When I left my dream job in April 2023 to move to Cleveland, I knew I wanted to pivot my career. I had a fantastic vendor team for my wedding and stayed friends with the owner of the traveling bar we hired, The Thirsty Goose. I started bartending for Heather, and through our new friendship, she helped me start my own wedding business. I named my company after my husband, and I’s English Labs, Finley, and Beckett, with whom I get to spend a lot of time as I work on my client’s weddings. My dogs keep the stressful times fun and give me a good laugh when I need it. They frequently pop up on my Instagram posts because they love looking at themselves in the mirrors I am working on. As of today, I have a few weddings booked through 2025 and can’t wait to continue meeting more couples to book additional weddings with!
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
It’s been a pretty smooth road because everything that could have gone wrong happened during the first wedding I booked! During that wedding, I quickly learned the importance of a deposit, contract, payment schedule, and the benefits of boundaries. This particular couple was so kind, but unfortunately, they did not pay me until after I had to badger them after the wedding. They treated me like a planner who was available 24/7 and stole all the rentals I made for them. When I got home that night from working another wedding, I stayed up all night writing a contract and documenting everything that needed to change to make this my full-time gig. I learned a lot from that wedding, but I wouldn’t change a thing about it.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I always have people ask me what custom signage means and why it is necessary at a wedding. I love getting asked this question because it’s only sometimes something on couples’ minds when they’re planning their wedding, and if it is, they usually reach out a few months before their wedding. I like to explain it as a way for guests not to have to ask the couple or their family where they should sit, where the gifts go, what’s on the menu, or any of the million questions that might come to mind, having a welcome sign shows the guest they’re in the right venue, a seating chart tells them what table to sit at, a bar menu keeps the line short. Place cards keep the drama away from the divorced, twice-removed family members seated beside each other. Signage gives the visual information the guests need while allowing for additional decor to complement the wedding design.
Fin & Beck Design Co. specializes in custom wedding signage rentals and prioritizes repurposing all inventory. Sustainability in the wedding industry is a big issue because there is so much waste from hosting a single-day event. It is essential to offer couples a signage option, whether a mirror, acrylic piece, wood base, etc., that can be used repeatedly. I only purchase new items as needed, and even then, I try to find them at thrift stores and auction sites. I love learning about my client’s vision and how I can help them bring it to life, so I would like to have an initial welcome call to chat about their wedding and where they’re at with planning. I’m known for going down the custom route, and I attract couples interested in having a hand in the design process. They’re encouraged to send me inspirational photos, and I base my mock-ups on what they’re looking for with the colors they use for their wedding. If a couple has a specific color they want to use, I will color match it to find paint that perfectly goes with their vision. I also take on custom builds, so my husband, Rob, will take the couple’s ideas and build them what they need. Getting those projects is a lot of fun because it allows us to work on something together.
As a business that is only a year old and brand new to Cleveland, I’m incredibly proud of my hustle and how I have established friends and a name for myself. It’s been a blast getting to know the incredible people working in this industry and the amazing couples I’ve had the pleasure of assisting. I participate in many styled photoshoots and industry events to get my name out there and show off my work to vendors I have yet to work with. Styled shoots are probably the most fun part of my job because they allow me to have complete creative control based on what the planner has on their design board. I run wild with my designs and see some cool ideas come to life. I have a wide selection of mirrors, acrylic shapes/sizes, modern wood bases, and many other pieces for clients to select. I always welcome potential clients to view my website, finandbeckdesign.co, first so they can view everything and understand the investment in having custom signage at their wedding.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’m in the middle when it comes to risk-taking; my anxiety will keep me from bungee jumping, but my ADHD will have me jump at so many other opportunities. I’m currently working on a wedding that wanted fully custom pearl table numbers; I decided to take on the challenge so I could add a trendy option for other couples but also allow myself to try an entirely different approach than what I currently offer. By doing this, I’ll be able to provide future clients with an item that no other vendor in the area has!
Pricing:
- Seating charts have a base fee for the mirror or acrylic, and then the guest names have an additional charge.
- All of my rentals are offered a la carte and include a specific amount of words in the rental.
- I also have 5 packages for clients, so they don’t have to pick from individual rentals.
- My pricing includes delivery/set-up/tear down for events within 30 miles of Rocky River.
Contact Info:
- Website: finandbeckdesign.co
- Instagram: @finandbeckdesignco
Image Credits
Avra Studio LLC, Blooming Life Artistry by Brittney Carly Ohler, Photos: Dragonfly Photo, Drzazga Photo, J.Lynne Photography, Lights Camera: Jackson Photography Megan is Imaging
