Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabrielle Pinkerton.
Hi Gabrielle, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was in my last year of college at the University of Ottawa, I volunteered to plan our 25th Annual Marketing Competition and Gala. I had to do everything from sending out invitations to picking the napkin colors. I had a full course load, worked at Starbucks and put in several hours a day planning this event for months. I didn’t sleep much and my days were jam-packed. It was crazy, chaotic, demanding….and I wanted to do this for the rest of my life!
The event was a huge success and I finally felt like I found my calling.
Soon after graduating with a bachelor’s in Marketing, I packed up my car and moved to California where I didn’t have to worry about the cold weather anymore. I interned with some event companies, worked for nonprofits and shadowed a few wedding planners to see what I might like best. I loved what others were doing but it was never totally “me”. The name of my business was inspired by the fact that we started doing events for Causes (nonprofits, fundraisers, yoga events, etc.), however, it soon turned into a wedding planning company that tailored to the wanderers of the world, the hikers and campers, the adventurers and the free spirits.
After doing a crazy 4-day wedding festival event that we called “WeddingChella” I realized that my favorite type of event was one that took place in a natural, outdoor setting with minimal decor but that focused on creating an amazing experience full of happy people. That’s when ‘Cause We Can Events really took off.
Today, we have a team of three lead planners and have planned weddings in Croatia, Scotland, South Africa and all over the US and Canada!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh, it has definitely not always been a smooth road!
One thing that was tricky early on was really identifying who my ideal client was. As much as I wanted to help everyone who was getting married, I knew that I was at my best when it was an outdoor setting and the couple was adventurous, free-spirited and less focused on the details but more on the experience as a whole.
Once I felt like I was “established” in the wedding industry, a new set of challenges came up with trying to grow and expand the team. Finding the right people for your business can be really hard. I have some planners who worked out really well, while others just weren’t the best fit.
Challenges are just part of running a business now and I have to admit that with every challenge, I’ve learned something new! I embrace these obstacles now and am fortunate to have a really amazing team along my side to help me troubleshoot.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am SO proud of the business I’ve built and of the team that we have. I found my unique niche of clients who want more than just a wedding day – they want a wedding experience. It’s allowed me to travel the world, meet all sorts of fun couples and wedding vendors, all while making a living for myself.
Cause We Can Events is known for festival-style adventurous weddings in some of the most remote locations around the world. From building tents on a dried lake bed to cliffside ceremonies, we’re not afraid to get our hands dirty!
I picture myself being a destination wedding planner for a long time. It’s the perfect career for my lifestyle! I also love having the flexibility of taking a month off if I want to. We’ve created really amazing relationships with our clients. Many of them remain in contact with us throughout the years. Some have even become close friends!
I wouldn’t trade this career for anything!
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
There are so many amazing podcasts and resources out there for wedding pros or entrepreneurs in general. Lately, I’ve been a HUGE fan of Clubhouse which is an audio app where you can pop into rooms about all sorts of topics. You can find me there talking about Pinterest every week.
I also really love the Talk with Renee Podcast which is geared toward wedding pros and helping them navigate this industry through honest conversations and interviews.
In terms of books, Traction was really great for me to learn about finding the right people for my business and how to get into the mindset of growing our team.
Pricing:
- Wedding Management starts at $3500
- Full Service Planning starts at $10,000
Contact Info:
- Email: gabrielle@causewecanevents.com
- Website: www.causewecanevents.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/causewecanevents
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/causewecanevents
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/gabbypinkerton
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cause-we-can-events-nashville-2
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/causewecanevents/
Image Credits
Laura Padilla Lauren Mihae
