Today we’d like to introduce you to Calah Ferris.
Hi Calah, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am wedding planner and venue manager that got started in the wedding and evens industry from a very young age. I recall working in the food and beverage industy from the age of 15 then transiitoning to events as a freshman in highschool. All thorughout highschool I was the girl who planned all the events for my family and for every school extracurilciular that I could. I just loved it! Once I got to college, I decided that I wanted to major in event planning and all thorughout my time at school, I planned weddings and event on the side for my small planning business.
After I graduated with my degree, I secured a job as an in-house wedding planner for a local venue and work there for a year. During my time there, a door opened up at City View for a venue manager role. The venue had just taken on new ownership and was in need of some TLC. At the time, the venue had 3 events booked for the calndar year and less than 200 followers on its social media page.
Having zero venue managment experience, I applied for the position, and through the grace of God, I got the job! The venue had so much potential and needed a vision and some hard work. Over the course of the following months, I worked with some of the most wonderful marketing, accounting, and porject managment teams in the LYH area. We poured time, money, and a whole lot of grit into the venue and with time, were able to get some traction.
We installed new lighting, repainted, remodled an entire bridal suite, redid furniture, and removed loads of decor that was in the venue stoarge from the 80s. It was tidious but worth it!
Overtime, I was able to create a pricing structor, revamp the business website, pour into our social media platforms, and create a true and meanigful vision for City View. I was also able to work alongside some phenomal staff and vendor partners along the way.
I just celebrated 2 years at City View and we have come such a long way! We are now booked almost every weekend and often have up to 4 events per weekend in the busy seasons. We also host a varity of weekday events. We have over 1000 followers on our socail media pages, and have hosted numerous community events in the heart of downtown. The venue is still growing and I pray it continues to thrive, event beyond my time there. The amount of people that have been impacted through the care of our team and the envirment at City View is astounding. I have also been changed for the better because of this place. It will always be dear to my heart.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Growing a venue from scratch is very tricky, especially with no true experience. All the operating systems had to be refined, the pricing structure had to be created, vendor relationships had to be formed, and a brand had to be established. It was a lot of trial and error, and I relied on the help and advice of wiser people in the industry. I learned to have more grace for myself and to be more comfortable with productive failure.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I believe that your work is an extension of who you are and what you care about. I believe that you also have the opportunity to impact people through your work, no matter what it is. City View has become a vessel for positive impact on the local community. We aim to serve people with hearts of hospitality and kindness through the entire venue rental process. Weddings can be especially stressful, and we try really hard to be one less thing that our brides need to worry about. Going the extra mile is mandatory. For City View, that looks like handwritten thank-you cards to each of our clients, custom bride goodie bags with each wedding rental, and hands-on assistance during their event for anything that might be needed. My heart is that every person who walks through our doors knows that they are valued and welcomed.
What makes you happy?
I absolutely adore getting to be a part of the happiest day of people’s lives. From start to finish, I get to see the love that my couples share and their excitement for marriage and their life together. It is such a beautiful thing to be a part of, and I still cry at almost every wedding I work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Cityviewvenues.com
- Instagram: @cityviewvenues
- Facebook: City View Venues
