04 Dec 2013

What a year!

Four years ago, the idea for Elope Asheville started out as a fantasy one dark December day.  My wife and I were planning our wedding day, and we had a very strict budget in which to work with.  The stress of finding a cake, beautiful flowers, a photographer, and a venue with the tiny budget we had was killing all of the excitement we had for our impending wedding day.  Our only other option was a cold, impersonal trip to the courthouse to get a bureaucrat to ask us to say, “I do.”  We didn’t want that either.

But those were our only two options.

So, I decided I would create my own business offering this service.  I believed there must be more people like me.  I was working full-time at the time with dreams to eventually leave that job to work Elope Asheville solely.  I knew that was a pipe dream and didn’t think it would really happen, but dreams are nice to have.

Jump to 2013.

My wife and I had twin girls on May 10th.  They are absolutely stunning little girls, and we both took our FMLA time off from our full-time jobs to care for the girls.  I continued to do weddings all spring and summer, and it dawned on both of us that I was doing well enough that I could quit my full-time job, stay with the girls at home, and work Elope Asheville full-time.

As a new father, I suddenly had a huge pile of worry on my plate.  If Elope Asheville doesn’t do well, I thought, not only would I be putting myself in a bad position, I’ll also be putting my wife and two beautiful girls in jeopardy of getting tossed out on the street.  But my dear wife believed in me stronger than I did.  She told me to just keep doing what I’ve been doing, and we’d be fine.

So, that’s what I did.  I created Elope Asheville because I truly believe in it.  I believe couples should have a dignified option to have the happiest day of their lives.  It should be romantic, on their own terms, without the stress of going into debt to “keep up with the Jones’.”  I believe everything should be of the highest quality.  I crave special requests to make the day even more meaningful.  I believe in being open and honest with my couples.  I operate in a way that would make me want to get married all over again.

I am living my dream by helping others live theirs.  This year has been the best year of my life, and I couldn’t do it without the wonderful couples who I will always remember.  Thank you for giving me such a happy year.  I have plans for next year that will make everything just as good, and I greatly look forward to meeting my 2014 couples.

Thank you again, and I hope the Christmas season is blessed for you all, and I hope you have a wonderful New Year!