Meet Hanna Born | Owner and Lead Planner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hanna Born and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hanna, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
I think it would be genuinely surprising to a lot of people how supportive and cooperative the wedding industry is. Of course, just like anything, there is competition and market saturation that has to be dealt with. However, if you talk to any individual vendor in the wedding industry whether they are planners/coordinators, florists, photographers, caterers, etc., each one of them likely has a long list of vendors they love to work with, as well as a list of alternative suggestions for you if they are unable to help you out. Photographers support other photographers, just like we support other planners and coordinators! Back in May I put together a styled photo shoot with a variety of other vendors; this allowed two photographers and one videographer to come in to expand their portfolios as well as provide the other vendors with marketing material! Essentially these shoots are a mock wedding set up, that are specifically designed to expand portfolios, and promote collaboration and networking. It’s such a fantastic and unique concept, and while I was there I chatted with one of the photographers about how special it is to have such a supportive community in the industry, and how lucky we feel to work in that type of environment.

What should our readers know about your business?
ElizaRose & Co. is a result of so much love, passion, and hard work over time. Of course getting any small business to a successful place requires these things, but I would say not every pair of long distance best friends in their mid-twenties is willing to undertake such a taxing effort, no matter how passionate they might be. In the year 2021, both of us got married and were the maid/matron of honor in the other’s wedding. Taking on these roles meant we both played a critical part in the planning and execution of these events. Although our interest in the industry and starting a business took root long before 2021, it was successfully navigating that hectic year that really pushed us to believe that we had the interest, dedication, and the skills to actually get the idea off the ground. It is my hope that our unique background in and of itself is enough to set us apart! However we are also so genuinely excited to help clients enjoy their special day and in my opinion, that is so so important when choosing vendors. On a more logistic level, we offer a variety of premade packages, but are more than happy to create a custom package for an event because we know that every couple has specific budgets and needs that might not fit into a premade package. In fact, I would say the majority of the clients we have booked up to this point have customized packages, and that isn’t something all vendors are willing to do. Above everything else, we want our couples to know that we will do everything in our power to make their special day everything that they hope for and are absolutely honored that they trusted us enough to be a part of that process.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Living in Fort Collins (or Northern Colorado in general) is SUCH a dream because there is always something new to do, drink, or eat! First things first, I’m a big Estes Park fan, so we’d have to make a day trip up the canyon! It’s always nice to start off with a light hike or scenic drive in Rocky Mountain National Park, and then you can head back into the town to enjoy lunch at Penelope’s Burgers or Ed’s Cantina. After lunch you can stroll around and enjoy all the shops, my personal favorites are Simply Christmas and Trendz, and stop for some ice cream or taffy! If you have time, stay and enjoy dinner at the Dunraven or Twin Owls, take a nighttime ghost tour at the Stanley, and spend the night at The Landing at Estes Park (also a great wedding venue)! Once you’ve made your way back to the Front Range there is lots more to check off the list. First things first is a day in downtown Fort Collins. There is lots of shopping, restaurants, and bars and breweries to keep you busy! Some of my favorite spots to grab a bite are Blue Agave, Stuft, and Union; or if you’re looking for a fancier date night check out Rare or Jay’s Bistro! If you’re looking for drinks, Odell and New Belgium are classic brewery spots, but I also love Funkwerks or Crooked Stave. If you like bars over breweries, Social and The Mayor are a must, and CopperMuse, Elliot’s, Brother’s, and Scrumpy’s are always a good time too. The list of things to do in Northern Colorado is endless, but hiking Devil’s Backbone, paddleboarding at Horsetooth Reservoir are essential if you enjoy being active. If you love the scenery but are wanting to relax more than burn calories, one of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon is sitting by the river at Sweet Heart Winery in Loveland, tasting wine flights and snacking on charcuterie. Other favorite food and drink spots are Windsor Mill Tavern, PizzaVino, Peculier Ales, Suehiro Japanese Restaurant, La Buena Vida, and La Creperie French Bakery! Truly, the options are endless here in Northern Colorado!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I 100% have to start by recognizing my best friend and business partner Kim. I truly love weddings and am so honored to be a part of this industry, but I would not have made this jump to small business ownership without her. We have a fairly unique set-up because she currently lives in Montana, so she takes a limited number of weddings up in her area, and is frequently the first point of contact for all of our potential clients regardless of where their event takes place. Once they are booked I take over any Colorado events and help them come to life! Regardless of what her role looks like however, the strengths and enthusiasm I bring to the table would not be complete without the strengths and insight she provides. We make each other more willing to take those big risks when necessary! Aside from that, I do have to say that both myself and Kim have the two most supportive husbands, and loving parents, that we could possibly ask for. Their encouraging words and unconditional support have also been key in getting to where we are now!

Website: https://www.elizaroseandco.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizaroseandco/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizaroseandco/

Other: The Knot: https://www.theknot.com/marketplace/elizarose-and-co-windsor-co-2058714 WeddingWire: https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/elizarose-co/080046387ef15222.html

Image Credits
Jessica Cooke Photography Wild n Lo Photography Sarah Lee Welch Weddings Emily Morrison Photography