Meet Madi Crook | Wedding Planner

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

Hi Madi, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I previously worked for Destination Management Companies and would help plan events for big companies coming into town. I did a lot of creative design for corporate events with themed receptions (welcome to the rockies, under the sea, western themed, winter wonderland, WWII theme for plane hangar museum venues, Coachella, etc.)

In March of 2023, I was in the process of planning my own wedding. I realized I had a passion for the wedding side of the event industry, a passion that I did not necessarily feel towards corporate events. I love how weddings bring people together that have not seen each other in a long time and how much support everyone has for the couple. The bride and groom, their families, and guests all share so much contagious joy on that day and it is just incredible to witness. I started my own business in weddings to get to help couples create these special moments and bring their dream day to life!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
“Why did you pursue an artistic or creative career?” (I thought all the questions were from the first screen on here with the drop down so I answered 4 of those)

I pursued a creative career because I find joy in bringing projects to life. I have a creative brain and have always loved designing events from a young age. I remember planning an extravagant Sweet 16 birthday party. I didn’t actually want a Sweet 16 party but just wanted to dream for what would possible for that type of event. I just genuinely loved the process of planning, even if it was a made-up event.

In High School, I was class president and was on prom/ homecoming committees so I dabbled in event planning then as well. I went to college at one of the best colleges in the U.S for Hospitality and Event Management, the University of Central Florida. I was able to learn from the best of the best in a high level hospitality area with no shortage of events. I was able to intern on the Events Team at Universal Studios and see such a high level of creativity happen after hours at their theme parks. I was also a member of the International Live Events Association and would network with other vendors there. I found a passion for dreaming with other vendors and imagining greater possibilities for our industry. Next, I got a job for a Destination Management Company. This gave me the opportunity to planning events for prestigious companies with high budgets that would come into town for their conferences. I genuinely loved designing builds/ installations and seeing them come to life through great vendors. I liked designing tablescapes for these events working with different color combinations, florals, and personal touches.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I thought we were supposed to answer 3-4 of the questions on the first screen with the drop down so I answered those. Let me know if I need to redo it!

“What’s the most important factor behind your success/ success of your brand?”
Finding what worked best for me with Sweet Magnolia Wedding Planning has been the most important factor to my brand. I found that what worked great for another wedding planner did not mean that it would work well for my company. Knowing that everyone is wired differently and has different strengths has been key. This came into play with choosing a CRM system, designing my different wedding packages, figuring out the rhythms of my week, working with vendors that I love working with, etc.

When I tailor my company to what works best for me, I did not feel as if I’m swimming upstream towards the current. I am able to show up my best self for my clients and can confidently deliver on my packages that they book.

“Risk Taking: How do you think about risk? What role has risk taking played in your life and career?”
Throughout my life I have taken risks from studying abroad in Australia knowing no one, to backpacking Europe solo, to even moving across the country to Colorado not knowing anyone out there either. I have found that some of the best things in life come from being willing to take risks.

Starting my wedding business in March of 2023, my mindset was if I don’t try I’ll never know. Now being on the other side, I see that I would not have found this passion. I would have never felt the fulfillment of driving away from a wedding at the end of a night seeing the couple over the moon happy with how their wedding turned out.

More recently in my career, I took a big risk. In August of 2023 my husband and I decided to move to Michigan. I moved my business over to the Michigan market. After living in Michigan we realized we want to be in Colorado for the long term future. Now we are moving back June of 2024. Though it was tricky learning new vendors in a new state, I have met even more amazing couples. This experience further strengthened my ability to quickly adapt to changes. This is such a vital skill to have in the event industry because the market, trends, and vendors are ever changing and growing.

In a career setting, I have also learned that risk taking can be calculated. You do not have to just jump off the deep end. For example, if I wanted to start working with a new vendor I can call them, have a meeting with them, ask questions to get to know them and their business prior to partnering with them on a wedding day. I realize there are some situations that cannot be calculated, such as navigating a riff amongst the bridal party or high emotions of family members. Taking risks in my past has strengthened my ability to think quick on my feet which is a skill that I utilize in those types of situations.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my shout out to my old college professor, Steve Brinkman. He taught us all to keep dreaming and he fully believed in us. He was more than just a professor. He was an encourager, supporter, and truly cared about our future. Even now, I get LinkedIn notifications about him commenting on all his students new job ventures and how proud he is of them.

Website: https://www.sweetmagnoliaweddingsco.com/

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

Image Credits
Taylor Boyd (photo #1,#2, #3) Natasha Smith (photos #4 & #5) Alyson Christine (photo #6 & #7) Jessie Lyn (photo #8)