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

Hi Caitlin, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
This may sound a little cliche, however, to a small business owner it’s everything. Relationships!! Building genuine relationships from the very beginning has been a huge part in the success of my business and is a large part of my marketing strategy. I go into every new opportunity with the intent to build a relationship with people; whether it be with the vendors, clients or the guests. In turn it helps me best serve all of the diverse needs of my different clients. I have always been an entrepreneur and am a firm believer that a personal referral is the best compliment you can receive and goes a long way! It has been my greatest honor to have worked for clients that have passed me along to sisters, best friends and other family members! 

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I created Love Leigh Weddings and Events by myself as a woman entrepreneur. I’m very proud of that in and of itself!! Over the years I have built it to be a very successful small wedding business with over 15 weddings a year, multiple five star reviews, while also building a family with my husband Theo. It has not been an easy feat keeping the momentum, but I’ve worked hard to get where I am–and still do–because I love the work and the people. It takes consistent motivation to be the back and front end of a business. Working from a home office gives me flexibility to interact with my family. Seeing the final result of a wedding day, is how and most importantly why I am where I am and how I will continue to grow in this journey. The thing I would most like people to know about my brand is Love Leigh is truly a statement of my passion behind LLW&E. Leigh is my middle name and lovely might be an all time favorite in my vocabulary, so my business name is very special to me and I love when people say it out loud and it clicks, such a cool feeling because it’s all mine!! Also, if I have the highest honor of taking care or you on your special day, just know that I’m in it with my whole heart! I’m in it to make sure you feel supported, know that someone is going to bat for you throughout the planning process and make sure you, your friends & family have the most wonderful time on your big day!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Lets start off with some of my favorite day time adventures or “day dates” as I like to call them. First up: Red Rocks: This is a must and fun during the day and night, depending on the time of year. RR is a great place for a workout of long walk/hike and then it’s always great to end with lunch at the Ship Rock Grille! However a bucket list item is definitely movie on the rocks or a concert. The nightlife at RR is fire!!!! Denver Botanical Gardens: This is always at the top of the list and I go multiple times a year…and not just because I got married there (hehe). The gardens are always so beautiful, no matter the season. A couple years back they put in great restaurant near the Lilly pond and the lights at Christmas time are always magical! Denver Art Museum: This is the perfect day outing… go see their newest exhibit and the ones that are long standing. Then lunch because duh… Levin’s has the best Ruben, City O City if you’re looking for a vegetarian or vegan option and there’s a new restaurant being renovated to open in the spring of 2021. Highlands: Highlands are always a great place to get in your small business shopping, so many amazing bites along the main strip and can’t forget to hit Sweet Cow for a sweet treat. Now for some fun nighttime activities Lo-Hi: There is SO much to do in this area. It’s so hip and everything is pretty much in walking distance which is great for a night hopping around! Check out the speak easy, Little Man Ice Cream (also makes a great addition to your wedding…because who doesn’t like a cute red ice cream cart!?) and be sure to stop in to Avanti F&B to meet everyones different wants. Downtown Denver: SO many things to do that I can’t even begin, but as long as you hit either 16th street or Larimer…you’ll be sure to find cute shops, good eats and entertainment. Denver Tech Center: I always suggest doing double date nights in this area… my favorite is to dress up and go to dinner at Maggianos, then hit View House for bar food, drinks and a hot dance floor. Steakhouses: Lastly, my husband and I love a good steakhouse! Shanahan’s in the Tech Center is our favorite and Ocean Prime downtown is always a sure hit. Both places usually have a killer deal on Sunday’s or Monday’s.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
In my personal life, I definitely wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for all of my family, especially my parents! They gave me the foundation of the woman I have grown to be. Often when you’re a business owner and work mostly alone, it can be hard to feel like you’re succeeding sometimes, as social media can steal joy in the perception that business is easy and beautiful all the time. My family has always been there to tell me I am worthy, I am doing boss babe things all while holding down my large and abundant family. As far as the success of opening my own wedding planning business, I can contribute a lot of that to my time spent working at Maggiano’s in banquet sales and serving, catering, offsite events, etc. My experience in events stems from there. I learned everything from how to design a space and set a room, and engage with guests as a captain. In addition to working with professionals on all levels, I learned how to meet and increase sales and how to successfully run an event sales office. One lady in particular, Danyelle Wall, pushed me out of my comfort zone–we could butt heads, but in the right way for success, and she always knew the right thing to help me grow. Lastly, network marketing has been a place where I was able to build myself through social media, gaining confidence in posting myself and content, as well as leading a team of people and aspiring to be a top leader.

Website: www.loveleighweddingsandevents.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveleighweddingsandevents/
Facebook: Love Leigh Weddings and Events
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/love-leigh-weddings-and-events-denver

Image Credits
Melissa Brielle Photography Grace Gatto Rachell Monteleone Erika Overholt Photography Ben Ward

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