Meet Catherine Eichel | President of the Heart of the Rockies Wedding Association + Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Catherine Eichel and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Catherine, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
The most important lesson my business has taught me is to build a life where you can are ready for your success. Especially in the US entrepreneurial scene, “the grind” is so glorified. However, if you’re not building in habits and systems where your body, mind, and social support system is also nurtured, you’re putting yourself at high risk for burnout and could potentially be sacrificing your mental or physical health. Trying to grow all of these aspects of your life at once is no easy feat – and I don’t want to downplay that. Especially when starting your business or making big changes – at these times you may feel like all you are doing is working, and that may be required at that time. But try to keep these time periods seasonal and short, and focus on setting up healthy daily and weekly habits that take care of you and the other things you prioritize.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Making art is what gives me life – I realized this most during the pandemic. My clients brought me so much joy in a very difficult time. My art is focused on honoring the true connection not just between them, but their shared love of the outdoors. So many couples first fall in love with each other in these mountains, and then return here to get married. Community and the outdoors are my two great loves, and I feel incredibly grateful to be bring them together in my artwork to bring others joy. How lucky am I?!
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?
There are so many great spots in our area, but my perfect weekend with friends would be camping at Turtle Rock Campground – some of the best sunset + sunrise views around. Getting your day started with some expresso and handcrafted Belgian waffles at Push & Pull is sure to put you in a good mood. A super accessible and challenging hike right out of Buena Vista South Main is the Midland Hill – it gets your heart pumping and the varied scenery along the trail is so rewarding. I personally love dinner parties, and so in lieu of eating out I’d recommend picking up some delicious dinners-to-go at Spark Provisions and enjoying them at your-home-for-that-weekend with friends and family.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
One of the best decisions I made was to join the Heart of the Rockies Wedding Association (HWRA). HWRA is a group of wedding vendors in our small mountain towns, stretching from Fairplay, down through Leadville, Buena Vista, Salida, and all the way to Westcliffe. We have so many inspiring and hardworking vendors here that are creating magic on a daily basis. These vendors create such a welcoming family network. I always leave conversations with these professionals feeling inspired and incredibly proud to be a part of our small communities.
Website: https://www.heartoftherockieswedding.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartoftherockiesweddings/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-eichel-leed-ap-env-sp-685bb17/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catherineeichelphotography/
Image Credits
Catherine Eichel Photography, LLC