Meet Lindsay Nikolaeff | Wedding Planner, Designer, and Sustainability Advocate

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

Hi Lindsay, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Six years ago, I embarked on my professional journey as a Day of Coordinator for a prominent wedding company in Colorado. This experience ignited my passion for orchestrating events, especially weddings. My next step took me to a smaller, local company that emphasized sustainability, where I cultivated an interest in wedding design, sustainable practices, and locally sourced materials.

While planning my own wedding, I became acutely aware of the limited sustainable options available. The waste generated by weddings and the high costs of eco-friendly alternatives were disheartening. This realization spurred me to take action, and in 2023, I decided to establish my own business to address these issues.

Given my extensive background in coordination, I began by offering coordination services in August 2023. The response was overwhelming, with nearly 20 weddings booked for 2024, prompting me to hire three assistant coordinators to meet the high demand.

However, my ultimate vision extends beyond coordination. I aim to tackle the industry’s significant waste problem by focusing on rentals. Many couples resort to buying items from sites like Temu, Shein, and Amazon due to budget constraints or lack of time to source second-hand items. I understand their predicament, as weddings are notoriously expensive and time-consuming.

To provide a sustainable and affordable alternative, I have spent the past year curating a fully sustainable décor warehouse. Sourcing items from Goodwill, Arc, Facebook Marketplace, and even from couples I’ve worked with, I’ve created a diverse inventory of wedding décor. My pricing structure is designed to encourage rentals by charging 20% of the cost of the item, making it a cost-effective option for couples.

For instance, I acquired three vintage cake cutting sets in gold, black, and silver. Nearly 50% of my clients have chosen to use these sets instead of buying new ones, significantly reducing waste and saving money.

In essence, I started my business with the goal of making the wedding industry more sustainable. Today, it has evolved into a comprehensive service that not only promotes sustainability but also offers practical and affordable solutions for couples.

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?
Starting a business is not easy first off, but I do have a few words of advise for anyone looking to start a business in Colorado in the near future.

1. First off, just start it. You don’t need to have every little detail figured out and you can always change it up later. I found it better to just start verses waiting until every detail of the business was fully thought out.

2. Get advise from others. I would get the advise from at least three people: someone else that did the same thing and is running a successful version of your business, a lawyer, and an accountant. Now there are other people you could talk to as well, but this is where I would start.

3. Be learning and innovating constantly. I am always trying to learn from others in the field, my clients, and through books/ podcasts.

4. Learn to delegate and give up control. I have a vision and it is hard to trust others to execute my vision in the same way, but if you want your business to grow you need to hire and train new employees as soon as you can afford it. You also need to trust those employees… micromanaging does not work. And when they have a new idea, make sure you give it real consideration and thought before shutting it down.

Those are the main lessons I have learned so far!

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?
Denver Weekend Itinerary:

Day 1: Drive up to Steamboat Springs (my favorite mountain town)
-Stop by Besame for happy hour and get the Tipsy Carrot.
-Go to Salt & Lime for dinner… make sure to get the cheesy rice!
-Have a girls night in watching movies and catching up

Day 2:
-Grab breakfast from Taco Cabo
-Go tubing down the Yampa River
-Do some afternoon shopping at Adorn, F.M. Light & Sons and one of the best consignment shops Deja Vu
– Get dinner from Laundry Kitchen & Cocktails… definitely order some spicy margs
– Finish the night off with some local karaoke

Day 3:
-Go for a walk on one of the many in-town trails
-Garb a coffee (or a strawberry matcha) from Beard & Braid
-Start the drive home, stopping in Silverthorne for some more thrift shopping
-End the weekend at Bread, an amazing cocktail bar in Silver Plum

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to thank my Husband Jack Hanna for sacrificing our weekends, garage space, and initial investment for my vision. I also want to thank all the couples that took a chance on my new business and booked coordination with me. Lastly I want to thank all the wonderful vendors I have connected with along the way!

Website: https://www.formaltie.com/

Instagram: @formaltie.events

Image Credits
DemiEvePhoto
DylanBurr_Weddings
Maddisonewilsonphotography