Today we’d like to introduce you to Valerie Fitzgerald.
Hi Valerie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
My son Colin was in the Navy stationed in Norfork, Virginia and his longtime girlfriend Chariti was living right here in Palm Beach, Florida. They were secretly planning on going to the courthouse to get married when he was home and leave over the Christmas holiday. Well, a few days before Thanksgiving Chariti was hit by a car crossing the street and left for dead by a hit-and-run driver.
She was flown by flight for life to JFK Medical Center in West Palm Beach and we almost lost her! She had multiple fractures and punctured long thank God she was a young strong woman and pulled through. After she came home from the hospital they told me about their plans, but it was impossible with Chariti‘s broken arm and other injuries.
Being that this would be the first of our family’s children to get married I told them that I would really like them to have a real wedding. Chariti’s only request, being Floridian, was that she would love to get married on the beach and so the planning began we found a venue that had a perfect setting and decided to book it. I binge-watched Say Yes to the Dress and other wedding shows that we’re on and I was hooked. I had never planned a wedding boy did I learn a lot, but was truly enjoying the process.
On the day of the wedding I was up at the crack of dawn staking my claim on the beach and with the help of my husband, another family member set everything up. Onto the inside of the venue, we couldn’t sit until after lunch, not leaving as much time. I barely had time to get ready for the 4 PM ceremony and felt very stressed.
Everything turned out great, but I was still the point person for the timeline and really didn’t even get to finish my dinner! I felt that no mother or family member should have to experience stress on one of the most important days of their life. I decided to take a course on wedding and event planning as I felt it was necessary to have an education and certificate.
After losing my job of 11 years in July 2015, I felt like God had closed the door only to open a window for me to pursue my dream of opening up my own wedding planning business. I feel extremely blessed for this opportunity to live my dream and look forward to the future.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of my struggles starting out was pricing my services as I didn’t have experience or a portfolio. Covid definitely took the wind out of my sails as everything was canceled.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Venues By Valerie?
I am a boutique wedding and special event planner who specializes in event styling and design. I have developed a team of wedding professionals and offer all-inclusive packages that make planning any event stress-free and enjoyable.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Venues by Valerie recently celebrated 10 years in business and we have all 5-star reviews!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.venuesbyvalerie.com
- Instagram: @venuesbyvalerie
- Facebook: @Venues By Valerie
Image Credits
Photography by Lightcap, Studios Flowers, Two Gardenias by Mary Venues, Lady Jean Ranch, Rockin H Ranch, Tradition Town Hall Rentals, ECP Event Rentals, and A Different Look
