Q & A: Lea Stafford of Lea Stafford Events & Ethos West Collective
Today on the blog we have the amazing Lea Stafford of Lea Stafford Events, sharing with us more about the inspiration and mission behind Ethos West Collective, her hopes for the future of weddings and events, some of her favorite Black-owned businesses, and a sneak peek into the future of her business.
Lea Stafford, Lea Stafford Events
Today on the blog we have the amazing Lea Stafford of Lea Stafford Events and Ethos West Collective.
I first met Lea back in May through a mutual connection, and we immediately hit it off and started collaborating. Lea’s commitment to leading a life and business that is authentic and uniquely hers is inspiring. She’s not afraid to break the rules when it comes to experiential design and I can’t wait to see what comes next for her new brand launch.
In today’s post, Lea is sharing with us more about the inspiration and mission behind Ethos West, her hopes for the future of weddings and events, some of her favorite Black-owned businesses, and a sneak peek into the future of her business.
Q: Hey Lea, welcome! Tell us a little about yourself, where you’re located, and the services you offer.
I am a mother, wife, friend, and authentic lifestyle advocate. My business offers special event production and design services focusing on those who are willing to share their unique story. The next phase of business will concentrate on highlighting tips on how to maintain a healthy and sustainable living model. I am located in Oakland, Ca.
Q: Congratulations to you and your co-founders on the launch of Ethos West Collective! Can you tell us more about what inspired you to launch this, and the mission behind it?
Experiencing the lack of diversity and representation within this industry has been heavy on my heart for the past 10 years. Finding a creative and positive way to fill what I consider to be a major void became my mission about a year ago. I yearn for the same level of support and partnership opportunity as our non-Black community, it is crucial and vital to the health and sustainability of the wedding and events world.
When it came time to reach out to other professionals in the same space to support this vision, I knew I had to reach out to my local friends and creatives Chanda Daniels and Erica Estrada. I wanted a multi-talented founding team, uniqueness and truth were also very important to me. We each bring a little something different to the table. Chanda was tapped for her experience in the world of events and hospitality, and for her commitment to supporting equality. Erica was requested to join the founding team as I knew her creativity and passion for change would remain present in the spirit of the collective.
As a free-spirited non-conformist who holds a willingness not to play by the rules, I plan to drive the Collective's mission and tone by constantly encouraging a sense of community amongst the partners, members, and industry colleagues. My hope is that my push for equity will become the standard, and continue to be ever-present in both my storytelling and work.
Q: What are some ways couples can thoughtfully plan a wedding centered around values of inclusivity, diversity, and anti-racism?
It truly begins with self-reflection. In order to successfully plan and execute an authentic and value-driven wedding, you must identify what that means to you as an individual. Once that has been identified, you move forward with the pulling out the essential components, whether this means, people, food, visual stimulation, written content, location, etc. From there, you have created a sound base to move forward with the next steps in your planning process.
Q. What do you wish you saw more of in the wedding and events industry?
An unapologetic approach. I truly see a lack of diversity in not only the skin color represented, but also the design and tone of a wedding within our industry. We have got to do better when it comes to being confident in showcasing concept and design. Having a unique wedding that stands out from the next should be the norm and sadly, it is not.
Q: What are 3 of your favorite, most inspiring Black-owned design/wedding/maker businesses you follow on IG?
@maggisimpkins (engagement/wedding rings)
@joyproctor (event design)
@lynndunston (photography)
Q: Where do you find your inspiration, outside of Pinterest?
I find inspiration in my natural surroundings, food & beverage, and movies/shows.
Q: Can you give us a sneak peek into your design process?
The first step is to get to know the client I am partnering with on a deeper level. I pull out their values and goal for their wedding or event day. From there, I strip it all down to the essential elements, isolating the story or mission. I then identify the appropriate colors, and core texture to be used to share the story. Finally, the experience is introduced. An experience is necessary (in my opinion) to keep folks engaged, and my hope is that it will serve as a gentle reminder for the very reason they are gathering and celebrating.
Q: What does the next chapter of Lea Stafford look like? Where do you see yourself and your business 5 years from now?
I am currently working on the launch of my lifestyle brand. When I began my event planning and design company, I knew the long term goal was to become a lifestyle brand. Home entertaining tips and tricks, bespoke home good products, recipes, as well as event planning and design will all be offered under this brand's umbrella. What makes this particular model a bit different is that its mission is to bring the people a platform that amplifies the voices of a community artists that have been marginalized. I will partner with local farmers and BIPOC creatives highlighting their stories, encouraging the concept of local participation, as well as offering high quality and sustainable goods. This is my way of living in my truth, experiencing my love daily, and giving back to the community that has raised me.
Thanks so much for joining, Lea!
GET IN TOUCH
email: lea@leastafford.com
instagram: @leastaffordevents
website: www.leastafford.com
The Best Investment I Made in my Business in 2020
When it comes to the “behind the scenes” of my business, I’m an open book. So today on the blog I’m sharing more about a specific investment I made this year, my learnings (and fears and mistakes) around education in this industry, plus my suggestion for those weighing investments for yourself or your business.
I made one of the best decisions for my business at the start of this year, and I never gave you all the details.
When it comes to the “behind the scenes” of my business, I’m an open book. I hope that being candid and transparent can inspire and help others, because I know first-hand this industry can be difficult (even frustrating at times) to break into and navigate. So today I’m sharing some lessons learned, plus a specific investment I made for my business this year: education, and specifically mentorship.
A BIG 2020 GOAL
2020 will be my second year in business. At the start of the year, I mapped out my goals (to which coronavirus says: lollllllll). One of my goals was to continue educating myself, especially during my off-season when I had more time. Education is a privilege, and I am grateful that I have the ability to take the time to do this. I recognize that challenging myself to learn more and be better will not only benefit me, but those I work with. If I lack top-notch skills, I am failing my business and my clients. Entering year two, I wanted to specifically focus on honing thoughtful design skills.
To say that I am hesitant when it comes to costly investments (like education) for my business is an understatement. I self-funded my business and with smaller profit margins while getting started, I have to be wise about how I spend my money. This has been humbling, and exactly what pushes me to grow. I’ve learned the hard way that some investments can be mistakes (more on that below), while others have the potential to pay off in dividends.
So earlier this year, when I hopped on a flight to Portland for a day-two mentorship, I had to trust that I’d made the best decision for my business. To this day, that investment continues to pay off.
FIRST, HERE’S WHAT HAS WORKED WELL FOR ME
By far the best way for me to learn this business has been by doing. For me this has meant freelancing for other designers in their studios and at wedding installations, working in a flower shop, and taking hands-on classes -- like with City College of San Francisco’s Floristry & Horticulture program, where the teachers have been in this business for a long time and teach really important foundational techniques for floral design. (Pro Tip: these classes are free for San Francisco residents.) One of the common threads here is mentorship. By seeking out mentors, I have built lasting relationships that have become invaluable resources.
AND HERE’S WHAT HASN’T WORKED WELL FOR ME
Online courses, group workshops, and conferences have been the least helpful for me, at least when it comes to learning important foundational skills. This sort of education lacks one-on-one attention and the hands-on practice that are so valuable. They are also often extremely expensive. I once dumped more money than I’d like to admit into a workshop that sadly failed to live up to its promises and my own expectations. I didn’t know what it was I really needed at that time (and should have), but I’ve learned from that and have since been more strategic when it comes to investing my dollars.
HOW I FOUND THE PERFECT MENTORSHIP
I practice and believe in the power of manifestation (and talk about it more here). Once I set my goal, I made a list of exactly what I needed out of a mentorship investment:
to learn one-on-one with a creator, not in a group or online setting
a designer with a contemporary and thoughtful aesthetic
someone who practices sustainable floral design
a businessperson with a proven track record of success
the ability to use a lot of the time together practicing by doing
Enter Alyssa of Color Theory Design Co. and Color Theory Design Workshops. Alyssa has been a designer and businesswoman I’ve very much admired for a while now. She creates artfully-designed work, practices sustainability, and has plenty of experience in the business to learn from. She offers one-on-one intensive workshops at her new (beautiful) shop in Portland, Oregon.
WHAT I LEARNED
Because it was just the two of us, Alyssa and I were able to craft a custom agenda for two jam-packed days specific to the goals and objectives I laid out for her in advance of our time together. I chose to focus on bouquets and sustainable (foam-free) installations, as they can often be two of the most impactful parts of a wedding day. Alyssa and I spent most of the days hands-on designing. She covered ingredient selection, the design process, and sustainable techniques that won’t impact the quality of designs. Over meals we had a chance to dive into business practices including proposals, production, hiring, marketing, search engine optimization, website content, social media, styled shoots, vendor relations, and customer service.
It was one of THE most valuable investments I’ve made in my business to-date. On top of everything I learned, I found a new friend and mentor in the industry who’s now just a text away.
LOOKING AHEAD
Months later I’m still implementing my takeaways from the workshop, especially as I use lotttttts of new-found free time to improve my business. Here are some of the changes I’m most looking forward to in 2020-2021:
Sustainable floral design practices: I’m working to be more mindful of my businesses’ environmental impact in a high-waste industry. That will look like eliminating single-use plastics like floral foam, recyclable and compostable design mechanics, almost exclusively sourcing locally, plus re-use programs and tighter flower ordering to reduce waste.
New inventory: As I refine my design style, I’m aligning my inventory. I’m upgrading my vases, vessels, candles and props to fit the aesthetic I and my clients have come to love. Everything in my new inventory will be recyclable, reusable, and/or compostable.
A brand new proposal design and buttoned up workflows: A lot of year one was trial and error as I found what works best for me, my business AND my clients. Now I’m upgrading the visual and logistical components of my workflow, not only to keep me organized but to accurately portray my vision to my clients. With this, prospective clients can easily determine if I’m a good fit for them off the bat, and I can focus more on them and their designs.
Bold designs: I have some really unique designs, installations, and palettes to look forward to with my upcoming weddings. I love my clients’ styles and the way they challenge me, so this will be especially rewarding. Plus, the constant refinement and practice thanks to this mentorship gives me comfort in knowing that I can pull off these designs.
I encourage anyone looking to start something new or level-up to invest time in mentorship. Especially if you are weighing investments for yourself or your business, be really intentional (and honest with yourself) on what it is you need right now, and do your research. You’re the only one who truly knows what will work best for you.
If you’re interested in hearing more about this process, I’m always here to chat. Drop a comment below, send me a DM, or write me a note.
Thanks as always for following along and I can’t wait to share more in the months ahead!
Q & A: Elise Brannan of Brannan Events & Design
Today on the blog we have a Q & A with Elise Brannan of Brannan Events & Design. In this post she’s sharing ways your wedding planning can be impactful to both your community and the environment.
Elise Brannan, Brannan Events & Design
Today on the blog we have Elise Brannan of Brannan Events & Design, who offers planning services throughout the Bay Area.
I've been so inspired by Elise, not just for her bold and unique wedding designs, but for her steady commitment as an event professional to making conscious, inclusive, and sustainable decisions when producing events. She’s an ethical vegan activist and intersectional environmentalist helping her couples and clients make informed decisions when it comes to their big days.
Since I’ve already learned so much from Elise, I wanted to bring her on here to share with you some of her ideas around conscious spending, inclusive vendor teams, and ways your wedding planning can be impactful to both your community and the environment.
Q: Hey Elise, welcome! Tell us a little about yourself, where you’re located, and the services you offer.
I'm Elise, a vegan event planner based in the East Bay Area where I live with my partner, Michael, and our fur babies! I was born in LA and lived there until I was about 10 (and we go back all the time) so I like to think of myself as a native to both northern and southern California lol!
I offer event services including management, design, and planning. As an ethical vegan and intersectional environmentalist I also try to guide my clients to make more conscious, inclusive, and cruelty-free choices throughout the planning process.
Q: What inspired you to launch your business centered around conscious, inclusive, and sustainable practices?
I started in event management when I was 18. I was involved with various non-profit groups growing up and when I was 18 I was a part of an executive board for Northern California, where we planned large scale events and fundraisers. That's where my passion for event planning began! I loved being able to bring people together with a common purpose in mind and I'm a social butterfly so I loved all the networking opportunities and thought - this would be an amazing job one day!
When I first came into the wedding world in 2014 I was definitely less conscious and sustainable. I became vegan in 2017 and in doing that really began to reevaluate my business, what it stood for and how it can be a force for good. It's still an ever evolving process but in my personal life I try to do as little harm as possible (and our everyday choices do lead to harm if we're not careful - something as simple as food selection can have a real impact) so I wanted to translate that to my business.
Inclusivity is incredibly important to me as well. Whether it's recommending specific vendors or even recommending another planner (as I know I'm not the perfect fit for all couples, and that's totally ok), I want to encourage clients to work with people of color. There is SO MUCH whiteness in the wedding and event space and it's up to planners (as we typically manage any given event) to go out of our way to make sure BIPOC vendors and businesses are included. I don't always get it right but I'm ok being called out on my mistakes and committed to doing better everyday. We have so much work ahead of us as an industry but I'm feeling hopeful.
Q: What’s a common misconception couples have when it comes to ‘eco-friendly’ wedding planning?
I think many couples think it's just about "waste", and they have a narrow vision of what waste actually is. When I look at being eco-conscious, it's not just about not using plastic straws. It's all about thinking how any given item involved with their wedding was cultivated, made, and transported. And it's important to take a look at the workers and their working conditions along the way. Only then can you make a truly informed decision. It definitely requires a couple being willing to think critically and consciously about every aspect of their wedding.
Q. What is the top area couples can look to reduce waste from their wedding day?
FOOD. I know food feels like it's a very personal choice and it is, but if those personal choices aren't thought about critically, you're not seeing all the harm it creates along the way. Removing animal products from the dining experience will make an enormous impact! It will reduce water waste and CO2 emissions drastically. It takes approximately 2,400 gallons of water to create 1lb of steak — now imagine 100 guests ordering said steak. And this is before we even consider appetizers and late night bites.
There's the human side of it too. Think about the marginalized slaughterhouse worker — the emotional, mental, and physical toll of having to slaughter 100s or 1000s of animals a day for the 15-20 minutes of momentary pleasure an individual gets from eating it. Most of the time working conditions for those individuals are horrible, they get paid very little and those slaughter houses pollute the area they're located in (often marginalized communities of color).
Lastly, there's an animal side. Many of my clients are self-proclaimed animal lovers and there is an animal cost to this. Innocent creatures, as friendly and as loving as your pets, end up on the plate. We see this as fine dining but it's really layered cruelty.
Also — vegan food is just delicious, healthier for your body, with a much lower impact!!
Q: You’re known for your beautiful, bold, unique, and conscious designs. Can you give us a sneak peek into your design process?
Thank you so much! My design process always starts with getting to know my couples on a personal level. I really want to infuse parts of who they are and what brought them together as a couple, as a part of their wedding design. We talk about everything from favorite TV shows, to how they would describe their home decor style, to what are their favorite activities to do together, to their personal fashion style. After getting a sense of who they are as a couple and what they want their wedding to represent I dig into creating the design around that!
Q: Let’s talk trends. What are some you’re loving right now?
I LOVE micro weddings! This isn't a new trend but they are some of my favorite weddings to design and execute. As COVID-19 continues to limit group gatherings, I think it's the direction the wedding industry is going to naturally take for the foreseeable future. Micro-weddings also allow for a smaller overall budget, but they give couples room to invest in the things that really matter to them.
Another trend I love is monochromatic color palettes! Where we focus on one bold hue and play around with complimentary shades throughout the design. It's fresh and memorable!
Lastly, I'm loving the eco-wedding trend, which is probably obvious but worth saying again :)
Q: What are some tips for couples when it comes to evaluating vendors?
For particular vendors, I think it's important to look for specific things but overall — I'd suggest getting to know your vendors before booking them — whether that's a FaceTime or a call or a coffee date. Make sure it feels like a great vibe, especially for those vendors that you'll be spending the most face to face time with on the day of the wedding.
I'd also ask them about their sustainability and inclusion practices. If they don't have anything concrete laid out, you may want to pivot. Vote with your dollars and invest in someone who believes in the importance of those principals, like you.
Q: When discussing budget, I love to guide my couples to impactful design decisions, a.k.a. ‘bang for your buck’ pieces. Where do you encourage your couples to invest and prioritize their budget when it comes to design?
Your ceremony decor! Your ceremony is such a short piece of the wedding day celebration, but it's also likely going to be some of your most important and cherished photos. I'd make sure to invest in the ceremony decor and then make sure that those pieces are getting reused throughout the reception space! Get as much mileage out of those pieces as possible.
Q: Name 3 small business owners that inspire you.
Food Empowerment Project (Lauren Ornelas)
Souley Vegan (Tamearra Dyson)
Package Free Shop (Lauren Singer)
Q: I’ve been working hard to lead a low-waste lifestyle both in my business and at home, so I’m curious: what is your favorite low-waste life hack?
Homemade is almost always less wasteful; whether that's homemade meals from whole food/simple ingredients, or homemade cleaners and beauty products
I love Imperfect Foods - our farmer's market is shut down at the moment so Imperfect Foods allows me to save products that wasn't "good enough" for the grocery store, from ending up in the trash
Shopping second-hand! I love shopping second-hand because it means clothing or goods get a longer life and there's typically little to no packaging involved.
Q: What is the difference between Vegan v. Plant Based?
There is a big difference between these two principals and I'll reference an awesome activist (@fulanivegan) and his descriptions:
Plant Based: In a 1980 study by T Colin Campbell Phd, the positive benefits of eating a plant based diet were established. The term plant based originated from this study completely separate from any view on ethics. A plant based diet can consist of 100% or mostly plant based diet.
Veganism: The term was created by Donald Watson in 1955 to describe someone who doesn't eat any animal products and rejects the commodity status of animals. The practice has existed for thousands of years as 'moral vegetarianism'. Vegans also do not wear leather, wool, silks etc. Ethical Veganism is a philosophical belief.
Q: What is Intersectional Environmentalism?
I get this question because it's in my bio and on my website! I'll quote someone who helped coin the term, Leah Thomas: "This is an inclusive version of environmentalism that advocates for both the protection of people and the planet. It identifies the ways in which injustices happening to marginalized communities and the earth are interconnected. It brings injustices done to the most vulnerable communities, and the earth, to the forefront and does not minimize or silence social inequality. Intersection environmentalism advocates for justice for people and the planet."
Thanks so much for joining, Elise!
GET IN TOUCH
email: elise@brannanevents.com
instagram: @brannan_events + @elise_thevegan
website: www.brannanevents.com