Hi, I’m Chelsey! I am a wanderluster, bucket list expert, holiday enthusiast and celebration cheerleader. By day, I plan luxury events and travel experiences all over the world for the most thoughtful and discerning clients. By night, I teach entrepreneurs how to delight their clients by cultivating their own events and experiences and I love to share my knowledge of destination weddings. In between, I chase the cutest 2 year old and homeschool the most amazing 8 year old. We love dance parties in the kitchen and thinking about where to travel next.
I never intended to become an entrepreneur. I wanted to follow the path that was laid in front of me – go to college, get a good corporate job, get married and then have babies.
I started down that path and then quickly realized it didn’t fulfill me. My creative side led me to the wedding industry and I fell in love with the details and behind the scenes of planning. I found myself working my corporate job during the week and counting down the days until the weekend when I could work a wedding.
I was mentored by a wonderful woman who gracefully showed me how hard being a wedding planner was and that it wasn’t for the faint of heart. If I didn’t have to drive to Austin to work with her every weekend, I might still be there today. After my internship ended, I wanted to continue with weddings. I started a small wedding planning company in Dallas, Texas and continued to follow my passion. After three years, I decided I had had enough of the corporate world and took my wedding planning business full time. Things went really well for about five years and then the toll of business ownership and more than a few not so pleasant brides had pushed me to my limit. I was burnt out and ready to quit. Instead, I took a short break and decided to rebrand. Through rebranding, I discovered my ‘why’ which was to create events using unexpected thoughtful gestures and quickly grew a six figure event planning business.
In 2011, I married my handsome husband. I knew he was the ‘one’ on day two, he said I love you on day seven and I know we will be together forever. When we got married, we wanted to try and start a family on our honeymoon but a year went by with no success. We unwillingly joined the infertility club and for the next four years tried to conceive. After multiple failed infertility treatments we decided to grow our family through adoption. During this time, my husband was also diagnosed with cancer. The reality of infertility, adoption and cancer filled my days while I dreamed of having a big family and building a legacy of celebration.
In August 2015, our prayers were answered and 4 year old Gabriel joined our family. I had been dreaming of creating traditions for years and due to the timing of his arrival I could not wait for the holiday season to bring surprise and delight to this special little boy. Being able to celebrate joy after so many years of trials led me to start our bucket lists which eventually led to the creation of thoughtful traditions and to celebrating randomly.
In March 2016, just seven months after our adoption, I found out I was pregnant. Joshua Connor was born in November 2017 and is a another testament of God’s faithfulness in our lives. I loved being pregnant and had the privilege of having an unmedicated natural birth. It is one of my most cherished accomplishments.
I never imagined infertility, cancer or even adoption would be part of our story but it has made me stronger, more patient, and I am unexpectedly grateful for the trials we have endured. These trials have compelled me to be very intentional about how I spend my limited time here on this earth. Through thoughtful living we are able to become the best versions of ourself allowing us to cultivate a legacy we are proud to share with our children.
Have you ever felt like you are exactly where you are supposed to be? That is how I feel today. As a multi passionate entrepreneur my heart is often running in different directions but I believe that life and my accumulated passions have led me here and I finally feel at home.
I am so glad you’re here.
Let’s stay in touch my friend. Sign up for my newsletter, lets hang out on instagram or join my “thoughtful mamas” group on facebook.
I love to read. Anything but fiction and mostly books on small business.
In my previous life I sat behind a computer and wrote code for 10 hours a day. Think office space. But worse. I still spend most of my time behind a computer but now I write about travel, destination weddings, celebrating randomly, bucket lists and entrepreneurship over on the blog and that is way more fun.
I don’t love to cook but I do love to eat. Mostly sushi, pizza and ranch. (ranch is a food category right?) Mondays you will find me in the kitchen trying to perfect my meal planning.
Confetti cake is my favorite. My mom has made it for me every year since my first birthday.
Approximately 90% of my wardrobe is black. Seriously.
I have a long standing love affair with hot chocolate.
I believe the scriptures are God’s personal love letters to me (and you) and read them daily.
The beach is my happy place.
PS. I LOVE YOU
Ok, so you weren’t expecting I love you. Too soon? It’s ok. I have this feeling you are pretty awesome and those three little words are just around the corner.
You know those two pictures of me above? They are probably my most favorite of all time. Ok, well that may be a little dramatic but really – they just feel like “me”.
I haven’t always felt comfortable taking photos but in this moment I felt at ease and really comfortable. You know, like it’s just you and me having a meaningful conversation.
I love a classic blazer paired with jeans, I have spent years trying to get my hair this long so it feels so good to see the fruit of all that effort (and by effort I mean trying not to chop my hair off every time I open my pinterest page to the perfect stylish bob) and on most days you will likely find me in running shoes or flip flops even though I appreciate a beautiful pair of heels.
My posture is relaxed, causal even and although I am definitely type A, I am a beach girl at heart which keeps me pretty laid back and open for adventure.
I am so excited to get to know you and I promise to always share my authentic voice. Now, enough about me. I want to know about you! Let’s connect or if you are the non committal type you can just browse my instagram.
