I love that Juliet Douglas was groomed to have the life of a performer as a singer and entertainer, yet she thought it would be best to have a “practical” job in hospitality and events. I’m sure she has found that having a background in performance is essential to getting her job done, especially in a city like Las Vegas. When I first started following Juliet on Twitter I did some snooping around to find out who this planner is. And, what most impressed me is her blog. WOW! What a RICH resource for anyone getting married. Upon learning that her blog has been an important part of her marketing plan, I can see that her blog has been instrumental in her business growth. She gives great advice here on things she would have done when she started her business. Thanks for the tips, Juliet!
Juliet Douglas
Owner, Green Orchid Events
Las Vegas, NV
www.greenorchidevents.com
Established 2007
Why did you start your business?
Oddly enough, I never pictured myself as a business owner. Growing up, I wanted to be a recording artist and was involved in performing arts. Anyway, like we’re all always told in performing arts, “you have to have a backup plan”. I was lucky to have had a full ride college scholarship so I went to UNLV and studied hospitality with a focus in Entertainment and Special Events. When I had to get “a real job”, I worked as a wedding coordinator in a large casino wedding chapel. After about a year, I wanted to get into catering in a hotel and you couldn’t get a job in catering in a hotel without the experience and couldn’t get experience unless someone gave you a shot. Long story short, I was frustrated so I signed up for a wedding coordination course at a new hospitality school, got experience with some internships and had gained some great mentors. My entrepreneurial minded husband pushed me to start my own business and told me that I was never going to be happy working for someone else. He was right. I love being a business owner.
What book do you recommend to other business owners?
I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t read too many business books. Four Hour Workweek was great but I’m not sure how realistic that is for a new business owner. I AM, however, a huge fan of business blogs. I have over 40 business blogs in my Google Reader and love reading blogs. Plus, they’re free. Some of my favorites include Sage Wedding Pros, Think Splendid, The Wedding Marketing Blog, WebWorker Daily, and Chic Wedding Geek. To name just a few.
What are your cool goal-setting tips?
I actually set goals by putting goals in my Google Calendar. I don’t know if that’s “cool” but it seems to work for me.
What is your biggest challenge as a business owner?
The biggest challenge as a business owner is setting boundaries and rules and not being connected ALL the time. When I first started, I would answer emails at two in the morning. My brides loved it but I overworked myself. Now, I don’t answer any emails to clients past a certain time unless the wedding is coming up within the month and it’s absolutely necessary to respond right away.
If you started your business all over again, what would you do differently?
If I had to start my business all over again, I would have created a better marketing plan. I had a few expensive lessons. I would have focused more on non traditional ways of marketing instead of advertising on various large wedding sites right off the bat. I’m so glad I did start blogging pretty much right away but should have realized that blogging will not make you an overnight success. I was impatient and impulsive and wanted to see results right away and thought that advertising was the answer. It wasn’t.
Also, I would have hired the CPA I have now (instead of my last one) and gotten Quickbooks set up prior to starting. It’s so much easier to get Quickbooks set up prior to your first transaction than two years later.
Thanks Juliet!
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by Michelle Loretta
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