Lately I’ve been receiving quite a few emails from readers asking questions beyond wedding planning and in to other aspects of life, specifically focused on starting your own business. One topic that comes up frequently is branding; how to decide on branding, how to determine what is best for you, and how to go about getting your branding put together. Now of course I am no expert, but as hindsight is always 20/20, I wanted to give you a little advice based on first-hand experience. Here goes…

Stay True To You
Whether you are starting your own hot dog stand, wedding/event design company, or just need something for your blog, always remember to stay true to who you are. Your clients/customers/readers want to know about you, because after all, you are selling yourself first. When thinking about branding, think about yourself - what are your likes/dislikes/personality traits or favorite things/colors/activities, etc? Keep these things in mind when you are trying to come up with your own branding. Your brand should feel like a second home; something comfortable that represents who you are as a person, and something that makes others think of you.

Find the Right Design Partner
It is OK to interview several different design companies, if you are going to hire someone to make your logo. This is going to be your baby, so you should find someone who shares your passion, understands you, and will create a perfect representation of your company. Know that if you want a logo that is not made from a stock image that can be purchased online (stock images are perfectly fine, by the way, if that’s what you’re going for), you need to specifically request custom illustration. This means that your designer will hand draw your logo, something that was important to me. You should be able to feel comfortable asking your designer for revisions, telling them if you don’t like something, but be able to clearly explain what kind of changes you need. You should also read carefully through your contract to be very clear on how many hours are budgeted for your logo, and know that if you are doing custom illustration, you will likely be spending a bit more time and money. When I hired the designer who ended up creating my final logo, I found this information to be really helpful to ensure I was asking for the right thing, and we were both on the same page from the get-go.

one of the many rounds of design options from my final designer, Courtney Talbot

Do Your Homework
Contrary to what you might think, the wedding industry is pretty small. Chevron, bunting, flowers, muted colors, ruffles and lace are things we come across often, which is perfectly fine (and makes things oh-so-pretty to look at). But do your homework: see what else is out there, and make sure no one else has the same logo as you. Don’t rely on your designers to do this if you have only hired them to make your logo. If you are hiring a marketing team for full company branding, they should be researching this, but it is always safe to double check. You should do the competitive intelligence on your end to make sure that you stick out from the crowd, and you don’t look too much like someone else. Do the same when you are searching for your company name - google will be your best friend in this instance, before you order your lovely little business cards and arrange for your LLC, if applicable.

Stick To Your Guns
I learned early in the game that you will always have people challenging you and your thinking, but if you stick with your guns, you will prevail and end up with what was meant to be. When I was starting out, I considered using my name for my business, but was initially told that my married name was not as “appealing” as my maiden name, and it would not be a good brand image. Nice, right? Here I was, uncertain about whether I was even going to change my name, and now I was being told that my new name wasn’t very “attractive”? Awesome. I was also told that some of the things I wanted {the mason jar, the four-leaf clover (read About)}; basically the things that best represented me were not good for branding, and I was made to feel silly for even thinking of such things. My first round of branding was something I was not necessarily comfortable with, but at that point, I felt I needed to settle with because it had taken so much time and I felt like I was being difficult. In the end, fate intervened and I wound up hiring a new designer to I end up where I am today, with something I love and something that is very me. Long story short, do not ever let anyone push you when it comes to your branding, but do take designers advice with a grain of salt, as they might have insight based on their own experience. Remember that your branding is going to represent you and your company, therefore you want to be 100% satisfied and comfortable with the end result. Take all the time you need to make sure it is what you want, and listen to your instincts - they will lead the way to your final product.

Think Ahead
I learned from others how important it is to make your branding a part of who you are, and think ahead a few years down the road to ensure your brand is timeless. It is less about the pantone color of the year and current trends and more about what will last, but also know that a few years down the line it is always OK to refresh and revamp your style as needed. Think about those logos that have survived over the years, and are universally known by all - what makes these logos stand out? Their simplicity and ability to trigger your memory through time. You want your branding to do the same. Side note: there is no way that I am comparing my lovely little mason logo to these, but I’m just trying to make a point on this one :)

Think Beyond The Logo {Make it Memorable}
With all the blogs that I read and wedding prettiness I come across through other wedding designers, etc., there is one thing that makes me think “wow, they really nailed it”, and that is when I see something offline that makes me think of them. If I see a light-filled image that makes me think of a specific photographer, or a certain colored shoe that makes me think of a specific event designer, this means that those individuals have succeeded in their branding because long after I’ve visited their website, I am still reminded of them in my daily routine. I get lots of lovely emails each week with “I saw this mason jar and thought of you” and that makes me happy, because it means that a) the mason jar is still kickin’ and b) my branding made an impact. I try to take my branding beyond the logo by posting Mason Jar Sundays, and incorporating my branding colors in to my attire for events (and my everyday office gear). When I come across a pretty LLD-colored bag or cute pair of sandals in that perfect shade of turquoisey-teal, I am immediately drawn to them (and sometimes have to restrain myself from buying on the spot). When you find yourself wanting to represent your brand when the workday is over, you know you have come up with something that is perfectly suited to you and your biz. And even better, when your customers/clients/readers find things that make them think of you, you know you your branding was successful.

Strength in Numbers
Lastly, pat yourself on the back because you are going for it, throwing fear of failure out the window and taking a leap of faith to make your dreams come true. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: life is short but sweet for certain (thanks DMB), so what are you waiting for? You only live once. So what if you jump and fall? At least you can say you took the leap. Good for you. You can do it. Remember that there are others out there who are going through the same thing, and it is OK to ask for help/advice/insight/feedback along the way. Ask friends/colleagues for their thoughts on first-round logo drafts but remember that your gut will have the final say. And of course you will have this mason jar loving chick behind you all the way to push you along if you need it. If you ever have any questions or just need someone to remind you that you are awesome, feel free to drop me a line!

Happy Monday, lovelies!