Wedding planners pair up to save on costs

Complimenting each other
For nearly a year, they each focused on building their own brands. While they mostly kept their eyes on their own business, they made sure to keep an eye out for each other as well. Early on, they made a date to have coffee.

“We met at Starbucks and just sort of, you know, went through what we were doing,” Underwood recalled. “I was definitely nervous going into it but hopeful that we wouldn't be the exact same idea.”

“I think once we sat down,” added Martin “we talked about what our visions were for our businesses, (which) left me with a feeling of ease. “

“We realized it could actually work out, and we could be complementary to one another,” Underwood added.

And compliment each other they did. As competitors, they both “played nice” and at times even referred customers to each other. Over the course of a year, their businesses grew, and so did their respect for each other.

“It was a crazy busy year for both of us,” said Underwood, “We’d have an event or she’d have an event, and we'd call each other and I’d say something like, ‘Oh, I've got this bride and I’m booked on that date so I'm gonna pass your number along. Is that OK?’ ”

Then came another unforeseen crisis. The economy hit the rocks. As Martin remembers, it was a time of great concern. “It was right around the holidays. And we were just thinking, who knows what's gonna happen over this next year or two?”

A proposal
As the economy grew darker, so did Martin’s worries about her business. She began to hatch a plan: “Basically you just want to make sure that your business survives and that you're making smart decisions. And we had some extra space in the store that we were kind of underutilizing. And I thought, Kara's probably the perfect fit.”

So Martin made Underwood a proposal over coffee. “I approached Kara and said, ‘This may be way out in left field, but would you have any interest moving into our location and sharing the space?”

It was Underwood’s turn to be caught off-guard, but after a brief pause, she recovered and realized they were “both the same boat.”

Martin remembers that same moment of decision. “I think that after a couple seconds passed, she was like, ‘Yeah, that actually might be a really good thing.’ And we sat there for a couple of hours talking. We both realized that while we were fine independent, it could only get better merging the two.”

Fourteen days later, the two had merged their locations, and they sent out their own “marriage announcement” — an embossed mailing that looks just like the kind of wedding announcements they help their clients choose.

Underwood showed off one of the beautifully printed documents: “When you open it up, there's the picture of the two of us, and the announcement of the ‘union.’ ”

“The union of the two businesses,” said  Martin with a giggle.

But perhaps roommates might be a more accurate description.

“It’s more of a physical merger,” said Underwood. “I still have my company and Kirstin still has hers.”

With the sudden decision to move in together, the two felt it would be less stressful if they could still keep a bit of their independence.

Whatever they call it, the merger made sense financially. That’s something that struck Underwood powerfully when she looked at her balance sheet recently.

“When I looked at what I spent last year on advertising, my jaw hit the floor. So I think that's probably the number one savings. And then, obviously, overhead and everything that goes in with that — phones, all that paper, everything.”

As to the future, they’re both keeping their options open. After all, business partnerships don’t have to be made ’til death do us part.

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