We had the good fortune of connecting with Carly Albert and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carly, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
This is for sure a challenge! It has taken me a few years to get it down. When I first started working for myself I never stopped working, I never had a time I wasn’t checking my emails, canceling plans with friends to make a networking event or client call. I was booking myself to be at every single wedding. Looking back this was all necessary to get where I am now. However, I am now very mindful of my time. I can’t give my couples 100% if I am not giving myself any time to relax and enjoy my own life. I make sure that after a certain hour I don’t reply to emails (unless urgent of course) and I block off weekends where we take no weddings allowing for a much needed mental and physical break. By having a handful of no wedding weekends allows me to not have to have my phone in my face and even go camping and be off the grid. I don’t only make sure to be mindful of my own work life balance but have this conversation with my team regularly to make sure they are mindful of theirs as well.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Where to start …. I launched Emerald Engagements January of 2020. I jumped right in. I remember getting a phone call less than 24 hours later after launching from a bride needing a coordinator and asked for me to send over information and a contract. To be honest I thought I would have a few weeks before receiving this call so I didn’t have ALL these things in line. I immediately rushed home to write up a contract and she signed the next day! I was on cloud nine and that gave me all the confidence boost I needed. I started wedding planning in college as an intern. I worked for five different wedding planning companies. I was an assistant coordinator for over three years and really soaked everything in. I finally got to the point I couldn’t learn/grow in my career without starting my own company. I don’t want to say the process was easy, because being your own boss is not easy. However, I have always loved it so much the hard days are worth it for the outcome. I have learned to be unbelievably kind to everyone, to be overly patient and that vendor friends are the best friends. I have grown the brand around wanting to make al wedding personalized and not a “copy and paste Pinterest wedding.” In order to make this happen I encourage our couple to hire us for full service allowing us to really get to know our couples and grow a year long friendship in the planning process.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Day one: Take the ferry from Mukilteo to Whidbey Island for a day trip. Grab a coffee at Sunset Drip drink at Captain Whidbey Inn, walk around Fort Ebey and dinner at Oyster Catcher.

Day Two:
Coffee at Mt. West at U-Village with some shopping. Dinner at West War.

Day Three:
Walk around Pikes (I mean you have to take everyone), Jar Bar for a drink and Ben Paris for lunch.

Day Four:
Grab breakfast at Saint Bread then head north! Chuckanut Drive to Taylor Shellfish for oysters and champagne!

Day Five:
Take a walk around Discovery Park and dinner at dinner at San Fermo!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Pretty basic shoutout but of course family, friends and my fiancé. Of course all my couples especially the early on ones who trusted me!

Website: https://emeraldengagements.com

Instagram: @emeraldengagements

Image Credits
Tminspired Photography Wiley Putnam Photography Mandee Rae Photography Backcountry Bohemians Photography Zani and Duwayne Photography

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