Meet Rachel Welland | Owner, Wedding & Event Coordinator

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

Hi Rachel, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I have owned my business Bliss Events for 13 years, and keeping my life in balance during the past 13 years has been challenging at times! There were 2 defining moments during the past 13 years that forced me to reevaluate the way I was running my business and my life, and 2 key decisions that have allowed me to continue the business I love, while getting as close to a balanced life as possible. The first key decision came less than 2 years after I bought the business. I was getting more inquiries than I could handle and it became apparent that I either needed to bring on an additional Wedding Coordinator (in order to continue to grow my business)… or I could continue working solo and the business could not grow anymore. As hard as it was to relinquish some control, I brought on a trusted friend and colleague, and grew the business. This decision allowed me to pursue the goal of expanding Bliss Events while still keeping some work-life balance and not giving up all of my free time in dedication to my business. Since then I have added even more colleagues to the Bliss Events team, and today we are 4 Coordinators strong! The second key decision came when I had my first child. I knew that the strain on my work-life balance was going to be harder than ever! Similar to when I brought my first colleague onto the team a couple years prior, I knew that the only way to achieve the growth and happiness I wanted in my life, was to get help. I hired a part-time nanny to help with childcare responsibilities and I was able to continue the career I love at Bliss Events. I had to adjust my workload and take on a few less weddings each year in order to have enough time to be an involved parent. I considered this to be a minor compromise with a huge payoff — being able to have a job I love and spend plenty of quality time with my child. A few years later I had a second child, but I found the adjustment to be less jarring and was able to resume my work-life balance easier and quicker than when I was a first-time parent. While I contemplated my answer to this interview question, I knew I couldn’t fully answer it without acknowledging the incredible support of my husband, who has continuously encouraged me to pursue my dreams as an entrepreneurial working mom. To sum it up: colleagues at work, childcare for my kids, and an incredibly supportive husband — are the heroes in my personal work-life balance story! The endeavor for balance continues every day and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to pursue both my personal and career dreams.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Bliss Events is a San Diego wedding and event coordination company that blends fresh ideas with the confidence of experience to create customized, unforgettable celebrations. From the first phone call to the last dance, we take the stress out of planning and infuse it with simple and fun communication. Together with the best resources and vendors, we design and organize every element of the day to fit our clients’ unique visions. Between the 4 Coordinators at Bliss Events, we have nearly 58 years combined experience planning events, with about 36 combined years planning weddings. Rachel has a degree in Interior Design, Ashley and Korie have been event planning since college, Paige has worked in operations and venue management, Rachel has worked in hotels and understand the operational side of venues. In addition, Rachel has completed the Special Events and Meetings Management program at UCSD. We all attend professional wedding and special event association meetings and conferences, gaining education and knowledge about current industry trends. Rachel is a former Board Member of NACE (National Association of Catering and Events) and has been a teacher and guest speaker at USD, UCSD, SDSU and San Diego City College on the topics of owning a small business, branding and marketing, and Wedding Coordination. Since Bliss Events’ inception in 2004, we have become the “go-to” wedding coordinators for various media (TV, magazines, radio) because of our extensive knowledge and expertise.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First of all, my favorite hashtag is #AmericasFinestCity and I am in love with San Diego! Definitely we would spend time in Balboa Park enjoying the museums, gardens, dining, and of course the zoo. We would take the ferry to Coronado for a day, marvel at the Hotel Del Coronado’s beauty and history, spend time on the beach, and enjoy a stroll and dining at the Ferry Landing. I would take them to see one of our city’s coolest natural happenings: the seals and sea lions at La Jolla Cove, along with a stroll through downtown La Jolla and brunch at Brockton Villa. We would also venture to North County and enjoy the quaintness of Encinitas and surrounding beach towns along the 101.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Staci Tiras-Jones — who joined Bliss Events as my first additional Coordinator in 2009. Paige Jensen, Korie Younger, and Ashley Babiarz – my current colleagues at Bliss Events. Adam Welland — my supportive husband.

Website: blissevent.com

Instagram: @blissevent
Facebook: @blissevent
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/bliss-events-san-diego
Other: Pinterest: @blisseventsd

Image Credits
Cavin Elizabeth Photography, Petula Pea Photography, We Heart Studio, Sara France Photography, Honey Photographs, Copper Collective, BE Studio, Braja Mandala Photography