After years of putting off starting a blog, I kept hearing amongst conversations with my peers lately “If you’re not going to do it now, you’re never going to do it.” I’ve often hesitated to start a blog because one I don’t think I’m the best writer and two there’s that little bit of insecurity wondering if anyone is actually going to read it. So I decided to write about how Skylar Arden became and where our name came from because I’m often asked.
We are going to start back in my early twenties, now into my thirties it seems like yesterday but also so long ago at the same time. I graduated art school in Brooklyn from Pratt Institute and really had no idea what I was going to do for work. I had drawing skills, painting and I was versed enough in graphic design. That’s gotta equal a job right? NYC has a cut throat job market but somehow I ended up as an assistant designer in a handbag company. I was so excited, I was able to be surrounded by bags, quietly sketching all day and using my basic graphic skills. What could be better?! This story ends up being short lived because within a couple months span this cute boutique company had a merger and let the majority of us go. Back to square one and I had to think fast. My parents always offered up coming back home to MA but never to help pay a bill. I ended up luckily getting a cocktail waitress job, retail and some freelance in fashion. The juggle was tough but NY rent isn’t cheap. As the years passed spending some time in the service industry I ended up planning some Indie Rock Events. As a music lover this was a pretty amazing thing to fall into my lap. One night while taking a break outside and having one of those late night deep conversations with a bouncer I worked with over the years. His eyes lit up and He was like “I got it! I know what you should focus on for work. Wedding planning!” Though this sounded charming and something I'd love to do I was someone at the time who played it safe and couldn’t imagine having my own business. I needed health insurance, I needed stability. Around this same time I invested in a call with a really amazing psychic who has sadly since passed away. During our call he brought up twice that I’d do well in event planning and designing a room. I still couldn’t wrap my mind around such a leap so I stayed in fashion. The years to follow I hit roadblock after roadblock, lay off after lay off. A friend of mine who I deemed incredibly brave started her own event planning company and quickly “blew up”. She needed extra help so I figured why not? I worked alongside her on the weekends and though the work was hard in every way possible, I loved it.
Did I mention at this time I was also engaged and working full time in fashion still? My boyfriend of four years proposed and I was deeply in love with the planning process. So why not add another layer of work to my life? I signed up to be certified in event planning and spent my nights working on the course homework, interning and set my mind to open a business. Two months prior to our wedding day….I was laid off. Yes again. This was the nail in the coffin for me. A company I spent three years of my time with let me go. I didn’t receive a work shower or even a card, rather paperwork and cobra forms. I felt the only person that would be 100% loyal to me at that point (sorry husband :)) was myself. I created my site, filed with NY state to register my business. I get asked often where the name Skylar Arden came from. Sky was a name I first heard on All My Children soap opera. During the summers when I was little we’d take swimming lessons and go home for lunch. Normally around the time this show was on. The character sky was a pretty red head and I thought if i ever had a child I’d like for them to have that name. Arden is my best friend’s and associate planner’s favorite name. After a few glasses of wine one night I asked if it would be okay to combine the two and she was officially born.
My husband amongst all of this and I were married that September and it was the most beautiful party I’ve thrown to this day. It was a little wild, lots of laughs and full of love. I launched my business alongside my nearest and dearest that following January. The rest as they say is history. It hasn’t been easy and it’s taken a lot of trial and error to get us where we are today but I’m proud of my first baby. Skylar Arden is woven so deeply into my every day. My clients are appreciative, wonderful and it’s a privilege to work alongside them. To work a year, six months sometimes less on one event and seeing the end result is the most satisfying job I’ve ever taken on. Through the years we’ve had the opportunity to work on non profit events, corporate and intimate celebrations of all kinds. As we all are all currently experiencing one of the most unprecedented times in our lives, I still feel lucky. I know we will get through this together. I can’t imagine doing anything else, so why stop? To those going through it right now, don’t give up. Don’t you dare give up. We all have our why and own road to travel, you’ll get there eventually.
See you soon friends, keep that chin up.
XOXO
Dawn