Today we’d like to introduce you to Beth Helmstetter.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Beth. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My career started in corporate and nonprofit fundraising, marrying my MBA in nonprofit administration with a passion for event production. I also spent many seasons wedding planning, which is where I grew to admire the creative and collaborative process, and remains a driving force behind my work to this day. It contributed to my later role as a dedicated planner at the Grand Wailea Resort on the island of Maui. In 2007, I started Beth Helmstetter Events – we’ve planned events throughout the world from Paris to Bali to Sardinia, Italy, Philippines, Korea and within the United States. I founded The Good Beginning in 2016, which has let me combine my expertise in weddings and events with my personal mission for philanthropy, while helping the 2+ million couples who marry in America every year support meaningful charitable causes.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As with many entrepreneurs, I experienced unique growing pains during the first 4 years of growing Beth Helmstetter Events – years spent working tirelessly which turned into a major work/life imbalance. I made the conscious decision to start working closely with a business coach who helped me employ an intentional and focused strategy that complimented my unique needs. With that came a more selective approach to my workload and team priorities. The process of considering the bigger picture and each decision’s impact on my business has become routine and essential to success.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am the Principle Event Designer and CEO of Beth Helmstetter Events, a boutique event company specializing in intimate and approachable multi-day events throughout the world, and the founder of The Good Beginning. With 10+ years experience in the industry, I’m honored to have been recognized as a top wedding planner in the country by Harper’s Bazaar, Travel & Leisure, Martha Stewart Weddings and more. We have the unique opportunity to work with diverse clientele, producing uniquely luxurious and memorable celebrations from the enchanting coast of Italy to charming Central America and of course, throughout the United States. Perhaps it’s a multi-day wedding celebration with unique, luxurious guest experiences in an exotic corner of Bali or a wedding weekend at a private estate in the Rocky Mountains. We welcome those unique challenges and enjoy the creative process that goes into designing memorable celebrations.
The Good Beginning was launched in January of 2016, and is an online wedding registry to support charitable causes around the globe. In addition to (or in lieu of) a traditional wedding registry, couples can invite their guests to join them in supporting a worthy charity – from supporting Syrian refugees to the Flint Water Crisis to a local animal shelter or soup kitchen. Couples register for their wedding just like they would with a traditional retail registry by selecting an organization or by adding a new charity. From there, the couple is given a personal domain name to their registry that can be shared with guests. If you are interested in learning more about The Good Beginning, or know a couple who may be, visit: http://thegoodbeginning.com/our-registry/
How do you, personally, define success? What’s your criteria, the markers you’re looking out for, etc?
I personally define success as doing something I love, making a positive impact on the world while maintaining the financial independence to support myself and my dedicated team. In the future, I envision more creative opportunities to come, like producing events in new corners of the globe with the Beth Helmstetter Team, publishing books and building a leading lifestyle brand that serves the market in a unique way. I also hope to see adoption for a platform like The Good Beginning grow stronger and become more widely utilized as an effective channel for charitable giving. The Good Beginning has already made a measurable impression since it was launched in early 2016 – couples and their guests have raised over $350,000 for over 300 worthy causes around the world. I hope the momentum continues and, together, we are able to use our collective efforts for the greater good.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bethhelmstetter.com
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
Lauren Ross
Steve Steinhardt
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