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“I never planned to be a wedding planner. I love it. That’s the thing. I guess to me, I am totally outside the box. If you want a traditional wedding or if you want to go skydiving, we’re going to make it happen. Our job is to take your vision and make it a reality.”

Image via: Pixabay 

Parties come in all shapes and sizes, from backyard cookouts to country club weddings. What sets apart a great party from a ho hum gathering? The answer could be in the details. Event planner and floral designer Corrie Spearing pays exacting attention to the pretty, tiny details. Her studio, 333 Designs, is a sparkling flurry of collaborative energy.

“I’m an artist. I’m creative. I use the right side of my brain. During high school I always did art or dance. It turned out that was beneficial to my job later because I learned a lot of different skills. I took sewing and cake design and cake decorating. I worked part time in catering. I liked the aesthetics, the layouts.”

CORRIE'S FIRST GIG WAS AN ENGAGEMENT PARTY

“When I was 17 a friend called my mom to see if she knew anyone who was artsy and could help with her sister’s engagement party. Mom recommended me and I went straight over. My friend gave me a bucket of fresh flowers and told me to make the table where they were serving punch look nice. She told me I couldn’t mess it up and I was thinking, ‘Um yes I can.’ She walked away and I rolled up my sleeves and designed a small floral arrangement. She loved what I did and continued to have me help her with other events that she was involved in. ”

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Soon Corrie was creating floral arrangements for other social gatherings. While working a wedding, the wholesale florist noticed her work and Corrie began working in the wholesale floral business part time. It was a critical turning point in her career: "I learned every type of flower and how to condition them (how much water they needed, how much fertilizer). I was also a delivery person so I delivered to all the florists in town. I learned everyone's different styles and what they typically ordered."

Image via: Pixabay.

Corrie’s business has grown a lot since the first bucket of flowers she arranged on the punch table. 333 Designs,Inc. plans up to 50 weddings a year and employs five planners. Each planner has a unique personality so that Corrie can service every type of bride. Weddings comprise 85% of 333 Designs, Inc.'s events. Corporate events include the Fight against Domestic Violence Charity Event; Von Braun Memorial; and Silhouette 3, an annual live charity fashion show.Above all the pretty chaos is Corrie’s sustaining faith and her belief in people. When I ask Corrie how she came to be in the event planning business she responds without blinking: “The Lord.” Corrie Spearing was named for Corrie Ten Boom, a Belgian Christian who protected Jews from the Nazi captivity during WWII. 

“I have a white tattoo on my arm. It says ‘Love.’ I put it where the Jews were branded. [To me it says that] people are more important than anything. I love people. I want people to feel loved.”

 Image via: Pixabay.