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

Hi Lizzie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have been a snowbird my entire life; every summer, my family and I leave Florida to head to Wisconsin to run our resort business, Eagle River’s Last Resort. Although, my parents were the owners, they treated my sister and me as co-owners. We had responsibilities and jobs at the resort from a very young age. In 2001, when The Wedding Planner starring Jennifer Lopez hit theaters, I learned that wedding planning was a career, and from then, I knew that is what I wanted to be. My dad always instilled in my sister and me that it is better to work for yourself than for anyone else, and with the resort experience, I felt owning my own wedding planning business was the right path. My thought behind starting a successful business was preparation and education. I received my college degree in Event Management, interned with several different wedding vendors including a florist, planner, and decorator, and worked within the event industry for 7 years before I felt like I had enough experience to strike out on my own. The main thought process behind starting my own business was to have the flexibility to still be a snowbird to run the resort and have my dream wedding planning business when I am in Florida. Other reasons included only having to answer to myself, and to build something that I could be proud of.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Hakuna Matata Weddings & Events is my business, and our tag line is “we mean no worries for your wedding/event day”. We provide month of/day of wedding planning services with a few a la carte options. This is a unique aspect of our business as most wedding planning companies mainly provide full-service planning packages. Many couples today are planning their own weddings from start to finish and do not need full service help – so we just offer a package that starts a month prior to their wedding to organize what they have planned, fill in any gaps, identify any potential issues, create a master timeline for the day, and confirm all wedding vendors. Then we run the wedding rehearsal, and on the day of, we are there to handle every aspect of the day so that the couple does not have to lift a finger. Since starting my business in 2018, I have received all 5-star reviews from clients and have earned 2 awards. When you do business with me and Hakuna Matata Weddings & Events, you will always be treated with respect and utmost care. Your wedding or event is so very important to me – events are my life’s passion. I spent a long time educating myself and gaining experience to make sure that I can handle every wedding/event flawlessly. When you hire us, you can trust that you will get professional, prompt, and knowledgeable service.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I spend most of my time in Palm Beach County. Of course, I would take them to the Beach: I know how cliché, but the east coast beaches are so beautiful. Florida is all about hitting the beach and enjoying time relaxing by the ocean. Another fun activity is Lion Country Safari, a great drive thru zoo. I would take them to do an airboat ride in the Everglades. As for my favorite places to eat around town, anything by the water suits me but these are my two favorites: The Old Key Lime House and Banana Boat.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
A huge shout out goes to my parents, John and Carol. They taught me initiative and the benefits of working hard. They have always encouraged me to follow my dreams and supported them in whatever way they could. When I needed help building a structure for a bridal show, my dad was right there building it. When my usual wedding day assistant was not available, my mom stepped right up and let me be her boss for the day. Having that kind of unconditional support and love truly impacted my confidence in being able to start my own business. Another shout out goes to my twin sister, Katie, and husband, Zack, who are always there to help me with my crazy marketing ideas and be my wedding day assistants. Without their help, my business would not be as successful as it is today. I would also like to give a shout out to Marji Bennett, who retired from MB Florals, her event & floral design company. I worked for her for a few years and really gained my foundation in the event industry in Palm Beach County. Her mentoring and connections got me my first few weddings – helping to kick start my business.

Website: www.hakunamatataweddings.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hakunamatataweddings/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizzie-lumley-5097a817
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hmweddings/
Other: https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/hakuna-matata-weddings-and-events-delray-beach/15c6273eb5e2ce88.html https://www.pinterest.com/hakunamatataweddings/

Image Credits
Finding Light Photography Focused on Forever Studio