We were lucky to catch up with Ida-May Hanson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Ida-May , we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
In 2001 my husband, Ken & I travelled to Maui to renew our 10-year wedding vows. Our ceremony was performed by a woman and it was the first time I had ever heard of a woman being a wedding officiant. At the very moment she repronounced us Husband & Wife, on the beach at sunset, a man on the 10 or 12 floor of the hotel, blew a conch horn. All three of us standing there had goosebumps. It was a memorable moment that made a lasting impression on me. On the flight home I announced to my husband that I want to be a Wedding Officiant.
It took me several years to study, write my attestation and research what I thought I needed to start my ministry. I even went out of my way to meet another lady wedding officiant. This lady became my mentor and helped me prepare for exactly what I would need to marry couples.
In February 2009 I started Happy Ever After Wedding Officiants and I have never looked back. My first wedding was a “Bail Out” wedding. A couple called me in distress. The minister they had hired and paid for could not be reached by phone or email. It was now only days before their wedding. I had no time to think or get nervous. I wrote a wedding ceremony with the little information that I got from them and showed up at the golf club venue close to our home. I had no idea what I was doing and if I was doing it right or wrong or what to expect. Somehow, I managed to stand up in front of 75 people and performed my very first wedding ceremony. To my total surprise and delight I had people coming up to me after the ceremony, telling me how great the ceremony was and how much they enjoyed it. Shortly after I left the club and drove home on cloud nine. I had actually stood up in front of all those strangers and performed a wedding. Of course, I was nervous but the thrill of knowing that I could do it out did the nervousness and gave me the confidence to move forward.
I later decided to expand my business to include Planning, as it was a natural progression from being an officiant. By then I was very familiar with the needs for organization and learned all about timelines and their importance to the party/reception for both Events & Weddings.
Planning involves organizing and executing timelines in order that the event flows without any mistakes or hesitations. I mastered the art of working with many different types of personalities of both the vendors and venues all the while keeping everyone happy and on time. Planning birthday parties, showers, retirement parties, fashion shows, dog show competitions and of course weddings. All this came easily to me as I am an organized and detailed oriented person.
Every planning event gave me more & more confidence and self-esteem. After 14 years of being in the wedding business and performing in excess of 1000 weddings and expanding to Wedding/Event Planning, I could not possibly think of anything else I would rather be doing.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
The exciting and special part of being a Wedding Officiant is that you get to be a part of a lifelong memory for the couple you marry. Every anniversary you are remembered as the person who married them. While living in Indiana, I attended a psychic show downtown and I was approached by a lady who asked me “Are you the Officiant who married my daughter at The Colum’s Ballroom in Greenwood, In.” I was both surprised and happy that the mother of the bride was able to recognize me. I love working with couples giving them options for their tailor-made ceremony. Adding elements to that ceremony making it unique and ever so personal to the couple. Always offering them the latest and greatest trend out there.
As a planner I get to help people celebrate a milestone either personal or for a loved one. Keeping in the know at all times of what is happening out there to make their event totally memorable to their family and friends. Knowing if I do a great job, they will come back to me again and again and of course recommend my services to others.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I believe the most important qualities and skills needed in this type of business is:
~ Organizational
~ Time management
~ Personalize
~ Unique Trendsetter
~ Not afraid to try new things.
~ Be aware of all things around you.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
My biggest obstacle or challenge is letting people know about my services. Even though I have a website, Facebook page, Google Business, Instagram and LinkedIn account couples don’t find me as easily as I wish they could. My Google Business standing is 5.0 star referrals but a couple looking for a person to marry them still can’t find me. Or if someone is looking for a planner, they can’t find me anywhere. I do not have the money it obviously takes to advertise either the officiant or planning business. So, here I sit hoping that someone might find me by chance.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.happyeverafterlife.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Heal_Officiant
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficiantCentralFL
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rev-ida-may-hanson-b5990939/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/HEAL_Officiant
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyfTXcEENks
- Yelp: https://biz.yelp.com/home/B4ty8qy9bo0QB3GLXKeoJQ/?utm_campaign=claim_business&utm_content=login_to_biz_account_option&utm_medium=www&utm_source=consumer_site_yelp_for_business_dropdown
Image Credits
Rev. Ida-May Hanson
