A former client of mine, Lana, came to me with a business she started – First Came Love. I love customized aisle runners, as well as supporting local business, so I am excited to share her company with you!
How did your company get started?
First Came Love (FCL) is a product of my wedding. I was a DIY bride and of all of the things that I made my aisle runner and table runner were the biggest hits. As a result, every friend and family member that got married following my wedding requested that I create a runner or banner for them… from that, the wedding portion of FCL was born.
When and why did you add baby items?
The baby portion is a play on my crafty side. After the weddings, the babies began to come and I found myself making personalized items for my friends and their newborns. I really enjoyed the creative process and decided to add those items to the business as well.
How did you come up with the name “First Came Love”?
I had a totally different name picked out for the business when I was only offering wedding items. When I decided to add the baby items I had to change the name. So as I was thinking about weddings and babies the rhyme “Sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G” came to mind and viola! From that day on, the motto became “First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby… but First Came Love!” And there began First Came Love.
If you could tell people one thing about planning the decor for their wedding what would it be?
The most important thing that I could tell someone is to think outside of the box. Your wedding should be a representation of you and your mate, so incorporate who you are into your wedding as much as you can. Traditional weddings are beautiful but you can add a lot of yourself in there too.
How far in advance should an order be placed for a runner or banner?
There is a 2 month waiting time for all personalized wedding items. During the peak wedding season that time may increase due to order volumes. We do, however, offer rush order options.
What is your favorite part of creating these handmade items?
My favorite part is seeing the final product. I feel such a sense of pride and excitement when I see pictures of items that I have created being used.
What is something that people would be surprised to know about you?
I didn’t get cable TV until after I got married. I hadn’t had it for over 4 years prior to that. I barely watch television and when I do it is mostly reruns, so cable was a waste of money for me but my husband can’t live without it.