Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean.
Sean, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In 2020 I was living in Southern California and working as Director of Sales in the Special Events division for Live Nation Worldwide. I was responsible for booking and producing everything from Pride Festivals to Naturalization ceremonies at two historical venues.
But everything changed on March 13, 2020. The Covid Pandemic hit and we were the first to shut down with absolutely no known reopening date.
With no paycheck I had to get very creative with my hustle to bring money in.
So I started Hearts & Happiness as an Ordained Minister, offering wedding Officiant services throughout Southern California. Couples were still getting married, but now they were smaller, intimate ceremonies and they were held outdoors. I performed an elopement on a sailboat in the San Diego Harbor, beachfront weddings in Malibu and Santa Monica and in the rugged desert of Joshua Tree. I enjoyed what I was doing and did quite well. I was extremely busy, even getting calls to do same-day weddings and multiple ceremonies on a single day.
On a bit of a whim my husband, Rick and I relocated to Charleston, South Carolina in 2023. Our daughter is a Professor at USC in Columbia.
Moving here was certainly the best decision. I’ve been able to successfully carve out a niche for my business by featuring a one-stop-shop trifecta of wedding services: planning, coordinating and officiating.
My tagline: I Plan it, Do it, and Make it Legal!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Weddings are emotionally charged affairs, and you can really get caught up in the drama if you don’t stay calm and just handle your business.
One time a bride popped the zipper on her wedding dress right before the ceremony. I got out my sewing kit and sewed her into her dress. I always travel with an emergency kit that’s filled with pretty much anything I need to deal with a crisis.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I noticed that Charleston is pretty saturated with wedding planners, so it’s vitally important for me to distinguish myself from the rest. I’m doing this by offering different and interesting types of services, like “Hearts Ahoy!” A romantic elopement on a boat on the Ashley River with your ceremony performed by your’s truly, Captain Sean.
I also do Celtic and Wiccan Handfasting Ceremonies and I’m LGBTQ+IA-friendly.
All are welcome, because Love is Love.
How do you think about luck?
In life and in business I believe luck and karma are the same thing. It’s so true that what goes around comes around. I also believe in the law of attraction. If you are projecting a warm, welcoming and positive aura and being the type of person that people want to be around, the best things will always come your way,
Pricing:
- . Day of Coordination starting at $1,200
- . Partial and full wedding planning starts at $2,300
- . Elopement on a boat starts at $500
- . Bridal Bouquet and Groom’s Boutonniere $300
- . Officiant at your ceremony $325
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.heartsandhappiness.biz
- Instagram: @heartsndhappiness
- Facebook: @heartsndhappiness
- LinkedIn: Sean Faustina-Smolak
- Yelp: Hearts & Happiness
