Northland Special Events : Trusted Expertise for Your Special Day
Know Your Vendor
Northland Special Events : Trusted Expertise for Your Special Day
By : Holly Kelsey-Henry
When Northland Special Events owner and Principal Event Specialist , Mariah McKechnie unwittingly launched her business in 2010 from the back of a mini-van , she had no idea how hugely successful it would become .
“ All I knew was there was a niche for this , and I also realized I loved doing it ,” she says .
Having been a wedding coordinator in Washington , D . C ., she was no stranger to the overwhelming details involved in staging big events , but when she and her mom , Sharron pulled together the finishing touches for sister Kaitlyn ’ s wedding six years ago from the back of that van , the passion for the business stuck .
Today she has hundreds of successful weddings and events under her belt , and Northland Special Events has established itself as the region ’ s premiere vendor for event planning , design , and floral and decor services . This year alone , Northland Special Events will coordinate and oversee more than 150 events , employing between 40 and 50 staff members in the summer , and engaging dozens of local vendors .
“ At the height of the summer we will coordinate and oversee as many as nine total-package weddings in a single weekend ,” Mariah notes .
And naturally , such ceremonious , high-stress celebrations aren ’ t without their challenges . Among her most memorable save-the-day moments are flaming centerpieces and ring bearer pillows , bridesmaid conflicts , and medical emergencies .
Through it all , this masterful entrepreneur remains Zen-like calm .
“ It is stressful ,” she admits . “ But we have this incredible team of people , each with their own area of expertise and a willingness to jump in anywhere at the same time . We lean on each other , we have a lot of fun doing this , we laugh together and we cry . At the end of the day , our clients get to enjoy a wonderful , stress-free event .”
Northland Special Events provides expert services for weddings , business events , non-profit fundraising events and special celebrations of all varieties . Its offerings include event planning , decor , linen rental , lighting , ceiling installation , and Fleurtation , the floral design segment of the business .
“ We offer the most seasonally available and affordable blooms for every client ,” Mariah explains . “ We hand choose the flowers to ensure our designs will color coordinate perfectly and provide the wow factor our clients love about our work .”
In Mariah ’ s experience , the key to a flawless , personalized wedding or special event lies in hiring true professionals and trusting them to do what they love . “ Our business is built on our reputation and word of mouth ,” she says .“ Our work speaks for itself . As a team we go for nothing less than a five-star review . We are always evaluating .”
And at the heart of every event Mariah and her team orchestrate , is their own heart . Along with weddings , Northland Special Events promotes the causes of non-profits through its Non-Profit Partnership Program , using its talents , resources and expertise to inspire donors to give more through creating a memorable and unique event experience .
“ We use innovative designs and creative solutions to enhance fundraising events with minimal out-of-pocket costs for the organization ,” Mariah explains .
For every dollar an organization allocates towards Northland Special Events ’ services , the business matches it with a donation of goods and services .
“ This offering allows a significant increase in options available to enhance the event ,” she says “ Together we partner to raise funds for critical organizations in our community and that feels good .”
Visit the Northland Special Events team at their showroom and floral studio , The Vault , located at 314 W . Superior St ., Suite . 50 , in the historic Torrey Building in Duluth . For more information , visit northlandspecialevents . com or call ( 218 ) 499-9449 .
28