Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Hartman.
Shelby, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My start into the wedding industry kind of happened by accident. I’ve always been the one with a camera in my hand, so when a friend asked me to film their wedding while I was earning my film degree at the University of Memphis, it felt like a no-brainer. That first wedding led to a few more, and before I knew it, I was working as a second shooter and booking weddings of my own. By the time I graduated, I had enough work lined up to realize, “I guess I have a business now?” I jumped in headfirst and spent the next several years learning as I went, building a wedding videography business that I was (and still am) so proud of. After about seven years behind the camera, my husband and I started dreaming about what could come next. With support from my parents and a lot of planning sessions, we decided to take the leap into the venue side of the industry, and that’s how our journey into owning a wedding venue began.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Gosh no. I could probably write a book on the struggles! I don’t have a business degree, so everything about actually running a business has been a learning curve for me. I’ve always been more of a creative brain, so the behind-the-scenes tasks like bookkeeping, financials, systems management and taxes have been tough for me and still are some days. I’ve had to teach myself a lot along the way, and while it’s been incredibly rewarding, it’s also stretched me in ways I never expected. Another big challenge has been learning how to mentally clock out. As a business owner, you’re always “on” there’s no real leaving the office when your mind is constantly running through to-do lists, ideas, or what needs attention next. Finding ways to balance that, especially since becoming a mom, has been one of the hardest parts for me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We’re a wedding and event venue, proudly family owned and operated. We host everything from full weddings to intimate micro-weddings, as well as corporate gatherings and community events. We’re probably best known for genuinely caring and doing whatever we can to make the experience smoother for our clients. While we’re not planners, we do our best to keep things clear, flexible, and supportive behind the scenes. Our general manager, Nicki, brings so much heart and industry knowledge to what we do, and we’re lucky to have her on our team. We truly love what we do, and we feel honored any time someone chooses us to host such an important day.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
You can follow along on social media, visit our website to learn more, or reach out to schedule a tour. We’d love to hear from you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.orionhillevents.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orionhillevents/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orionhillevents
