The Journey of a Rebrand

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Feb 25, 2020

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How I knew my business needed a refresh & how I elevated my brand to the next level

Hi Friends!

When thinking about my first few blog posts, I thought: what could be more fitting than to start this journal by talking about my rebranding experience that got me here in the first place?

I owe so much to the incredible team of pros that held my hand and got me through what can seem like a daunting process. Stripping back your business to the bare bones and looking at every single aspect of it is no small task, and I’m here to tell you that it can be intimidating! Surrounding myself with such positive and creative individuals really gave me the confidence I needed to see this rebrand through to the finish line.

When I realized I needed a brand refresh

So let ’s go back a year to last February! My second baby made his debut into the world and our family dynamic was changed forever. I was still working part-time at The Martin Agency, but having my son made my husband and I take a step back and figure out what was best for our family. I also still had my company, Jamie Lynn Signature Weddings, which I founded in March 2014, but I hadn’t worked on a wedding since summer 2018 due to being pregnant.

By April, we had decided that it would be best for me to stay home since my husband’s career requires weekly travel. I was so excited, and equally as nervous, for this new journey. By mid-summer I found myself craving a creative outlet outside of home life. I missed my interactions with co-workers and hadn’t worked on a wedding in almost a year. After a lot of front porch sitting and thinking, I felt called to invest in my wedding business again. 

A new beginning

Having this little company of mine over the last 6+ years has been a blessing. It has allowed me to live my passion, but on my own terms. I set the schedule, make the rules, and determine what I want my service to look and feel like. Such a dream right?! There were years that I cranked out over a dozen weddings while working a full-time corporate job, and years I didn’t take on any at all. The beauty was that it was completely up to me. With each new season of life, I tried giving myself grace to adjust my lifestyle accordingly.

When I decided that I wanted to jump back in with both feet, my business was there for me. BUT, I quickly realized that my time was more precious than ever with two small kids. I had a nagging feeling that something needed to change. Then, out of the blue, I saw Olivera Floral Design (then The Proper Petal) post about their upcoming rebrand launch. As I read about their journey and followed the excitement around their launch, I finally felt like things were falling into place for me.

It became clear that this is exactly what I needed for my own business. I needed a brand design that portrays the established company I’ve created and where I aspire to go. I realized that I not only needed a new logo and general aesthetic, but that it was going to be crucial to elevate every facet of my brand in order to attract a new category of clientele.

Elevating my brand

That’s when I found Jordan Cotton! She was the creative genius behind Olivera’s new brand. It didn’t take me long to realize that I wanted to work with her too! I loved how young and professional she was, her approach to the creative process, and her openness to my hopes and dreams for my business.

We officially started the rebrand journey together in mid-September. Jordan took several weeks to get to know me and my vision for Jamie Lynn Signature Weddings prior to doing a strategy brief and competition analysis. This was incredibly helpful for me! It forced me to erase from my mind where my business had been and solely focus on where I want it to go. I looked at everything with a new perspective and with a fresh pair of eyes. From my service offerings and pricing, to my target clientele and what I want my brand to represent, nothing was left untouched. It was such a therapeutic experience.

One of the most exciting parts of the rebrand process for me was playing with mood boards that Jordan created. During that phase, we explored images that would portray the vibe and message I am trying to convey to my audience. The mood board above was my final selection and the basis for my new logos and overall brand aesthetic!

Website Revival

As we worked our way through the nitty gritty of the rebrand, I also decided with 100% certainty that I needed to start up my website again to reach my target audience. I wanted a place to show my portfolio and give potential clients an instant glimpse into who I am and what my brand represents. With that, I hired Sam Tucker of Refresh Site Design, thanks to the recommendation of Jordan. Talk about another blessing! For anyone looking for a website designer with the ShowIt platform, Sam is your guy. He is one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet, and I loved that he and his wife run a photography business, The Tuckers. Sam is familiar with the wedding industry and how important beautiful imagery will be to my site design. Sam was so patient with me as we gathered inspiration, laid out the site, and made edit after edit! 

With the launch of the new brand and now that the site is active, I am definitely breathing a little easier. I’m so proud of the hard work so many put into making this a reality, and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to continue growing this little business of mine.

I absolutely love what I do, and I hope that’s obvious as soon as you go to my website, get an email from me, or check out my Instagram feed. My goals are big and I have a lot I want to accomplish, but faith, family and hospitality will always be at my core. 

Thank you for being on this ride with me and for your support!

Much Love,

Jamie

Explore Featured Weddings

September Wedding at the Branch Museum

View Gallery

VMFA Wedding in Richmond, VA

View Gallery

Richmond Wedding at the Mill at Fine Creek

View Gallery