Today we’d like to introduce you to Madison Botkin.
Hi Madison, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In May 2020, I graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Sciences and a certificate in Special Event Management. I spent a great portion of my degree preparing for a career in special events but never anticipated where that degree and my experience would take me. I lived with 3 of my best friends in college.
In our final year at A&M, all three of them were engaged to the men of their dreams, and as their wedding planning journeys began, I found that in turn (by default, I suppose) my wedding planning journey began alongside them.
This was where my first glimpse of wedding planning came and where I really began to fall in love with it. After working for a wedding and events florist in college, I knew I loved the beauty of weddings, however, in 2020 I really fell in love with all of it – the experience, the Gospel on display week after week, the stunning florals, and the cake (I mean. who doesn’t love wedding cake?). I was approached by a good friend of mine in the fall of 2020 and was asked if I would coordinate her wedding, I anxiously but joyfully responded with a yes!
In August 2020, I committed to the beginning of Botkin Creative. In March of 2021, I coordinated my first wedding and coordinated 10 more later that year. This year is what kicked off one of the most exciting and special years to date. Planning weddings in the middle of a global pandemic was not for the faint of heart, yet was so special as I watched friends and family gather in celebration!
In the past two years, I have grown individually and professionally. In owning Botkin Creative, I have experienced the highs and lows that come with being a small business owner, have expanded my portfolio, and have had oh so much fun! Coordinating weddings has been a dream and something that has never felt like work. It is such a joy to celebrate the marriage of clients that feel more like friends and work alongside some of the best wedding professionals in the industry!
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?
Starting a small business at the age of 22 certainly had some challenges. My first year was filled with a lot of behind-the-scenes research, trial and error, and so many questions. I also began this business at the end of the pandemic.
This really shook up the wedding industry – altering the size of weddings, canceling hundreds of events each weekend, and pushing wedding dates 1 – 2 years in the future.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Botkin Creative is an events company specializing in wedding planning and coordination. When hired as a wedding coordinator, I work very closely with couples and their families to ensure all wedding details are taken care of. I focus largely on the logistics and behind-the-scenes details during the months leading up to the wedding.
I’m hired as a wedding planner, I work with couples to create and plan the wedding day of their dreams – I help select vendors, create wedding designs, and solidify all the details in between. I like to focus largely on my relationships with my clients. I feel when I know my clients as people first I really can work with them to create a wedding that reflects them and their personalities.
In every wedding I work – be it planning or coordination – I love to make sure my clients know I am on their team, a resource to them, and so excited to celebrate with them on their wedding day.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.botkincreative.com
- Instagram: @botkincreative
- Facebook: facebook.com/botkincreative
- Pinterest: @Botkin Creative
Image Credits
Cori Brooke Young Photography, Phillip Winham Photo, Paige Nunley Photo, Alison Faith Photography, Amanda Lane Photography, and Ellen Renee Photos
