The week we had the honor of interviewing the very talented and very creative entrepreneur, Amy Squires, founder of Wedding Chicks. Follow her story in our Finding Passion Interview Series.
- You have followed your passion and turned it into the beloved Wedding Chicks Blog. If you could pick one event that led to creating your brand, what would that be?
- What did you dream of being when you “grew up”?
- Do you have any hobbies that help bring balance to your life?
- As an entrepreneur, we all face challenges. Do you have a mantra or words of inspiration that help you through challenges?
- Whether its coffee, sunshine, or the instagram fans waiting for one more beautiful wedding photo – what makes you happy to wake up in the morning?
- Do you create a vision board? Share a little insight on your board: do you update it and visit it often? What are some of your favorites on your board?
- Always improving, learning, growing, do you have any new obsessions or learning goals in the year to come?
- We’d love to hear some of your back story, did you dream of running a business or did it evolve over time?
- Revisiting your childhood, what did you love to do?
- Was there a defining moment where you decided to follow what you love?
- Do you have people in your industry or out of it that have inspired your path?
The brand was born upon meeting Jocey (my bestie McBesterson) and becoming such close friends. We had similar interests, childhoods, backgrounds and creative skills.
Amy and Jocey, courtesy of The Maternal Lens
We have fun together, we laugh we cry and we always end up in some unimaginable debacle that has one or both of us hyperventilating. The partnership between the two of us is what drove the success of our brand, the pink beast as we lovingly refer. We allow the other to explore ideas and never stifle the other’s creativity or ideas.
I wanted to be in advertising, I knew in high school that was what interested me and allowed me to express myself creatively. I had an encounter with someone on an airplane the summer after my senior year in high school and he told me, “Forget it, you’ll never make and money.” And I did. I gave up on my dream based on one guy on an airplane. I changed all of my plans on the words of a stranger. I still wonder why and I am so disappointed in that 17-year-old-me.
I have many, many ever changing hobbies. I love to shoot photos – food specifically, I equally love to eat food, I’m a fair weather runner/hiker and I love to travel. There are so many important people in my life (like my kids, sister, friends, and others that I claim as kids) and I like to make one-on-one time for each of them. I am at peace on the water and I love to read. I mostly love to laugh until I cry, it’s likely my favorite emotion.
If no one dies from it, it really does not matter. I cannot tell you how many times I have repeated this statement to myself. It has gotten me though a lot of tough times.
I can’t wait to wake up each morning! No kidding. I’m THE most annoying morning person alive. Just ask my kids. I am ecstatic to make my coffee and run around the house in my son’s fuzzy slippers that are 5 sizes too big. I adore the sunrise and the morning light and starting the day early.
I actually visualize mentally rather than create a concrete board. It’s something I’ve done since I was a kid.
My obsessions come and go, but I am always striving to perfect my cheese plate. I am seriously SO close. I am working hard to get our of my comfort zone and try new things. I went snorkeling with Leopard sharks recently so I would say I’m succeeding at getting out of my comfort zone.
I’ve been an entrepreneur since the beginning of time. It was ingrained in me at a very young age from my grandfather who pushed me to educate myself, be independent and successful. I’ve been creating businesses as long as I can remember. I think I would be fired in a hot minute if I worked for someone.
I spent a lot of time as a child with my grandparents, pretty much every weekend. My favorite thing was a Saturday night with them. We would spend the day together cooking, drawing or painting and in the evening we’d watch The Love Boat, then my grandpa would make nachos and we would eat them on the floor off or a baking sheet and drink hot chocolate.
The Love Boat
We were allowed to stay up to watch Fantasy Island then it was bedtime, but I’d listen and drift off to sleep as my grandpa watched MASH and Black Sheep Squadron. Those memories with my grandparents are my most vivid.
I had a baby during college. I had three jobs, a car without brakes and I couldn’t afford a burrito. I was slinging jello shots, shuffling paper at a printshop and teaching preschool. That period in my life drove me to get my degree and do better.
My grandpa, he was a self-made success. I wanted to be like him.
Amy, thank you for sharing your story, goals, and aspirations! We’re a sucker for Wedding Chicks, and hearing your story inspires passion within us.
Do you have something you’re passionate about? Email Erin, and you could be featured in our next interview series.
