This entire week I’ve been trying to sit down and write about my time at Creative at Heart in Raleigh, North Carolina. Each time, I sit quietly gathering my thoughts, digging deep within myself to make sure to convey the correct words. But every time I’m flooded with emotions and sit silently, completely speechless. What words do you use to express how incredibly grateful you were to be surrounded by over 130 incredible creatives? How do you describe how each and every speaker spoke their truth so sincerely that it brought you to tears? How do you thank the amazing women who shared their stories and openly accepted you as a new friend? The honest answer, I’ll never find the “right” words to do justice to this experience. All I can do is pour out my feelings and cry big salty tears over my computer.

This is my second Creative at Heart Conference. I went to my first last year in Denver as an attendee. This year I nearly fell out of my chair when the beautiful Kat Schmoyer, the dreamer and visionary behind C@H, asked me to return as a Panelist! I was thrilled to come back, share my story, reconnect with old friends, and chat with all the new attendees. What I wasn’t expecting was hard I would fall for these amazing women. With each new person I met, I became infatuated with their story, each so unique. They reminded me how important it is to listen and to truly go out in the world and serve.

I think we get caught up in conferences and workshops, thinking how we can better ourselves. We like when the spotlight shines on us. We like posting on social media that we were here, bettering ourselves and our businesses. It’s so easy to get sucked into that mindset. But with each new speaker and meeting each new attendee, I was reminded how much it’s not about ME, it’s about them – the clients I serve. The couples who trusted me with their wedding day imagery, the families who asked me to document their moments, the creatives who confided in me to help their businesses. It’s about THEM and after this week, I will do a better job of remembering that.

I cannot say thank you enough to the speakers, sponsors, volunteers, panelists, break-out session leaders, and attendees who made C@H possible. I hope you know how much you mean to me and how truly important you all are.

Thanks to the speakers who shared their hearts and their stories so openly!

Kat Schmoyer // Katelyn James // Tiffany Tolliver // Shay Cochrane // Davey & Krista Jones // Hope Taylor // Myrna Daramy // Becky & Jesse Morquecho // Kelly & Andra // Shanna Skidmore // Ashlyn Carter // Megan Martin // Elle Danielle

Thanks to our breakout session leaders for sharing their talents with us!

Alex Estes // Randi Smith // Caroline Bigmann // Bonnie Bakhtiari // Lacoya Heggie // Shay & Graham Cochrane // Jessica Rasdall // Abby Grace // Kelly & Andra // Davey & Krista Jones // Stephanie Thacker // Ashley & Tyler Herrington

Thanks to all the amazing sponsors and friends!

Venue: Merrimon Wynne // Name Tags & Pop up Shop: Caitlin of Happy Tines // C@H Alumni T-Shirts: Jakprints // Ashlyn of Ashlyn Writes // Kinsey of She Creates Business, a Podcast for Wedding Pros // “How Brave Are You Willing To Be” Notebook – Rachel Allene // “Did We Just Become Best Friends” Greeting Card – Smitches // Furniture: Paisley & Jade // Photobooth: Emily of EmJo Studios // https://www.instagram.com/emilyjolettering/ // Two Bright Lights // Aisle Planner // Conference Videogapher: The Herrintons // Conference Photographer: Holly Felts

Creative at Heart would not have been possible without y’all!