We at Element Design Co are passionate about women owned businesses. You may have read our own story of being founded by the tenacious Amy Kovacs, a woman who knew that she could create something that would allow memories to last a lifetime.

Amy, like other women who own businesses, balances her passion and drive with her clear ideas of how to move forward, and has built a team of other creative and innovative women (along with a few gentlemen!) to support the vision of providing floral preservation to all brides, families, and sentimentalists who would like to hold onto their happy memories a little longer through pressed flower artwork and functional resin pieces. 

We want to take a moment to shout out just a few of our wonderful partner vendors. What we have at Element Design Co would not have been possible without the support and lessons of other strong female entrepreneurs. We are proud to partner with local businesses run by women in our community. We have had the opportunity and honor to work with these small businesses and we love them all. To celebrate Women’s History Month, we spoke to four of the women we have built partnerships with. 

Partner Vendors We Love 

Amanda: Steadfast Florals

Amanda has provided brides with beautiful bouquets for several seasons, many of which we have had the opportunity to preserve. 

Julia: Julia Kay Designs

Julia Kay, who runs Julia Kay Designs, a small business focused on gorgeous stationary and invitation suites. 

Maria: the Hip Event

Wedding planner and coordinator Maria, from the Hip Event, who makes bridal dreams come true. 

Rachel: Easton Candle Co

Rachel of Easton Candle Co, who crafts delicious smelling candles, even creating custom scents for brides and grooms.

All of these incredible women have much to say on what it’s like to own a business as a woman, gave us some wedding day tips for couples, and shared their visions for the future. 

Being A Woman Business Owner 

Anyone who owns a business will tell you that it takes an immense amount of hard work, tenacity, and a vision. For women with an entrepreneurial spirit, there can be challenges that are not as present or pronounced for their male counterparts. Juggling family responsibilities, maintaining confidence in the face of those who take you less seriously, and staying motivated through it all are just a few things women in male dominated fields face, and business ownership is a place where women have been able to truly shine despite the odds. Women are, as of 2024, the owners of 38% of the country’s small businesses and employ over 10.1 million people. Some of our partner vendors are one woman shows and others have teams, but all of them have made opportunities for others in their communities.

Our partner vendors have all created companies that have been successful because of the care they take in curating experiences for their clients. Julia Kay talked about how she changed the business to allow her even greater opportunities. She says, “Julia Kay Design began in 2018 as a handwritten wedding sign business. It wasn't until 2020 that I transitioned to wedding invitations and I haven't looked back! Julia Kay Design has grown tremendously over the last 4 years and has allowed me to work with couples from all over the WORLD!” It just goes to show, sometimes a pivot is just what a business needs to succeed!

Being an entrepreneur and owning a business as a woman also brings about a great sense of community. Rachel, whose candle company is a local staple here in Easton, PA, talks about the necessity of community in business ownership. “Aside from the creativity, planning, and numbers, one thing I love most about owning a business is the community that comes with it! There's a community within the customer base, the community of downtown Easton and its events, and the community of other small businesses. It's comforting to know that people are there, even if you work alone!” 

Wedding Tips and Tricks from the Pros

Being in a wedding focussed industry, we have picked up a lot of tips and tricks from our years of experience. One we love sharing with our clients— take a moment with just yourself and your new spouse! Truly drink in the moment, and smell the roses (then preserve them!). Many of our partner vendors are also well versed in all things wedding related, and have shared some of their best pieces of wedding day wisdom. 

Amanda wants brides to know that their vendors are truly there for them, and to place your trust in the people you chose to work with. “The venue and vendors you hired are professionals and work extremely hard to make sure you have your dream wedding. Put your trust in them.” She also agrees with our advice, telling brides to “Enjoy every minute, take it all in, and embrace the moment when you are united together forever. It will be the best day!” 

Julia wants to make sure you are honed in on your timing. “I recommend that wedding invitations are ordered at least 4 months prior to the wedding date, however, the earlier you can order the better!” Which we completely agree with! Wedding planning can be hectic, and it’s best to lock in what you can as soon as possible! She also let us in on a little secret- “When working with Julia Kay Design, you can Order Now --> Design Later! This means you can place your wedding invitation order but can hold off on starting on the design until you have all of your details finalized. It's a great way to conveniently and easily cross something off of your wedding to-do list! I also recommend bundling save the dates + invitations together to save money! I offer 5% when you bundle your order with save the dates and invites!” Wow! We love a vendor who is there to help out their clients! 

Rachel, who is not as in the wedding industry, loves the ways couples get creative. “Whether it's incorporating a special drink, candid photos, or wedding favors of their favorite things to take home... Those elements are what make a wedding so special. I offer custom favor candles that are personalized with your names, wedding date, and favorite scent. It's a perfect way for the couple and guests to reminisce on your wedding day each time you light it!” We know how amazing her candles smell, so we hope you take her up on providing custom scents! 

Bright Futures for Women in Business

One thing is certain, and that is that these founders and CEOs know how to navigate changes. As bridal trends shift and new styles and traditions emerge, the women we work with will find new and innovative ways to move forward. 

Maria, whose company The Hip Event, is here to help any and all of her clients with whatever they may need for their big day. “I would love the opportunity to work with clients who are looking to bring their vision to life. Whether they need a little help or a lot we would love the chance to meet with them!” We have so loved getting to know and work with Maria, and she has a pretty sweet offer for clients– “Meeting Element Design Co has been one of our highlights this year and when you book with us we will personally take your bouquet the night of your wedding and ship it to Element Preservation complimentary for preservation.” 

Julia will be offering even more options soon, and let us know to keep an eye on her! “I'll have 2 big launches of new wedding invitation designs throughout 2025, however the launch dates aren't finalized yet! I'm excited to bring new and fresh invitations and save the date designs to my semi-custom invitation shop! These designs will be full of color, intricate details, and fun shapes! You can stay up-to-date on these launches by following along on Instagram @juliakaydesign!”

Rachel wants to make sure you check out her spring scents! “The spring collection is here! The collection is bright and earthy - reminiscent of this time of year when the snow melts away and the buds start to bloom. Another exciting update is that we now offer room sprays! Flameless home fragrance is growing in popularity, and the room sprays are perfect when you need to freshen up a room, linens, or use as a body spray.” We are certainly excited to get our hands on some of these new items! 

We’ll get to see Amanda soon ourselves! We asked what she’s most excited about, and she said, “We have a flower workshop coming up with our friends at Crafty Lemon on March 30 being held at Element Design Co. This will be a hands-on workshop where I will be demonstrating how to design a centerpiece. Everyone who attends can learn, create, and take home their very own springy flower centerpiece while enjoying tea and pastries.”

If you’ve loved getting to know these ladies, check out their work! Each of their websites are linked below. When choosing your vendors, consider working with one of these women owned and operated businesses and help support their dreams as they help to create the wedding of yours. And, of course, be sure to keep Amanda’s flowers and Julia’s invitations for years to come by including them in your preservation pieces! 

Steadfast Florals | Julia Kay Design | The Hip Event | Easton Candle Co

Written By: Phaedra, an Element Designer