Conversations with Elizabeth Lang

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Lang.

Elizabeth, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I graduated from Iowa State University in 2014 with a degree in Child Development and a minor in both Leadership and General Business. I started my events career with a child-focused nonprofit hosting philanthropic events. After a few years in this role, I was ready for a new challenge and decided to pursue planning in the Kansas City wedding industry. Entering this new industry gave me the ability to get more creative in my planning role, be more hands-on with the logistics of each event and create lasting relationships with clients as they embark on an emotional yet rewarding journey. While being a wedding coordinator, I built connections with professionals through networking and learned of an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. A wedding venue that had been built, owned and operated by the same individual for 22 years was interested in selling their business. After eight months of learning about the business, developing our own business plan and negotiating, myself and three business partners closed the sale and became the new owners of Hawthorne House. Our ownership encompasses family members and, just over two years later, we couldn’t be happier with our decision to accept this challenge.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Entrepreneurship will always bring its challenges, but to me it’s learning through these challenges and not seeing them as roadblocks. Our initial struggle was managing relationships and contracts with couples who had already booked their wedding at Hawthorne House before we purchased the business. All contracts were transferred to our ownership and a few instances of spoken but not written promises arose throughout our first year in business. We tackled these with flexibility and understanding and used this experience to create our current simple and straightforward packages. Removing confusion has given us the opportunity to provide the same exceptional service for each and every couple that says I do on our grounds!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am the co-owner and operator of Hawthorne House, a top-rated wedding venue in the Kansas City area. We specialize in hosting elegant affairs and a top-notch guest experience. We are on 11 acres of private property, with 175 paved parking spaces and both indoor and outdoor ceremony options. Our reception hall is pillar-less meaning no guest view is blocked and we can bring each couple’s specific vision to life with a variety of table layouts. Our packages are designed to provide a couple with everything they NEED for a wedding day, alleviating stress and creating a flawless experience. We have a streamlined communication platform in which everything is hosted online. Couples can plan their Hawthorne House wedding from anywhere and have a pleasant planning experience. We are very proud of the reputation Hawthorne House has continued to have. It is quite rare to find a wedding venue that has been continuously operating for almost 25 years with only one ownership transfer and had award-winning years since 2007!

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I come from a family of entrepreneurs! I grew up only ever knowing my father working for himself. This provided with a unique outlook on what your future COULD look like. I saw both the peaks and valleys of what it looks like to have a business on your shoulders. There were weekends he had to go into the office and he was always at work before we woke up for school but my father never missed a soccer game, band concert or life milestone event. He provided a wonderful role model of what it looks like to provide for your family but pursue your passion. Although my father has since sold his business, his entrepreneurial spirit lives on through his children!

Contact Info:

• Email: info@thehawthornehouse.com
• Website: www.thehawthornehouse.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehawthornehouse/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehawthornehouse/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/thehawthornehouse/_created/

Image Credits
Lacey Rene Studios EpagaFoto Kymberly Janelle Photography Emma York Photo Bianca Beck Photography Elizabeth LaDean Photography