Today we’d like to introduce you to Nora Sheils.
Hi Nora, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Portland, Oregon, surrounded by weddings long before I planned one. My mother was a skilled seamstress, running an alterations business out of our home, where I watched brides come and go. I was captivated early on! During my studies at Gonzaga University, I entered a business-plan competition with an idea for an elevated planning company. I won, and it provided me with my startup funds.
In 2002, Bridal Bliss was launched. Over the years, the planning firm expanded from a solo venture into one of the PNW’s leading wedding planning firms. We have a large team that serves clients in OR, WA, and around the world and earns accolades along the way.
After nearly two decades in the industry, my sister-in-law (a fellow planner) and I noticed a recurring frustration in the booking process with contracts, invoicing, etc. We designed a software platform to address the problem and revolutionize the way the wedding industry does business.
Today, I continue to lead Bridal Bliss while also helping grow Rock Paper Coin. I speak at industry events, appear as a wedding expert in media, and mentor other event pros.
In addition, I’m married (to a man I met at a wedding I had coordinated!), spend as much time as possible with my two active boys, and have recently taken up golf! Family and community is at the heart of everything I do and I’m so thankful for the incredible life I’m lucky enough to live.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Is it ever a smooth road? The only way to grow and get better is to tackle the bumps, and I have had many. From growing pains, to bad hires, managing investors, and everything in between, I have had my fair share of screw-ups!!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Bridal Bliss has built our reputation around three pillars:
-Curated, highly personalized events
-Meticulous execution and logistics
-Strong vendor relationships and collaboration
Rather than simply coordinating weddings, the company positions itself as a planning and design partner, creating events tailored to each couple’s personality and vision. Our emphasis is on making planning feel effortless while maintaining a high-touch client experience.
Rock Paper Coin, on the other hand, is known as a platform built by seasoned pros who understand the industry. it is truly why our software works so well! We are a CRM focusing on leads and inquiries, contracts, electronic signatures, invoicing, payment processing, automated reminders, and workflows. What was once complicated and tedious is simplified within Rock Paper Coin. We are most proud of our top-notch customer service and ability to change the lives of wedding pros by saving them time and money.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The wedding industry has changed so much in the last few years. COVID obliterated our ecosystem, and it is still building back up. Weddings have changed, couples have changed, and pros have changed. All that being said, the biggest trend is personalization and authenticity over tradition. Couples today want to celebrate with their nearest and dearest and write their own rules. The guest experience is at the forefront, and that is a welcome change I see continuing on.
In 5-10 years, AI will become standard infrastructure. While it won’t replace wedding planners, it will handle much of the back-end administrative work.
There is so much information at couples’ fingertips as they get married today that vendor trust will become a competitive advantage. Couples expect a process rooted in technology, with a human, personalized experience. A pretty Instagram grid will not be enough!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rockpapercoin.com, www.bridalbliss.com
- Instagram: @rockpapercoin @bridalblissnw
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nora-sheils-0460472/
