One of the most common questions my Bloomers ask me is, “how can I create community in my local wedding industry?”

Kind of like a favorite black t-shirt, community can be something we don’t think about until we miss it. You might have heard the proverb: “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” So often, in the midst of growing our businesses, or surviving the busy season, or navigating new competition, we’re so focused on going quickly that by the time we notice that we miss a sense of camaraderie amongst our local vendors, we’re already burnt out and frustrated.

In an industry where we all know to tout the phrase “community over competition,” why is it still so dang hard to create real community with the people who live and work closest to us?

I’m going to keep it real here. The problem is probably you.

Yikes.