The Quest for the Perfect Venue: When Dreams Outpace the Budget

Finding the perfect venue is a lot like trying to find the perfect pair of jeans—it has to fit just right, make you feel amazing, and not cost an arm and a leg. But if you’ve ever been in the trenches of venue hunting(especially for New York Fashion Week), you know it’s no small feat. From astronomical prices to limited availability, the process can feel like an emotional rollercoaster with a broken seatbelt.

But hey, as Beyoncé so wisely said in “Break My Soul,”

“You won’t break my soul / I’m telling everybody.”

And that includes the snooty venue managers who don’t understand why you can’t fork over your life savings for one night, bless their hearts, I just can’t (enter both hands up emoji here 🤷🏻‍♀️).

The Struggle is Real

Picture this: You walk into a space that’s absolutely perfect. The light hits just right, the vibe is on point, and you can already envision your event unfolding like a dream. Then, the manager casually drops the price, and it’s…your yearly salary. Cool, cool, cool. You walk out smiling, trying not to cry, and whisper to yourself, “We’re going to make this work. Somehow.” Then continue to hype yourself up with. “You didn’t come this far JUST TO COME THIS FAR!!”

The truth is, having a dream doesn’t mean having unlimited funds. It’s the constant tug-of-war between what you want and what you can afford or in some cases leverage. Add in the pressure of wanting to create something unforgettable, and it’s enough to make you consider hosting the whole thing in your backyard, or borrowing someone’s Manhattan Penthouse for an evening (know anyone!? Send them my way…wink wink, also being for real)

Staying Grounded When You’re Running on Fumes

When the odds feel stacked, it’s easy to spiral into frustration or self-doubt. But remember: even the most successful people started somewhere. Oprah wasn’t born Oprah. Walt Disney was once told he “lacked creativity.” And ME!? I’m in the trenches now, but that’s what makes the win so much sweeter… when I get there.

As Henry David Thoreau once said, “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” Every venue rejection, every budget breakdown, and every plan B is making me stronger, scrappier, and more determined than ever!!!!

A Little Creativity Goes a Long Way

Here’s the thing I am learning: your vision isn’t about the space itself—it’s about the energy you bring to it. And man oh man do my people bring the energy!! Jenny Heins is not only the Music and Entertainment host of the American Dream Tv, but a designer that has no limits, Kasey Bass swimwear outshines the sun, each piece crafted with a lot of sass 😜 My model friends Aspen Brown, Kasey Bass, Francesca Cable, Makenzee Ivy… I could go on and on… but what I am basically saying is maybe it’s not the bougie venue I pinned on Pinterest, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be perfectly me. I am starting to think outside the box. Local parks, community centers, quirky loft spaces—they might not scream “Instagram-worthy” at first, but with a little creativity (and some well-placed string lights), they can be everything i need and maybe something I don’t know I needed but the universe put it on my path..

Lean into the charm of what you can do, instead of focusing on what you can’t. And remember: people won’t remember the space itself—they’ll remember how they felt being part of what you created.

Keep Your Head Up, Dreamer

Just a little note to myself and other dreamers out there:

If you’re feeling discouraged, take a deep breath and blast a little Lizzo:

“It’s about damn time / Turn up the music, let’s celebrate.”

Celebrate the fact that you’re still standing. Celebrate the fact that you’re making it work, even when it feels impossible. The perfect venue isn’t the key to your success—you are.

So keep dreaming, keep searching, and keep believing. Your moment is coming, and when it does, it’s going to be everything you hoped for (and then some). And when you finally pull it off, I hope you give yourself the biggest high-five ever—because you’ll deserve it.

Until Then…

When the going gets tough, let this be your mantra: “I’ve got this.” Because you do. And when all else fails, fill up your “BIG KID” cup, cue up your favorite playlist, and remember: the struggle is temporary, but the dream is forever.

I believe in you.