SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- Dawn Hendon knows a thing or two when it comes to the big day for couples, she was a wedding planner then became an officiant over the past 10 years.
"It's a happy business, I like to be around people for joyous occasions and weddings are always a happy event so I thought this is a happy thing, and today we need all the joy we can find," Hendon said.
Recently, she's added a backyard chapel at her San Marcos home to her list of services. "I even have shoes, accessories, floral head pieces, boutonnieres for guys and tuxedos for men."
Love Wedding Chapelis what she calls it and she was able to pull it off thanks to help with a grant from the San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce. At a time she said when people are supporting more black owned businesses amid the fight for racial injustice, "I’m glad people are looking to support black owned businesses. Sometimes we have a lot more challenges, our population isn’t so big in San Diego."
And in the middle of a global pandemic, Hendon said, "I’ve lost family members with COVID this year and I thought finding our joy is important so it brings me joy, and I hope to bring joy to others."
She said there was no better time than now to create the business of her dreams, "I thought if we could bring a little bit of that dream to them and bring them a nice environment then it’d make their day a little special."
She received her Masters in Business Administration last year and said everything she's learned and accomplished has helped make this business happen.
"Resilience, following through and executive management. I use all my skill sets, it all comes in handy. I even sew, I even used to sew in undergrad so it all comes in handy."
Couples are allowed up to 8 guests, all social distanced and Hendon said you can do it all from her backyard under $500.
