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Gia nodded. “We’re a luxury for some, but a necessity for others. We need to appeal to any and all brides who are looking for assistance on their wedding day. Do we need to hire a marketing specialist, or is this something we can handle on our own?” Gia asked.
“We could brainstorm some ideas, and if we’re stuck, then maybe we should consult someone else,” I suggested.
“Let’s list what we’ve already tried.”
I pulled out my pad of paper, preferring to write with a pen when we were making lists or brainstorming. “We’ve run ads online and in the local paper, we’ve booked tables at local bridal fairs, and we’ve advertised in bridal gown stores. We have a visible storefront on Main Street. Frankly, it’s a lot.” I was at a loss for what we could do that we hadn’t already.
“Are there any fundraisers or auctions going on? Maybe we could raffle a free wedding package,” Gia said, her eyes bright with interest.
“We’d be giving away a service for free,” I pointed out, and her shoulders slumped.
“I don’t usually like to do that. Our time and work are worthy of compensation, but I’m not sure what else there is.”
“Let’s ruminate on it for a few days. See if we get some inspiration.” I’d hate to tell Gia that our only option was to work for free. We weren’t even sure a raffle would drum up more clients. There was also the possibility that we’d saturated the market. That there weren’t any more customers out there who hadn’t heard of us. If so, the only option would be to trim some of the employees or expand further. The second was a risk, and I was hesitant to suggest it.
Gia nodded. “My best ideas usually come to me when I have some time to think about it.”
“You didn’t get any inspiration when you attended Chris and Naomi’s wedding at the Chesapeake Resort?”
Gia’s lips twitched. “Not unless one of us has the money to purchase a luxury resort on the bay with multiple pools and five-star restaurants.”
I laughed. “What he offers is so different from us that he’s not exactly competition.”
“If a couple wants a destination wedding, then we can’t compete.”
Something about what she said clicked in my brain. “But isn’t Annapolis considered a tourist destination because of its rich history and architecture? Why couldn’t it be the same for weddings? We’ve been advertising locally, but what if we expanded our marketing campaign and drew people in with the idea of a destination wedding? It’s a desirable location for many. I mean, who doesn’t love a historic harbor town?”
Gia stood and started pacing behind her desk, her excited energy coming off her in waves. “I love it. We’d be latching on to Silas’s marketing plan but with a twist.” She paused and then looked at me. “He’d be so mad if he found out about our plan.”
“But you’re not copying him. This is something we could and probably should have been doing all along. We could cater to a much larger population if we can convince out-of-state couples that this is their ideal location for a wedding.”
“And they’ll need more help because they’re not from the area. They won’t already have a baker or a photographer in mind.”
“They’ll need our recommendations and guidance. We might not have a resort, but we can point them to the right reception location and bring everything else to them.”
Gia paused and gestured with her hands. “I can see it now.Have you always wanted a destination wedding, but you weren’t sure of the perfect location for your big day?”
“Come to Annapolis,” I said with a smile. “We have the Chesapeake Bay as the backdrop and a gorgeous historic town.We can also feature local food specialties, like crab and seafood, and use images of the water.”
“It’s perfect. I can’t believe we hadn’t considered this before. This could be huge for us,” Gia said as she resumed her pacing.
“Do you want to run some ads online to test it?”
Gia’s eyes widened. “What if we bring in too many clients, and we can’t handle them all? Or what if they do a search and find Silas’s resort? We’d be helping him.”
I held up my hand to stop her rant. “Now you’re going down a negative spiral. You can’t think of all the negative possibilities.”
“Thanks for catching that. I hate when I start doubting myself.” Gia prided herself on being confident and decisive. She charged what she was worth and provided quality service.
“Everyone needs a reminder now and then.” I couldn’t help but think I’d been doubting myself lately too. What if I just needed to believe in myself?
Gia sat at her desk and toggled on her computer screen. “Let’s work on the campaign, talk budget, and get moving on this. I don’t want to wait.”
That’s what I loved about Gia. When she got an idea, she quickly assessed it and then went for it. I admired her. I wished I was fearless. Maybe if I was, I would already have made a move on Leo. The thought sent tingles down my spine.
Instead, I kept my thoughts and desires hidden, too afraid to tell Leo how I felt. How I’d always felt. This childhood crush had morphed into something far bigger than I anticipated. I liked him, and I had no idea what to do about it. Not when I was so entangled with the Giovannis that I’d never unravel myself.
“What do you think?” Gia asked as she tilted her screen so I could see the campaign.
