Master-certified wedding planner, Brianne Ackerland, is the owner of Stress-Free Weddings, Inc. in Eastern Iowa. “My goal is to help assist couples navigate the wedding-planning process so that they can be confident in their choices and know on their wedding day that they can sit back and relax with their family and friends.” Learn about Brianne Ackerland…
Hometown: Currently located in Davenport. My hometown was Burlington until the late 90’s.
First job: My very first job was delivering the Des Moines Register newspaper.
Favorite ways to spend your free time in IA: My favorite thing to do in my free time is drink a coffee and read. As a mom and business owner, that doesn’t happen very often. My family and I enjoy being outdoors. Boating and camping in the summer here in the Quad Cities or up in the Iowa City area at Sugar Bottom. Skiing in the winter up in Dubuque.
Your biggest accomplishment and why: I would say my biggest accomplishment professionally would be being recognized by the Certified Wedding Planning Society as the “Most Helpful Wedding Planner” in 2021. Being selected from thousands of other wedding planners from across the country was truly an honor.
The biggest obstacle you overcame: The biggest obstacle I overcame happened in 2021. Last June, I was at the pool with my 10-year-old daughter and had a Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Less then 10 percent of people survive if experienced outside the hospital. It truly turned my life upside down. Being alive and getting to continue life as normal as possible is truly amazing.
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Anyone that is interested in becoming a wedding planner, I highly recommend investing in a planner education course. The wedding industry doesn’t really have any regulations as to who is a professional and who offers services as a hobby. So you can set yourself apart and raise the standard by pursing a certification.
Favorite quote: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” –Eleanor Roosevelt
Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: I worked at the local talk radio station in Burlington, KCPS. I learned how to run the booth and record commercials. It was my first job right out of high school and that was pretty cool for an 18-year-old kid.
What makes someone fabulous: What makes someone fabulous to me is generosity of spirit. If you go out of your way to help others expecting nothing in return, that makes you amazing in my book.