An Inspired Chat with Emma Henry of East Phoenix

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Emma Henry. Check out our conversation below.

Good morning Emma, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
Everyday life can seem like its filled with chaos, bad news and a never-ending new cycle that is focused on doom and gloom. What sparks joy in my career as a wedding officiant is that I get to be up close to the stories of real, true life, stuff-of-romance-novels, love. The type of partnership and caring that makes you believe there really is someone out there for everyone. What I am quietly building is a community of people – mostly millennials – who value love and telling THEIR story. A community that is creating a new standard for what marriage looks like – in the most authentic and deeply romantic way we know how. I am so proud to work with couples to create ceremonies that feel the way they want them to feel – not how society or tradition dictate they should.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Emma. I became a wedding officiant about 6 years ago to be what was needed in my community – someone who valued all couples from all different backgrounds who celebrates the time honored tradition of marriage through a non-denominational lens. As a member of LGBTQ+ community, I wanted to see my community represented and celebrated in the wedding industry here in Arizona. I also wanted a way to share my love for celebrating love with ALL couples. I am what you would characterize as a hopeless romantic, but working with the dozens of couples I get to marry each year has restored my faith in romance. It’s out there! And the story that brings two people together to tie the knot deserves to be told in an authentic, won’t-bore-your-guests kind of way. That’s where I come in – to tell your love story through genuine artistry and storytelling that is more than just reciting a wedding ceremony. I pride myself on creating an experience that is memorable, profound and rooted in creatively to ensure your big day is as beautiful as you dreamed it would be!

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before I embraced the creative side of me that wanted to get in to the wedding industry, I was on track to be a professional in higher education without any fun hobbies. I of course have things I enjoy outside of my work, but I never saw myself as someone who could become a wedding officiant – and enjoy it. Let’s be honest, weddings can be boring. They can be unoriginal, lack creatively and be heavily steeped in tradition that isn’t significant for the couple or their marriage. That’s not to say ALL weddings are this way, but I know a lot of my peers had that experience. I also never say myself as a business owner or someone who could be entrusted by other to facilitate the biggest moment in their life, but, my friends believed in me. Their encouragement and support meant the world and it helped me to shift my energy and focus into what I could be. That’s when I realized – you can do both. You can be BOTH. You can be successful in your corporate job and enjoy it AND be a business owner. In my case, it meant I could pursue this big weird idea of being a millennial wedding officiant and also still keep my 9-5 that fills my cup. I love it here and I’m glad I took a chance on giving myself my own happily ever after!

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Owning a small business is not easy. During the pandemic, I struggled to maintain my passion for being a wedding officiant and business owner because there was SO much on my plate. I felt like I was struggling to get clients and that I couldn’t find my people. It was because ALL of us were struggling – to get through the day, to have wedding plans canceled and seeing so many loved ones struggle with the reality of what living through a global pandemic looks like. It was a time where I felt really discouraged and struggled to see the light at the end of the tunnel for my business. I almost gave up. But then, a couple reached out, wanting to have a private, intimate backyard ceremony because they had to postpone their big wedding due to the pandemic. I quickly said yes, we all tested negative and it was a “go”! That ceremony reinvigorated my passion. Seeing those two people commit their lives to one another, despite the chaos of the world at that time, was inspirational. Hearing compliments of their family members on how touching and thoughtfully romantic the ceremony was acknowledged the feeling in me of wanting to know I was meant to do this. The deal was sealed after that and despite the ups and downs of small business ownership, I am glad I stuck it out.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Helping others – I know that sounds like a cliche but my friends would tell you that if you need help with something – call Emma. I love to see the joy in others when I have been able to steer them in the right direction, help them reach a goal or comforted them through a difficult moment. Its rare these days to be kind to others, especially strangers, and I try to live by the values I was taught by my parents and grandparents. Be kind, remember humility and always uplift others.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
As a fifth generation Arizonan, the most peaceful moments for me are right after it has rained here in the valley. Those moments, whether early morning or late afternoon when the sun is just peaking through the clouds, the sidewalks are damp from the downpour and the skies are filled with a quiet, distant rumble. Those moments are filled with a calm peace that only come around every so often when it rains. Its one of those beautifully ordinary moments where you have to stop, take a deep breath and notice the stunning beauty of the desert.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.happilyeveraz.com
• Instagram: @happilyeverarizona

Image Credits
All image credits: Suzy Goodrick Photography – suzygoodrick.com