Sisters Leore and Karen Oren, co-founders of The Ceremony Club. (Credit: Courtesy of The Ceremony Club)
These Sisters Bring a Fresh Aesthetic to Wedding Stationery Staples
Leore and Karen Oren are infusing wedding necessities with a modern Millennial flair through their joint venture, The Ceremony Club.
Los Angeles-based sisters Karen and Leore Oren were working in graphic design and marketing before they launched their business, The Ceremony Club. Through their previous work, they had noticed a gap in the wedding market – stationery must-haves like photo albums were often visually traditional, an aesthetic that wasn’t resonating with their Millennial friends who were getting hitched. The Oren sisters decided to fill this gap by launching their own fresh takes on the little details of clients’ big days. Today, the sister co-founders are growing their line of products with their small-but-mighty team, and continuing to bring a modern touch to traditional wedding keepsakes.
Here’s our lightly edited Q&A from Leore Oren to The Story Exchange 1,000+ Stories Project.
How is your business different from others in your industry?
We’ve chosen to break away from the traditional styles that have long dominated the wedding market. Instead, we focus on creating products that are fresh, modern, and reflective of today’s digital age. Our wedding newspapers exemplify this approach: They combine a classic visual element, but are executed with a modern twist. Similarly, our photo albums are designed to be bold and colorful, moving away from the typical bridal look to something that feels more like a chic coffee table book.
We also pride ourselves on our online-only, casual approach to customer interaction. This digital-first strategy allows us to connect with brides and couples across the country in a way that many traditional vendors can’t.
Tell us about your biggest success so far.
Our wedding newspaper and photo album collection. The wedding newspaper was our first viral product, capturing the attention of millions of brides and wedding vendors. It allowed us to establish a strong presence in the wedding industry and became a trend that many couples now include in their celebrations. Our photo album collection, which launched in March, has also been incredibly successful.
What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it?
Managing the details of our business with a small team. To address this, we focus on prioritizing tasks and implementing systems that streamline our processes, ensuring we maintain quality while also being efficient. It’s a continual learning experience.
Have you experienced any significant personal situations that have affected your business decisions?
Balancing the demands of building a business while managing your personal life can be tough, especially when you’re part of a small team. Despite our efforts to maintain equilibrium, it’s an ongoing challenge that affects how we make decisions and manage our time. We’ve learned to prioritize and delegate where possible, and we continually work on setting boundaries to ensure we’re not sacrificing our well-being for our work.
What is your biggest tip for other startup entrepreneurs?
Dive in, and don’t get bogged down by perfectionism. Many people hesitate to launch their ideas because they’re not flawless yet, but the key is to put your concept out there and see how it resonates with your audience. You’ll never know if your idea will succeed if you don’t take that first step. I’ve started multiple businesses before finding one that truly took off, and each step taught me something valuable.
How do you find inspiration on your darkest days?
Pushing through without forcing myself to feel inspired is key. Sometimes, trying to force creativity or motivation can be counterproductive. Instead, I focus on maintaining a steady routine and allow myself the space to recharge. This might mean taking a break, engaging in a different creative activity, or simply stepping away from work for a while.
What is your go-to song to get motivated on tough days?
Honestly, we don’t have a specific go-to motivational song for tough days. Instead, what really helps us push through is taking a quick break with a visit to our favorite coffee shop – it provides a much-needed reset and allows us to recharge, which in turn helps us stay motivated and focused. It’s amazing how a simple change of scenery – and a good cup of coffee – can make all the difference!
Who is your most important role model?
Our parents. They inspire us to keep growing our business, and have instilled in us the mindset that when we set our sights on something, we go for it. They have always supported us and helped us pursue our dreams. As our business has grown, they have become more hands-on, assisting in numerous ways. We are essentially a family-run business, which we find incredibly special and heartwarming!
Instagram: @TheCeremonyClub
TikTok: @TheCeremonyClub
Pinterest: @TheCeremonyClub
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