Karen grew up in Chicago in her younger years, two doors down from her church where she would sneak over, go up in the balcony and watch weddings on Saturday mornings! The now-old-fashioned rice-tossing tradition was her absolute favorite. She and her friends would also “play banquets” down in the church basement. And, of course, she loved dressing her Barbie doll up in the most beautiful wedding gown she can still picture in her mind to this day!
She earned her Marketing degree from Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota where the air was crisper and yes, colder, but refreshing! Minneapolis was where she started her first career in the insurance and benefits industry. She returned home to Chicago, and while working full-time, completed her Masters in Education.
Through those years, she cannot even count how many weddings she attended. She remembers fondly (and with some bewilderment) the weddings she was asked to sing in. All she can figure is that the magic of weddings was that invigorating and captivating that it made her do crazy things for her friends getting married…things the shy, little girl she once was never would have thought she would ever do!
A city girl who loved country music since she was little, while out two-stepping at Whiskey River in Chicago with her friends, she met her own husband. It was there where again the shy, little girl would have never imagined asking her now-husband to dance. But the rest is history. Together with their 4 children, they manage and operate the super busy golf course and a wonderful wedding venue, The Royal Crest Room. When moving down to Orlando in 2003, with three young children, never would Karen have imagined having a fourth baby and then taking on the rather large role she would play in the “little” wedding business.
Sometimes there is a moment when it all makes sense … the weaving of threads throughout one’s life come together and there you have it – a new career and more importantly, a new passion. Weddings, Marketing, Love of Photography & Writing, Education, Partnership with Husband, that’s what’s happened for Karen as she pours her heart into each element of what makes The Royal Crest Room what it is. Putting together the dynamic team that has earned awards after awards for this venue has been one of her most gratifying accomplishments yet.
Growing this business into what it’s become has been an adventure for Karen, Bill and their four kids who all seem to be choosing “Business” as their college majors for some reason. They have lived it, seen it and know it takes creativity, incredible work ethic, organization and passion to make a small business breathe and live.
Their annual trips back to Chicago taking in a Cubs game, great pizza, Italian beefs and family time fill their photo albums, and fast forward, now a Gator and Seminole live harmoniously in one family, with the little girl in this photo above waiting to see which team she joins soon! Their youngest, their only true Floridian, luckily has a little more time at home with Mom and Dad! In one of her crazy moments, she welcomed their Cavalier King Charles puppy, Buddy, into their family.
In the rare moment that Karen isn’t busy in her home office, she’s most likely going to Disney, one of their favorite restaurants, a concert or a Broadway musical … oh, and a Bridal Show with her awesome team. Favorites? Definitely watching Hallmark movies (especially Christmas ones), decorating, taking photos, being the family historian and keeping up with her busy family. Over 12,000 songs in her ITunes library, 13,101 photos in her Camera Roll, 21,387 emails in her ‘In’ box — you might say she’s a busy lady or is allergic to deleting things!