53. Building a Family-Owned Wedding Venue with Alicia McKay, The Oakley

Update: 2025-04-03

Description

In this episode, I’m joined by Alicia McKay, co-owner and venue coordinator of The Oakley, a premier event venue in Holly, Michigan! Alicia shares how she unexpectedly fell into wedding planning after her own wedding and how that journey evolved into running a full-scale family-owned venue on a 40-acre property!We talk about:

How Alicia transitioned from graphic designer to venue owner
The transformation of her in-laws' horse barn into a stunning venue
What makes The Oakley’s full-weekend experience so unique
Wedding trends we’re both seeing and loving
Real-life sacrifices and joys of working in the wedding industry

Alicia also shares her heartfelt philosophy on treating every couple like family and the importance of creating a stress-free, memorable experience.Whether you're planning a wedding, dreaming of starting a venue, or just love hearing women in business share their story—this episode is full of insight and inspiration!

Connect with Alicia:
Website: www.theoakleyevents.com
Instagram: @theoakleyevents
Facebook: @theoakleyweddings

If you have questions for Sarah to answer, send an email to hello@sarahkolis.com

Connect with Sarah:
Website: https://sarahkolis.com/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahkolisdesigns/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbh7HlVmyj9N5VsleuySxcQ

Comments

In Channel

59. Turning Parties Into Works of Art with Stem Event Design’s Kevin Miller

2025-08-1454:28

58. Cleaning Your Wedding Dress Step by Step

2025-07-2408:55

57. Behind the Seams of Angela’s Custom Wedding Dress

2025-07-1729:56

56. The Rise of the Wedding Content Creator: Behind the Scenes with Ella, Wedding & Event Content Creator

2025-05-0852:04

55. Planning Your Dream Honeymoon with a Luxury Travel Advisor, Gray Ellender, Go With Gray Travel

2025-04-2428:15

54. The Couture Bridal Experience: Designing the Perfect Custom Gown

2025-04-1032:12

53. Building a Family-Owned Wedding Venue with Alicia McKay, The Oakley

2025-04-0336:22

52. Melissa’s Wedding Journey: From Saying Yes to Walking Down the Aisle

2025-03-1331:48

51. Real Brides Series: Gwen, Kayla, and Rina tell all!

2025-03-0643:28

50. Chad and Mimi’s Recap: the Bride & Groom’s Take on the Big Day!

2025-02-2121:47

49. Real Brides Series: Darby, Madison, and Natalie tell it all!

2025-02-1351:58

48. Meet Lead Seamstress, Erin Conner

2025-02-0457:14

47. Real Brides Series: Alexa, Emily, and Stephanie Share Their Big Day Stories

2025-01-2840:19

46. Behind the Seams: Creating Melissa’s Dream Wedding Dress

2025-01-1601:15:29

45. Real Brides Series: Reliving Wedding Magic with brides Alexa, Tara, and Rachel

2024-12-2346:37

44. Threads of Memory: My Crafting Childhood Journey Through Mom’s Eyes

2024-12-1053:42

43. Planning Weddings, Fashion Trends, and Growing a Business with Loren Taylor of LDT Events

2024-12-0339:11

42. Engagement Stories and Wedding Insights: A Chat with My Soon-to-Be Brother-in-Law Kevin

2024-10-3001:11:48

41. Bridesmaid 101: What You Need To Know To Be The Very Best Bride Tribe!

2024-10-0829:30

40. The Studio Grand Opening Party Recap

2024-09-0235:20

00:00

53. Building a Family-Owned Wedding Venue with Alicia McKay, The Oakley

#box-pro-ellipsis-17576888029546{-webkit-line-clamp:2;}53. Building a Family-Owned Wedding Venue with Alicia McKay, The Oakley

53. Building a Family-Owned Wedding Venue with Alicia McKay, The Oakley

Sarah Kolis

53. Building a Family-Owned Wedding Venue with Alicia McKay, The Oakley