The North Shore, with its scenic forests and Lake Superior, is known for its beautiful natural landscapes. It is a popular destination for outdoor weddings, especially during the warmer months. Places like Lutsen Mountains and the surrounding wilderness areas offer picturesque settings. It is safe to say that Cook County holds many weddings, especially those looking for a beautiful outdoor venue.
Kelly Hanson has started North Shore Event Rentals to help make any special event, from weddings to reunions, graduations to retirements, truly special.
“The North Shore is such a beautiful place to celebrate,” Kelly said.
The self-confessed entrepreneur married her husband Philip six years ago at the Summit Chalet on the peak of Moose Mountain in Lutsen. Kelly did the floral and wedding planning. “I love a good wedding,” she said.
Four years ago, the family bought a townhouse in Tofte and began spending more time on the North Shore. The Hansons intuitively felt that becoming part of the lifestyle here was possible, and the teens they had at home were okay with the change. They moved to Grand Marais last Spring.
Philip opened his therapeutic massage practice, Hanson Holistics, last fall in the Birch Alley building at Nine 1st Ave W., Suite #5, in Grand Marais.
Kelly is a licensed real estate agent with Songbird Realty in Grand Marais, but event management is her passion.
“I realized that events light me up,” she said.
She first experienced the business of arranging and managing events for her employer more than twenty years ago. “I loved the logistics of set-up for events,” Kelly said.
Kelly went on to attend floral design school, and while pregnant with her daughter Ella, who is now 15, she started a floral design business specializing in weddings. A family tragedy after Faith, now 13, was born forced Kelly to step away from the floral design business while she focused on her family. “I still did floral arrangements for friends and family, however,” she said.
On its website, northshoremneventrentals.com Kelly writes, “Today, we see a need for a local event rental service and are excited to help make this area more accessible for hosting unforgettable events. By teaming up with talented local vendors and providing the delivery, set up, and takedown, North Shore Event Rentals will allow hosts to enjoy their party just as much as their guests.”
The business’s logo is distinctive. It is a stylized rendering of the Northland’s water, trees, and sky, with two people standing at an event table with a brightly flaming candle and a heart at the top of the circle. When asked about it, Kelly acknowledged her business coach of many years, who suggested it should show that “The event is sacred for me and shows prospective clients they’ll really be taken care of.”
Kelly said her ideal client is “Somebody that loves this area as much as we do.”
She believes the rising number of events, especially weddings, will lead to more people discovering the North Shore.
Kelly wants every event to be unique for those attending, especially weddings. “It’s a privilege (for me) to be a part of those,” she said.
You can reach North Shore Event Rentals by phone at 218- 228-2858 or by email at kelly@NorthShoreMNEventRentals.com.
