Meet Kathey Garrett | Owner & Lead Chaperone, Wagnolia Bells Wedding Day Pet Service

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kathey Garrett and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kathey, how do you think about risk?
How do I feel about risk taking? That is a great question! I do not consider myself a risk taker. I like to play it safe; I stay on the grass if there’s a DO NOT WALK ON THE GRASS sign! After my husband retired from the military after a 28-year career, I found myself bored to tears. We had moved every two to three years, and I’d either worked as an educator, in retail, or in a management position as a volunteer for different organizations. One job, though, stood out for me. I thoroughly enjoyed and learned from my time as a vineyard tasting room associate! Not only did I learn the process of wine making, I also was mentored by the venue’s manager and got to see how she planned and executed special events. Also, I had fostered dogs at animal shelters at a couple of our duty stations. How I don’t have a house full of extra pets, I just don’t know!
Fast forward to a couple of years post-retirement. My daugher got married in our small town and decided that she wanted her dog with her on wedding day for photos and to be part of the ceremony. Unfortunately, it rained on her big day, and at the last minute her dog was not allowed inside the wedding venue. My daughter got a handful of photos with her dog – outside and wet. This dog was bounced around all day between family members. It was this day that gave me the idea to start my business – Wagnolia Bells, a Wedding Day Pet Service. This is probably the biggest risk I’ve ever taken. Why? Unbeknownst to me, Covid would come along. I started the business in February of 2020 – just as Covid hit, and I decided to plug through. I started in our small town of Oxford, MS, chaperoning every wedding myself until I hired a couple of people and trained them. I’ve since expanded to three states and have ten Pet-CPR certified, insured, and trained chaperones. Our company also gives back by donating a percentage of clients’ sales to animal shelters. I love that I took that risk to continue during Covid. Assisting others with their pets on their wedding day allows me to use skills I’ve learned throughout my career journey: organizational skills from my time as an educator, leadership skills as my time as a retail manager, and creative skills as my time assisting at the vineyard.

What should our readers know about your business?
Wagnolia Bells. WAGnolia Bells. We’re a Wedding Day Pet Service. Some things we’ve been asked: Do you marry dogs? Sooo, do you bring your own dog to weddings so people can pet them? You get to play with dogs at weddings!? Aren’t you (too old) (too small) to handle that dog?

Wagnolia Bells is named after our family’s beagle. Her name was Magnolia Belle. We wanted to honor her in some way. Since we’re chaperoning and chaufeuring dogs at weddings, we changed Magnolia to WAGnolia and dropped the “e” in Belle. The “Bells” represent the Bells in wedding bells.

Our company chaperones and chaufeurs pets at weddings. We offer transportation for our Wagnolia Bells Pups to and from venues, provide personalized assistance during photos, and develop a detailed plan if a pet is part of their human’s cermony. We are the Pet’s Persoanl Wedding Planner.

I’m most excited at how we have grown. Most of our growth has come from word of mouth via our Wagnolia Bells’ clients or from fellow vendors. We wouldn’t be where we are without their support. Also, I am particular in who is hired as a chaperone. Absolute perfection is required when taking care of others pets. I think this shows through the referrals we receive.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

I actually love the Columbia and Spring Hill, TN, areas. The restaurant scenes are up and coming and Columbia has some really unique shopping opportunities, espcially if one is having a girls’ get-away. For guys, the local breweries and distilleries are fun.

For a delicious meal or an outstanding brunch, try Circa Grill in Thompson Station, a short drive from both Columbia and Spring Hill.

American Barrell in Columbia has a great tapas and cheese menu, and their cocktails are delicous.

For gourmet dining with a family feel, try Frankie’s in Spring Hill. This place has something for everyone in the family, from pizza and pasta, to daily specials like lobster ravioli that melts in your mouth.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Wow! Where would we all be withouth others assisting us and encouraging us throughout our journeys! As an older professtional starting a new business, I was met with some skepticism primarily from extended family members. Questions like, “Don’t you want to just stay home and be retired?” were common. I think I may have taken some of those comments to heart had it not been for my supportive immediate family. My husband and daughters were and continue to be my strongest supporters.

I hope that I can encourage older professionals to stay active and to pursue careers outside retirement. So many are retiring at younger ages. That presents the perfect opportunity to explore or discover what brings us joy.

I also hope to encourage more female entrepreneurs to pursue careers that they will love, and to also give back to their communities in some way.    

Website: https://wagnoliabells.com/

Instagram: @wagnoliabells

Linkedin: Kathey Garrett Wagnolia Bells

Facebook: @WagnoliaBellsWeddingDayPetService

Image Credits
1. Sam Slay Photography. (1 photo, white Lab) 2. JAO Photography (2 photos, small Shih Tzu) 3. Jessica Newsome Photography (3 Photos, mini Schnauzers) 4. Sara Williamson Photography (3 photos, Husky + German Shepherd) 5. Kate Anthony Photography (1 photo, Black Lab with white bow tie)