Help bring a micro wedding chapel to Somerville!

Hi! My name is Jusmine Martin and I'm fundraising for my first business, Dearly Studio, a micro wedding chapel and small events space nestled in Union Square's Bow Market. Dearly exists as a courthouse alternative for couples who want a no-fuss ceremony that's still personal, elegant and fun.

THE NITTY GRITTY (i.e What You're Funding):

Here's the understatement of the century: starting a business is expensive. Weddings? Also expensive. Designing a wedding venue? You get it. What I've been most surprised by throughout this experience thus far is how few options there are for first-time business owners to fund their brick and mortars. Most, if not all, SBA loans are only available to businesses that are already in operation with a proven track record of success. I get it; banks want a sure bet, but one way to make a venture a ‘sure bet’ is to have access to adequate funding without predatory interest rates. That’s where you come in! I’m hoping to bridge the gap between the savings, loans and credit options I’ve already secured and my first few months of business. Your gift will go towards boring necessities like rent and utilities, as well as things I’m deeming EXTREMELY EXCITING, like paint and a dried floral installation.

ABOUT (me and Dearly):

The concept for Dearly is one I've held close to my heart for a while now. I used to joke that I'd retire and become a little old lady who performed tiny weddings in a seaside village. The theory being that regardless of whether you wanted a big or small reception, intimate ceremonies feel best. I lived in Melbourne, Australia at the time and worked in hospitality across various marketing, events and management roles. There were big, fancy events (like pop up bars at the Australian Open) and big, quirky events (like a couples’ “double denim birthday party” turned surprise wedding). There were even big, personal events, like my own wedding in 2018! But when my husband and I returned to the US in June of 2021, fresh on the heels of the pandemic, I was focused on the small of it all. Sweet moments with friends and family I’d missed. Revisiting local bars and restaurants. And, yes, small ceremonies, curated with intention.

So last June, while coordinating Pride Month events for Rebel Rebel (another “tiny but mighty” spot I’m lucky to have in my life!), I tested my theory. I flipped Wild Child, Rebel’s secondary business, into a Vegas-style wedding chapel and advertised five slots for folks to get married on Saturday, June 11. Couples would need to book in advance, and I’d only given them about seven weeks lead time. I figured if no one opted in I’d just run the day as a cute photo op for the general public. Three incredible couples decided to get married at Wild Child, each with extremely different motivations for doing so. It was the most idyllic day of “work” I could ever imagine. Dearly was born.

I'm so thankful those six people took that leap, and can't wait to build a more permanent home for all the tender moments to come. THANK YOU, truly, for reading this far. You can find a little more info about my plans for Dearly here.