We sat down with event planner, Peggy Kelley of Timeless Celebrations who has been gifting TreePeople Tree Dedications for a nearly a decade. With every event or marriage her business plans, she gives a TreePeople Tree Dedication as a thank you gift to her clients. Discover why she decided to honor her clients with the gift of trees.

How and when did you first become involved with TreePeople?

I became involved with TreePeople when I married an arborist 10 years ago. I think it was a “come with” in our marriage. You get more involved with nature, you get more involved with trees, and you become sensitive to it. So with that I found the perfect partnership to add to my business.

Why did you start making Tree Dedications?

After my wedding I found they were just the best wedding gift to give. When I started my business in event planning after my own wedding where we had used an oak tree as our icon, it became the signature of my business as well. So dedicating trees to each couple whether it was a wedding, an organization, or a social event became our signature. I’m so thrilled that we found it.

What kind of reactions did your clients have when they got one of our dedications?

They were so surprised. It was a different type of a gift, something that was such a welcome surprise to them and it really made them feel good. It was a gift that kept on giving. They would call me about the gift and  I explained that , “Trees grow as your marriage grows. This is our wish to you that your marriage grows long while the trees grow tall.”

How do you like our new celebratory card designs?

I love them. I got to send the first celebratory one and wedding one, it was fabulous.We just needed something that had a little whimsy to it. We’re thrilled.

I love the fact that you have a card for celebration of life. They’re beautiful and unique cards. I gift a lot for pets when they go to the big dog, cat or bird house in the sky, it’s a wonderful card to send. Their innocent lives on this earth should be honored with a tree.

What about our program do you feel reflects the culture of Timeless Celebrations?

Well the name alone: “timeless” and “trees” go hand and hand. Trees are timeless; while trees grow old and change,  so do we, and the nice thing about being timeless is that it’s about a memory that we hold in our heart. I think that just about everybody I know has sat under a tree and created amazing memories that they hold in their heart.

What makes you feel passionate about protecting our environment?

Oh the list is long there. Having been on this planet for a good amount of time I’ve seen the change, and I’m genuinely concerned for our green space and our culture. This is what I can do as an individual and as a company to make a difference. I can plant trees. I can ensure that our green space will be here and that there will be trees for kids to play on and under, and that’s everything to me.

What inspires you about nature?

Nature is magic; it’s a living, breathing entity that is just magical. The colors that a designer uses come from nature. This year’s pantone color is kale green,  a color straight from nature. There’s a peace about nature when you put your feet on the ground, your hands in the dirt and your heart in the same place. We’re living in a very fast paced environment right now and nature brings us back to center. It brings us back to our soul. I have a 65 year old fig tree in my backyard that is my place to go and be. She just wraps herself about me and we hang out and I tell her a story and she listens. It’s really wonderful.

What other things does Timeless Celebrations do to give back to our world?

I’m a huge advocate for education in my industry, and for nonprofits. Through mentorships, internships, and by freely giving what was so freely given to me at a drop of a hat, I contribute and support organizations that desperately need it and have a long term impact. When you plant a tree, it creates a legacy. That just makes me so happy because that’s my piece of the puzzle.

What kind of advice would you give to other companies to make a difference?

I think that Nike says it best. Just do it. Don’t think about it. Take action. Look at your company culture, find your voice and then find an organization who has a similar voice so that you sound congruent. TreePeople worked for us because it was born out of an arborist wedding. Our clients are surprised at first about the dedication , but then they go, “Oh of course. This makes sense. This is who you are.” I think that companies need to task themselves,  “Who are we? Who do we align with?” and then go build a really strong relationship.

Feeling motivated? Visit our website to celebrate your loved one with a tree dedication today!