Today we’d like to introduce you to Alona Harper.
Hi Alona, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
After being born into a huge family (12 kids) in Moab Ut to moving to My mother’s hometown in South Carolina, (hence my accent) where I was raised after my father died in a work accident. My mother raised us on her own and held our family together with love and a strong faith. After losing my mom in 2014, I came back to finally created what is now (EverAfterCeremonies.org)
“Ever After — Communication, Ceremony & Connection”
Helping Women & Couples Reclaim Their Voice, Their Belonging, and Their Next Chapter.
We specialize in wedding ceremonies, Speaking on Communication and Relationships.
We have created the Ever After Experience. And The Ever After Method. These are tools you can use to reach your relationship goals as well as your communication goals.
I am excited to share this part of myself. I love reaching the women and couples who are traveling the paths that I have been on in my life and I love showing them an easier way to reach their goals instead of the much longer and harder path that brought me here.
I have a strong compassion for helping build happiness in the lives of women in all walks of life who feel incomplete, alone and unheard. It’s time to put yourself on a new path to happiness.
I know that my parents would be proud of me for the work I am doing to truly help people and to bring a sense of peace and understanding to relationships.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In the past i have had to work to pay my way. I have had to have different priorities in my life. Not reaching my goal of one day making an impact on the lives of women.
Just when i started planning my exit from the corporate world to entrepreneurs my husband got sick. Be became so ill with heart problems that he was placed on hospice. We almost lost him several times. My entire world was rocked. I ultimately had to leave my job and take care of my husband. At first we were dependent of state and church assistance to pay of basic necessities. Then after 3 years of this new life, basically waiting for my husband to die.i was in a deep dark depression. I was loosing too much weight, I was not caring for myself because caring for my husband was taking ever ounce of my energy. He was so medicated at that time that he was not himself. He would talk to me in a very abusive tone and words. I was so just depleted.
So finally one day after he serviced again the weekend of having the funeral home on standby. I asked my husband. This has gone on for so long. I just want to know if you want to live or you want to die. No judgment. I would understand if he wanted to pass. But since he was still holding on, I needed to know his mindset. He said to me that he was holding on and trying to live for me! For me?!? I needed to know what he wanted for himself. He said he didn’t want to die. He wanted to live.
So that’s when I took control of his meds and his care. We got him off of hospice. They are great but their purpose is not to help you live. They are there to keep you comfortable as you pass. Well that is no longer what we needed. After making some big changes and me standing up for him and his care, we brought him back to life. Now, almost 4 years later and as he still tried to build back his strength, he is living.
For me- being a full time caregiver of an adult was absolutely the hardest thing I have ever experienced. This was a test of our love our relationship and my strength. I almost gave up more than once. I am thankful that I pushed through and made sure that he was cared for and loved.
Then I started caring for myself. I made sure he was ok and I still care of him as he needs me but I also learned that if I do not care for myself, I would not be there to care for him.
This was a very long and hard road. This made me realize how many other women are caregivers in many capacities. There is a need and I was meeting those women.
Teachers- mothers- daughters of aging parents- the list goes on. Then i learned of the relationships that were weighing us down.
My eyes were opened after this time to see that women and relationships are hurting.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Helping couples build strong communication, create meaningful ceremonies, and cultivate lasting connection– before, during and beyond the wedding day
Everything I Do Begins With Communication.
Whether I am standing with a couple on their wedding day,
speaking to women who carry the emotional weight of everyone around them,
or guiding a retreat room into deeper connection —
the work is the same.
We learn to speak clearly.
We learn to listen bravely.
We learn to belong — to ourselves and to each other
Through the Ever After Experience we are changing the way we communicate
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I had to learn to use my voice but most importantly I had to really learn how to hear. Not just to listen but to truly hear so that when I did use my voice it is more than advice or just noise.
My voice should be only a response to how they need to be heard. Sometimes it’s even better to not make that noise. Often we all just want to be seen and heard.
Pricing:
- Weddings starting at $300
- Coaching starting at $35
- Retreats starting at $2795
- Public Speaking $2500
- Cups $10
Contact Info:
