Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlena Green.
Hi Charlena , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
After working on an amazing team that led corporate marketing and events across the tourism world. Producing Super Bowls, NCAA championships, corporate conferences and conventions, and other large-scale gatherings, I was ready for work that felt closer to the heart. The internal joy of a well-executed event pushed me to start a wedding rental business so we could create unforgettable, personal moments for couples.
Then everything shifted. During a wedding break in the early stage of my pregnancy, I had a seizure. The team at Moffitt Cancer Center uncovered a meningioma brain tumor. After our daughter was born, I underwent surgery and radiotherapy; as of October 2025, I’m healthy and back at work with a sharper sense of purpose and gratitude.
As a wedding rental business owner, I kept hearing the same struggle from local pros: marketing was costly, and national platforms often buried Polk County vendors. That turning point propelled me forward, and with my husband’s incredible support, family, and friends, we launched Polk County’s first wedding directory: Lakeland Vows.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. I faced big challenges: starting a business, finding out I had a brain tumor, then having surgery and going through radiotherapy five days a week for months. After all that, I started over and built Lakeland Vows from the ground up.
There are always roadblocks and speed bumps when you begin something new. What matters is how you get through them. I’m healing, learning, and moving forward.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I’m Charlena, owner and founder of Lakeland Vows. Polk County’s first wedding planning directory, launched in March 2025. We’re a local-first platform created to help couples find trusted wedding venues and vendors when planning their wedding in Polk County.
Lakeland Vows connects engaged couples with their wedding dream team. Couples can contact vendors directly from their listings and access planning resources such as blogs, checklists, and more, to make planning less stressful.
For vendors, Lakeland Vows gives local wedding professionals the visibility and tools they need to grow their businesses. In addition, we offer targeted listings, featured blog posts, social spotlights, and promotional opportunities designed to turn local searches into real bookings.
What sets Lakeland Vows apart is our Polk County focus. Our vendors know the area and the venues, and they have connections with other professionals who make planning easier and the wedding day more memorable. We’re built by wedding pros for wedding pros. Our networking events, webinars, and Vendor Help Hub allow members to learn, collaborate, and generate real leads, not just appear on a list.
We’re proud of the community we’ve built and the results our members are seeing. The heartfelt notes, glowing reviews, and measurable bookings shared by local vendors show that Lakeland Vows is helping real businesses grow while helping couples plan with confidence.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Little Charlena was talkative, super friendly, and always made friends easily. As a child, I wanted to be a pediatrician, which isn’t surprising because I love helping anyone, no matter the size of the obstacle. I have the same friends from grade school through college. I believe in the value of friendships and relationships. I played golf, basketball, and every activity in between. I’m the same as little Charlena, just older and wiser.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.LakelandVows.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lakelandvows
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakelandVows/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lakelandvows
- Other: https://www.lakelandvows.com/join-lakeland-vows
Image Credits
Gonzalez Lugo Photography/Haven Photo and Films – Headshot and wedding ceremony with white padded folding chairs.
Terrie Images – Silver Chiavari chairs with light blue linens and blush/pink cocktail tables.
Perfect Day Productions (she’s the wedding planner, not sure of the photographer)- Black table linens and gold Chiavari chairs
Photographer unknown- Gold beaded charger plates with white napkin
