Celebrating Milestones: Creative Event Ideas for Your Wellness Center
Feb 17, 2026September 1st marks ten years since Kendall opened Vancouver Wellness Studio. A decade of serving patients, building teams, navigating challenges, and creating community. It deserves celebration—but what kind? A typical evening party with alcohol and appetizers? Or something different, something that actually reflects who you are and what you've built?
Kendall chose different. And in this episode, she walks through exactly how she's planning a celebration that honors both the milestone and the values her business represents.
The conversation begins with Kendall's foundational decision about event structure: "It felt important to really stay within our values and brand for the celebration. I feel like it's easy enough to say, well, let's just have a party... have alcohol and food and cheers to 10 years. But we are a wellness center. We are a healthcare business. And so we are going to do a wellness brunch event."
But there's another consideration driving this choice—one that many business owners overlook. As Kendall admits with refreshing honesty: "I also have my best energy in the morning. And since I get to make the rules and I get to plan this event, we're going to do a brunch because I don't want to be out in the evening and I'm not my best self." This permission to design events around your own energy and preferences, rather than defaulting to conventional formats, offers valuable modeling for other practice owners.
The vision includes healthy, delicious food, signature wellness-focused drinks, community partner involvement, wellness stations featuring different modalities, and entertainment—likely local performing arts students, similar to what worked for their grand opening. The event will be held at the hotel where their waterfront location is situated, creating geographic continuity with their practice.
But vision alone doesn't address the practical concern every wellness owner faces: budget. As Anna asks directly: "As business owners, we often feel that we have to do this... give all this stuff away... How do you budget?"
Kendall's answer introduces concepts many wellness practitioners haven't considered: sponsorships and admission fees. "Sponsorships are really important when planning events like this," she explains. "We have relationships in the community, and there are other businesses that would love to help us celebrate and support and have their logo up on the big screen." These sponsors might cover food and beverage, videography, photography, or contribute to gift bags.
The admission fee discussion challenges another assumption. Kendall is considering charging tickets—not much, maybe $20—but enough that 200 attendees could offset significant costs. As she notes: "I don't think there's anything wrong with that, especially in a private event like this, because the catering is super expensive and the use of the room and all of the things."
She also discusses strategic trades—offering services in exchange for photography or videography, reducing cash outlay while building community relationships.
The gift bag discussion reveals Kendall's hospitality mindset: "I like to do gift bags and swag bags that are things people can actually use and that they'll remember about our company... not go home and throw the things away and not just have a bunch of little promotional items." This attention to detail extends throughout her planning.
Beyond the community celebration, Kendall discusses plans for team-only celebration—possibly visiting a community spa for restorative time together plus a lovely meal. This dual approach honors both external relationships and internal team bonds.
The episode concludes with additional anniversary ideas: promotional pricing on the actual September 1st date, special packages, space tours during the brunch event—ways to extend celebration beyond a single event.
Anna's admission that she "hadn't even considered sponsors or anything like an admission ticket" suggests many wellness practitioners share this gap. Kendall's approach offers both permission and practical framework for celebrating milestones without financial stress.
If you're approaching a business milestone and wondering how to celebrate meaningfully without breaking the bank, this episode provides both inspiration and actionable strategies.
For information regarding the upcoming retreat, go to: https://www.wellnesscentercreators.com/retreats
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About Anna Rudel
Anna Rudel, L. Ac is the owner and founder of Lokahi Acupuncture Clinic in San Jose California, founded in 2003. Anna is a master organizer and clinician, and as a Coach she specializes in working with Clinic Owners in the state of California, and Acupuncturists and Acupuncture Clinic Owners, or groups wanting to add Acupuncture worldwide, as well as teams that need support with employee retention and satisfaction. Born in the UK, Anna has traveled extensively in Asia and now has a thriving multi-practitioner clinic in the US!
Anna's Website and Links
- Website: https://lokahiacupuncture.com/
- Learn Group Coaching: https://www.wellnesscentercreators.com/group-coaching
- For info about Individual Coaching: https://www.wellnesscentercreators.com/individual-coaching
About Kendall Hagensen
Kendall is a Somatic Mental Health Therapist, Multidisciplinary Clinic Owner and Business Coach. She specializes in, and is passionate about, working with healthcare professionals to create the businesses of their dreams. Big goals always have a psychological component beneath the surface, so Kendall uses her background in Somatic Psychotherapy and EMDR Therapy mixed with Business Coaching tools to help clients develop a healthy relationship with their business and their strength as a leader.
As someone who lives with a chronic illness herself, Kendall feels that health happens best within community, which is why she takes a holistic, integrative, and collaborative wellness approach to her personal and professional life.
Kendall’s Web/Social Links