about us

At Live Your Dash, we believe your wedding should be more than just a day- it should be a reflection of your story, your love, and the moments that define you. Inspired by Linda Ellis’ beloved poem “The Dash,” our name is a reminder that life’s most beautiful moments are found in the space between- the time we spend living, loving, and connecting along the way. We bring that same philosophy to every celebration we plan, ensuring each detail feels intentional, personal, and filled with joy. As a mother-daughter wedding planning team, we’ve built Live Your Dash around the idea that life’s greatest meaning comes from the relationships we nurture and the memories we create along the way.

We combine heartfelt connection with thoughtful organization to design weddings that truly reflect each couple’s story- their love, their values, and the moments that make them who they are. From the big-picture vision to the tiniest detail, we bring warmth, creativity, and calm to your planning journey, ensuring your day feels authentic, effortless, and full of love.

Because at Live Your Dash, we don’t just plan weddings- we celebrate your dash.

Meet us

Beth Melander

My journey into event planning began with something simple - organizing school fundraisers. What started as a fun challenge to bring people together quickly grew into a true passion. Before long, I found myself helping friends, and then friends of friends, plan their weddings and special events.
There’s nothing quite like seeing the joy on a couple’s face, and their parents’, as they take in a moment they’ll remember forever. That feeling is what fuels me: the chance to plan and execute beautiful, meaningful celebrations that become part of someone’s story - their “Dash.”
When I’m not immersed in timelines, florals, and floor plans, I’m running our family’s mattress factory, a very different kind of production, but one that keeps life interesting! I also make sure to squeeze in every opportunity to spend time traveling with my supportive husband, Jon, our family, and friends. And at home, our sweet rescue pup, Livey (named after “Live Your Dash”), reminds me every day why creating joy and meaning in the moments between life’s milestones truly matters

Claire Melander

My path into wedding planning wasn’t exactly planned; it started when I began helping my mom with a few events and quickly realized how much I enjoyed the process. What began as pitching in here and there turned into a genuine passion for organizing, designing, and bringing people’s visions to life.
I graduated from the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities with a degree in Criminal Justice, and now I split my time between investigative work, helping out at the family company, and wedding planning - a unique combination that keeps things interesting, to say the least. I love the balance of creativity and structure that wedding planning brings, and there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing everything come together on the wedding day.
Outside of work, you’ll usually find me cooking, reading, traveling, checking out a new restaurant, or hanging out with friends and my sweet kitten. For me, “Living Your Dash” is about doing what I love and finding purpose and joy in all the different parts of life, especially unexpected ones.

Toni Balliet Photography

Toni Balliet Photography

The Dash

LINDA ELLIS

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning to the end.

He noted first came the date of the birth and spoke the following date with tears.
But he said what mattered most of all was the dash between the years.

For that dash represents all the time that they spent life on Earth.
And now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own, the cars, the house, the cash.
What matters is how we live and love, and how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard. Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough to consider what’s true and real,
and always try to understand the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more,

and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile,
remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.