From IVF Journey to Charlotte's Premier Charcuterie Business: Our Boards of Hope Story | Woman-Owned Success - Charcuterie Board Charlotte NC - January 1, 2026
- charcuteriechicclt
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The inspiring true story behind Boards of Hope: How navigating IVF and infertility led to building Charlotte's highest-rated charcuterie business. Woman-owned, family-built, hope-driven. Best charcuterie board Charlotte NC. January 1, 2026
From Boards of Hope to Charlotte's Premier Caterer: Our IVF Journey & Entrepreneurship Story
A Soulful Journey of Infertility, IVF, Woman Entrepreneurship, and the Love That Built It All
The best charcuterie board Charlotte NC has ever seen wasn't born in a professional kitchen. It was born in our Charlotte home, during one of life's most challenging chapters—folded with tears, hope, and the desperate need to create something beautiful when everything felt broken.
There was a time I thought I had to choose—between being a mother and building something of my own.
I was wrong.
Life had other plans—more complex, more painful, and ultimately more beautiful than I ever imagined.
This is the story of Boards of Hope. It's the story of how navigating secondary infertility and three rounds of IVF while living in Charlotte, far from family, led to building what is now Charlotte's highest-rated charcuterie business. It's a story about hope, resilience, and discovering that sometimes our greatest struggles become our greatest strengths.
If you're here because you Googled "best charcuterie board Charlotte NC" or "woman-owned business Charlotte" or even "IVF success stories"—this story is for you. Because what we've built isn't just about food. It's about what happens when you refuse to give up hope, even when every sign says you should.
The Beginning: When Creating Boards Was Therapy
Charlotte Home, 2019: Where Hope Was Assembled One Board at a Time
Charcuterie Chic Charlotte began in the heart of our home, where our kitchen doubled as a workshop, therapy space, and sometimes a place to cry.
I remember the exact moment it started. It was after another difficult doctor's appointment—one of dozens during our IVF journey. I came home emotionally exhausted, physically drained from medications, and desperately needing to feel in control of something.
So I started arranging cheese and meat on a wooden board.
I folded prosciutto into roses. Arranged berries by color. Placed crackers in perfect fans. And for the first time in months, I felt... calm. Purposeful. Like I was creating something beautiful in a period where so much felt uncertain.
Each charcuterie board became an act of meditation.
I folded meats like I was stitching together hope. I arranged cheese like I was building a foundation. I selected fruits like I was choosing to believe in color and life and possibility, even when my body felt like it was failing the most important test.
When your body feels like it's betraying you—when month after month, test after test comes back negative—the act of building something, anything, can feel heroic.
For me, it was charcuterie.
The art of creation inspired me to keep going when giving up felt easier.
The IVF Journey: Three Rounds, Thousands of Miles from Home
Secondary Infertility: The Struggle No One Talks About
We were so grateful for our precious daughter, Mia. At two years old, she was—and is—the light of our lives. But deep down, we knew our family wasn't complete.
Secondary infertility is a unique kind of heartbreak. You're grateful for the child you have (SO grateful), but the longing for another doesn't disappear. And unlike couples facing primary infertility, people often don't understand. They say things like, "At least you have one," or "You should be satisfied."
But Mia wanted a sibling. She would ask, with that innocent toddler directness that breaks your heart: "Mommy, is there a baby in your belly yet?"
Every time I had to answer, "Not yet, baby," my heart broke a little more.
We tried naturally. We tried medications. Nothing worked.
So we turned to IVF—in vitro fertilization. If you've never been through it, it's hard to understand the toll it takes:
Physically:
Daily hormone injections that leave you bruised and bloated
Constant medical appointments (early morning monitoring, ultrasounds, blood draws)
Medications that mess with your emotions, energy, and body
The physical process of egg retrieval and embryo transfer
Emotionally:
The rollercoaster of hope and disappointment
The two-week wait after transfer (the longest two weeks of your life)
The crushing devastation when it doesn't work
Starting over, again and again
Financially:
Each IVF round costs $15,000-25,000
Most insurance doesn't cover it
We were investing our savings into the hope of growing our family
And we did it three times.
Building Alone: 3,000 Miles from Our Support System
During this time, our support system was spread across the country. My parents and closest friends were thousands of miles away in California, unable to just pop over and help.
It was just my husband and me—two people desperately trying to hold each other up while building TWO dreams: a family and a business.
He'd be out making Charlotte charcuterie board deliveries to South End, Uptown, Dilworth, Myers Park—while I handmade each board at our kitchen counter, sometimes with tears streaming down my face.
We were building something, even when it felt like we were breaking.
We split responsibilities: He handled logistics and deliveries. I handled creation and customer service. Both of us handled the emotional weight of another month passing, another negative test, another round of hoping.
Looking back, I realize: We were surviving by creating. And unknowingly, we were building Charlotte's future premier charcuterie business.
The Boards Became More Than Food
[IMAGE: Various early boards with progression]Alt text: "Evolution of Boards of Hope charcuterie boards in Charlotte from 2019 to present"
When Clients Became Part of Our Journey
What started as personal therapy slowly became something more.
Friends started asking, "Can you make a board for my event?"
Then friends of friends.
Then strangers who'd heard about "that woman in Charlotte who makes the most beautiful charcuterie boards."
Each order gave me purpose beyond the IVF struggle:
A wedding grazing table for a Charlotte couple celebrating love
A corporate charcuterie board for a business impressing clients
A baby shower (those were hard—but also hopeful)
Birthday celebrations, anniversaries, girls' nights
I poured my whole heart into each one. Because when you're fighting for something as fundamental as family, you understand how precious celebrations are. You understand that every moment of joy matters.
My clients didn't know it, but they were giving ME hope, too.
Every five-star review. Every referral. Every photo they shared of their event. Every "This was amazing, thank you!"
They were telling me: What you're creating matters. Keep going.
Creating During Hardship: The Unexpected Gift
Here's what I learned creating Charlotte charcuterie boards during our IVF journey:
1. Creating beauty is an act of defiance against despair.
When everything feels out of control, making something beautiful with your hands is powerful. You're saying: "I refuse to let pain be the only thing I create today."
2. Serving others gets you outside your own struggle.
When I focused on making someone's event special, I wasn't thinking about my own disappointment. I was thinking about their joy. That shift saved me.
3. Building something permanent matters.
Pregnancies can be lost. IVF can fail. But a business? Client relationships? Skills developed? Those are permanent. I was building a legacy even while fighting to grow our family.
4. Vulnerability connects people.
When I started sharing pieces of our journey (carefully, not oversharing), clients responded with incredible support. Some shared their own struggles. We weren't just caterer and client—we were humans connecting through shared hope.
The Call That Changed Everything
[IMAGE: Pregnancy test or ultrasound - tasteful]Alt text: "IVF success after three rounds - the moment Boards of Hope founder learned she was pregnant with daughter Maddie"
"You're Definitely Pregnant": The Moment Hope Became Reality
I still remember the exact moment.
It was a Tuesday morning in late 2020. I was assembling a Charlotte charcuterie board for a returning client—a detail I'll never forget because she'd been part of our journey from the beginning. She knew our story. She'd been rooting for us.
The phone rang.
I answered, hands still covered in cracker crumbs.
The nurse's voice: "I have your results. You're definitely pregnant."
Time stopped.
I dropped to the floor—the board forgotten, crackers scattering—and I laughed and cried simultaneously. The kind of cry that comes from your soul, releasing years of held tension.
It was real. Our rainbow baby was on her way. Mia was finally going to be a big sister.
I called my husband immediately. He was mid-delivery in Ballantyne. He pulled over and cried in his car.
That returning client? When she picked up her board later that day, I told her. We both cried happy tears together. That's the Charlotte community we've built—people who celebrate with us, cry with us, and become family.
Today: Maddie, Mia, and the Business We Built on Hope
A Four-Year-Old, a Four-Month-Old, and Charlotte's Best Charcuterie
Today, Mia is a spirited, beautiful, almost-four-year-old whirlwind of joy. She helps me arrange fruit on boards (her specialty: perfect grape placement). She greets customers when they pick up orders. She understands that Mommy's business is called "Boards of Hope" because hope brought our family here.
Maddie is a four-month-old angel with the most adorable laugh and the biggest love for her big sister. She naps in a bassinet next to my workspace while I craft Charlotte's best charcuterie boards. She's growing up surrounded by the smell of artisan cheese, the sight of beautiful food, and a mother who never gave up.
We are complete.
Running a Business While Raising Babies: The Beautiful Chaos
Running Charcuterie Chic Charlotte as a hands-on, woman-owned business while raising a toddler and a baby has taught me more about resilience, time management, and grace than any MBA program ever could.
My reality looks like:
Taking client calls during nap time
Answering emails with a baby on my lap
Creating wedding grazing tables Charlotte while my four-year-old does "art projects" (read: makes a mess) beside me
Making deliveries to Charlotte corporate events with both girls in car seats
Late-night order prep after both kids are asleep
Charlotte charcuterie board delivery scheduled around feeding times
It's chaotic. It's exhausting.
And it's mine.
This business isn't separate from my life as a mother—it's interwoven with it. Mia and Maddie see their mama building something with her hands. They see hard work, creativity, and the importance of keeping promises to clients.
They're growing up understanding that women can build businesses AND families. That success isn't one or the other—it's both, beautifully messy and real.
What "Boards of Hope" Means Today
Every Board Still Carries Our Story
When Charlotte families, businesses, and couples order from Charcuterie Chic Charlotte, they're getting more than the best charcuterie board Charlotte NC can offer.
Every board we create still carries a piece of that journey:
Grit (three IVF rounds taught us not to quit)
Grace (struggling taught us compassion)
Hope (unwavering belief that even impossible things can bloom)
This isn't just a business—it's a living, breathing extension of our story.
Why Woman-Owned Matters
Being a woman-owned business in Charlotte means something deeply personal to me.
It means:
Building this with my own hands, from scratch, with no investors or startup capital
Supporting other Charlotte women—80% of our suppliers are woman-owned businesses
Proving you can start with nothing but hope, hustle, and hands willing to work
Creating a business that honors both success AND struggle
Showing my daughters that women build empires while raising families
When you support Boards of Hope, you're supporting a woman entrepreneur, a mother, and a fighter who refused to give up on either dream.
Why Charlotte Chose Us (And Keeps Choosing Us)
The Best Charcuterie Board Charlotte NC: What Makes Us Different
People often ask: "What makes your Charlotte charcuterie boards different?"
Here's the truth: It's not just the food (though we do use premium artisan cheeses, farm-to-board meats, and seasonal Charlotte ingredients).
It's the intention.
Every board is created by someone who:
Understands that celebrations are precious (because I fought for my own)
Values every single client (because strangers became my support system)
Refuses to do anything halfway (because giving up isn't in my vocabulary)
Treats your event like it's my own (because I remember what it's like to need things to be perfect)
When you order Charlotte charcuterie catering from us, you're working with someone who gets it—the importance of details, the weight of big moments, the desire for things to be special.
Our 5-Star Promise
Charcuterie Chic Charlotte maintains a 5.0-star Google rating because:
✅ We show up - On time, every time, exactly as promised✅ We communicate - Clear, responsive, friendly✅ We deliver quality - Premium ingredients, beautiful presentation, always✅ We care - Your event matters to us like it's our own✅ We remember - Repeat clients become family
This is what happens when a business is built on hope rather than just profit.
From Our Charlotte Clients: Why They Choose Boards of Hope
"More Than Just Food"
"When I learned about Mayra's Boards of Hope story, I cried. We'd just had our own rainbow baby after losses, and choosing her for our celebration felt like fate. The board was stunning, but the heart behind it? That's what made it unforgettable."— Rachel M., Dilworth Charlotte | Baby Shower Charcuterie
"You Can Taste the Love"
"I've tried several Charlotte charcuterie companies. Charcuterie Chic is different—you can literally taste that every board is made with care and intention. Plus, supporting a local woman-owned business after reading their story? Easy choice."— Jennifer K., South End Charlotte | Corporate Event Catering
"The Best Charcuterie Charlotte Has"
"We've ordered from Charcuterie Chic for three corporate events now. Mayra's story inspired us to commit to woman-owned vendors, and the quality backs it up every time. Easily the best charcuterie board Charlotte businesses can order."— David L., Ballantyne Corporate Office | Recurring Corporate Client
"Our Wedding, Their Mission"
"Reading about Boards of Hope before our wedding made choosing Mayra a no-brainer. Our wedding grazing table wasn't just gorgeous food—it was created by someone who understands how precious these moments are. Worth every penny."— Amanda & Chris, Myers Park Wedding | Wedding Grazing Table Charlotte
Our Mission: Spreading Hope Through Charlotte
More Than Charcuterie: A Mission to Connect
Boards of Hope exists to:
🧀 Create Beautiful, Delicious Food Using premium artisan cheeses, farm-to-board meats, seasonal fruits, and gourmet accompaniments sourced from Charlotte's best suppliers
❤️ Bring People Together Every board, grazing table, and event we serve creates moments of connection—exactly what got me through the hardest time
✨ Spread Hope Through our story, our work, and our commitment to showing that beauty can emerge from struggle
👩 Support Women By being woman-owned and prioritizing woman-owned suppliers, we strengthen Charlotte's female entrepreneur community
🌱 Build Community Charlotte supported us during our hardest chapter. Now we give back by serving this community with excellence, heart, and gratitude
Services: How We Serve Charlotte
Today, Boards of Hope (Charcuterie Chic Charlotte) serves Charlotte through:
Custom Charcuterie Boards
From intimate small boards for 4-6 people to large boards for 15-20 guests
Perfect for: Date nights, family gatherings, small parties, gifts
Stunning Grazing Tables
Our signature Mini Grazing Tables (25-50 guests) and full grazing tables (60-100+ guests)Perfect for: Charlotte weddings, corporate events, large celebrations
Corporate Catering Charlotte
Charlotte corporate catering including office lunches, client meetings, conferences, team celebrations
Free delivery throughout Charlotte's business districts
Wedding Charcuterie Charlotte
Wedding grazing tables, cocktail hour boards, bridal shower catering
We've served 100+ Charlotte weddings at venues like The Mint Museum, The Dairy Barn, Duke Mansion
Event Catering
Baby showers, bridal showers, birthday parties, holiday gatherings, engagement partiesEvery Charlotte celebration deserves beautiful food
Charcuterie Delivery Charlotte
Same-day charcuterie board delivery available Free delivery throughout South End, Uptown, Dilworth, Myers Park, NoDa, Plaza Midwood, Ballantyne, SouthPark, and all Charlotte neighborhoods
Charlotte Neighborhoods We Serve with Hope
We proudly deliver Charlotte charcuterie boards throughout:
Uptown Charlotte | South End | Dilworth | Myers Park | Elizabeth | NoDa | Plaza Midwood | Ballantyne | SouthPark | Cotswold | Matthews | Cornelius | Davidson | Huntersville | Mint Hill | Pineville
Free delivery throughout Charlotte metro. Same-day service available for urgent celebrations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Story
Q: Is this business really built on an IVF journey?
A: Yes. Charcuterie Chic Charlotte (Boards of Hope) was founded in 2019 during our three rounds of IVF treatment. Creating beautiful charcuterie boards became my therapy, purpose, and eventually, my business. The name "Boards of Hope" reflects that origin—and reminds us daily why we do this work.
Q: Are you still a hands-on business, or have you scaled with employees?
A: I (Mayra) still personally handcraft the majority of our boards, especially for weddings and special events. My husband handles deliveries and logistics. We have helpers for large events, but this remains a family-operated, woman-owned Charlotte business. When you order from us, you're getting boards made by my hands, with my care.
Q: Why do you share such a personal story publicly?
A: Because infertility and IVF are incredibly isolating. During our journey, I felt alone. If sharing our story helps even one person feel less alone, or inspires someone else struggling to keep pursuing their dreams, it's worth the vulnerability.
Also, authenticity matters. When you support Boards of Hope, I want you to know exactly who we are—a real family, with a real story, doing real work with heart.
Q: How do you balance motherhood and running Charlotte's best charcuterie business?
A: Honestly? Some days are beautiful, some days are chaos, and most days are both. I work during naps, nights, and any moment I can grab. My four-year-old "helps" (read: makes messes while I work). My baby naps nearby. It's not perfect or polished—but it's real, and it works for us.
The business and motherhood don't compete—they complement. My daughters see what building something meaningful looks like.
Q: Do you only cater for people who've experienced infertility?
A: Of course not! We serve ALL Charlotte celebrations—weddings, corporate events, birthdays, showers, parties of every kind. Our IVF story is our origin, but our mission is broader: creating beautiful food that brings people together, whatever they're celebrating.
That said, clients who've walked similar paths often feel a special connection. And that's beautiful.
Q: What makes your charcuterie boards the "best in Charlotte"?
A: Honestly, "best" is subjective. But here's what we promise:
Premium quality (artisan cheeses, farm-to-board meats, seasonal ingredients)
Artistic presentation (every board is visually stunning)
Personal care (handcrafted by someone who treats your event like it's my own)
Reliable service (5-star rating, on-time every time)
Heart (every board carries our Boards of Hope mission)
You decide if that makes us the best. Our 100+ 5-star reviews suggest Charlotte agrees.
Ready to Experience Boards of Hope?
✨ Be Part of Our Story
Whether you're planning a Charlotte wedding, need corporate catering, or just want a beautiful board for your next gathering—we'd be honored to serve you.
Every order supports a woman-owned Charlotte business, a family built on hope, and a mission to bring people together through beautiful food.
Contact Boards of Hope:
📱 Call or Text: (704) 275-1566📧 Email: mayra@charcuteriechicclt.com🌐 Website: www.charcuteriechicclt.com📍 Serving: All of Charlotte Metro Area
Hours: Monday-Sunday, 9am-9pm
Follow Our Journey:
📸 Instagram: @charcuteriechic.clt👍 Facebook: Charcuterie Chic CLT
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 Star Google Rating | 👩 Woman-Owned Business | ❤️ Born from Boards of Hope | 🚚 Free Charlotte Delivery | 🏆 Charlotte's Premier Charcuterie | 👨👩👧👧 Family-Built with Love
From Struggle to Strength: The Boards of Hope Promise
If you're receiving one of our boards, you're not just getting food. You're getting a soulful piece of who we are—a reminder that beauty can come from broken places, and joy often grows right through the cracks.
You're getting a board created by hands that know struggle and chose hope anyway.
You're supporting a woman who built a business while fighting for her family—and won both battles.
You're experiencing what happens when passion, perseverance, and premium ingredients come together.
You're experiencing Boards of Hope.
Thank You, Charlotte
To every client who's trusted us with their celebration. To every person who's shared our story. To everyone who's supported this woman-owned Charlotte business. To the Charlotte community that held us up when we needed it most.
Thank you.
You're the reason Boards of Hope exists. You're the reason we keep going. You're the reason we create every single board with care, intention, and yes—hope.
From our family to yours, with gratitude and love,
Mayra, Mia & Maddie
Charcuterie Chic Charlotte | Boards of Hope
Woman-Owned • Charlotte, NC • Built on Hope Since 2019
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