Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Watkins.
Hi Kayla, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
About two years ago, I was sitting in my hairdresser’s chair when she was talking with me about how stressed she was about her wedding coming up in less than a month. She did not have a wedding coordinator at the time, and I wanted to help alleviate some of her stress. So, I took a step of faith and offered to coordinate her wedding. Even though I had never coordinated a wedding myself, I had observed a coordinator as a guest. To learn more about the tasks a coordinator does, I called some connections. That wedding was so much fun, and my coordinating services started to spread from there. I established Kayla Marie Events LLC in May 2021 and officially launched it last November. I have been blessed as my business has grown quickly since the official launch. Within the first year of launching, my company will have coordinated 10 weddings, and our 2023 coordinating and planning calendar is booking up quickly as well. It is amazing to see how one encounter at the hair salon can lead to launching a successful company.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
My first three weddings were in the Fall and Spring season after the Covid-19 shutdown. Beginning a new business right after Covid and serving brides who were very much impacted by the pandemic were challenges. I made sure to be as supportive as I could through the many unknowns they faced. One of my brides was to get married in Miami and had to change her venue to Atlanta only seven weeks from her wedding date. It challenged me as an entrepreneur to have unwavering calmness throughout all the unexpected changes. Another challenge was that I got married within my first year of launching my company. Given the time that it took to plan my own wedding as well as coordinate the weddings on my schedule in the Spring, I was not able to accept new planning couples until after my wedding in May 2022. Even though it was a challenge waiting to start the process with my wedding planning couples until summer 2022, it has turned into a real benefit. After being a bride and choosing to plan my whole wedding by myself, I became more educated, experienced, and passionate about what I do. I operate as a business owner and coordinator differently now after experiencing my own wedding. I understand the emotions behind the wedding day more, and it has given me an extra amount of compassion to the process of wedding planning up until the big day.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
With a focus on client and guest experience, I manage the logistics so that my couples can focus on being in the moment during their weddings. I offer planning, coordinating, and consulting packages, and I aim to establish a positive, empathetic relationship with each couple I work with. When at a wedding, my goal is always to go above and beyond. Even if I check off all the tasks that come with my wedding coordinating package, my job is not done. It is my privilege to go the extra mile to help the couple, family, and vendors. For example, one important aspect of a wedding is to make sure the couple’s as well as the parents’ drinks are full throughout the night. Customer service is our priority. What we are most proud of is the responses we get from our couples. Our goal is for each couple to walk away feeling loved, served, and cared for in the most genuine way. When our couples feel that love, we know we have done a successful job.
How do you think about happiness?
There are many things that bring me happiness. I love to travel and learn about different cultures. My husband and I have dreams to visit Greece, Italy, Scotland, and Israel. Traveling brings happiness since I love to be adventurous and do new things. I enjoy spending time with my friends and family and attending football games in the Fall. You will often find me at a coffee shop or browsing through stores as I like to shop and buy gifts for others. A bouquet of flowers or a cold Coke Zero can also bring me some happiness. Although happiness is wonderful, I prefer to focus on joy, which is the sustaining happiness that I get through my faith.
Contact Info:
- Website: kaylamarieevents.com
- Instagram: @kaylamarieevents
- Facebook: @kaylamarieevents
Image Credits
Lesley Anne Fenton Photography Kayley Lorraine Photography Ashlyn Cathy Photography Kate Hensley Phillips Photography Elizabeth Lauren Jones Photography Janay Evalisce Photography Katie James Photography
