Meet Zakiya Brown of Romantic Essentials in Marietta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zakiya Brown.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Zakiya. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Raise your hand if you are a hopeless romantic! Listen, if I were in the room when they asked that question, shoot both hands and feet would be raised. LOL. I cry at hallmark movies and you can catch me smiling ear to ear as a couple walks past holding hands. I hate to sound cliché, but really, I am a hopeless romantic. I love to see people happy and enjoying themselves, I am a party starter, yep that’s me, Zakiya AKA Zee from Romantic Essentials, a lover at heart and I love to create memories.

Before starting my business, I planned not one but three of my friends’ wedding proposals. Today I run an amazing business called Romantic Essentials and thank you, Voyage Magazine for asking about my journey! I grew up in Tampa, FL, during the ’80s and ’90s and as an only child full of imagination, Barbie was my doll of choice. I had one from every race and even had a Ken doll. As far as I can remember, Ken always had a wife, I had a Barbie Dreamhouse that I absolutely loved and when at all possible, I would take my mother’s left-over wallpaper and many other objects from around the house to design their home. I had a vivid imagination and threw lots of parties with my dolls. I remodeled my dollhouses on many occasions, and from a very young age, you could say, I had a knack for interior design.

When my friends had date night, I would offer to babysit. Although I wasn’t asked to do so, I would often buy candles, rose petals, and chocolate to create a romantic space for them to enjoy once they returned home. Before I knew it, I was planning birthday parties, engagement parties, and date nights for family and friends. It became a  passion of mine, and I decided to go into business. 

Throughout the years, I have understood the importance of staying connected to your loved ones. Often relationships can go on autopilot and in some cases, lose their flare. Know anyone who needs help expressing their love in a more creative way? Is that someone you? We pretty much have two types of clients, the one who knows exactly what they want, but will come to us for execution, and the other one who may not be clear on what they want to do and have no idea where to start. We work with our clients to create beautiful experiences that are personable, exciting, and unique.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The only struggle for me was finding the right moment to get started. My choice to join Corporate America came about as I wondered if there was really a demand for a Romantic Concierge and event planning service. Would running my own business sustain the needs of my family?

While running the Romantic Essentials business for many years on the side, I received a master’s degree in Health Care Management and a bachelor’s degree in Paralegal Studies. Once my boys went off to college and the military, I was able to leverage my skills in management and research and incorporate them into my business.

Studies show that the demand for Romantic Concierges is on the rise. With the support of my husband and the fact that my son’s are now adults… I had no more excuses. I could no longer put my dreams on hold. I joined an amazing group of supportive women that are also Romance Concierges (I call them my Concierge Sister Circle) that encourage me, and I also connected with a mentor heavily respected within the industry. Our initial meeting was me helping her with a beautiful 17th birthday celebration. Shortly there after we talked business, and while under her mentorship, my business has been flourishing ever since.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Romantic Essentials – what should we know?
Romantic Essentials is a premier Romantic Concierge company. We provide the following services: Creative Date Night Planning, Romantic Room Transformations, Marriage Proposal Planning, Personal Shopping, Special Occasion Celebrations.

What sets us apart from the others? If I must answer that question, I will say that although we are a business, it’s not a job for me, it’s a passion. My typical day at work consists of listening to a client share just a little about their love and how they want to celebrate their significant other. I get to know some of what they both like and it is an honor to plan an experience that is just right for them.

In addition to the suite experiences, we also provide concierge services like personal shopping and delivery, you name it and most often than not, we can make it happen. Do you want gold roses? Sure, we can get that. Do you want green hearts? Sure, we can get that too. Whether you need us to deliver chocolates, shop for flowers, make dinner reservations, arrange a helicopter ride, or order a horse and carriage, we are your go-to for all your romantic concierge needs.

We are known for providing excellent service for all occasions throughout Atlanta and surrounding areas, but we are known best for our Proposal Planning and Wedding Night Concierge Services. We understand the pressure of simply asking the question “Will You Marry Me?” and will work hard to make sure the Marriage Proposal Planning Experience is everything you thought it would be. We have beautiful three feet “Will You Marry Me” marquee letters and lots of wonderful design ideas. Now the actual wedding day is for everyone from the bride and groom to family and friends. The Wedding Night is more intimate, the details are different and a separate moment. We find that couples prefer to work with a different designer versus the actual wedding planner when it comes to the Wedding Night. We are partnered with several premier wedding planners in the area. And of course, you really don’t want your family members or bridesmaids leaving the reception to make sure your room is ready, right? LOL, we didn’t think so! Our services also make the perfect gift from groomsmen and bridesmaids and we offer specials during our peak season, which is October through January. So contact us today to take advantage of some of our exclusive Proposal and Wedding night discounts.

We want our clients to turn into “Forever Clients.” We have families that use our services for multiple occasions from anniversaries, birthdays, date nights, etc. We have an attractive referral program where we offer 15% off when you refer new clients to us. One of the things that I am most proud of as a company is that we are helping people connect and express their love for one another. I even had one client share with me that we helped him save his marriage. I literally cried, that moment meant so much to me. It reminded me that the services we offer are making a difference.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
There have been countless people that have helped me along the way. I have been so blessed to have met and bonded with some amazing people during this incredible journey. The first would be my AMAZING husband, Richard Brown. There is no way I could have started this business without his love and support. He has always been there to lend a helping hand when I need it, and an understanding ear when things get tough. He is also our Romantic Essentials photographer. If I told him thank you every day it still wouldn’t be enough. My family and close friends have also been a support system for me, and I appreciate them for sticking with me through the ups and downs of my business journey.

My patient and understanding mentor Ta’Veca Collins has been a large part of who I am as a business owner. When I initially started looking for a mentor, I knew I wanted someone that was familiar with my business industry, and who understood the market for Romance Concierges. I was already following her business, Romance On The Go on social media. Once I decided to finally get serious about my business, I reached out to her about a mentorship, and from there, our friendship flourished. We are often our own worst credits, so it helps that I have a mentor who can listen, critique, and hold me accountable as I continue to grow my business.

I also can’t forget my “Sister Circle” of amazing romance concierges that inspire me daily with their creativity and work ethic. It’s too many to name but they know exactly who they are! (wink)

Pricing:

• Suite Experiences Start at $199
• Wedding Night Concierge Services Start at $350
• Date Night Planning Starts at $299
• Proposal Planning Starts at $699
• Romance Concierge Services/Personal Shopping Starts at $89
• Romantic Picnics Starting at $395

Contact Info:

• Website: www.romantic-essentials.com
• Phone: 404-692-0889
• Email: info@romantic-essentials.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RomanticEssentialsLLC