Today we’d like to introduce you to A’yesha Gaetán.
Hi A’yesha, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story begins in Chicago, a city that shaped both my work ethic and my love for people. I have always loved bringing others together and creating incredible experiences that are memorable for years to come. At 19, I planned my first event, an extravagant formal ball in a posh Chicago ballroom, created purely from passion. Guests traveled in from all over, dressed in their most elegant attire.
That night, as I often encourage my clients to do, I stepped aside for a moment to take it all in. The room was filled with laughter, music, and movement, and I could feel pure joy everywhere I looked. I knew I never wanted to forget that moment. Even then, I understood that this work brought me a joy nothing else could.
From there, people began asking me to plan weddings, grand openings, and other celebrations, and my passion grew. At the same time, my corporate career was evolving. I spent more than twenty years in dentistry, beginning as a dental assistant and growing into senior leadership. I led teams, managed operations, and planned professional meetings and celebrations that reminded me how much I loved creating memorable experiences. Those moments taught me how to lead with empathy, structure, and creativity.
One highlight from that chapter was when my Vice President and I represented our company as sponsors for the 2019 Miss Universe Pageant at Tyler Perry Studios. All of this happened before I moved to Atlanta, and it reaffirmed how much I loved the energy and detail behind major events.
While working full-time in corporate dentistry, I began studying with the CWP Society, the world’s premier wedding industry membership and certification program, to immerse myself more deeply in hospitality while also working as a Flight Attendant for one of the best airlines in the world. Connecting people to worldwide experiences has always been my passion, and travel is my love language. Seeing the world transformed the way I design and approach celebration. I was later selected for a special assignment as a Meeting and Event Planner for the airline, supporting major leadership meetings and internal events. That experience strengthened my planning skills and confirmed that event planning was not only something I loved. It was what I was born to do.
When I relocated to Atlanta, I saw the perfect opportunity to reignite my passion and give my full focus to what is now known as A’yesha Gaetán Collectives. My company centers around destination weddings and celebrations that blend travel, storytelling, and unforgettable experiences. My work is guided by my core values: Relationships, Service, Versatility, and Passion through Growth and Grace.
Every time I pause during an event and see guests smiling and fully present, I feel the same gratitude I felt that night in Chicago. This is more than a business to me. It is my calling and my way of giving joy back to the world
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. One of my biggest challenges was relocating to Atlanta and rebuilding a network I had spent years growing in Chicago. Back home, people knew my work. Here, I had to start fresh and build those relationships one conversation at a time.
Balancing all of that while being a mom and a wife meant a lot of late nights and early mornings. There were many days where I would plan, study, or finish projects before the sun came up, but it was worth it because I knew I was building something meaningful.
What I know for sure is that relationships are everything, which is why they are a foundation of my core values. Staying consistent, staying true to myself, and always leading with heart opened the right doors. Atlanta now feels like home, and I am grateful for the journey that brought me here.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
A’yesha Gaetán Collectives is a boutique firm specializing in destination weddings, destination celebrations, and curated travel experiences. My heart has always been in connecting people to beautiful places and meaningful moments, and I love blending celebration and travel in a way that feels effortless and personal.
What sets me apart is my background. I am not just a wedding planner and I am not just a travel advisor. I have traveled the world, studied hospitality, worked in leadership for years, and invested in learning from some of the very best in the wedding and travel industries. I am earning multiple certifications through the CWP Society, and although they are not required, I pursue them because I believe in staying current, elevating my craft, and serving my clients with the highest standards. Trends evolve, expectations rise, and I am committed to growing right alongside them.
Another thing that makes me different is how intentionally I built my business. I chose a host boutique travel agency that focuses on experiences and relationships instead of recruiting agents. That was important to me because relationships are at the center of everything I do. I want every client to feel supported, understood, and cared for, not passed around a large system.
I am also stepping into this season as a near mid-century modern woman, and I say that with joy. It means I bring life experience, wisdom, confidence, and a grounded sense of who I am into every celebration and every trip I design. My clients feel that in the way I guide them and the way I show up for them.
At its core, A’yesha Gaetán Collectives is about joy, connection, and creating experiences that stay with people long after the moment passes. This is not just planning for me. This is my passion, my purpose, and the way I help people celebrate life beautifully.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My biggest advice is to start before you feel ready. You will learn more by doing than by waiting for the perfect moment. When I first began, I thought I needed every detail in place and every certification completed before I could call myself a professional. What I have learned is that confidence comes from experience, and experience comes from showing up.
Focus on building real relationships. They will carry you farther than any marketing strategy. Be kind, be consistent, and follow through on your word. People remember how you made them feel long after the details fade.
I have also been blessed with incredible mentors who pushed me, guided me, and believed in me during seasons when I felt overwhelmed, unsure, or lacked confidence. Their support changed everything for me. So seek community. Learn from people who inspire you. And just as important, be willing to support others — even those in your own industry. We grow when we help each other grow.
Invest in yourself. Stay curious, stay open, and give yourself grace. Growth is not always pretty, but it is always worth it.
Most of all, trust your voice. Trust your purpose. And don’t be afraid to take up space in the room you once prayed to be in.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Ayeshagaetan.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayeshagaetancollective
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1JPWxizgTn/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ayeshagaetan/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ayeshagaetan?si=yHz6n8FhoZMJShaP
- Other: https://pin.it/2Hkdo2GJc
Image Credits
Dreamlens Photgraphy
