Meet Aniqua & Leonardo Paskell of Design by Faith Co.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aniqua & Leonardo Paskell.

Hi Aniqua & Leonardo, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Design by Faith Co. honestly started by accident. We were preparing for the arrival of our first baby and needed a welcome sign for our own event, so we decided to make one ourselves the night before. We posted it online not thinking much of it, and suddenly people started asking if we could create signs for their weddings and events too. At the time, we had no background in the wedding industry and definitely never imagined ourselves running a business.

Truthfully, we were scared to even start because we didn’t know where to begin. We questioned if we were capable, if anyone would actually support us, and if this was something we could really build while raising a growing family. But little by little, we kept showing up. There were days we were creating signs with babies nearby, learning everything as we went, and posting content even when barely anyone was watching. In the beginning, our videos would get maybe 5 likes and we had less than 100 followers, but we stayed consistent and focused on the details.

One of the biggest moments for us was when one of our flower box welcome sign videos unexpectedly went viral. Overnight, millions of people from around the world were sharing our work and appreciating something we created from our home. That moment changed everything for us and showed us that the small things we were pouring our hearts into actually mattered.

Since then, Design by Faith Co. has grown into so much more than we ever imagined. We’ve had the opportunity to create for incredible weddings, work with amazing couples, and even be featured by brands and platforms we used to admire from afar. Most recently, we had the opportunity to create a custom bookshelf-style seating chart for Olympic couple Noah Lyles & Junelle Bromfield’s wedding celebration, which was featured in Vogue, Vogue Weddings, and Essence. But even with those milestones, what means the most to us is still the people behind it all. We genuinely love creating pieces that make people feel celebrated and tell their story in a meaningful way.

At the core of everything, our business was built on faith. There have been so many moments where doors opened that we know we could not have forced on our own. None of our success would be possible without God. That’s actually where our name came from — Design by Faith. It’s a reminder of how this all started and the way we want to continue building moving forward.

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?
Entrepreneurship has come with a lot of challenges and moments that tested us deeply, both creatively and personally. One situation we’ll probably never forget happened during one of the busiest weekends our business has ever had.

A few days before a huge influencer wedding out of state, our laser machine suddenly stopped working while we were also preparing for another large local wedding in Georgia. At the time, almost everything we created relied on that machine, so it felt like the worst possible timing. Thankfully, another local business stepped in last minute to help us finish production, which reminded us how important community is in this industry.

We headed to Tampa to complete the out-of-state wedding, thinking we had made it through the hardest part, but while we were away, a severe storm hit Georgia where we had already pre-set portions of another installation. The storm broke our supports and completely shattered a large seating chart display we had spent countless hours creating.

Without hesitation, our mom and sister stepped in early the next morning, sourced replacement materials, and headed to the venue at 6AM to help restore everything before guests arrived.

That weekend really sums up entrepreneurship for us. Unexpected setbacks, long nights, problem solving in real time, and leaning on both faith and family through it all. There are so many beautiful moments in business, but also many unseen moments that require resilience and perseverance behind the scenes.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Design by Faith Co.?
Design by Faith Co. is a luxury wedding and event signage studio specializing in custom statement pieces and immersive guest experiences. From large scale welcome displays and seating charts to interactive installations and custom fabrication, we focus on creating designs that feel deeply personal to each couple and event we work with. Every piece is intentionally designed to tell a story rather than just serve as décor.

Over the years, we’ve become especially known for pushing creative boundaries within the wedding industry. Whether it’s our viral flower box welcome signs, custom bookshelf seating charts, interactive escort displays, or fully customized installations, we love taking ideas that may seem impossible and finding a way to bring them to life in a meaningful and elevated way.

What sets us apart is the heart behind what we create. We care deeply about the experience our clients and their guests have from the moment they walk into a space. We’re not just focused on making something “pretty” for photos, but creating moments that feel memorable, intentional, and reflective of the people being celebrated.

We’re also proud of the organic community and platform we’ve built over the years through storytelling and consistency. Watching our work resonate with millions of people online, being featured by major wedding platforms and publications, and having opportunities to create for high profile weddings has been incredibly surreal. Most recently, we created a custom bookshelf-style seating chart for Olympic couple Noah Lyles & Junelle Bromfield’s wedding celebration, which was featured in Vogue, Vogue Weddings, and Essence.

But beyond any recognition, what we’re most proud of is building a business rooted in faith, family, and creativity. Design by Faith Co. started from humble beginnings in our home while raising young children, and every opportunity since then has reminded us of the importance of staying grounded, serving people well, and creating with intention.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
One of the biggest pieces of advice we would give is to genuinely lead with relationships instead of only looking at networking as a business opportunity. Some of the most impactful connections in our journey came from simply building authentic community with people who believed in us early on.

When we first started, Kate from Kate’s Mobile Bar and Party Rental ATL truly took us under her wing. She gave us advice, encouraged us when we were still figuring everything out, and trusted us enough to refer some of our very first clients through her mobile bar business. Over the years, her support has gone far beyond business. When I unexpectedly had an emergency C-section with our second baby boy, she went onsite and set up one of our pieces for free without hesitation. There have been so many moments where she has stepped in to help us when we needed it most. Her support has been unwavering, and we’re incredibly grateful that our friendship has turned into doing life together beyond just work.

For networking, one thing that worked really well for us in the beginning was simply being proactive and introducing ourselves. We would reach out to some of the top venues around Georgia, share our work, and focus on building real relationships with planners and vendors in the industry. Social media also played a huge role for us. Consistently posting our work, even when very few people were watching, eventually opened doors and connected us with people all over the world.

We’ve learned that community is everything in entrepreneurship. Having people around you who genuinely want to see you win makes all the difference.

Pricing:

• Georgia weddings have a $1,000 minimum investment
• Out of state weddings have a $2,500 minimum investment

Contact Info:

• Website: https://designbyfaithco.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designbyfaithco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550020866375