Today we’d like to introduce you to Dabney Dacus Smith.
Dabney, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always loved creating beautiful gatherings. Some of my earliest memories are of hosting little tea parties as a child. That instinct to create an experience for people has always been a part of me.
My professional path actually began in a very different place. I started my career as a Certified Public Accountant with Ernst & Young and later built an interior design business. While those may seem unrelated to weddings at first glance, they ended up being the perfect foundation for Dabney & Co. The analytical side of my CPA background brings structure, organization, and financial clarity to the planning process, while my design background allows me to think creatively and approach each celebration as a cohesive, layered experience.
After years in the event and wedding planning industry, our company has earned its place as one of the most trusted and respected planning and design firms whose work focuses on creating refined, story-driven celebrations for couples who value thoughtful details and seamless execution. What began as a love of hosting has grown into a deeply rewarding career helping couples celebrate one of the most meaningful moments of their lives.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Like most journeys, it hasn’t always been a perfectly smooth road. Building a business requires a lot of sleepless nights, faith, persistence, and a willingness to learn along the way. Early on, one of the biggest challenges was simply educating couples on the true value of professional planning. Many people don’t realize how many moving parts go into producing a seamless wedding until they’re deep in the process. You don’t know what you don’t know! Without expert guidance, you may sacrifice your time, effort, money, and guest experience.
There have also been the natural growing pains that come with evolving a business and gaining industry experience. Along the way, we have refined our brand, strengthened our systems, and worked to prepare for every possible scenario when planning and executing weddings.
At the same time, those challenges have been incredibly valuable. Each one has helped us grow stronger, more thoughtful, and more intentional in how we serve our couples. Today, those lessons allow us to lead the planning process with calm confidence and provide the kind of experience our clients truly value.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At Dabney & Co., we specialize in concierge level wedding planning and design for couples who want celebrations that feel deeply personal, beautifully cohesive, and effortlessly executed. Our focus is creating refined, story driven weddings where every detail, both visible and behind the scenes, is thoughtfully considered.
We are known for our meticulous attention to detail, calm leadership, and highly organized approach. Couples often tell us how reassuring it is to have someone anticipating needs before they arise so they can truly be present and enjoy the experience.
What sets us apart is the balance of creativity and structure. My background in interior design and accounting allows us to approach weddings both artistically and strategically, ensuring celebrations that are not only beautiful but seamlessly executed.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Sweet Tea and dancing, but seriously, what makes me happiest is my family. One of the greatest joys of this business is that I get to work alongside my daughters. Building something meaningful together and combining our different strengths has been incredibly rewarding.
I also love the creative and strategic side of what we do. There’s something very fulfilling about helping couples create the vision for their wedding and then thoughtfully orchestrating all the moving pieces so their celebration comes to life even better than they imagined.
My two favorite moments of a wedding day perfectly capture why I love this work so much. The first is right after the ceremony when the couple walks back down the aisle together. There’s this unspoken moment of “we just did that,” and the joy on their faces is unforgettable.
The other is at the very end of the night, just before the send-off. It’s a little bittersweet because it marks the end of our journey together, but when we hug goodbye you can see the moment it really sinks in for them that their dream day truly came to life.
Pricing:
- Full Planning starts at $14, 500
- Mini-mony starts at $6,500
- Partial Planning starts at $8,500
- Wedding Management starts at $2,250
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.DabneyCo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dabney_co/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091497435530&mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
Todd Graham Photography
Maggie Karanja Photography
Sarah Folsom Photography
Laura Stone Photography
Chantilly Lace Weddings
