Today we’d like to introduce you to Nia Thompson.
Hi Nia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
When I was 18, I started working at Bridals by Lori in Sandy Springs, a bridal shop that is most famous for being featured on “Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta”. That job was my first step in the wedding world. While working there, I was able to meet and speak with dozens of people involved in the wedding industry. Those connections led to conversations, and I became enthralled with the idea of being a wedding planner. From there, I started assisting wedding planners I had met, taking every opportunity I could to learn and grow. When I finally felt comfortable enough to go out on my own, I began freelancing and working any wedding-related job that I could find. During this process, I accepted a position that was a more “corporate” job, but it just wasn’t a natural fit for me. In February of 2020, I took the leap, left my job, and began the process of starting my own business. I thought the pandemic would slow down my plans, but it ended up doing just the opposite. I had a fully booked 2021 season and Thompson & Tulle was in full swing!
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?
Starting a business during the pandemic definitely brought a unique set of challenges. Not only was I new to owning my own business, but now I was dealing with cancellations/reschedules/force majeure clauses, etc. Things I had never really considered before. I was scared that I wasn’t good enough or smart enough to be jumping into this business when I did and navigating the challenges that come with owning a business during the pandemic forced me to learn and grow faster than I ever thought was possible. On top of that, I was young! Getting people to trust me was one of the biggest challenges that I faced. I knew I had it in me, but I needed to convince the couples to trust me with the most important day of their life. Being young and inexperienced was the biggest obstacle I had, but I knew I had something to prove and was willing to work as hard as I needed to.
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?
I own Thompson & Tulle, an Atlanta-based wedding planning company. I am known for putting together modern events that represent the personal taste and style of the couples that I work with. What sets me apart from others is that I personally handle all aspects of planning and organizing for the couple. Outside of my assistants who help during the day of a wedding, there are no other employees in my company, so you can be sure that I am giving you everything I have. What I am most proud of brand-wise is that almost all of the couples who book me have come from word of mouth. There is something special about knowing they didn’t find me from an ad that I paid for but from a satisfied bride or groom. I want your readers to know that I am a local company that gives everything I have to every single couple that I work with, and I am never ready to rest until I know that they are thrilled with the end result. I don’t even tend to call the couples that I work with customers or clients, as I truly consider it a partnership because a wedding should reflect the couple getting married, and to do so it is important to know them well and work with them closely.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson that I’ve learned over this journey is how important it is to make sure that I don’t over-extend myself. When I first started, I wanted to challenge myself and take on as many weddings that I could to gain experience and better myself, but I quickly learned that it’s necessary to limit the number of weddings that I take on so that I can truly give my all to the couples that I work with. As much as I wish I could say yes to every person who reaches out to me, it is important to make sure that I’m not trying do too much for too many people and that quality is much more important than quantity.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thompsonandtulle.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thompsonandtulle/?hl=en
Image Credits:
The photos inside at Summerour with allll the flowers and greenery are by Garter and Whiskey
The head shot of me is by Eve Yarbrough Photo
The outdoor wedding photo under the trees is by Eliza Ours Photo
