Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Curry.
Katie, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Always being a lover of design, being creative was a safe place—a place where I didn’t have to pretend or be judged. Whether I was painting portraits, sketching gown designs, styling plus size women, or landscaping with my father, I considered every and all forms of art home. For as long as I can remember, I have always been an analytical organizer who attempts to think things through and plan for the “what ifs” and “what nows.” In school, I was in every club, imaginable. I planned everything from community volunteer projects to school dances.
In college, friends and family would have me plan birthday parties and intimate backyard weddings. While it was a hobby that I enjoyed, I was adamant about pursuing my degree in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing. So after college, I moved to LA and worked with some amazing design firms and stylists. After a year in L.A., it still didn’t feel like home, so I moved back to Tennessee. That same year I was gifted with the joy of motherhood when I birthed a beautiful baby girl. Two years into living in Nashville, I found myself starving from the absence of a creative outlet. With Tennessee not being known for high fashion, there was little to nothing for me to do.
In 2013, my best friend called one Saturday morning and said that God had put it on her heart for us to start an event planning firm. I was always fine with doing events for fun, but the idea of being an entrepreneur was terrifying. I was immediately consumed with fear and self-doubt but with her encouragement, we started the process of creating Events by Allison-Marie. We both continued to work 50+ hours a week jobs and I was still figuring out my new motherhood role. It was not at all easy. Our first clients were living in Aviano, Italy, while planning their East Tennessee wedding. It was wildly successful and bookings came from word of mouth. After a few years, Kristen was blessed to become a mommy and wanted to focus on her family, so she sold her half of the business to me. I never felt the need to change the name because had it not been for Kristen, I would have never mustered the courage to start the company on my own. Today, I plan upscale weddings, baby showers, birthday and corporate events.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As a creative, we can sometimes struggle with selling our passion. Because we find so much pleasure or talent is effortless for us, we sell ourselves short. Pricing has always been a pain for me. I straddle the fence with wanting to help others, which is my first love and being paid what I am worth. I have been taken advantage of more times than I would like to admit. Most professionals in the event industry provide a service and those services undoubtedly increase year after year. While I have yet to increase pricing every year, I do push myself to increase my pricing every two years.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Events By Allison-Marie – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We are a boutique event planning firm that specializes in curating experiential events. We transfigure the event set into the enthralling vision of our clients’ dreams. It’s never just a wedding in the courtyard or a dinner at a corporate retreat. It’s the sights, the cuisine, the entertainment, the TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
We are known for going above and beyond for our clients. Providing exceptional customer service is of upmost importance to us. We possess an innovative and imaginative styling ability that is refined by our impeccable level of taste. I am most proud of our ability to save our clients thousands when they choose to work with us.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
As one of the first industries to be shut down due to the pandemic and likely one of the last to fully return, the live events industry, which employs over 12 million Americans and contributes nearly $1 trillion to the U.S economy, is adapting to a new reality. Because of the countless postponements, next year weddings will be in full force like we have never seen before as we are essentially jamming two wedding seasons into one. I am choosing to focus on more intimate events and weddings until corporate events are back in full swing. I absolutely love the new “mini-wedding and events trend! Budgets stretch further and the occasions are that much more special.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.eventsbyallison-marie.com
- Phone: 615.678.9029
- Email: info@eventsbyallison-marie.com
- Instagram: @eventsbyallisonmarie
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EventsByAllisonMarie/
Image Credit:
Kinsley Barga
Twila’s Photography
Richard Woumn
Khayrro inspires
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