Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki Michel.
Nikki, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I think my infatuation with weddings started with this most amazing wedding scene in my absolute favorite movie of all times, “Coming To America”! I mean, the elaborate costumes, amazing dresses, and absolute grandeur surrounding this event, who could not want to be apart of something so amazing… all the time!
My mom was one to always want to throw elaborate parties, birthdays were a big deal in our house, and all around just super creative, so I inherited all of the technical things associated with executing an event from her. I was always an entrepreneur at heart, selling cooking cakes and special occasion baskets to my middle and high school friends to make them feel special was a hit, and surprisingly profitable!
I initially thought I wanted to be a wedding planner, but I learned quickly that I did not. I wanted more of a creative role over the aesthetics of the event more than a holistic, logistical one. I honed in on my floral design skills by taking classes at a local floral wholeseller and interning with one of the most amazing florists in Atlanta, John Grady Burns. His wedding and floral execution were on a level that I had only seen on television. A lot of the trends that are seen in today’s weddings were things he would incorporate into his designs 9 years ago!
My business expanded as social media expanded. Having the ability to share my work and bride’s review their experience working with me, with a wider audience, was really the catalyst to where I am today.
I absolutely love making spaces become what the client has envisioned for their event. Wedding and special events, are essential moments in time that make the client and their guests feel special This is what I enjoy the most about being apart of the design process, making people feel special in an environment that completely elevates the entire event experience.
Has it been a smooth road?
Pricing was a real struggle for me in the beginning. I would often undercharge for my floral and design services not fully understand the work that goes into executing an event. You go into business to make money, right?! Once I understood the value and worth of my service, clients were often in shock with the price tag associated with the design. However, this comes with educating them on the process.
Weddings are hard, hard work! It is months and months of preparation, with countless emails, phone calls, and meetings. The process of preparing flowers and mechanics for an event is not glamorous in the least bit, but it is a necessary step. The actual event day is a long day of execution, with a lot of staff, but worth every reaction we get from our clients in seeing the finished product.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Ciao Bella Weddings story. Tell us more about the business.
Ciao Bella Weddings is a floral and event design company that specializes in wedding and special events. We transform spaces into the client’s ultimate event experience through all components of the design. From opulent florals to custom linens to intricate draping, we handle it all. We are your one stop design shop.
This is the biggest value and service we provide to our clients. There is no need to hire five different companies to execute each individual design aspect of your event. We manage how the event looks from top to bottom, setting us apart from other companies and creating an ease of execution for our clients!
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Events are so personal, so I think you will continue to see an evolution in creating the ultimate guest experience. with weddings and special events, while the client keeps true to their personality. You want your guests to be wowed with detail and thoughtfulness in how the event is planned and executed. Clients will continue to adapt and change as trends come and go, but the need for the best guest experience for any event will always be present.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ciaobellaweddings.com
- Phone: 866.920.2426
- Email: info@ciaobellaweddings.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ciaobellaweddings
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ciaobellaweddings
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/ciaobellaatl
Image Credit:
Shauna Veazey Photography, Sarah Jordan Photography, Gandy Photographers, Something Pretty Photography, Shannon Johnson Photography
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