In the wedding industry, every detail must be perfect. From the venue to the flowers, and especially the invitations, everything plays a crucial role in creating a memorable day. Every couple has their own vision for their wedding, and making that dream come true is the key. Let’s read Samantha’s story about her growing success in the wedding planning business.
Meet Samantha, the successful founder of Samantha Burke Events, a leading wedding organiser for the past seven years. Samantha has a rich background in Advertising, Marketing, and Event agencies as an Event Producer and Account Director. Her career journey is nothing short of inspiring.
“I had a great background in both event design and client management working across some of the world’s biggest global brands. I had worked mostly in FMCG with a focus on alcohol, so planning parties and fun events was a major part of my career! And I loved it! ,” Samantha explains.
Her extensive experience creating memorable events for high-profile clients laid the foundation for her business.
The transition from agency life to entrepreneurship was sparked by a personal milestone.
“I actually decided to move away from agency life around the time I was getting married and then thought – why not become my own boss and take all my experience from working in marketing agencies and start an agency with a focus on events – both corporate and weddings,” she recalls.
Standing Out in a Competitive Industry
The wedding events grew so big and fast that she decided to focus on weddings, helping couples plan their weddings and bring their visions to life. Today, Samantha Burke Events has worked with over 130 couples across Sydney, The Hunter Valley, Central Coast, and Southern Highlands.
In a market filled with talented wedding planners, Samantha Burke Events distinguishes itself through strong reviews, an impressive portfolio, and excellent relationships with top Sydney venues like the Opera House, MCA, and Grand Pacific Group.
She said the company always keeps up with trends, so the clients will love what they do. “Our style is classic and elevated with a modern twist. We play into trends and fashions but always ensure our work remains timeless,” Samantha notes.
When asked about the primary factors contributing to the company’s success, she emphasised exceptional customer service and a great portfolio.
“We have a really great portfolio and can share photos of lots of beautiful weddings, but if you look at our Google reviews, you’ll see that everyone always says what a pleasure it is to work with us.“
In the wedding industry, Samantha believes that having a can-do attitude, managing expectations, and paying attention to detail are the primary factors to success.
Strategies for Success
Samantha’s journey to success wasn’t meticulously planned from the start. “I was winging it like most people! I worked relentlessly, said yes to every job and opportunity, even working for free initially to gain experience and client reviews.” Said Samantha. Networking and building relationships within the industry were also crucial steps to leverage the business.
Her marketing background gave her an edge. “I taught myself basic SEO with help from a friend, spent time on social media, and worked diligently on my website. These efforts paid off as I ranked high on Google within six months and drove inquiries.”
In the early years, Samantha required a relentless work ethic and a willingness to seize every opportunity. Her proactive approach and marketing expertise allowed her to establish a strong online presence and attract a steady stream of clients.
Maintaining Good Delivering Result
Attention to detail and organisation are crucial to ensuring flawless execution. Samantha emphasises, “I make a lot of notes, stay very organised, and only work with the best vendors.” This meticulous approach has resulted in numerous successful events and satisfied clients.
One of Samantha Burke Events’ core principles is maintaining a high standard of service. By collaborating with top-tier vendors, Samantha ensures that every vision of her clients’ weddings is executed perfectly.
After all the hard work Samantha put in to ensure flawless delivery at her clients’ weddings, she received positive testimonials.
“We can’t recommend Sam highly enough! Right from the moment we met, we knew Sam completely got our vision and understood what we needed to bring all our wedding details together. Sam was enthusiastic, professional, punctual and able to answer all of our little questions.
The end result on the day was more than we had expected! Sam took our vision and made it 1000 times more fabulous. Our guests couldn’t stop raving about our wedding!” Said Jess and Damir, one of Samantha’s clients.
Challenges
Samantha faced significant challenges, including starting a family when the business was still young and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Wedding Planning, like most wedding jobs, is really full on and physical. It is not ideal to be moving furniture in a field on a 30-degree day when you’re seven months pregnant! So even though it was tough financially, I had to get help in the form of support staff” she shares.
She also made the difficult decision to hibernate the business for six months after her son was born, which was a risk but ultimately paid off as work picked up quickly upon her return.
COVID-19 presented another set of challenges. “The pandemic was a non-stop nightmare for the events world. We had to constantly pivot and adapt our plans.“
Starting a family required Samantha to hibernate the business for a while, but it was a good decision for her to experience being a new mom. Upon her return, she focused on delivering exceptional client results, which paid off. Similarly, the pandemic demanded unprecedented flexibility and adaptability. Samantha’s ability to navigate these challenges underscores her dedication.
Partnering with Paperlust
Samantha Burke Events has been partnering with Paperlust, and it began serendipitously. “A client chose one of Paperlust’s designs, and I was impressed with the service. The ease of ordering, excellent customer service, and superior print quality stood out,” Samantha recalls. “Paperlust is incredibly speedy compared to other companies, which is key in weddings.“
Since that initial project in 2020, Samantha Burke Events has collaborated on numerous custom projects with Paperlust, benefiting from their reliable service and high-quality products. Paperlust’s commitment to excellence and timely delivery has made it a valuable partner for Samantha Burke Events.
The Importance of Reliable Vendor
Partnering with Paperlust has helped Samantha Burke Events deliver perfect results for clients and contributed to growth, especially when it comes to having a supplier you can work with and rely on for many jobs.
“Having a reliable and easy-to-work-with partner is essential. Stationery plays a big role in wedding styling,” says Samantha.
A partner that is trusted and reliable for every job is what every business owner is looking for. Saving time and ensuring perfect delivery results benefit both the business and clients, especially when it comes to weddings where bringing every detail of the client’s vision to life and perfect execution is important.
Samantha’s Advice For Success
Samantha offers two pieces of advice that we can consider to grow a successful business:
First, be authentic: “Only do things that feel authentic. It’s easy to look at what other people are doing and try to jump on a bandwagon, but if it’s not right for you (and that’s a gut feeling), then don’t worry about it. Find your own thing.” said Samantha
Being authentic and having our own business values can help grow the business and differentiate it from competitors. Clients love something genuine and new!
Second, success is not judged by other people’s standards. When it comes to success and growth, it is not only about size and scale but also about who you want to work with.
“For me, growth and success from a business perspective isn’t about size and scale. It’s about being able to now pick and choose who I work with and only go for the weddings and the clients that I want to work on. If I don’t think it’s a good fit I don’t do it. So don’t think you have to be bigger to be better.” Said Samantha
Samantha’s story provides valuable insights and inspiration in the wedding industry, where attention to detail, timelines, and having a trusted vendor are crucial. Whether you’re a wedding business owner, designer, or freelancer, Samantha Burke Events’ story demonstrates the potential for success with the right support and dedication.