Every event requires meticulous planning to ensure it’s truly unforgettable, especially weddings. Attention to detail is key in making everything run smoothly—from selecting the perfect venue to ensuring the wedding is a success. That’s where an event planner steps in, guiding the process from start to finish.
Meet Amie Laiyton, the founder of EventsWithAmie,a wedding planning business established in September 2023. With over a decade of experience in hospitality and events, Amie has gained invaluable insights into event management, allowing her to cater to various event styles and client preferences.
Standing Out in a Competitive Industry
Event planning is a highly competitive industry, and every client wants their event to be flawless, reflecting their unique vision and style to impress their guests. Amie understands this and distinguishes her business by tailoring her services to each client’s specific needs. Her extensive experience and ability to provide bespoke packages set her apart from others in the field. She takes the time to understand each client’s vision, creating a planning experience that perfectly aligns with their desires.
“All styles of events, scales large and small, and the unique understanding that different clients, styles of events, and vendors need and operate differently. This is why I cater in bespoke packages,” Amie emphasises.
What further sets Amie apart from her competitors is her dedication to building strong relationships with her clients. She’s committed to helping couples achieve their dream weddings, acting as a supportive, stress-free partner throughout the process.
Strategies for Success
In her first 12 months of running the business, Amie identified three core strategies that have played a crucial role in her success.
- Networking is essential for growth in the event planning industry, as planners act as the middleman between all the parties involved in making the event successful. Attending industry events, connecting with vendors, and nurturing professional relationships are key networking strategies that Amie embraces.
- Learning from mistakes is another important growth strategy for Amie. Every experience, whether testing marketing tactics, trying new things, or gaining insights from podcasts, is an opportunity to learn and improve. For Amie, continual learning is vital for personal and business growth.
- Balancing business and personal life is always challenging, but Amie believes in maintaining positivity, no matter the situation. With her optimism and strong support network, she’s able to navigate difficult times while staying on track.
Starting a business from scratch is no small feat, and Amie understands she doesn’t have all the answers. She believes the best approach is to stay humble and open to learning, especially through networking.
“I signed up for every free business seminar I could find, including some super expensive paid ones. This flowed on into the networking, which some turned into clients.” she said.
Delivering Quality Results
At the core of Amie’s success is her commitment to understanding each client’s unique needs and expectations. Her extensive planning process ensures she grasps their vision fully. With her experience, she recognises that every client faces distinct challenges, so she tailors her services to meet those specific needs.
“ Every client has a different “stress factor”. For some, it’s money. For some, it’s time. For some, it’s the overwhelming feeling of not knowing where to begin – or a combination of a few. By understanding this, I can best cater the package and process to the client or couple based on how involved and the parts they want to be involved in”.
Her dedication to hard work, excellent service delivery, and clear communication have satisfied her clients. Her efforts to grow both herself and her business are paying off, with more positive feedback coming in from happy clients.
Here’s what one of her clients, Jordyn Lucas, had to say:
“I’m so grateful to have had Amie as my planner for my birthday. She is amazing at what she does and is extremely detail-oriented, efficient, organised, and 10 steps ahead. There’s no such thing as a failure with Amie, and she always has plans B, C and D ready to go just in case. Highly recommend, she’s a dream to have by your side “ Jordyn Lucas
Challenges
Amie encountered many challenges when she started her event planning business, with the biggest being that she launched entirely on her own, without any support. Despite these obstacles, Amie has grown stronger with every challenge, driven by her passion and determination. She understands that every business faces its fair share of hurdles, but she believes what truly matters is how you handle them and emerge on the other side. For Amie, it’s not just about overcoming challenges; it’s about learning, adapting, and becoming better each time.
Partnering with Paperlust
Amie’s partnership with Paperlust evolved naturally after they connected on Instagram, which led to several collaborations. Some of her clients have even placed orders through Paperlust, and since then, Amie and Paperlust have continued working on multiple projects together.
The support Paperlust offers goes beyond just providing top-quality wedding stationery. Their services, which include discounts, a deep understanding of client needs, and quick turnaround times, have significantly enhanced Amie’s event planning business.
“Discounts and consideration to my clients are things they have always loved. Fast response time and fair pricing make it easier for me to do my job and turn around time and quality.” Said Amie
Amie’s Advice For Success
After successfully running her event planning business for a year and overcoming various challenges, Amie believes networking and strong communication with vendors and clients are essential for business growth.
Your network is everything. There’s nothing more powerful than your network of those who believe in you and advocate for you. They are 24/7 walking billboards, so build your network of those who will refer you. Remember to act like the person you want to be in 10 years, not who you are right now. By doing this, you’ll get there faster.
Amie’s journey highlights the importance of networking for growth and having a clear vision for the future. Alongside this, learning from mistakes and maintaining a positive mindset are key to continuous improvement.