Get to Know {SHE}! | Shayla Hawkins Events | Pittsburgh Wedding and Event Planners
Well this is a special treat today! Especially for all you brides out there. If you've never heard of {SHE} - Shayla Hawkins Events then take a moment to breeze thru this post. They are so fresh, so creative, so talented and all with a modern twist.
I've worked with Shayla, Alexis and Ericka and it's always a blast and alway always always a ton of eye-candy. When I know they are planning the wedding we're photographing I know it's going to be a good day run by a tight team on a tight ship. ;-)
Recently I asked {SHE} if they would mind if we did a little interview with them so I can share how great they are with my readers. So sit back, grab your coffee and take a moment to get to know their team.
Who is {SHE}?
{SHE} Shayla Hawkins Events is a stylish, chic, and modern wedding and event planning boutique serving fabulous clients along the east coast. Our professional, style-savvy team is comprised of three planners – Shayla Hawkins {owner}, Alexis Maddox and Ericka Taylor. While each client will solely meet and work with just one of our planners, behind the scenes the three of us are in constant contact and brainstorming about every single one of our events. Essentially, our clients are hiring three planners for the price of one! Our team brings a fresh and creative approach to the design and planning process. {SHE} has fun working with clients, putting together all the details as we cater to your personality, style, and preferences. Each wedding and event is custom and unique because it is truly designed as a reflection of the client.
How do you guide your couples on the first steps to take in the wedding planning process?
Our first step with our couples is composing a realistic guest list, researching, and confirming ceremony and reception venues. The guest list is always the biggest obstacle and it’s the most important component because it determines everything - the venue size you can choose, the budget, down to the number of favors you will have to order. Getting a firm grip on the guest list early will really avoid unexpected and unwelcomed surprises later.
Where should newly-engaged couples begin with inspiration and how should they organize it all?
Our approach to planning is very style-conscious so we encourage (borderline require) couples to pull their personalities and style into their design. There are so many ways to get inspiration from blogs, magazines, and Pinterest. Those are awesome places to start just start saving, printing, and pinning things that grab your eye and you can say that’s totally me. We tell our clients to describe their dream wedding and make a wish list of their “must-haves.”
From there, we determine the type of style they have. Modern? Classic? Rustic? Vintage? Preppy? Eco-Friendly? Glamorous? Artsy? Couples don’t have to limit themselves to just one style but they do have to make sure the look is cohesive. A bride may think she’s just classic and as we ask more questions and share more ideas she realizes she’s classic but likes some glam too. We’ve come so far beyond the classic white wedding. So many things can be meshed these days and translate well together if planned designed correctly.
What are the biggest pieces of advice you find yourself telling couples throughout the whole process?
The biggest piece of advice we tell our couples is to make this a fun process. There are tons of details and things to decide but don’t let it take away from the excitement leading up to the big day. For us it’s always about what makes our clients happy. Avoid feeling pulled in different directions. Loved ones naturally want to share in this moment and provide advice, opinions, and requests. It can become overwhelming so we make sure our couples make decisions together and remember it is ultimately their day.
What is your favorite way to wow guests?
Our favorite way to wow guests is with unexpected details. You don’t have to be over-the-top or break the bank to make a statement. We’ve done so many cool things at weddings such as fun fact napkins about the couple for cocktail hour as a conversation piece, a refreshing drink noting your table assignment, floating different size and style picture frames as the entrance to a garden affair, customized dance floor designs, unique table seating, interactive games and activities such as a chipping contest for a wedding on a driving range, the list goes on.
Thank you {SHE}! If you'd like to learn more about {SHE} and the services they offer be sure to stop by their site, blog and their Facebook page to get to know them!
