Today we’d like to introduce you to Emilee West.
Hi Emilee, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Growing up, my mom always planned the most special and elaborate birthday parties for me. Every year I looked forward to the creative games, mystery stories that we had to solve, the decor, the list goes on. One day, I started helping her plan the parties. From that moment on, parties and events become a guilty pleasure. When I graduated high school, I decided to look more into event planning and enrolled in the New York Institute of Art & Design for Wedding & Event Planning. After a year of learning how to plan events, I became certified and starting planning weddings for fun. Now, I plan all events from weddings to golf tournaments to galas! And I have a blast doing it.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not! I started events in 2019, and after only a few months, Covid struck. It took me forever to get going. I only did about 3 weddings between 2019-2020. It was really difficult to get my name out there and took a long time to build up trust within the community.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m best known for my collaborative and affordable event planning services. I primarily coordinate weddings, but I have also planned and coordinated nonprofit Galas, car shows, and golf tournaments. There is no limit to the creativity or uniqueness of the events I can assist with.
I think I’m most proud of my communication and collaboration with my clients. If they need to FaceTime me at 8pm to discuss centerpieces or how to deal with their out of town guests, I jump on the call (of course within healthy boundaries). I love bringing people’s dreams and visions to life and helping them find creative solutions to unique problems or ideas.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Bad luck – I started my business right before Covid struck, so getting started was a nightmare. I wouldn’t say it’s bad luck, more so a roadblock or trial to overcome before I took off.
Good luck – I don’t really believe in luck. I believe in blessings and God’s perfect timing. He has always provided me with what I need and placed people in my life to help me along – especially with my business. I’ve mostly gotten clients through word of mouth or referrals. A dear friend rebranded my business for me last year. It’s just been a dream.
Pricing:
- Full Service Planning – starts at $2,000 and includes start-to-finish brainstorming, budgeting, planning and coordination for all event elements
- Partial Service Planning – starts at $1,200 and includes mid-point planning. This is usually a great option for people who got started planning their event and now are too overwhelmed or stretched thin to complete it on their own. I come in and pick up where they left off, finishing out the event and smoothing out details to make it perfect.
- Day-of Event Coordination – starts at $800 and includes me jumping in about one month before the event to attend any final logistical meetings, create an event agenda or timeline, and ensure the day of the event runs smoothly. For weddings, this also includes day-before rehearsal coordination.
- Event Planning Consulting – $100/hour and includes in-person or virtual meetings with me to simply discuss event ideas, help solve unique situations, and use my resources and contacts. This is great for someone who has the time to plan but just needs a little guidance to get started or some help finding creative/budget-friendly solutions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.dalincoevents.com
- Instagram: @dalin_co_events
