Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthonie Rookard.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey into event planning actually started long before it became a business… it began with the birth of my oldest son, the very first ‘prince’ in our story. I was determined to create the perfect baby shower for him and spent days visiting every paper shop in Spartanburg, SC, designing what I thought would be a simple little invitation. But that ‘simple detail’ changed everything.
Somewhere between the planning, the logistics, and the creativity of bringing that day to life, something clicked. I realized I didn’t just enjoy it — I thrived in it. I loved orchestrating the moving pieces, thinking ten steps ahead, and creating moments that felt intentional and joyful. That’s when I knew: this was my calling.
Fast forward a few years (and a couple more princes + one sweet lily later), and The Princes & the Lily Events Co. was born. With 10 years of corporate experience in sales and customer service behind me, I’ve learned how to stay calm under pressure, advocate for my clients, and deliver results with a smile. Today, I get to help couples create celebrations that feel authentic, beautiful, and completely stress-free — and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh, absolutely not — but I say that with a smile. Nothing worth building ever comes without a few bumps, and The Princes & the Lily Events Co. is no exception. When I first started, I was a mom with a vision, a whole lot of determination, and zero clue what it really meant to juggle entrepreneurship, motherhood, and a service-based business all at once. I had to learn everything — how to price myself, how to set boundaries, how to say no, how to stand firm when advocating for my clients, and how to trust my own voice in an industry that can feel very loud.
There were seasons of doubt, seasons of stretching, and seasons where I questioned if I was doing enough or doing it “right.” I still work full-time while building the business, have planned events during nap times, and learned the hard way that hustle only gets you so far if you’re not also taking care of yourself.
But every challenge taught me something:
• How to stay calm under pressure.
• How to lead with compassion and confidence.
• How to create experiences that feel intentional and meaningful — not rushed or transactional.
• How to build a business that reflects who I am, not who I thought I had to be.
So no, the road hasn’t been smooth… but it’s been worth every twist, turn, and detour. Those struggles shaped the planner I am today and the heart behind the company. And honestly, they made me even more passionate about creating stress-free, joy-filled moments for my couples — because I know firsthand what it feels like to carry a lot at once.
We’ve been impressed with The Princes & the Lily Events Co., but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Princes & the Lily Events Co. is a heart-led wedding and event planning company built on intention, creativity, and care. We offer full-service wedding planning, partial planning, wedding management, and event coordination — because no matter where you are in the planning process, you deserve support that meets you exactly where you are. We specialize in creating celebrations that feel like you — thoughtful, joyful, and stress-free. Whether you need someone to take the reins from start to finish, a partner to guide you through key decisions, or a calm, capable coordinator to pull everything together at the end, our approach is designed to bring clarity, structure, and peace to the entire experience.
What truly sets us apart is the heart behind the business. We don’t just plan weddings; we take care of people. My couples know they can trust me to advocate for them, keep the details organized, and guide them through the emotional and logistical rollercoaster that planning can sometimes be. I bring over a decade of corporate sales and customer service experience into this work — which means I stay calm under pressure, communicate clearly, and solve problems before anyone even knows they exist.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that this company is deeply personal. It’s named after my children — my princes and my one sweet lily — and that love shows up in how I serve every client. The brand stands for warmth, family, intentionality, and excellence. It’s polished but personal, structured but still full of heart.
What I want your readers to know is simple:
You don’t have to carry the weight of planning alone.
Whether you’re dreaming of a full-service experience where every detail is handled with care, or you just need someone to step in during the final months and make sure everything runs flawlessly, The Princes & the Lily Events Co. is here to make your wedding feel effortless, beautiful, and uniquely you.
How do you think about luck?
I think luck has shown up in my journey in the most unexpected ways — sometimes beautifully, sometimes a little messily, but always with purpose. On the good side, I’ve been blessed with moments of perfect timing: clients who found me right when I was questioning my next step, opportunities that landed in my lap before I even knew to ask for them, and a community that has supported this business from day one. Some of my best bookings have come from chance encounters, word-of-mouth connections, and people who believed in my work before I even fully understood what I was building.
And then there’s the other kind of luck — the kind that tests you. The slow seasons… the learning curves… the times when I questioned if I was on the right path. But honestly, even the “bad luck” ended up being a blessing. It forced me to grow, get clearer on my boundaries, refine my offerings, and build a business that’s not just pretty on the outside but solid at its core.
I’ve learned that luck can open a door, but it’s hard work, heart, and consistency that keep you in the room. So yes, luck has played its part — but the real magic has been in how I’ve shown up, even when the timing wasn’t perfect, and trusted that every twist in the road was leading somewhere meaningful.
Pricing:
- Full Wedding planning starts at $2700
- Partial Wedding planning starts at $2000
- Month of management (coordination) starts at $1300
- Day of is a flat fee of $600
- Custom events dependent upon details involved
Contact Info:
- Website: www.princesandlilyevents.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/princesandlilyeventsco
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/princesandlilyeventsco
