Today we’d like to introduce you to Abby Frye.
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?
I began my event planning career in 2012 as an intern for a local firm (A Charleston Bride) while studying at the College of Charleston. I instantly fell in love with the event industry and knew upon graduating, I wanted to pursue a career in weddings (after all, my birthday is on Valentine’s Day, so it seemed kismet to find myself working with couples in love). I have been lucky to find myself with job opportunities to work for, and alongside, several well-known, luxury planning firms in the city (Calder Clark, A Charleston Bride, and Reagan Events), and the weddings have taken me all around the Southeast/East Coast. In January 2020, I joined the Patrick Properties Hospitality Group to spearhead their new, internal planning division Peninsula Events that works exclusively for their 5 historic properties on the Peninsula (Lowndes Grove, William AIken House, the River House at Lowndes Grove, American Theater and Parcel 32).
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Much like any career path, I have certainly experiences my fair share of challenges. To be successful in this industry (especially the Charleston market), you have to be willing to wear a lot of hats and have a level of confidence to know that no day, or client, is ever the same – one minute you’re the planner, the next you’re a financial adviser, a therapist, a creative, or even a meteorologist. It has taken some missteps, and years of experience to really develop into my own as a well-respected planner. I am beyond grateful for all of the experiences (the good, the bad, the ugly, and the pandemic) that brought me to where I am today. It can be a very trying and tough profession, but it can also be incredibly rewarding!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am the lead wedding planner for Peninsula Events, Patrick Properties Hospitality Group’s internal planning firm (based in Charleston, SC).
I focus on full-service coordination and custom event design. My career highlights include wedding features in national publications including Style Me Pretty, Magnolia Rouge, and Martha Stewart Weddings.
I would describe my design style as refined, timeless, and intentional. I gravitate towards neutral color palettes, but love to incorporate touches of muted colors (especially greens + blues) throughout a design. I am a huge fan of textured and organic blooms, along with any and all custom paper details.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My best advice is just to put yourself out there – whether that be applying for an unpaid internship with a local planner in undergrad, or offering to assist as day-of help on the weekends, gaining hands-on experience is the best way to get familiar with this industry! Though the Charleston market is large, it is a tight-knit community of creatives + professionals, and building those relationships early on will come in handy down the road.
I also think it is important to remember that it can be a grind (physically, mentally, and emotionally), but you should always remain a student of the craft. Each event (and client) will teach you something new that you did not know before, and trends will constantly shift, so it is imperative to stay “in the know” to keep your own creativity and passion alive (learn to lean on your fellow vendors as inspiration, explore new design trends in fashion, travel, food, etc., keep a pulse on the collective industry pricing, etc.)
Contact Info:
- Email: abbyfrye@pphgcharleston.com
- Website: https://www.pphgcharleston.com/peninsula-events/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pphg_peninsulaevents/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peninsulaeventschs
Image Credits
Anne Rhett Photography
The Happy Bloom
Gracie Byrd Jones
