One Year of The Event Strategist: Lessons, Wins & Celebrating The Journey
Looking back, I didn’t have a goal at the start of the year. I just knew I wanted to serve, create and trust God to provide. Today, after planning nine events in one year, that faith has been rewarded in ways I could never have imagined.
One year ago, The Event Strategist was just a dream I spoke about with my nearest and dearest but there was no execution. In my heart I just knew I enjoyed project management and I always found myself at the center of facilitating events for friends. At the end of December 2024 I didn’t have any clients booked for 2025, and to be honest, I was scared. But I trusted God to provide and I promised myself I would give it my all, one event at a time.
Looking back, it’s incredible to see how far we’ve come. In just twelve months, I’ve had the privilege of planning nine unforgettable events. Each with its own story, style and challenges. From dinners, to art exhibitions, to parties, to weddings, I've done them all in my first year. Every single celebration has been an opportunity to grow both professionally and personally.
EO Love Story was a turning point for me. Seeing how the day flowed seamlessly from makeup to the first dance, the joy radiating from the couple, and the attention to detail made me realise I could do this seriously. My first event was a 25th birthday dinner, it wasn’t just a job, it was the first time I proved to myself that I could do this and turn all of the skills I'd developed over the years into something great. It was proof that I could turn my passion into a business.
Lessons Learned
This year has been full of late night, early mornings and learning curves:
1. Contracts Are Essential
One of the biggest lessons I learned is the importance of contracts and thank goodness I learned this early on. They are not just paperwork; they set expectations, protect both clients and planners and create clarity from the start.
2. Listening is Everything
I’ve discovered that my favourite part of planning is getting to know my clients. Truly understanding their personalities, tastes and stories allows me to craft events that feel personal, authentic and unforgettable. This is what makes every celebration unique.
3. Stationery Design is a Passion of Mine
This year confirmed that I really love creating stationery. From invitations to place cards, watching designs come to life in someone’s celebration is incredibly fulfilling. Stationery isn’t just decoration, it’s storytelling in tangible form.
4. Long Nights Are Worth It
Yes, some nights stretch until 4am, only to wake up at 6am to finalise details. But I don’t mind. These long hours aren’t exhausting when you love what you do. There’s a special joy in seeing a vision come together and knowing it will make someone’s day unforgettable.
I am deeply grateful to everyone who has trusted me with their celebrations over this past year. Every client, every guest and every member of my community that has been part of this journey. Thank you for believing in me, for sharing your visions, and for letting me bring them to life.
To my growing online community, your support and encouragement mean the world. You’ve helped make the first year of The Event Strategist purposeful and filled with momentum.
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand
Zechariah 4:10
