Today we’d like to introduce you to Nithya Annamaneni.
Hi Nithya, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Hello readers, I am Nithya Annamaneni (alias Nithya) based out of Dallas-Fort Worth, TX metropolitan area. I have been living in USA since 2007 and is originally from India from a city called Hyderabad. I came here to pursue my higher studies and ended up meeting my soulmate, dance partner and best friend, whom I call him my husband today. I’ve lived in the midwest area most of my life but later decided to move to Texas for warm weather and help raise my kids closer to my family.
My event design journey started on a serious note when I became pregnant with my first child (boy) back in Illinois. I was designing and planning my own Baby shower (not our usual back-home traditional style), special thanks to my mom and husband who initially thought I was crazy for taking that stress, only with their support I was able to pull off my shower and was totally surprised with the outcome. We had received several compliments for the entire event planning including the design, color choice, unique venue and the arrangements. Since then, I have been challenging myself to do even better with my personal events such as my kids Birthday parties, baby shower (2nd), housewarming, and other family events for cousins and my close friends.
Eventually, this hobby of mine got converted into serious passion towards décor, and I’ve been challenging myself every year to get better at it by trying something very simple with minimalistic details to keep it unique yet very classy with the DIY projects. Close acquittances always suggested that I should seriously consider this as my main career. But with a full-time job as an IT employee and mother of two kids, I was hesitating to even to give it a try. Over the last couple of years, after I have designed my 2nd kid (daughter) first birthday, several clients have started approaching me for help with designing their events and ideas to make it happen, which eventually led to “Event Design by Nithya”. I take pride in starting this very small women-owned business because I have started this out of pure passion, encouragement, and support from the people around me. Of course, all this wouldn’t have been possible without my amazing partner (Lohit) who is my biggest support system to take this forward, and my two most adorable and lovely kids (Daksh and Avira).
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
When there is no pain there is no gain. My event design/planner journey is not smooth either. I am constantly learning something new, especially with the client personalities. For example, Some of my clients are very easy to work with and believe in me versus some are tough to even make them understand what we can do, as a result stressful discussions and long Consulting hours. Biggest irony here is the lack of importance/knowledge by the event hosts towards Design/Ideas and a proper planning before even getting started with their events, no matter how small or big the event is and of course the budget. With a good design and layout only comes a beautiful event decor that enhances the whole vibe of the party to make a customer happy. Unfortunately, some of the client requests are impossible to even make it happen within the given timeline or cost, but they want us to make it happen. I’ve been grooming myself and started embracing this designer/planner journey for the betterment with each of my events. I am very independent and have got extreme OCD when it comes to organizing things in my life. Juggling between two jobs and raising 2 small kids is not a joke, especially when you have no extra help but just 4 of us as a family having each other’s support.
You can make anything possible, if you have a proper vision about what you want to do, being consistent, respecting the time as well as 100% commitment.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Besides being an event designer, I am working full-time as a Senior IT Business Analyst for a big global company. I hold a double master’s degree in computer engineering (IT) as well as in Physics, and a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with around 15 years of professional work experience. I’m proud to call myself an alumnus of BITS Pilani, one of the most prestigious institutions in India. I have served as an IT developer, administrator and Architect, Project manager, and now Program & Operations Manager. These roles had given me an opportunity to work with some great people and becoming a highly energetic social butterfly. Besides mommy and event designer and an IT employee, I also love dancing, painting, photography, and Yoga, of course partying. Some of my friends and family call me a superwoman but I feel like, I am jack of all trades but master of none. Just kidding.
My not-so-frequently updated Instagram page followership is slowly marching towards its first 1000k followers (i.e., 1K), after which I am confident, it will keep reach more audiences sooner than later. But I must tell you this, I always feel nervous and put myself into my client’s shoes every time I must design an event. This is because, my consulting will include a design template (revised until the client is 100% satisfied to move forward with), Unique Centerpieces for each theme hand-curated by me most of the time, Photobooth ideas, Entertainers, Cake baker,s and Photographer’s recommendation as well as dessert and goodie bag suggestions, which will add a complete package and provides a different vibe to all our events. When the outcome after all this effort is appreciated, I take pride and jump with joy for creating such a wonderful memory for my clients. After all, we got only life as we remember so let’s make the best out of it.
Below are few mantras I strongly believe in and shall never give up on what I want to do in my life.
• Love all and serve all.
• If you can dream it, you can do it.
• Work hard and always give your best with confidence.
Maybe this is what sets me apart from other competitors, a very friendly and upcoming event designer/planner in town, looking to serve more and more clients of DFW area by making their events simple, minimal and elegant, of course within their budget.
Any big plans?
I’m planning to concentrate more on my event design role in order to reach broader audience (not just my own tribe) as well as collaborate with multiple local vendors to provide quality events with modern, simple and elegant ones. My goal is to offer high-quality services for my clients while keeping on my mind their budget as a key factor, designing the theme according to their taste and choice, but outcome beyond their expectations. For which I am willing to work even more harder and for longer hours. I’m always open to receiving any kind of feedback or suggestions from the public. Last but not the least, I would like to thank some of my peers and collaborators I have met in this new journey
Pricing:
- Our packages start from $1000 minimum
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eventdesignbynithya/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eventdesignbynithya-103028181939713
Image Credits
Lohit Venati
Raju Nelakonda Photography
Misty
Teja
