Today we’d like to introduce you to Shay Katebe.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Shay. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Here is the short version. My story began when I was about eight years old. I always spoke about how I was going to own my own hotel when I grew up. When I entered my teenage years, I started saying I was going to own a hotel with a restaurant. Once I was in college, I began thinking more realistically about my dreams and aspirations. I realized that I was not passionate about owning a hotel or a restaurant. Even though my childhood dream of owning a hotel and restaurant died, my entrepreneurial spirit was very much alive. I graduated from the University of North Texas (UNT) with a degree in Integrative Studies (Business, Communication Studies, and Hospitality Management). After I graduated from UNT, I worked in the corporate world for about a year before I decided to get serious about my goal of owning my own business.
At that time, I decided to think more about what that business would be. Since I had been talking about owning my own business for as long as I could remember, I decided that it was time to make it a reality. In January 2019, I created my vision board with my friends like I do every year, but that year I added a new vision, a business idea. The goal was to come up with a business idea before the end of the year and to take the first step, whatever that was. After much thought, prayer, and advice from people I trust, I decided to register a Wedding and Event Planning business, and that is how Shay K Events came to be. I have been planning events for friends and family for years now, so it made sense to make a business out of it. I enjoy planning and coordinating events. It brings me so much joy to see a plan come to life. This really is the short version. Haha!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The beginning of my business journey was pretty smooth. Before starting this business, I prayed and asked God to close whatever doors needed to be closed if this was not what I was supposed to be doing. God answered my prayers by providing me with the resources I needed to be successful. That reassured me that I was on the right track. I got my first couple of clients within a month of registering my business and it was not a friend or family member. It was such a great feeling to know that I could make a career out of doing something I love. The struggles came about six months after I started the business. I struggled to find clients. I started to doubt myself and question whether I really was supposed to be doing this because no clients equal no business.
I am so, so blessed to have an awesome group of people in my corner that encouraged me when I needed it the most. Another thing that wasn’t necessarily a challenge or an obstacle was the cost of starting a business. I was unaware of what it would cost to start a business of this sort. I figured since it is a service-based business, there would not be much start-up capital needed. I am an Enneagram 7, the Enthusiast. So when I registered Shay K Events, I got excited and went further than the goal I had set for myself to ONLY “take the first step”, THEN start researching. Instead, I dived headfirst in all things business. I have no regrets!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Shay K Events – what should we know?
Shay K Events (SKE) is a Wedding and Events Planning company. We plan weddings, milestone parties, social events, corporate events, etc. We just about do it all. Our favorite types of events are the cultural events. I, personally, love to travel. I have had the pleasure of being able to visit many countries and experience different cultures. I know that not everyone has had that opportunity. So I enjoy getting to plan events that give people a taste of other cultures in the world.
As a company, we also enjoy planning destination weddings. My team makes me so proud. They are always willing to go on these adventures with me and sometimes go along with some of the crazy ideas that I think up. The planning process is a journey and it is an honor that our clients allow us to go on the journey with them. The thing that sets us apart from other wedding and event planners is that we know that every client, wedding, and event is different and we cater to their specific needs. We strive to leave our clients happy and stress-free. We enjoy getting to see the wedding/event that they have envisioned come to life.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
There are so many people that played a big role in our success. Chelsey Morin with Double Blessing Events was one of the first planners that was willing to share some resources I needed to be able to run my business. I had experience with planning and coordinating, but not with running my own company. Chelsey has been a huge blessing. Andrea Smith-Brown with Andrea Smith Designs has been meeting up with me on a monthly basis to check in and see how business is going and to give me advice and guidance on certain situations that I have come across since starting Shay K Events (SKE). She has been such an awesome mentor and has become an important part of my life. My family has been my biggest supporters by far.
I don’t even know where to begin on how much support they have given me. I won’t go too much into it because this will turn into a novel. What I will say is I love them so much and I am eternally grateful for them. A few other people that I would like to give a shout-out to that have also been big supporters/teammates are Madison Woods (SKE Coordinator), Liz Brenden (Photographer), Sandra Katebe (SKE Stylist), and Shelby Cheshier (SKE Stylist). These ladies supported me back when all I could afford to pay them was in meals and love. They would go to an event with me, not expecting to be paid because they understood that I was just starting out and did not have the money to pay them.
Of course, I would still pull together whatever I could, a love offering, if you will, just to show them that I appreciated their time, efforts, and sacrifice. All the people I have mentioned mean so much to me and have been huge supporters of my dream of being a full-time entrepreneur. There are other people I could mention, but these are the key people that have played a big part in what Shay K Events is today. They are an answered prayer. So to answer your question, “Who deserves credit?” God deserves the credit for everything that is Shay K Events. My company would not have survived past the first few months if it wasn’t for the people God put in my life.
Pricing:
- Wedding Management Package (Starts at $950)
- Full Planning Package (Starts at $2.500)
- Destination Wedding Package (Starts at 2,750 + Travel & Accommodation)
- Social Events (Starts at $1,000)
- Consulting ($1 per Minute)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shaykevents.com
- Phone: 214-785-1493
- Email: info@shaykevents.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/shaykevents
- Facebook: facebook.com/shaykevents
Image Credit:
Liz Brenden Photography
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