Today we’d like to introduce you to Callie Eishen.
Callie, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I decided that I wanted to be a wedding and event planner after being stuck at home, sick, at the age of 15. I was binge-watching a marathon of “My Fair Wedding With David Tutera,” and it was brought to my attention that you could actually make a career of planning events. I had always loved planning get-togethers for my friends and family; everything from the decor to the food and drink brought me so much joy.
After graduating high school, I knew that I needed to gain as much experience as I could in addition to formal education. I began school at Collin College, where I took classes in small business management and hospitality management. While attending school, I interned and worked for as many event industry-related companies as I could. I interned for another local wedding planner, worked at a wedding cake bakery, bartended events, and served with a catering company. My biggest break into the wedding industry was when I was hired on as a venue coordinator at one of DFW’s premier wedding venues. That job allowed me to work over 100 events within a year. I was able to meet hundreds of vendors. I gained experience in catering and sales and was able to learn and explore the wedding industry from every angle. I learned so much from that job and I am thankful for the opportunity to this day.
After a year of working for this venue, I decided it was time to go out on my own. In August of 2015, I started Callie Gray Weddings and Events. With the help of one of my best friends, I was able to build a website and social media presence, as well as present myself at bridal shows and open houses. I also began a wedding and event planning certification. Through that course, I was able to intern for David Tutera himself within his bridal expo circuit.
I slowly continued to grow my business as I transferred to The University of North Texas to complete my Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Administration/Management. After graduating, I have been able to focus all of my time and energy on building my business. I was able to take my business full time in October of 2018 and I am so thankful to have the opportunity to work with so many amazing couples.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My age has always been an obstacle. I started my business when I was 22 years old. I can’t tell you how many times I had couples choose another planner because they were older than I was, it’s all about perception. In their eyes, there was no way that I could have as much experience and knowledge as someone ten years my senior. I had to explain that, yes, I am young, but I have put all of my time and effort into educating myself and gaining experience to ensure that I am more than qualified to plan your event.
There is always going to be someone who has been planning/coordinating weddings longer than you have. You just have to prove that you are just as capable and respect that not every client is meant for you. There are so many men and women that share our same dream and there is the right planner or coordinator out there for everyone. We all need to be supportive of each other.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Callie Gray Weddings and Events – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Callie Gray Weddings and Events is a wedding planning company that specializes in full-service wedding planning. We are known for taking our client’s visions and turning them into reality. We offer customized packages that range from full event planning and design to event management.
I am most proud of my company for being a resource for my couples to keep the stress at bay. Planning a wedding should be one of the happiest times of your life and we want to make the process as easy as possible. We take control of the difficult parts of the planning process to allow our couples to focus on their love and their vision for their special day.
Our knowledge and experience truly set us apart. I have gotten the chance to work in just about every aspect of the event industry. This has given me the knowledge to guide my clients with ease. We strive to be there for our clients in any way that we can, even if it’s just to be there as a sounding board. We develop beautiful relationships with our clients that last a lifetime and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Who have you been inspired by?
One woman who has inspired my life is The Hollis Company CEO, Rachel Hollis. She is the true definition of a “boss.” She grew her own event planning company from the ground up and now she is a two-time number-one New York Times best selling author, motivational speaker, CEO, podcast host, and a mother of four. She promotes self-growth and constantly strives to be better. She has shown me that if you have a goal and the will power to work for it, anything is possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.calliegrayweddings.com
- Phone: 214.668.6924
- Email: callie@calliegrayweddings.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/cgweddingsdfw
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/cgweddingsdfw
Image Credit:
Miranda Longoria Photography
The Tarnos Photography
Emily Chappell Photography
Annette Ambrose Photography
Marshall Maguire Photography
April Pinto Photography
Bruna Kitchen Photography
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