Today we’d like to introduce you to Shamica Sweat.
Shamica, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
For as long as I can remember I have been obsessed with weddings. Around the age of 16, I started planning my own wedding, I knew the venue I would choose, the colors I wanted, what the linens would look like, you name it I had already planned it… crazy right, I know. In my head I had designed the entire event, all I needed was a groom. By the time I left for college, I had a binder full of wedding ideas and various budgets to accompany the different theme options I had in mind.
I realized early on that weddings and events had a sweet spot in my heart. Not only did I love planning the events, I REALLY loved designing them, but I had never really heard of anyone making a career out of it. I became the go-to person for family and friends when they needed help planning their events.
I graduated college and took a job in the insurance industry and it finally clicked maybe I could plan events on the side and make extra money doing what I loved… SCORE!!! I planned my first wedding in 2006 and I was hooked! I knew after that first wedding that this is what I was born to do.
I’ve planned weddings part-time under my original company The Pink Tuxedos Wedding and Event Planning for almost 12 years. In 2017, I decided it was time to pursue my dreams and passion and take my business to the next level and committed to becoming a full-time entrepreneur. In August 2017, I walked away from my corporate job and began Shamica & Co. Event Planning and Design. I can honestly say it was the best decision I could have ever made. I am in my element and I know that I am walking in my purpose.
Has it been a smooth road?
Being a full-time entrepreneur has had its share of highs and lows. Has the road been smooth, absolutely not, more like a roller coaster ride, but one of the most amazing roller coaster rides you have ever been on. The industry as a whole is a tough one to survive in, there are a lot of planners in the DFW area and one of the struggles has been finding my niche and just making sure that I am always authentic to who I am. It’s so easy to get caught up in what others are doing that you can lose focus on what your goals are.
Another challenge for me was learning how to really run a successful business. This was no longer a part-time gig but my sole source of income, so I had to make sure I was doing everything right in order to be successful. I hired a business coach and also sought out a mentor who could guide me on this journey as an entrepreneur. It was important to me that they have a successful track record and that they were doing the things and types of events that I aspired to do. I am a firm believer if you don’t know how to do something find the person who is the best at what you want to learn and seek their help and advice and that is exactly what I did.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Shamica & Co. Event Planning and Design, LLC. story. Tell us more about the business.
Shamica & Co. is a full-service event production company, we not only help you plan your wedding, we can help make your wedding a custom event designed specifically for you. We handle everything from florals to rentals and linens, as well as all of the planning aspects of your wedding. Our specialty is event design, this is where we really get to use our creativity and create events that are unique to our clients.
Shamica & Co. is an upscale event production company servicing the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Based in McKinney, TX, we specialize in planning and designing for weddings, events and special occasions. Whether it’s under the shimmer of a fabulous chandelier in a ballroom, a private estate for a magical weekend, or the gorgeous sandy beaches of St. Barts, no event is too big or too small.
We not only help you plan your wedding, we curate a custom event designed specifically for you. We can handle everything from florals to rentals and linens, etc. as well as all of the planning aspects of your wedding. Our specialty is event design, this is where we really get to use our creativity and create events that are unique to our clients.
At Shamica & Co., we believe that planning an event should be fun and adventurous, not overwhelming and stressful. We believe that every client should experience the simple and remarkable moments leading up to their event and on their event day. We are a team of certified event professionals, who takes pride in presenting a seamless event.
Our extraordinary planning approach caters to the needs of our clients to cultivate an event that is uniquely yours. We realize that every couple, every milestone, and every special occasion has a story. Let Shamica & Co. unravel all the details and bring them to life, orchestrating an event that caters to the five senses. Sit back as Shamica & Co. creates a magical guest experience that will not soon be forgotten. We are not just about crossing off To-Dos, we are about making your event dreams come true. Allow us to guide you through every impression of your joyous celebration.
We are most proud of the love and care that we give our clients. By the time we are finished planning and designing their event, our clients have become more like family than just a vendor-client relationship.
What sets us apart from others is that we follow our clients after the wedding day. Our goal is to not only produce successful weddings, we want to create successful and thriving marriages. We have created a marriage retreat that we invite our couples to ensure they have the tools they need in order to get through the challenges that may arise in their marriages. We want our clients to know that we are invested in the success of their event but most importantly the success of the marriages.
Where do you see your industry going over the next 5-10 years? Any big shifts, changes, trends, etc?
In the next 5-10 years, I see the event industry going in a direction of more custom/personalized events. No more will we see cookie cutter events that all look the same. Clients are looking for events that are unique to them and they are ready to step up the glam. I think we will see a lot more events that focus on the guest experience and not just to the couple.
Another trend I expect to see is more couples leading towards destination weddings. No just to your typical locations Carribean locations but to more exotic locations like Greece, Paris and the like.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shamicaandco.com
- Phone: 214-449-1198
- Email: hello@shamicaandco.com
- Instagram: @shamicaandco
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/shamicaandco
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/shamicaandco
Image Credit:
Rita Wortham Photography, Allen Tsai Photography, Cait Lauren Photography, Widyn Photography
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