Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamara Boyazis.
Hi Tamara, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Some say the best careers are those that find you. That is especially true for me.
Since I can remember, I’ve always loved throwing amazing parties for family and friends. I had worked a bit in corporate event planning and then spent years volunteering doing large galas, balls, events, and fundraisers. I found that it was a great way to bring people in my community together for a worthy cause… all while enjoying a great party. I was fortunate to have a break from work to raise my kids and during that time I focused on volunteering.
Before that, I was a leader for a large, predominantly female company and I had a special love of working with ladies in stressful situations to motivate inspire them to reach their goals. I enjoyed visual presentation and building relationships the most. I would have never imagined that all of these passions and talents would come together to bring me such joy in a career until I was asked to plan my first wedding.
I remember thinking that it would be difficult because I hadn’t even been to a wedding in years let alone plan one. Then I thought about what my most successful friend always told me. “If someone offers you an amazing opportunity that you aren’t sure you can do, say yes… then do everything you can to figure out how to do it.”
It was the perfect time in my life. My kids were just starting to head off to college, and they were contemplating what they wanted to do for a career. There’s so much pressure to make a choice and stick to it. Choose a career that you want at age 17, go to college, and be a success. Just like that. One choice… one path. I remember thinking that it’s about time I got back to work but I don’t even know what I want to do when I grow up and I’m more than double their age. I had been doing a lot of side jobs, but when a wedding planning opportunity came up, I realized it was time to make it official. That’s when I launched my company, Tamara Events & Décor LTD.
I enjoy all the jobs and clients I have, but I can honestly say I have a real passion for weddings. There is nothing better than working with brides. I love meeting a happy couple and hearing their love story and doing everything I can to make their dream a reality. I always feel so honored to be a part of such a big day in their lives.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When managing an event, the biggest challenge comes at the actual event. The stress level is high, and so are the expectations. There are so many issues that arise, and my goal is to anticipate, take action and solve.
Corporate events and fundraisers are basically the same as planning and coordinating a wedding. The client is just like a bride trying to pull together a great experience for everyone. Managing vendors and guests is actually the easy part at an event. It is the party host or bride. They have a high level of anxiety, and building a trusting relationship with them will ensure that they are able to relinquish control so they can enjoy the day.
While planning, I become a support system and friend to guide them along the way. The biggest challenge was during the pandemic when all of my brides and clients had to postpone, adjust, or cancel their special day. I became a sounding board and counselor even more than a planner. Brides were devastated, and making decisions that would make guests and family feel comfortable was challenging. There was no clear answer that would make everyone happy, so listening was key. That is where building relationships and fostering open communication is very helpful in a service industry like mine.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a full-service event planning and decorating company, and we do it all.
We plan weddings, special occasions, fundraisers, galas, and corporate events. We are there for the special moments of a lifetime. Whether you are a Pro Football Hall of Fame recipient, large hospitality company or young couple planning your wedding… these are the moments you should be excited about and not worried about the planning or execution. We take pride in being there for you so you can be a guest at your own event. There are many people who can help plan your event; what separates us is our ability to expand your vision to something beyond even your own dreams. We then execute so the implementation is flawless and the experience is seamless for everyone.
We decorate and style homes, hotels, restaurants, and event spaces. We are experts in the field of design and decor, using imagination and creativity to make it exactly what you want. We know the trends and have the ability to source them direct to you. We have an insatiable drive to deliver the best quality, all while keeping your goals and budget in mind.
We are 100% referral based. We get all of our clients from the buzz created after someone experiences our work firsthand or a happy client tells friends about us. Although there are so many great opportunities to build businesses through social media, websites, and advertising, we prefer to get to know our clients right from the start and meet over a cup of coffee. This gives us the opportunity to see if we are a good fit for each other. We love that we are busy and growing so rapidly, but it is also important to give our clients the special attention they deserve. We are proud to offer a more private and luxury boutique experience.
Reputation is everything. Word of mouth carries you far. My name is my brand, and my brand is more important than the money I make or how many clients I have. We have a team approach to everything we do, and our people reflect not only the our brand but your individual brand as well.
You don’t have to spend a lot to make a lot. I started without investing any money into my business. Taking on one client and one job at a time, building and saving. Just two hands and two feet and a desire to figure it out. Turning your passion into a paycheck. Investing talents not money in a business is sometimes the safest way to figure it out. If you fail, you have lost nothing but your time.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Wedding and event planning has become a major business because of social media. There are so many ideas circulating, and clients want it all. They need someone to pull it all together, manage and execute.
Home decor has also taken a leap. People are spending more time in their homes and are looking to reinvent their space. Decor is trendy and clients are flooded with home decor on TV and social media. They see something on Pinterest or HGTV and want it. They want a someone like me who can come in and quickly transform their space.
There is also an extremely bright future for anyone in the business of relationships and creativity. We are living in an age of AI replacing jobs and people. A creative mindset is completely opposite of what AI can do. Creativity is change and doing something different and not at all patterns, repeats, and algorithms. A computer cannot take those jobs. If you are creative, you can change the world. Creative people are innovative and take risk and it’s a true gift. Whether you are creative or not, building and fostering relationships is also an important trait in making yourself indispensable.
The most successful small business owners are those that have an idea based on a need and create a business around it. People who aren’t afraid to start slow and build while learning and growing.
Corporate jobs provide an employee value as well because they provide a lot of training bigger business opportunities and larger volume. It’s great to see how they have processes in place and standards to follow, especially while learning business. I always look back on my experiences working for a successful mega-brand and am thankful for everything it taught me. I am proud of the impact I was able to make while I was there. The recognition and rapid promotions were exciting and also seeing my ideas come to life and implemented company and industry wide was incredible. Now, with my own business, I love that there is no ceiling. I enjoy the freedom I have and the fact that I have been able to make my dream my reality. “Build your own dreams, or you’ll be hired to build someone else’s.”
Many people look and look for the perfect career. I have found that if you focus on what you are great at and lean into your gifts and talents you may be surprised that the best career will instead find you.
Pricing:
- Residential, Commercial, and Event Decorating $150 per hour
- Corporate Event Planning and Event Producing $150 per hour or packages starting at $5000
- Wedding Coordination mini package $1500
- Wedding Planning full service $3000-$10,000
- Floral packages starting at $1200
Contact Info:
- Email: tamara.boyazis@gmail.com
