Rising Stars: Meet Carla O’Neal

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carla O’Neal.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been in love with all things fashion, wedding & event design; including the various aspects that go into organizing these events! 𝘌𝘝𝘌𝘕𝘛 𝘋𝘌𝘚𝘐𝘎𝘕 is so much more than just putting a pretty flower arrangement on a table.…It’s about all of the details, 𝘉𝘐𝘎 & 𝘚𝘔𝘈𝘓𝘓, that come together to make each wedding we create personalized and custom-tailored to each client. It’s the combination of colors, textures, and decorative accents that bring each event to life.

My love of organization and planning has followed me forever and has always carried over into my work. Working as a Director of Career Services for several years at a local college, I had the opportunity to plan career fairs and social events with some of the city’s most noted businesses and organizations. After I had my first child in 2015, my career took an unexpected turn; I left corporate America and McKenzie Chic was launched! Now my entrepreneurial journey is evolving & I am refocusing my pursuits into the world of event & design.

As a wedding planner and event designer, I’ve been able to hone in on my passion to create truly unique experiences for my clients and turn my passion for flowers into an art form.

Outside of spending time with my husband and life partner, Rousseau, and our two young children, I devote much of my time to my church family & community service projects. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Public Relations & an Associate of Arts Degree from the University of Cincinnati. I am a former NFL Cheerleader for the Cincinnati Bengals, two-time pageant titleholder “Mrs. OHIO Globe” & “Miss Miami Valley” of the Miss America Organization and former commercial model, tv host & actress of theatre & stage.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
One of the greatest challenges faced in the first few years of building this business was not understanding & clearly defining the boundaries of our services. It has taken time to learn how to properly charge for services set boundaries & expectations; all while trying to balance work and home life. Building a business doesn’t happen overnight and having a business shouldn’t run your life.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
McKenzie Chic is a family-owned business that stands at the forefront as one of Cincinnati’s finest decor and event design companies. We offer our clients a boutique approach to planning & design; with immense attention to detail that allows us to curate beautiful design, comprehensive services & floral artistry for the modern bride.

We pride ourselves on creating classic and elegant celebrations that are as glamorous as they are timeless. Our personal style embraces modern & traditional design, simplicity and symmetry. We specialize in carefully curated floral design combined with thoughtfully planned details that are personalized and custom-tailored to each person. Our motto is that “no event is the same and each event is just as unique as the individual”. We believe in an authentic, honest connection combined with beautiful design!

As an event planner & designer, I spend a great amount of time investing in our client’s vision and building their trust; for this reason, we chose to accept a limited number of events per year; allowing us to focus our efforts on providing personalized attention, exceptional customer service and curating memorable experiences to life’s most unforgettable celebrations. It is our goal to always create an experience that tells our client’s story.

What are your plans for the future?
Planning and designing celebrations over the last several years have fueled my passion for all things design! My future goal is to share more of our amazing content, creative projects and personal experience to provide inspiration for those who would like to further explore their own creative uniqueness in their personal and home life.

Contact Info:

• Email: events@mckenziechic.com
• Website: https://www.mckenziechic.com
• Instagram: @MckenzieChic
• Facebook: McKenzie Chic LLP

Image Credits
Photography Credits: Wendell Gibbs Rachel Spears Photography Gee Q. Photography