Her Story
About Soumya
Soumya Mohanty is a wedding and event planner based in Herndon, Virginia, and the founder of Chai and Champagne Affair. With nearly 20 years of experience in event management and a background in project management, she brings strong organizational expertise and creative vision to designing and executing large-scale, multi-day celebrations. Her work focuses on end-to-end wedding planning, where she transforms client visions into fully coordinated experiences through detailed planning, vendor collaboration, and on-site execution.
Over the past several years, Soumya has specialized in wedding planning, particularly South Asian weddings that require complex logistics and seamless transitions between multiple events. She has successfully managed large guest-count weddings of up to 500 attendees and is known for executing intricate event “flips” within tight timelines. Her approach emphasizes precision, adaptability, and delivering an experience that feels effortless for couples and their families despite the complexity behind the scenes.
At the core of her work is a commitment to empathy, collaboration, and meaningful client experiences. Soumya is motivated by long-term client satisfaction and the lasting impact of her events, often receiving feedback months after weddings about their memorable execution. Through Chai and Champagne Affair, she aims to build a legacy brand rooted in trust, creativity, and cultural celebration, while also championing collaboration over competition within the events industry.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Soumya
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my passion for creating meaningful event experiences and my genuine desire to help people have unforgettable celebrations. What motivates me most is when clients continue to share positive feedback months after their event, which reassures me that the work we do truly makes a lasting impact.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is simple but powerful: just be yourself. Staying authentic has helped me stay grounded and confident in how I approach both my work and my relationships with clients.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women that peers are never your competition. Instead, they are your greatest source of growth and learning. Viewing others as collaborators rather than competitors allows you to expand your skills, creativity, and opportunities.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in the event industry is the lack of innovation and the tendency to fall into repetitive approaches rather than thinking creatively. However, there are also strong opportunities for growth when you let your work speak for itself, build a strong reputation, and allow your results to create new opportunities and long-term legacy building.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Empathy and compassion are the most important values in my life and work. I always try to put myself in my clients’ shoes and ask how I would feel in their situation. This mindset guides every decision I make and ensures that I approach every event with care, understanding, and genuine intention.
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