Valerie Ayers

My journey into the wedding industry started in an unexpected way about 5 years ago. My very first intro was being a server for one night for Cafe Natalie - it was a 10-course meal and I came home with completely swollen feet. That was my first experience with the wedding industry, but then a friend told me about a position open at a planning company here in Houston. I applied and got it, and I loved working there. I ended up having to teach myself a lot of things - I was kind of thrown into it, but I liked that. I figured out a lot of things on my own, the way that I like to do things, plan things, and design things, and seeing and meeting every client where they're at. My first wedding was in 2021. Now I own my own company and I plan weddings from full service to day of coordinating. I typically do big venues, anywhere from 80 to 300, 500 guests. I'm also a new mom - I had a baby 9 months ago - and I'm a stay-at-home mom during the week with my daughter. It's been a crazy journey of trying to figure out business and having a baby, but I think you always have to evolve and change where you're at. I'm trying to broaden my offerings to include small intimate gatherings to match the phase of life I'm in, and I'm taking on a little bit less weddings every year, but having those weddings be very special and meaningful because I'm taking less.