We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sarai Thompson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sarai below.

Sarai, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

I wish I knew the exact day and time when I became an event planner. I guess you can say it all started in college. I was always coming up with creative ideas for birthday parties, trips, and photoshoots — you name it and I had a big and bright idea on how to make this happen for everyone’s budget. However, I never took that talent seriously. I am a multi-hyphenate creative, but first, I am a journalist. I did not want to gear away from my goal of becoming a big fashion journalist in the industry, not realizing that I can do and have it all. Years later my best friend Myles and his wife Aaliyah who are both family to me asked me to be the day of coordinator for their wedding. Can you say honored?! I was so excited and nervous at the same time. the flow of their wedding was in my hands and I did not want to mess that up. I knew that I had a talent that needed to be shared with the world when people at the wedding started asking for my business cards. I clearly didn’t have any because Luxe & Chic did not exist! However, I learned at that moment that when God gives you a talent, it’s a shame to let it go to waste. I returned to my home in NYC, unsure of where to start but I was going to take a leap. Then, my friend Kayla told me to talk to her aunt entrepreneur, personal coach and event planner Deidre Suggs. Through her mentorship and guidance, Luxe & Chic Company was born!

Sarai, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Sarai Thompson, founder of Luxe & Chic Company, the premier event planning company for creatives! I’m a first-generation Jamaican-American born in Boston, raised in Atlanta and currently living in Brooklyn, New York. My team and I are all about giving creatives the flexibility to give their ideas to us and together we turn their ideas into a reality. Everyone on the Luxe & Chic team is creatives in their own right. We are event stylists, hospitality gurus, graphic designers, photographers, writers and more. My team understands how much creatives put on their plates. Creatives deserve to be free to continue doing what they do best without worrying about the logistics of their event. We work with you regardless of your budget. Consider the Luxe & Chic team your personal team that you can trust!

My team and I are approaching a year of planning events and curating experiences and I’m so proud of all we’ve accomplished. The road is bumpy and rewarding all at the same time. I want our clients to know that we’re growing right along with them. There is nowhere but up. We’re a Black, women-owned and West-Indian-owned company and proud of it baby!

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Be relatable, kind and spend quality time. Because L&C is a part-time job for my team and me, I like to make sure I do weekly check-ins. If the week was too overwhelming or they need mental health days, I do not contact them until they are ready. I like to have monthly meet-ups when possible for us to do something fun and I’m consistently giving them feedback. I value the work that my team does for L&C and I never want to give a top-dog/underdog vibe. Although I founded L&C, I’m on the same playing field as my team. They give me feedback when needed and present ideas that are way better than I could even imagine. I’m still trying to figure it all out as a new business owner, but my team makes the process easy and I’m so grateful for them.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal is for creatives to live the softest life possible and they can achieve that through partnering with Luxe & Chic. The act of living a soft life is also linked to your mental health. In high school, I received leadership training through Dr. Tim Elmore and he always told me to be a river and not a flood. Rivers have a steady flow, they are narrow and direct. A flood rushes crashes against rocks, and it’s wide. When you’re a river you’re streamlining your flow and all your efforts go towards achieving your goal. If you’re a flood that’s overwhelming with a lot going on, you’re spread thin and won’t achieve as much as you would perceive. I never want to see an overwhelmed creative. We are needed in this world and we can’t create if we’re overwhelmed.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.luxeandchiccompany.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luxeandchiccompany/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/luxe-chic-company/

Image Credits
Alazia Williams Shoott Photos Sarai Thompson/Luxe & Chic Company