We recently connected with Mandy SHI and have shared our conversation below.
Mandy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?
Without a doubt, I’m happier as a wedding planner and designer. I genuinely love what I do—creating beautiful, meaningful wedding experiences for my couples. The best moment is always seeing their reaction when my design comes to life. The joy on their faces reminds me exactly why I chose this path.
But yes, there are moments when I wonder what life would be like with a steady 9-to-5 job—something with a predictable paycheck, benefits, and weekends off. The reality is, as a business owner, I wear many hats. I’m not just the planner—I’m also the accountant, the marketer, the content creator, the operations manager, and more. I work 24/7, and some days I realize I’m earning less than someone working a regular hourly job.
Still, every night when I hold my babies—my daughter and my son—I silently thank God for this life. I get to do what I love while raising the family I adore. Even though this job is demanding and sometimes I feel like I’m not getting the return I deserve for the energy and hours I pour in, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. The happiness I feel when a couple tells me their wedding was everything they dreamed of—that’s what keeps me going. I hope I can continue to share that joy with more and more couples, helping them celebrate love in a way that feels uniquely theirs. Because at the end of the day, I’m not just designing weddings—I’m creating memories that last a lifetime.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Mandy Shi, and I’m the founder and lead designer behind AMORMAGIC, a wedding planning and design company based in Southern California. I’ve been in the wedding industry for 10 years, and my passion is helping couples bring their dream celebration to life—one that not only looks beautiful, but also feels deeply personal and memorable.
I began in corporate event planning in Beijing in 2008, but something always felt like it was missing. That search for purpose brought me to the U.S., where I earned my master’s degree and met my husband. When I planned my own wedding, I felt confident managing every detail—until I walked into the reception and saw plain hotel linens on the tables instead of the blush lamour linens I had chosen. It was a small detail, but it made a big impact—and it made me realize how important it is to have someone there who truly has your back. I didn’t want other couples to experience that kind of disappointment, and that’s when I knew I wanted to become a wedding planner. I enrolled at The Wedding Academy, studied under Sherrien Shui, and later worked alongside her, and eventually launched AMORMAGIC after becoming a mother.
At AMORMAGIC, we provide coordination, design, and full-service wedding planning. We guide our couples from concept to celebration, offering not only logistical expertise but also aesthetic direction.
What sets us apart is the level of personalization and thoughtfulness in every detail. We don’t just follow trends—we listen deeply. We take the time to learn who our clients are, what matters most to them, and how they want their guests to feel. No two weddings are ever the same because no two couples are.
What I’m most proud of is my ability to see beyond what’s in front of me and reimagine a space with florals, draping, lighting, and layout. As a designer, I don’t just see a venue for what it is—I see what it could become. I focus on enhancing the venue’s natural beauty while minimizing elements that may not align with the couple’s vision.
To anyone discovering AMORMAGIC for the first time, I want you to know this: our work is driven by heart. We design each wedding not only to reflect our couple’s vision, but to bring out the unique beauty of the space and story they’re telling. It’s about more than creating something beautiful—it’s about making it feel meaningful, personal, and unforgettable.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
For me, the most effective strategy for growing my clientele has always been focusing inward—on myself, my team, and the quality of work we deliver.
First, I continuously invest in improving myself, as both a planner and a business owner. I reflect on each event and ask myself what could have been done better, not just in terms of design, but also in logistics, communication, and client care. During my free time, I stay curious. I seek inspiration beyond the wedding world to keep my designs fresh and meaningful. I also read books on business management, team building, and most importantly, the Bible, which grounds and guides me in both work and life.
Second, I treat my team like family. We’ve built a foundation of trust and support, and that’s what allows us to show up strong and seamless for every couple. After each wedding, I usually interview the bride and groom about how they felt on their big day. I always share their kind words with my team (which we’re lucky to receive every time) because I want them to feel appreciated and valued. At the same time, if I notice there’s anything we can improve, I share that openly too. Therefore, we reflect, learn, and grow together, always aiming to be better for the next couple.
Third, I focus deeply on delivering high-quality work for every wedding we take on. I treat each celebration as if it were my own. I listen carefully to the couple’s vision, understand what matters most to them, and go the extra mile to make it happen beautifully and smoothly. The results speak for themselves—not only in photos, but in the emotions and trust we build with our clients.
At the end of the day, this inward focus has been the most effective strategy for growth. When you do your best with what’s already in your hands, couples notice. Most of our clients come from referrals, from past couples, trusted vendors, or venue managers. And when we share a beautiful wedding on social media, it often leads to new inquiries. But none of that happens without first doing the work with heart and intention.
We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.
I met Doris through my mentor, Sherrien Shui. In the early stages of AMORMAGIC, I was still building my team and often needed extra support on the wedding day. At the time, Doris was working as Sherrien’s assistant, and she began helping me as a day-of assistant during events.
As our working relationship grew, I saw how detail-oriented, reliable, and genuinely caring she was toward each couple we served. So when the opportunity came to grow the team, I asked if she’d like to take on a larger role, a wedding coordinator. Since then, we’ve become an ideal match—I focus on creative direction and design, while Doris oversees the flow of the day. Together, we bring both structure and beauty to every event. She’s become a core part of AMORMAGIC’s success, and I’m so grateful for the trust and teamwork we share.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://amormagic.com/
- Instagram: amormagicwedding
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myamormagic/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/amormagic-arcadia?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)
Image Credits
Tommy Lu, Armen Asadorian, Frank, C&C Photography