We were lucky to catch up with Thomas Bui recently and have shared our conversation below.

Thomas, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

Thomas Bui Lifestyle is a full service wedding and event design company based in San Diego, CA. With 22 years of experience we have designed and produced weddings across The United States, Mexico and Europe. Thomas works closely with every couple, and produces 12-15 events per year.
Every design, vision starts with an extensive description, photos, lay-out and the right vendors for us to execute everything event successfully. Our design deck is between 20-30 pages as we start the lay out process in order for the clients to understand everything we conceptualize.
Once they are able to understand everything, make changes to the vision another team puts everything in perspective via computer renderings. These renderings are the closest visuals for them to see all the details and texture.
The week of the event, we will generally start the execution process starting Thursday for a Saturday event, each day consist of 14-16 hours production schedule and a team of 20-25 vendors. If we are working at a private estate, the process will generally start 7-10 days.
Start to finish, we work with our clients/couples a minimum of 12-14 months, some longer depends on the length of the project.

Thomas, 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?

My initial career in the pharmaceutical industry was intellectually stimulating but not necessarily personally gratifying. As productive as I was, I realized that my work lacked passion and creativity–qualities that I aspired to integrate in my profession. I began to brainstorm ways in which I could explore my artistic ambitions. At the time, the event planning business in San Diego was in its infancy. I thought that a career as an event designer could effectively marry my customer service and organizational abilities with the creativity I longed to express. With an entrepreneurial mindset, I completed an MBA and began the hard work of building my business from scratch.

The early days of Thomas Bui Lifestyle, Inc., were characterized by cold calls, informational interviews, and a ground campaign that included posting fliers in the breakrooms of area hospitals. It was a one-person operation before the age of cell phones, the internet, and social-media. I started to build my network by connecting with vendors and potential clients, cultivating relationships with focus and intention. Consequently, my business grew one event at a time and evolved steadily through referrals. The success that we enjoy today is based on what has been true from the very beginning….At its core, Thomas Bui Lifestyle is about design, service, and relationships.
Thomas Bui Lifestyle (TBL) is a full-scale event production company based in San Diego with a satellite office in San Francisco, California. We work closely with clients to create unforgettable events that embody personal style, refined taste, and a discerning eye for luxury. Whether planning a multiple-day wedding celebration, intimate dinner party, or large-scale corporate event, our personalized approach begins with a focused effort to understand our client’s needs and desires. We are passionate about design and service. Our team of multifaceted, experienced professionals work together to research venues, source vendors, and coordinate the services necessary to bring our client’s vision to life. In doing so, TBL has earned a reputation for an impeccable eye for design and attention to detail, making our brand synonymous with excellence on the event planning stage.
Moreover, our longevity in this industry can be attributed to our continuous desire to learn and grow. We constantly strive to innovate and reach new production standards with each project. In the process, we nurture partnerships with venues and vendors that foster collaboration and spark creativity. The final result is an artfully curated experience that exceeds our client’s expectations in design, service, and execution. The lasting impacts of our efforts are client relationships based on trust, professionalism, and generosity, which ultimately yield repeat and referral business.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

As was true for every industry, the pandemic forced us to pivot. We were fortunate that our business did not come to a complete standstill; however, the events that remained on our calendar had to be reimagined in size, scale, and production value due to widespread restrictions. For instance, some of our projects moved from one state to another in order to circumvent strict rules on gatherings. Guest counts decreased from 300 to 30 so that social distancing guidelines could be observed. Our creativity and resourcefulness also were put to the test as travel restrictions and supply chain issues impacted logistics and planning. Ultimately, the events that we curated during the pandemic were expertly executed with health and safety in mind while embodying the style and attention to detail for which we are known. During our down time, we identified areas for improvement in our infrastructure and business practices. We redefined organizational roles and streamlined internal processes, which enhanced productivity and creativity among team members. We also devised new growth strategies and goals from which a revamped website and social media targets were born.
Overall, the pandemic showed us that we possess the resiliency and flexibility to overcome adversity at its worst. We adapted our methods without compromising design or our ability to exceed our clients’ expectations. Our team is stronger and our brand is more recognizable than ever.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Often times, our work generates interest from guests who attend the events that we are privileged to design. We also cultivate genuine relationships with clients who refer us to family and friends, even before their special occasions have taken place. Thus, our ability to execute memorable events and the personalized attention we give our clients from the start are key factors in developing sources of new business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thomasbuilifestyle.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/thomasbuilifestyle
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/thomasbuilifestyle
• Linkedin: www.linkedin/thomasbuilifestyle
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/thomas_bui
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/thomasbuilifestyle
• Yelp: www.yelp.com/thomasbuilifestyle

Image Credits
John & Joseph Photography, Clane Gessel Photography, Katie Beverly Photography, The McCunes, Dennis Kwan Photography