Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Parris Balazs. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Parris, thanks for joining us today. Do you take vacations? How do you keep things going – any advice for entrepreneurs who feel like they can’t step away from their business for a short vacation?

Yes! Whether it is a vacation, a casual couple days away, or even a “staycation”, I do try to make sure I give myself time to recharge. Being an event planner and business owner, I work 30-40 hours a week behind the computer and then work in the field most weekends. I have experienced major burnout in former career avenues. I give myself time to recharge because the brides that have put their trust in me deserve better than burnt out Parris.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I began my event planning career more than a decade ago organizing and directing corporate and charitable events as the marketing manager for a multi-state title insurance and settlement law firm. I was awarded the opportunity to learn how to run a business working simultaneously for the law firm’s sister real estate school as the chief operations officer. I decided to turn my expertise to the wedding planning market in 2018 and became my own first client when I got engaged that same year! I knew I had something special once I realized that booking all of my own wedding vendors within the first 30 days of being engaged was pat on the back worthy. In that same month, I also enrolled myself in an online course and gained my first wedding planning certification. Since launching my business, I have more than doubled my bookings each year, have been acknowledged in multiple magazines and voting campaigns, and have recently gained my second wedding planner certification from the Wedding MBA. I love connecting with my clients on a personal level. After all, this is a very personal time in their lives, and I feel like working with a professional who can empathize and look past the business sense makes a big difference. I focus on getting to know my clients, their families, and then I tailor my planning efforts to align with their vision so I can deliver a wedding that lives up to their idea of perfection.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

I had already decided the year I got engaged that I wanted to be a wedding planner. Being my own first client, I learned a lot about WHAT you need to have and WHO you need to have at a wedding. This was my start and at the time, it was a side hustle. As with most entrepreneurs, it takes time to build and scale a business and get to where you can run your business full time while also serving as your primary source of income. I wasn’t even close to being there – so I hustled. Being the workaholic that I was, and am, I continued working for three different companies as a W2 employee during the week and focused on building my business on nights and weekends. My advice to aspiring business owners is to take advantage of all freebies. Get your business on every free online platform out there. Get your first booking, or two. Then, use that profit to invest in yourself. The first time I ever spent money out of my wedding business account was to exhibit in a bridal show. I booked three weddings at that show. I continued this pattern until I was at a point that I was comfortable transitioning to working for myself full time.

If you have multiple revenue streams in your business, would you mind opening up about what those streams are and how they fit together?

With event industry setbacks due to COVID, I had to get creative and figure out how to maintain income. I used revenue to again invest in my company and purchased items that couples can rent from me for their weddings, such as cake stands and accessories, candle sets, signage, decor, arches, and more. My goal is to offer what they will need at a friendlier price than what they would purchase it for themselves, not to mention the convenience of these items being brought in so the couples have less to remember on their wedding day. I also began offering more add-on services, such as menswear return service and romantic wedding night hotel surprise where my team sneaks in to decorate the couple’s hotel room.

Separate from my event planning business, I am a realtor with Carolina Sky Real Estate. The two are connected in that I offer client continuity and help newlyweds sell or purchase a home following their wedding! Given my background in title insurance and settlement, plus running operations for a real estate school, I am able to provide a unique buying and selling experience. Planning a wedding…buying a home…I love helping my clients with all of their significant life experiences!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eventfullychic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eventfullychicbyparris/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eventfullychicbyparris/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parris-balazs-52288a70/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIzB1KbJNaDfdk-YbZ1XIgw/videos
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/eventfully-chic-by-parris-columbia-2

Image Credits
Cam North Photography Front Row Films Jessica Roberts Photography Karly Richardson Photography Paige Styles Photography The Carters Creative The Wedding Click (Trevor Mercer)