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

Kari, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Since we were young, in grade school and throughout our high school and college years, we are told to follow our dreams and to take risks. We never truly know what that risk is until we are living it but when that time comes, we know that it would be worth any challenges we would face.

Since I moved to Texas in 2013, I knew one thing and that was the career I wanted for myself for the rest of my life. That was to be a professional wedding and event planner. I had many people tell me it would never work out, that I could not do it or it was a waste of a career. My goal was to own my company before I was thirty. I understood the event industry would be tough and I felt I should always prepare myself for negative remarks from ones who may not have understood, but they were actually some of my biggest motivators. Therefore, thank you. Thankfully, I have a very supportive family. My parents and my sisters have been my biggest supporters, as this is most important.

For almost four years, I consistently worked 2-3 jobs to get by but doing so, I was able to gain an abundance of experience. I would work a corporate position (7-4:00pm), then make my way to a spa / receptionist job (until 8:00pm), followed by ending my night as a waitress until closing time (2:00 – 3:00am). I was usually so tired, just overall exhausted, and often thought maybe I was wasting my twenties away, but I always thought this would be truly rewarding. I was able to work with the most well-known and respected vendors in the state, even in the industry as a whole. We created great relationships and these relationships were the ones that later supported me in more ways than I could have ever imagined. These relationships also led me to assist in many events such as showcasing new releases for BMW, the Houston Zoo events, many large non-profits for children, animals, awareness for human trafficking, meet and greets for politicians, events for couples getting married, country clubs and many, many more.

In 2018, I found a planning firm on Indeed. I thought to myself that the chances of being hired were very slim. I was wrong. Less than a day later and I was hired! I began the next exciting journey that I thought I was already on. I was soon after able to quit two of my jobs to focus on my new career! I began working on weddings and learning the industry in the North Houston area. As the wedding industry was in a populating area for private land in Montgomery County, this made home for many vendors such as myself, to work locally. Our wedding industry is an amazing community and I have made friends that are now family to me. At the end of 2019, I completed over thirty weddings for the company. We were growing, going to conferences, teaching new planners, and loving each minute of it all! Then, the global pandemic impacted everyone in March 2020. I alone worked endlessly with vendors and venues to reschedule 32+ weddings into later of the same year, while losing months of dates, to offer to them. As we moved past that hurdle, we were entering into 2021. It was a long, tough, mentally and physically difficult year but I ended it with 44 weddings in nine months. That is, at times, double than one planner would usually complete and all while losing 3 months of the year.

At this point, I was ready to walk away and try to find something else that may be easier on the body and less stressful. The day I was ready to walk away, I was offered ownership of the company that I was pouring my all into. I was speechless and my next thought was this is my next “risk”, especially since it was in the middle of a pandemic but I said yes! We worked quickly with the lawyer to complete the paperwork while in the large holiday season, having a severe case of Covid-19 and doing my best to be mentally prepared to make this extreme move. As 2021 began, and it was a beautiful and refreshing start with our team, we began our new vision and goals for the year. However, we were continuing to be affected and we were scheduling less than usual. This was terrifying. While we needed to pay the company bills and payroll, and as a new small business owner this immediately called for no personal income for myself to get the company on its feet. We applied for multiple loans and would be denied so I focused on what else I could do for our team and couples. As I wish things could have become easier sooner, I am forever thankful for the vendors that have shown their loyalty to us, venues that continued to refer and welcome us back to work with them and our amazing current and past clientele that refer us to anyone they know in need of a wedding and event planner. Our struggles created beautiful relationships with the people in the industry. As this was truly one of the most terrifying decisions I made, it was one of the best and I would not change it. The company and I could not have done this without our team member, Tanna Freedman. Her positivity and joyful soul truly assisted with difficult moments and I have been blessed to have Tanna as a part of our team. Tanna is one of our lead planners and marketing director. Tanna and I work very well together and her creative details really help bring in much personality into the planning process. I know all couples have enjoyed each moment of working with her, as well. We want to have fun when planning a wedding as these are extremely stressful enough; everyone desires to have fun while doing so and Tanna brings so much joy and fun into it. I will always cherish the friendship Tanna and I have formed over the years.

We are forever grateful for the weddings and amazing moments with our couples. We offer wedding services to get the couples started in the planning process and then we later assist with budgets, payment plans, finding the perfect venue, connecting them with multiple vendors and bringing in personal details into their special day. They are why we do what we do, why we take the risks that we take and no matter how scary times become, we will forever cherish all of these moments we have the honor of sharing with them.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

My name is Kari Reyes and I am the owner of Notably Yours Events Planning and Design. I am from DeSoto County, Mississippi. I moved to Texas in the summer of 2013 to call it my next home as I followed my parents here shortly after they moved. I am the youngest of five girls, 4 sisters. I am a lover of the outdoors, all animals, Houston Astros and I am always ready for Christmas.

I enjoy going to forest trails for a short walk and going to the local shelters to show some much needed love to the animals. I am always ready to have a good time in a brewery with my friends or cousins but I also love my cozy nights at home reading a book. I love traveling, whether it is somewhere close by for a weekend getaway or going to tour areas in our beautiful country. I am never opposed to an adventure!

I first fell in love with weddings when my oldest sister began to plan her wedding in 2009. I enjoyed the meetings I attended with her and each of the beautiful details. I have always loved helping people as I absorbed this from my parents so then I moved forward into working in the customer service industry. It truly felt as each door continued to open for me guiding, teaching and helping me find my way to where I am now. Everything has prepared me for this moment in life. Our career holds much natural discipline, criticism and self teaching. Within this field, we must hold high levels of professionalism, communication and team-work. Our events commonly hold 8-16 vendors to make a day come to life that families have worked for up to a year (or more) to put together so I really feel that everything I have done led me to this career path.

I am extremely proud of our team and the creations of weddings we have put together. There are many artistic abilities needed for colors, contrast, structure, new trends every few months and planning numerous weddings at once. My sisters compliment me regularly for my *eye* for creativity and design. I do not agree with this often but others seem to like what my opinion is when putting all of these things together.

One thing I have learned growing up with such a big family is loving with all you have. The brand for a wedding coordinator is to showcase love. This world holds much stress, hate and negative outlets. We want to be nothing less than a positive one. We always have our doors open to welcome everyone and do not carry any restrictions on whom we work with. We have experience in traditional and cultural weddings, always reflecting the love in the air and each wedding or event is true to our couples.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I believe always being true to myself and my work ethic has helped build my individual reputation. I am a type A personality and Enneagram 8. For my friends and colleagues, they all understand my expectations as I have always presented this from the beginning. If you do not communicate what you expect for a level of service or what it is that you want to see; then you will be let down. It is all about communication. This also should not be rude or hasty. We are all a team and I will always know that I cannot do this without them and I need to be a team player when working with any wedding and event vendor. As an owner, I have to make this clear to all parties and be a leader in communication, team work, etc and to set the example for the other team members.

We want everyone to also take care of themselves, the brides, grooms, bridal party and our teams. It is not familiar to most that we commonly work fourteen days straight with admin, office, meetings and of course, the big day! I believe what sets us apart is our genuine desire of caring to make anything work for our couples. We endure long days in the freezing cold or the hot summer days of Texas so it is important to know the day cannot happen without positive attitudes and team-work. We must eat, take breaks and remain hydrated. Especially the hot days in Texas, so I always ensure I am checking in on our team members and vendors. Our health is very important and we must always look out for each other. It always goes back to team-work and communication.

Everyone who has a part in building the perfect day for so many couples goes above and beyond. When all efforts that are put in by all members of our company reflect on the big day, it is then shown to everyone around us what our true capabilities are. Each wedding and event speaks for itself and it is overall what builds our reputation.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being creative in your experience?

This may be hard to give one answer.

The most rewarding aspect that is in mind would be when the details, hours of preparation and hard work have come together and the room full of guests are soaking in the love and celebration of the couple. It is refreshing and I can only smile at this moment. This beautiful, breathtaking moment.

Our work often takes a minimum of six months and over three-hundred hours of work to put a single event together. Of course, anyone can toss details together and call it a day. However, we have high levels of expectations and values for our couples. We love seeing the families and friends celebrate, dance and have a wonderful time as two become one and to begin their new life journey. Being a part of this is rewarding in ways that unless you do it, you would never truly know.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.notablyyoursevents.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notablyyoursevents/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NotablyYoursEvents
• Other: https://www.theknot.com/marketplace/notably-yours-conroe-tx-996384

Image Credits
photographer for all photos: Christine Wright owner of Swish and Click Photographer Bridal wedding gown: Candice Gold owner of Evangeline bridal Hair and Makeup: Alison Hughes owner of AH Specialities (colorful wall) is called Sugar and Cloth wall (these are downtown by Houston creatives) Venue: Arrowhead Hill Wedding Venue in Montgomery Table Decor for Better Together: E.Johnston Designs and Elegant Beginnings Real Wedding Couple Photographer: Michelle LeVan Photography