We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alexis Goodwin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alexis , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?

My very first client was lady a named Regine! I was so intentional on how I would market myself by creating an environment for my preferred clientele. I knew I wanted a client who loves beautiful tablescapes and more. After publishing my business website and marketing myself with high quality images I received my first real inquiry from her. I was nervous, and she doesn’t know this now, but I was not sure what to charge, but I knew I had to charge enough so that she would book me. I think my first full planning fee was $2,500. I met her at our local Starbucks for a “consultation” and she immediately booked me. I thought to myself ok this is it I AM DOING THIS! That moment was literally a kick start to my business.

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.

My full name is Alexis Goodwin, and I originally wanted my brand to be Three Thirteen event planning, but when I looked up the LLC I saw that it was a well-known clothing brand in Detroit. My husband said what about A. Good (because everyone deserves a good planner). I loved the word play, and I received great feedback from it. I started my business, because I was missing a ME at my wedding. The endless calls I received the day of my wedding was exhausting, and I just knew no one should plan or coordinate their own wedding. It is definitely a luxury service, but if you’re able to please hire a professional.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Stay consistent. I know this is such a cliché answer, but really staying consistent helped me tremendously. Also, another key thing that helps me is sharing high quality photos and also sharing authentic behind the scenes footage. I am like a happy medium on social media. I don’t come off as super commercial, but I also make sure I am providing content that is telling a story at a high-quality level. Find a way that sets you from the rest and continue to grow within your special way of marketing. If you don’t have the event to post, create your own and market it well. Honestly you have to be somewhat strategic.

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

I once worked on a finance team for a major hospital in Michigan at their corporate headquarters. I realized my business was pivoting when my business was making the same amount of money during my maternity leave. I was surviving off my side hustle money, because I wasn’t getting paid anymore after my six weeks were up. After I had my second son the pandemic happened, so I worked at home for a major pizza company finance team. I kind of gave up on wedding planning, but I had one client who wanted to still have her wedding under the restrictions and that literally took my business to another level! Even though I only coordinated it, she allowed me to share it on social media and that was pivotal in my business. I continued to attempt to work my 9-5, but once I began to have destination weddings, and clients were flying me out to another location to plan their events I began to be overwhelmed. Plus having a baby that was always sick didn’t help. After getting let go from my job in 2022, my husband gave me his blessings to pursue my business full time, because the income was there. I just had to imagine doing it full time, and I would be able to reach my full potential. I would say with every wedding or event I’ve had it has elevated me in so many ways.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.agoodeventplanner.com
• Instagram: a.good_eventplanner

Image Credits
Photographer: D’Isjah Lyons Photogrpaher: Nicole and Daniela