We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Arch Events. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Arch below.

Arch, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

Opening the company WAS the risk – we were unemployed in the middle of a pandemic, and really had no sense of what the future held for us professionally or personally.

When we met in 2019, we quickly realized two things: we were going to be good friends, but also we had complimentary skillsets which might make for a successful partnership down the line. We tossed the idea of owning a planning company around, but it was a far off dream – five, ten years from where we were. But the pandemic happened, we were both furloughed from our positions at a catering company, and it was then that we realized we could wait around and see what happens, or make something for ourselves.

Despite rules, regulations, masks, mandates and “Covid Pods”, weddings were still happening, just on a different scale. We saw that there was a hole in the market that we could fill. An event planner friend reached out to us with an opportunity on August 7, 2020 – it was a micro-wedding on September 19, 2020. They needed a planner to sort through the logistical loopholes and make the wedding both fun and safe for their guests. In just over a month, we developed a business plan, named our company, planned & executed the wedding in Long Beach, NY. We had no clients lined up after that, just each other and the connections we had made and we thought “what’s the worst that can happen?” And so, Arch Events was born. We’ve quadrupled in scale since 2020, taking on 26 events this year alone. Making those uncertain moves back in the height of Covid allowed us to get our footing and create a solid foundation, making the risk so, so worth the reward.

Arch, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Arch Events is a full service wedding & event planning company which aims to turn the rigid, often stressful process into a playful, creative, and collaborative luxury planning experience.

Allyson got her start in large scale productions – think Billboard’s Women in Music Awards, the CFDA’s. etc -while Monica fell in love with high-end weddings from the very beginning of her events career. Combined, we’re two wildly extroverted gals who love a good party and have stacked up 20 years of wedding & event planning experience because of it.

In an industry that can feel stressful and stuffy, our goal is to foster a high touch experience via a relatable, comfortable planning process. That’s the Arch difference. We want it to feel like you’re planning your wedding with a friend, except your friend actually knows how to plan a wedding.

Our priority is always our clients, so in developing packages we wanted to make sure there was something for everyone. In a world of constant selling, we want our couples and clients to get exactly what they need and nothing they don’t when it comes to planning their event. We offer Full Service, Partial, and Month-Of Planning packages so each client can feel their planning process is tailored to them.

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

Never burn a bridge. It’s a lesson both of our parents instilled in us from a very young age. While the events industry can seem huge, it is really a small network of professionals who are crossing paths all the time. Before Arch, we had the privilege of working for people & organizations who encouraged us to find our own way in the industry and make solid connections. We pride ourselves on being the kind of people that others want to be around, and worked hard to foster relationships and learn from our peers well before we thought about starting our own company.

When we opened Arch, we reached out to almost everyone we knew in the events space to tell them the news, and were overwhelmed with the positivity and support we received. It was emotional, really. Planners can sometimes have a reputation of being controlling or mean and while we do resent that stigma a bit, we also understand it. Sometimes it’s required, but we’ve always tried to lead with the kindness and humor that we’ve come to be known for.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Our socials were built up organically, slowly, over time. We want our voice on social media to match that friendly, approachable vibe we’ve created on our site and IRL with our clients.

Sometimes socials can feel so serious and highly curated. As planners, that careful cultivation is so ingrained in us, but we think it’s important to remember that Instagram is a highlight reel. Sometimes we’re posting a luxe, perfectly placed tablescape, and the next photo will be from that same high-end wedding but it will be the bride absolutely rocking out on the dance floor, or the groom jumping up on stage with the band and playing guitar. Maybe it’s a half eaten meal, or an actual candid laughing shot. Those real moments are always the posts with the highest engagement. Your potential clients will want to see the real world of your business and bran, so show them that!

This is cliche, and we think that’s fine because it’s true. Our biggest piece of advice is to just be yourself. The second you’re pretending to be something you’re not for the sake of likes and shares, your ideal audience will be able to feel the ingenuity when they scroll and it won’t work in your favor.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.archeventsnyc.com
• Instagram: @archeventsnyc
• Facebook: Arch Events NYC

Image Credits
Savannah Lauren Photo Nato Tuke Photographer Anema Co. Photo Thalia the Camerist Sydney Marie Co. Photo Hyde Photography Erica Reade Photo / Couples Who Commit Karen Obrist Photography