Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Carlie Maggart Kim . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Carlie , thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I had always been a wedding planner – a traditional church wedding/venue wedding planner, or at least assisting one since I was young. I always loved the idea of a micro-wedding or an elopement, as they’re so much more intimate than the type of weddings experienced with 300 guests. I really just loved working with a couple who was in love and making their dream day happen for them. After going through my own wedding which was a small affair on my favorite beach, my passion for small weddings grew. I was inexplicably drawn to intimate ceremonies and spending more time with the couple and focusing on their wedding goals, not just keeping guests happy. From there my love of nature took over, and I delved into learning photography so that I could really level up on my offers to my couple who were booking an adventure elopement. Surprisingly many skills I’ve learned as a nurse has made my transition much easier, the couple has a healthcare professional present at all times for safety, and it really gives my life and career such a great balance as I swing both careers. My coworkers definitely think I’m crazy…until they need wedding help!
Carlie , 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?
I own Dye the Knot Adventure Weddings & Elopements where my amazing team and I plan, coordinate, photography, officiate, create unique floral arrangements, even design and hand-dye the brides gown. In high school I had taught myself the art of dyeing yarn and still run a small yarn dyeing business on the side that I started when I was about 17 years old. From there I really had a great idea to mesh my love of color and my love of weddings, and I’ve never looked back. It’s been the best and most fulfilling decision of my life, starting and running this business. I can’t imagine NOT being a wedding pro.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I think we all can relate to a career or life pivot after having experienced COVID 19. People weren’t really booking weddings, at least not big weddings, and I remember panicking in my head and wondering if things would ever go back to normal. Then I realized that even if they didn’t, I still had a skill set that brides and grooms deserved to have a chance at experiencing. Pandemic or not, I still was head over heels in love with designing and creating the perfect day for my couples, even that meant the day looked a little different than before. And surprisingly, I fell in love with the new normal for my business of small weddings and intimate elopements. It’s now a huge part of who I am and I’m able to really focus my energy on the couple themselves rather than a bunch of details people will forget later. It’s a much more meaningful and moving experience now than it used to be. And I never would’ve gotten to experience this side of my passion had it not been for what I originally perceived as an inconvenient setback.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
Surprisingly, another “new normal” that I struggled to embrace but has now become my main revenue stream, is TikTok. I would see friends and lowkey judge them for posting such silly videos of themselves doing dances or dumb things for everyone to see, but after really and truly giving the platform an honest shot, I met who is now my staff dress designer, and the majority of my clients each year from that crazy app. It’s amazing what life will give you when you throw caution to the wind and try something new!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dyetheknotweddings.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/dyetheknot_bridalgallery?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DyetheKnotWeddings?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
Carlie Maggart Kim