We were lucky to catch up with Kailoha De Martino recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kailoha, thanks for joining us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

It takes special skills and dedication to be a “successful” planner. You must be VERY well rounded and have many skills in your tool belt. Our job is different everyday we go to work. No wedding, client, location, or vendor team is ever the same. A planner must be able to adjust to their surroundings and be quick on your feet. They must also be creative while staying organized. If any issues arise on wedding day the wedding planner is the one is in charge of making sure it is solved. We are the bride and grooms voice and I like to say ‘wedding best friend’. The client experience is the most important part of my entire job! If the client is happy, I have done my job. If the client is upset, I make it my responsibility is keep the energy calm and solve the issue, even if it not something I have not caused.

Kailoha, 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?

My name is Kailoha, Owner of KailohaCo Events. I am 22 years old, and started my business at the age of 20. From a young age I started building my skills with multiple event planning, hospitality, and customer service jobs. I decided to drop out of a college after my freshman year, got more experience in the industry and then launched my company! Although it was intimidating starting a wedding & event planning business so young, I knew I was more than capable so I decided to trust myself and go full force into making my vision come to life!

Our firm mission is to create the best client experience possible and to build quality relationships with other vendors. Building that trust with your clients and vendor teams is beyond important. As a planner/coordinator we must be able to efficiently facilitate the whole process from start to finish, no matter what is thrown our way. It is our job to relieve as much stress and responsibility for our clients, so they can truly enjoy their wedding!! We treat every event and every client like an individual because they are!

The creative design side of our company is a huge component to what makes us, KailohaCo and what sets us apart from the rest! Not only do carefully manage logistics, we want the events we do to be as beautiful as possible! I have hosted many styled shoots/content retreats, featuring amazing vendors and ahead of trend designs! These events are where a ton of our networking and relationship building comes in. I collaborate with a diverse group of other creatives and business owners to curate beautiful moments, and strengthen those relationships. Our clients come to us because they believe we can really understand and execute the visions they have dreamt up.

For our wedding clients we offer customizable packages from Day of Coordination, Partial Planning, and Full Planning. Outside of wedding services we offer creative directing for brands/branding shoots, corporate or social event planning, and we are always down to get involved with cool projects that come our way!

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

As I spoke about previously, what has helped me build my reputation and reach so much in two years is putting a huge emphasis on networking and building genuine relationships with my clients and vendors!

One my first ever projects I planned was a styled shoot, where I brought on a dream team of vendors at a beautiful resort and together we curated a beautiful mock-up wedding. I gave all the vendors creative freedom, was very warm and friendly, and really tried to be someone they wanted to work with again. Some of the photographers who bought tickets to that shoot have bought tickets to multiple other content events I have hosed after that. I have also worked with every vendor multiple times since then. This is a great example of how much putting yourself out there and being confident in what you do can lead to lasting business relationships and potential leads.

I have also received a ton of client referrals from past clients, which is honestly the best compliment and reassurance that I am doing my job well! Investing in your client experiences goes without saying how vital it is to continuing to growing and maintaining a solid reputation. In event planning we may not be able to control every detail like weather and other vendors, but we can ALWAYS control the kind of experience our clients have with us.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Social media is the KEY to generating clients in the wedding/event industry. Most of our clients find us via our socials, meaning what they see is their first impression of our company! During consultations with news clients they often tell me they chose KailohaCo because of our branding and they believe we will be the best option to help them execute their vision.

In the very beginning days of launching my company I was out doing table mock ups and branding shoots so I had something to work with in my socials. Now I have grown a whole portfolio of beautiful work I have done, that I carefully post with different purposes and strategies. This was something that took time, dedication, real clients and styled shoots to grow. I try my best to portray the kind of the work that will attract the clients that fit best with our company’s style.

Social media algorithms are ever changing, but having a solid foundation of organic interactions wether that’s followers, tagged photos, comments, or shares is super key to ensuring we are reaching real clients in our market. I try my best to tag all parties involved in the photos/videos I post to be respectful of their business’s and to potentially use their audience to expand your reach.

A beautiful and organic social media presence has been one of the most impactful streams of new clientele.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kailohacoevents.com
• Instagram: @kailohacoevents @kai.cocreatives
• Facebook: KailohaCo Events
• Yelp: KailohaCo Events

Image Credits

Slc.Portraiture
TaylarPhoto
Julia Davis Co
Shaina Sterrett
Hally.Photo
KayBacon Photo