We were lucky to catch up with Kimberly Stymus recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kimberly , thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

I hope to build a legacy of trust, care, love, and friendship. I want those who knew me or who I’ve worked with/for to know how much they meant to me and how much I wanted them to have everything they could. Always be kind and supportive of others, you may not always have the same goals or values, but so what, it costs nothing to be kind. I hope my children learn this from me as well. I hope they grow to be exceptional human beings who show that same care and love for others. I love creating new friendships, even though I can be very introverted at times; those connections I make along the way will always have a huge impact on me.

Kimberly , 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?

I’m Kimberly, the owner of Southern Class Weddings + Events. We offer planning, coordination, and floral services. I began planning weddings years ago by helping out some of my closest friends plan one of the most important days of their lives, and that’s where my love of weddings grew. Yes, as a little girl, I always dreamed of my wedding, just like most little girls do. My Grandma and Aunt always said I would excel in the hospitality industry, but it wasn’t until I discovered wedding planning that I realized what they meant. I fell in love with every moment of a wedding, seeing the couples so happy and putting all the tiny details together to create their dream day gave me so much joy! When I started creating floral arrangements, I found a new love and another level of service to provide my clients. I love playing with flowers and having an idea or vision, then being able to create something tangible out of that idea. Now I don’t have any formal training in floristry, but I’m always learning, finding new ways to create solutions, and making it work. My handiness, I believe, is what has paid off when creating these beautiful pieces.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

I worked in the corporate space for many years, then began helping with weddings for friends, which turned into word-of-mouth clients or business relationships, so I started a small coordination business. I did this for several years as I was younger, working full time with my side gig. It was a lot as I was a single mom of 2 as well, thank goodness for my parents! Soon, I had the opportunity to run a venue, and after some time, I decided to launch my business again. I had just gotten married and had baby #3 on the way, so I needed to slow down and not work 7 days a week at a venue! At the time, I had a friend who was stepping back from her business, and we worked together for a time and still had her business in the same venues. Long story short, I took over her business instead of starting from ground zero, combining it with the experience and events I had, and it took off! My sister was a godsend helping me rebrand, update my website and marketing! Making the change to focus completely on my “side gig” was a blessing! I could create the time I wanted and needed with my kids while still doing what I love and supporting our family. My husband is one of my biggest supporters, and I’m so grateful for him. He encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and expand! I’ve made many more relationships with venues and vendors, and because of that I have a business that is continuously growing!

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Relationships! Honestly, having relationships with venues and vendors has been my biggest source of clients. I created strong relationships with venues and vendors that want to work with me again and again. I would say 80% of my clients come from a preferred vendor list recommended by venues and word of mouth from vendors who trust me to take care of our mutual clients. Creating that trust doesn’t happen in a day, though; it takes time and devotion and showing those venues and vendors that they can trust me to give a level of service they would be proud of, and that means the world to me when they can trust me!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.southernclassweddings.com
• Instagram: @southernclassweddings
• Facebook: Southern Class Weddings + Events

Image Credits

Alyssa Hollis Photo
Lindsey McKinnon Photography
Nicole Sandercock Photo
Branch + Burrow Photography
Rachel Boyd Photography