Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Samantha Kin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Samantha, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?
To Be Loved Events grew from a college class into what it is today, all sprouting from the business name that I cherish dearly as the backbone of the company. With every event that I plan, being a wedding, bridal or baby shower, anniversary or birthday party, etc. they all have one core value and that is love. I knew I wanted the word ‘love’ in the company name because every event, in any capacity, celebrates love and/or someone you love, and I wanted to reflect that. Also, the ‘to be loved’ notion came from my vision of fostering a caring for and understanding of my clients. Through my dedicated work, I always want my clients to know how it feels ‘to be loved’ when working with me – cared for, celebrated, understood, and supported.
Samantha, 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?
As I mentioned, I started my business in a college course while also working for various wedding planners to learn from the best about the craft and take in all that I could about the wedding industry. I also pride myself on being a 2017 Planner Life Academy grad where I developed a lot of essential planner skills. I then got my Business degree in Entrepreneurship to give me a great foundation for starting my own company, which I officially launched post-grad in June of 2019. With my experience, I knew then that I loved the work and it has never ever felt like work. The wedding & event services I provide include 60-day event management, full or partial planning, and also design packages. I love to be involved with any kind of event, but we do specialize in weddings in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. I love to support my clients with managing vendor logistics, budgeting, timeline creation, and so many other tasks to give them the events they envision! I think what makes me stand out in the industry is my fresh perspective of design and wedding & event execution, as well as my reliability and responsiveness. I would say I am most proud of all of the couples I have been able to guide through their wedding planning journeys over the last 4+ years. Going on 5 years in business, I’m so proud of where I have come through Covid-19 and now into a booming industry that I love.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
In the Fall of 2020, we were all severely feeling the effects of Covid-19, but I also experienced something I never imagined I would this early in my life – Cancer. I was diagnosed with a rarer form of Lymphoma when I was just over 1 year into my business and it truly taught me so much about my life and grew a resilience in me. The pandemic added another layer of difficulty to the journey, but I knew I was going to fight it and come out stronger both as an individual and as a business. Among many other lessons, I grew to realize the importance of sharing my story with my clients to really foster trust and a bond between us. I knew, in the end, having the support from my clients would make for an even stronger relationship.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
From the beginning, I knew the power of social media, both from a marketing and sharing perspective. I really think my growing audience on Instagram, fresh perspective on video content, and trying to share authentically on the platform has given me a great reputation in my industry. I also think my reputation of being a proactive, energetic yet calm and composed planner has prospered through my interactions with vendors and consistent dedication to being a big team player for any event.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tobelovedevents.com
- Instagram: @tobelovedevents
- Facebook: @tobelovedevents
Image Credits
Headshot: Rachel Paige Photography – https://rachelpaigephotography.com
All other photos: Danielle Bacon Photography – https://daniellebaconphotography.com