Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Staci Franklin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Staci, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

One day while sitting in the office of one of my co-workers, I mentioned that I was trying to come up with a name for my business. During the discussion, I kept mentioning how I like for my clients to feel special on “their day” and that they needed to feel comfortable in making choices because it was “their day”. It was if a light bulb went off in both of our heads at the same time and we both said “It’s Your Day”. From that moment on, I knew that was the name for the business.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am the owner and lead event planner for It’s Your Day! Weddings & Special Events. For more than two decades, my company has been providing event management services for weddings, social and corporate events, fundraisers, tradeshows and group travel.

As a certified wedding planner, I provide a high level of professionalism, knowledge of the industry and attention to detail. This is especially crucial for my clients who are busy engaged couples, corporate professionals and event hosts who have limited time and/or knowledge in planning their wedding celebration or special event. By working closely with my clients, I am able to take all of their complex details to curate the best vendors to make sure their event is a momentous and memorable occasion that brings their wedding and event dreams to life.

Additionally, my company has received a variety of acknowledgments and accolades from news outlets and wedding publications across the country, making it an ideal choice for Memphis and Mid-South area celebrations.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

I have more than 20 years of experience in communications and community relations where I held a variety of roles from vice president of communications, executive director of communications and marketing and director of community investment. During this time, my event planning business was always a side business for me. It allowed me to explore more fully my love of event planning and coordination as well as make a little extra money.

It wasn’t until I was laid off from my job in 2015 that I realized that this was the opportunity to work full time in my business. I already had the business infrastructure in place with the creation of a website, business license and insurance, the EIN number, bank account, business cards, etc. The only thing I hadn’t done was consider working in it as a full-time self-employed career.

It took some time to change my mind set from employee to business owner. I was now responsible for every aspect of running a business — taxes, insurance, marketing, HR, IT, etc. To say that it wasn’t overwhelming, would be a lie. There were many times that I thought I made a mistake but something kept telling me to keep going.

A key turning point for me was the global shutdown of events due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. During this time, it allowed me to reflect on what I was doing right and what needed drastic improvements. I knew that when everything opened back up I wanted to be able to hit the ground running. As a result of this introspection, I was able to have my best years in 2021 and 2022.

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

I think consistency and attention to detail has helped to build my reputation in the market. When I ask a client how they found me, many will say that they were referred by a vendor (e.g. photographer, caterer, florist, etc.). They’ll also go on to say that the vendor gushed over how professional and organized I am in working with them and how much it helps them do a better job.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.itsyourdayweddings.com
• Instagram: @itsyourdayweddingsevents
• Facebook: itsyourdayweddings

Image Credits
Camille Leigh Photography Incredibly Wee Photography David G. Studios Marcus Harrell Photography