We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sydnee Cummings a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Sydnee, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
Throughout my time at Ball State University, I’ve had the chance to fully immerse myself in campus life. One of the most rewarding experiences has been my involvement with the Black Student Association. BSA provides a safe space for minority students, and through my participation, I’ve been able to organize impactful events such as pageants, breast cancer awareness initiatives, community service projects, and lively block parties. Beyond campus, I’ve also seized opportunities to organize both birthday celebrations and corporate events.
After graduating, I found myself adrift like many new alumni. With a bachelor’s in science and uncertain about my career path, one thing was clear: I had a passion for bringing events to life. That’s when I established Simply Elegant Events, more than just a business, but a calling that gave me reassurance and purpose.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am capable of handling various tasks as an event planner and designer. Clients often approach me with requests for custom props, balloon arches, floral designs, or simply seeking consultation, and I am able to bring their visions to life. My brand is known for being authentic, passionate, and innovative. We prioritize our customers and our passion for the brand motivates us to always exceed expectations.
Our company is innovative because we are always striving to do something new and different. In today’s society, there is a wide variety of events, and we recently had the opportunity to successfully organize a rodeo event and a Black Diamond Gala.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Ever since I launched Simply Elegant in early January 2024, our business has rapidly gained traction and become a prominent presence in the local Indianapolis community. I’m grateful for the overwhelming support and patronage from the community as we continue to thrive and grow.However, I forgot to mention that I am currently pursuing my Master’s in Health Science in grad school.
Balancing my event planning business and graduate studies has been a bit unconventional. However, when you are passionate about something, you are willing to put in the extra effort. I attend school from Monday to Friday, dedicating a significant amount of time to studying and ensuring that I stay organized to manage my event-planning activities during the week and sometimes even on the weekends.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
As a new presence in the community, we are dedicated to creating engaging content for our events and reaching out to diverse individuals. We are leveraging social media to connect with the younger generation and share our mission and offerings. It’s an honor to have the opportunity to document our journey on Instagram and connect with people directly. While we have organized successful events in the past, we are now seeking new avenues to expand and reach a wider audience across the Midwest.
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Image Credits
Photographers William Lynch, Leroy Taylor, and Marcellus Harrow