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

Alright, Tenisea thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you share a customer success story with us?

I worked with a wonderful couple planning a late spring coastal destination wedding. The bride was a detail-oriented checklist completer, and the groom was the steady voice of reason. Both were in the early stages of new careers and living several hours away, so they relied heavily on me for clear communication and hands-on coordination.

Their main challenge was their venue. It included an in-house coordinator, but communication was inconsistent, which left the bride anxious and unsure about key details. The couple hired me to manage both the planning logistics and day-of coordination so they could feel confident their vision would come together seamlessly.

Once I came on board, I quickly realized that the venue was difficult to reach, even for me. This posed a risk to planning and vendor coordination. To close the communication gap, I made an impromptu site visit to inspect the property, confirm usable spaces, identify off-limit areas, and create a detailed floor plan. I then shared this plan with all vendors so they could adjust accordingly, while ensuring we protected the venue’s property and protecting our own business liability coverage.

Two weeks before the wedding, I still couldn’t confirm final details with the venue team, which heightened stress for the couple, the mother of the bride, and the catering staff. At that point, I shifted into contingency mode; finalizing all vendor instructions, refining the master timeline, and preemptively addressing potential venue restrictions so the day could run without last-minute surprises.

On the wedding day, the venue team was present, and thanks to the advance planning, other vendor relationships, and timeline management, everything flowed seamlessly. Guests never knew there had been behind-the-scenes hurdles. The couple had a beautiful, relaxed celebration, and afterward the couple told me she felt like she could actually enjoy her wedding instead of worrying about the details.

This experience reinforced the value of proactive planning, vendor communication, and client trust. By anticipating issues and putting the right logistics in place, I was able to turn a stressful lead up into a flawless and memorable wedding day.

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

My name is Tenisea Madry, and I’m the owner of Simply Classy Soiree Events in Goldsboro, North Carolina. We specialize in wedding coordination services. This is my ninth year in the wedding industry, but my path started long before that. Friends and their friends would pull me into their events because they knew I could manage details, stay calm under pressure, and navigate challenges with grace.

My background is in education, where I learned to juggle multiple priorities, adapt quickly, lead with assertive passion and empathy. These are all skills that translate perfectly into wedding planning and coordination. One of my very first weddings sealed the deal for me. During the ceremony, a bridesmaid collapsed, and I quietly handled the emergency while the ceremony went on without disruption. Guests had no idea anything happened, and I realized I had a gift for keeping events running no matter what.

Simply Classy Soiree offers three main services: Day-Of Coordination, Month-Of Planning, and Partial Planning Wedding Services. Our work is built on four pillars; wedding timeline agendas, vendor management, guest management, and wedding day logistics. We specialize in helping busy professionals, especially those planning destination weddings in Eastern NC and the Coastal Carolinas, bring their wedding vision to life while enjoying their wedding journey, stress-free.

What sets us apart is our client-first approach. We build trust from day one, so by the wedding day our couples can completely relax knowing we’ll advocate for them and manage every detail. My greatest pride is seeing couples enjoy their day fully, knowing everything is handled.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

About three years ago, I faced one of the hardest moments of my career and life. On the day of a wedding event, I was coordinating, my son was in a serious auto accident two hours away from the venue. I had to leave the event to the hand of my assistant and immediately leave to be with him. Thankfully we were able to take him home from the hospital the same night, but he had broken everything from the knees down and faced a long recovery.

After that night, I was unavailable; mentally, physically, and emotionally. I didn’t have the systems or staff with capacity to lead, in place to cover my absence. This meant I lost a few wedding clients and some cultivated business partnerships. I was forced to step away from weddings for about eight months. Honestly, even when I could have returned, I didn’t have the courage to put myself back out there.

Then, a bride took a chance on me for her destination wedding. I showed up not as the “perfect” coordinator I used to be, but as myself (clumsy, quirky, tired, funny, a little rough around the edges, but classy) and she embraced me as I was. Together, we planned and executed a beautiful, seamless wedding day. That experience reminded me why I do this work and gave me the confidence to step back into the industry I love.

It also taught me one of the most important lessons in my business. Systems and processes are super important to ensure that they business can function whether I am leading the charge or not.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

One resource that’s had a profound impact on my approach is Dare to Lead by Brené Brown. Her work on courageous leadership and leaning into vulnerability really shifted the way I think about wedding management. In weddings, it’s not just about executing the event. It’s about managing people in highly emotional moments. Couples, families, and vendors are all bringing their own hopes, stress, and personalities to the day.

From Dare to Lead, I learned that clarity is kindness. Being upfront, setting expectations, and communicating with empathy can prevent misunderstandings and keep everyone grounded. I also took to heart the idea that brave leaders have tough conversations early. Whether it’s addressing a vendor concern or diffusing family tension, I now see these moments as opportunities to build trust rather than avoid conflict.

That people-first mindset is what allows me to create not just flawless events, but wedding days where everyone feels respected, heard, and cared for.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.simplyclassysoiree.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplyclassysoiree_events
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simplyclassysoiree

Image Credits

BlueFoxx Media, Coy Rigdon