We recently connected with Terez Grace and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Terez, thanks for joining us today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later

If I could go back in time. I wish I would have started sooner. I was always helping planning family events and my mother’s dream was becoming an event planner it was something she loved to do. I actually got started planing my cousin baby shower and i realized I love wedding s when I was planning my own. I was always creative but shy and didn’t like spot light. I was working full time and my kids was older so I was able to give more time to pursing what I loved to do. I say starting sooner but I wasn’t in a position at the time. I think when I did it was Gods perfect timing because he groomed me to be the boss I am today and he surrounded me with a great support system and a husband that was my biggest motivator.

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

I am full time wedding and event planner. I am also certified and accredited event designer. I got into the industry by planning my own wedding with my wedding planner whom gave me great pointer and was supportive. I started my event planning business A Touch of Grace Events with the intentions of doing weddings but i end up with birthday parties , baby showers doing balloons every thing except weddings. So when people wanted wanted they only seen parties. I had cousin that was getting married and she asked me to decorate so that was the start and then a friend asked me to coordinate and decorate her wedding. during the pandemic .That was the start of my big weddings and I decided to separate the business and started Weddings and Designs by Ds. in 2019. I actually named it after my brother Derrick Smith whom was tragically taken away from us before I was able to help him start his business. Ever since then my business has taken off even doing the pandemic and has been growing tremendously since then. In 2021 I decided to go back to school and become certified which was the best thing it set me apart from other people because I knew so much about different styles of weddings according to ethicinity and religious beliefs. I also in 2021 became accredited event designer and a member of Abc Association of bridal consultants. This alone set me apart of of other planner because of credentials. I also set down and get to know our clients and are able to educate them on planning a wedding and explaining what a budget consists of why it s good to have one. This has landed a lot of opportunities because people have no idea. Our company we offer full time planning , partial, day of coordination and event decor. I am so proud of stepping out of my comfort zone and pushing to my full potential. I love doing bridal shows and networking because it so much to learn in this industry that’s is constantly changing every day. I am so grateful for my husband support. My business has taken off so good that I was able to walk away from my full time job in 2022 to do what I love full time. What clients will get from me is a dedicated planner, day of coordinator or designer because I take proud in what I do and I am passionate about it. This is my life my passion not a hobby.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of new clients and my repeat clients is word of mouth. I don’t advertise a lot but i do have a social media presence. But networking and bridal shows has been a great asset as well.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A lesson I had to learn was to know your worth. When you know your worth other people will recognize it as well. Every client is not for you. I use to want to take on every one and if it wasn’t profitable just to have business but it was draining me and i was over worked. I still wasn’t reaching my perspective clients. When my work spoke for it self I was able to to decline and not feel obligated to do an event.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.weddingsanddesignsbyds.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/weddingsanddesignsbyds
• Facebook: Weddings and Desigsn by Ds