Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Yulieth Giraldo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Yulieth, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. 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.
The idea for my wedding & event planning business was born from a combination of passion, personal experience and a pivotal moment that me realize my true calling.
A few years ago, I found myself in the throes of planning a co-workers’ wedding. I originally volunteered to design her wedding invitations & all stationery as I had a background in Graphic Design and loved all things creative. But with only 3 months to plan & execute, I found myself more involved & took charge of organizing the details, from touring the venue, finding last minute vendors & staying within a tight budget. I discovered an unexpected joy in the process and ultimately decided to start a business with a friend as this “fun little project” only fueled our passion for all things love & weddings.
Being bilingual, we thought we could assist a Spanish speaking market and bridge the gap on any language barrier. With a sense of determination and a little fear, we started laying the groundwork for the business and became immersed in learning the ins & outs of weddings. Got certified with the Certified Wedding Planning Society back in 2014 and built a business as a side hustle and took any opportunity we could to learn and built a portfolio.
Throughout the years, friends & family would reach out for advice, connections and assistance for their own events. I dove into learning the industry, building a network of trusted vendors, and crafted a brand that reflected my dedication to making each event unique and memorable. I saw the need for having someone guide you and essentially hold your hand through the planning journey. basically become your best friend! That’s where I come in, wether it was a wedding, or a Quinceañera, with every event my excitement grew, my relationship with the clients became more like friendships and I felt more certain than ever that I was on the right path.
Today, with many changes, growth and re-brands along the way, Radiant Events & Design is a testament of that transformative experience and emotions that drove me to follow my passion and desire to make a difference in people’s lives through the art of beautifully crafted celebrations.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m a Certified Wedding & Event Planner with a passion for all things celebrations. Life is about enjoying the little & big things.
With over 10 years in the wedding & hospitality industry I have learned the importance of human connection and building strong relationships to accurately fulfill the client’s vision. I was often the go-to person for organizing office events and celebrations due to my knack for detail. Helping has always come naturally to me, so when I helped a co-worker with her wedding it sparked the passion that I now thrive on to create memorable moments as stress-free & enjoyable as possible for my clients.
I’m committed to providing excellent service to each client and personally interact with them during the planning process, making sure all questions or concerns are answered and we establish an easy plan for them to follow and stay focused without feeling overwhelmed. From Full-Service planning to Day-of coordinating and Destination Weddings, we ensure your big day runs smoothly by handling all logistics, managing vendors, and troubleshooting any last-minute issues. This ensures we alleviate any stress and uncertainty from the client.
My team and I are distinguished by the ability to enjoy the process while having an unwavering commitment to attention to detail, strong vendor relationships and staying true to ourselves, our values & our clients. I’ve always said, we’re like your coach & cheerleaders at the same time!
I’ve been incredibly proud of the countless moments of joy and celebration that we have created for our clients. Seeing their happiness on a couple’s faces as they experience their dream wedding is the most rewarding part of my work. I take pride in our ability to transform our clients’ visions into reality, with the support we receive from what I like to call “The Dream Team” each vendor uniquely chosen for that special day.
Our team is passionate about weddings and has the expertise to handle any challenge. At Radiant Events & Design, we are more than just wedding planners; we are dream makers and experience creators. We put you first, that means your vision happiness are our top priority.
Have you ever had to pivot?
Oh so many times! I have lots of stories, but a particularly impactful one that many can relate to, is due to Covid-19.
In April of 2020 while I had a stable long term job in the hospitality industry, the pandemic changed that, leaving me furloughed alongside having to cancel/postpone many weddings & events from my side business. This of course led to many months of uncertainty and having to figure things out, calm clients down, and be supportive in any way possible to my vendor friends meanwhile navigating different career options. However, as time stood still, it allowed me to be more present and listen closely to my dreams and move slower in the path I wanted to take. I became more intentional & self-aware of my goals and the risks I wanted to take both personally & professionally.
So I did what any sane person would do, I took a 7 week road trip where I was able to make interstate connections, tour outdoor venues & collaborate with vendors all the way from Georgia to New York as we all navigated a new norm. Getting a fresh perspective in different fields and professions allowed me to better understand our clients pain points & concerns. They all lead to one thing, not being able to enjoy time with their loved ones and celebrate a life milestone together.
I continued my education with the Certified Wedding Planning Society to stay up to date with all change that quickly happened and being located in Central Florida, one of the first states to open back up with few restrictions, were allowed more guests at a gathering.
Pivoting into micro weddings was the first step into easing that stress while complying with safety standards allowed for families to be reunited and celebrate special moments that turn into lifelong memories.
I rebranded my business in 2021 & dove in to fully create what I call “The Radiant Experience” for my clients, curated a list of wedding pros I love & trust and built a blueprint to guide a seamless planning process for everyone involved.
This type of change allowed me to go explore with different career opportunities and become more creative than ever, built stronger relationships & nurture the important ones in my life. Really giving meaning to the quote “be like a flower, survive the rain, but use it to grow.”
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I can’t pin point just one thing, but instead I believe this has been a combination of many key factors.
Exceptional client service: Personalizing my services to fit each client by taking the time to understand their unique vision and tailoring my services to create memorable events that reflect their personality and style. Making sure no detail is overlooked, and maintaining clear and prompt communication throughout the planning process builds trust and ensures that their concerns are being addressed in a timely manner & of course guiding them to enjoy the months leading up to their big day.
Strong vendor relationships: I’m big on this one, I have learned what it means to hire a professional, and that means working with reliable and high-quality vendors who share our same commitment to excellence. Curating a list of the professionals I see best fit for my client as opposed to just sending a set list of preferred vendors because I know the value each one holds.
Creative vision & innovation: As a designer, I have a need to feed my creative side and ability to think outside the box, clients appreciate my innovative ideas and staying on top of trends and continually incorporate design meetings to all my services.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.radianteventsdesign.com
- Instagram: @radianteventsdesign
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RadiantEventsDesign/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuliethgiraldo/
Image Credits
Betty Abreu Photography, Francine Castro Photography, Amanda Warnock Photography