Spotlight on Makia Walls of AOT Events

I recently had the opportunity to meet with Makia Walls, of AOT Events. I've worked with her in the past, but during events you rarely get the opportunity to sit and chat. She was kind enough to carve out some time to have some coffee and share some industry stories and insight into her planning theory and experiences. I was instantly impressed, within minutes, with her drive, focus and positive attitude and spirit.

Here is some more information on Makia extracted from her website, found at: www.aotevents.com.

In 2007 Makia wanted a career that she loved. She knew that to have

the life and company she desired, she would have to 

make it happen. Makia developed AOT Events to be more than

an event planning company; she wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. With customer service as the leading component, Makia has designed an industry leading company that teaches the value of customer focused service and integrity.

In 2010, Makia became very aware of the lack of acceptable customer service offered to clients in every industry. She decided to do her part to instill higher standards of excellence and customer service education to aspiring event professionals.

Makia sought out and was granted an opportunity to develop and 

instruct the Special Event Planning course for Wake Technical 

Community College. This course not only teaches the fundamentals of event planning but it also teaches how to develop and maintain relationships with clients and colleagues.  Makia has currently instructed over 50 aspiring event professionals and continues to make guest speaking appearances throughout North Carolina. Makia is inspired and intrinsically motivated to raise the standards of the event industry and help many more event professionals achieve their desired goals.

The Team

Makia has assembled a group of three industry  professionals that, together, create one of the cities most vibrant and creative event

planning teams!  

*  Tiffany Brewer

*  India Laughlin

*  Wynne Sheen

*  Makia Walls

How did you get started in the wedding business?

Makia started doing event planning while still in High School. Her very first event was an all day workshop, from 8:30 to 4pm. Makia was the sole committee member, responsible for every aspect of the planning, organization, follow up and day of process flow management. This event had a total participation count of 500 people!! It was a smash success and she was hooked!

What do you do when you are not working?

She loves spending time with her family, 2 children and her incredible husband! It doesn't matter what they're doing, as long as they're together.

How would you describe your approach to weddings?

She first spends her time getting to know her clients, to truly understand what they are looking for. Then she helps them to clearly define a realistic budget. Once all that is determined, she and her team spin a stress free/drama free web of creativity and productivity to deliver exactly what they are looking for. She does whatever is necessary to fit everything that is possible into the budget set forth and established by her and her clients.

What do you find the most rewarding about your job?

Makia loves the planning part of the industry and at the end of the event, the smiles are her biggest reward. She loves to see happy clients!

What’s the one thing you wish everyone knew about you or your business?

It's not just about planning the perfect event, but the experience of working together, making things pleasurable, fun and rewarding.

What do you think sets your company apart from other companies?

Consistency: One of the things you can count on when you work with AOT Events is that from the beginning planning phase through the entire process, to the event itself you'll see consistent successes, hard work and high spirits.

What’s the coolest thing you have ever seen?

There are several cool items she likes to see, consistently:

• She is especially excited when everyone works together to deliver the best event experience possible.
• She appreciates when no vendor is “too big” to remember this is the service industry and we are there to work together to deliver a product, NOT to be recognized as a top professional.

What’s the biggest mistake people make in their planning?

Don't listen to the advice of too many people. It's easy to get confused. Stick with the advice of a chosen few professionals.

Who are your favorite music artists/bands?

Makia loves R&B. Today she listens to Jill Scott, the Black Eyed Peas “Imma Be”, DJ Khaled “All I do is Win” and anything by Adele.

What’s the best piece of advice you can give to couples during their planning?

Never forget WHY you are getting married!

A former elementary school teacher, Makia is an experienced event planner with a keen sense of understanding what people want and need. She's polished these skills with a very powerful ability she's strengthened through the years in the industry. It is called listening. These days people are so busy trying to deliver their “perfect product” that they don't take the time to simply listen to what their clients really want and need. Makia has perfected this skill. Once she has identified exactly what her clients envision, then she sets her team in motion to produce something not soon forgotten!

For more information about Makia, her team and AOT Events, please visit her website at:  www.aotevents.com.

Keep on dancing!

Jim Unger

Professional Raleigh DJ & Owner

Ninety Nine Entertainment

Coffee with Barbara Clark of An Elegant Affair

I recently had the opportunity to meet with Barbara Clark, owner of An Elegant Affair. I've known Barbara for a few years now, but working together and sitting down over coffee are two completely different things. I have to admit I was a little nervous at first! We are talking about the wedding planner who handled Cate Edwards' wedding (John Edwards daughter) recently! She is one of the only wedding and event planners in the Carolinas who has been quoted in the New York Times!

Here is Barbara's bio from http://www.an-elegant-affair.com/:

 

Barbara Clark of An Elegant Affair is one North Carolina's most respected and experienced wedding planners. She is the only Accredited Bridal Consultant in the greater Raleigh area. 
She is a contributor to wedding related publications such as 
Real Simple Weddings, Grace Ormond's Instyle Weddings, 
Cary Magazine and Southern Bride & Groom to name a few.  

Ms. Clark successfully completed and is certified by The Emily Post Institute and is an expert in wedding etiquette and especially the modern rules of etiquette.  She offers wedding etiquette seminars to brides and their mothers.  It is one time when brides want to be sure they are following the "correct" rules of etiquette.

How did you get started in the wedding business?

I have been planning weddings for close to 15 years. What has kept me so engaged in the business is the brides. Each bride is unique and brings her own experiences to the process of planning her wedding.

I became a wedding planner because I wanted to have my own business and I excelled at event coordination. I have had worked in the non-profit sector planning large fund raising events. I had also worked in the corporate world helping to plan seminars and off-site team building meetings.  My love of planning and desire to have my own business propelled me into wedding coordinating at a time when it was a new field. There were only a few doing it when I started. There were very few mentors or role models. Brides did not know what a "wedding planner" did. She had to educate the brides. Of course, now it is a booming field.

What do you do when you are not working?

Barbara loves spending time with her family and friends. She enjoys dinner parties at her home.  She also loves to read and in fact is active in a book club. She also has a passion for travel. She is Paris bound in April!!

How would you describe your approach to weddings?

The key is good communication in order to accurately interpret the bride's "vision" for her day. I have to really understand who my clients are and what is important to them. I do this by extensively interviewing the couple to determine who they are and what they love to do in their spare time.  I then have to convey my client’s thoughts, priorities and vision to the vendors. Barbara brings her clients vision to life through collaborative efforts, constant contact, sharing her creative ideas and experiences, and a month to month "to do" list.

What's the one thing you wish everyone knew about you or your business?

I work with the best wedding professionals in the business and assemble the perfect team for my weddings so we have a seamless event.

What do you think sets your company apart from other companies?

At the end of the day, all you have is your reputation and Barbara feels she has one of the best event and wedding planning reputations in the area. She's ethical and fair with everyone. It does not hurt that the Durham Magazine recently awarded Barbara the top honor of being the area's best wedding planner!

What do you love about the event planning business?

Barbara loves the creative side of the industry. No two brides are the same. Every single event is completely different!  She loves providing creative ideas to the bride. My reward is when the bride looks at me with that happy, thankful, excited look not requiring any words. The smiles speak volumes!

What's the coolest thing you've ever seen?

There were a couple of things that quickly came to mind here.  The first item was an instance where the father of the bride was deceased and the bride danced with her brother (for the traditional father/daughter song). They had grown extremely close after their father died.   The second item was a little more involved.  The entire wedding date was moved up to accommodate the bride's terminally ill father.  When it was time for her to dance with her father, he got up from his wheel chair and danced with her.  I don't think there was a dry eye in the entire room!

What's the biggest mistake people make in their planning?

They under estimate the importance of creating a realistic budget from the very beginning of the process. This way you don't get to the end and find you have run out of money.  I tell my brides to prioritize what the most important components of the wedding are for them.  This helps them decide how best to allocate their funds.

In order for you to have a seamless event, you have to work with the best vendors.  As long as they each do exactly what they're supposed to, in conjunction with everything else (and in harmony), then the event can be successful.

  

What's the best piece of advice you can give to couples or people during their planning?

To keep calm and remember what is most important about the wedding day ~ that you are marrying the person of your dreams!  Minor things that go wrong will not even be noticed by the guests.  But the guests will remember how happy the couple is on their special day.

I hope you enjoyed the article as much as I enjoyed talking with Barbara. She's a one-of-a-kind wedding planner that handles some of the area's most elite and elegant weddings!

Keep on dancing!

Jim Unger

Professional Raleigh DJ & Owner

Ninety Nine Entertainment
"Raleigh's Source for Professional DJ Entertainment"