Shalyce Tyson is a proud Marylander with a big heart and big dreams. In 2012, she set out to follow her career calling and pursue her passion for planning by establishing Sensational Soirees. As Owner and Lead Planner/Designer, Shalyce is committed to providing her expertise, creativity, enthusiasm, and love for beauty and details to build upon a client’s vision and create an unforgettable event. She's extremely proud of her team’s work ethic that has yielded them 5-star client reviews, along with opportunities to have their work featured on Washingtonian Weddings, Pop Sugar, B Collective Magazine, and more! Shalyce is a bona fide glow getter committed to growth, achieving her goals, and glowing from the inside out! Learn more about her journey to founding Sensational Soirees and how Aisle Planner helps her team deliver sensational client experiences.
What inspired you to enter the wedding industry?
Since I was a child, I've not only loved special celebrations, but also celebrating others. My very first job at age 16 was actually working as banquet staff for a weddings and special events venue in Maryland. I went on to work at that same company part-time after graduating from college, and even hosted my wedding reception there a few years later. It was through those experiences that I developed a real interest in the wedding industry. I also had a natural knack for managing details and event logistics and loved event design, so I decided planning was the perfect fit for me.
Why did you start Sensational Soirees?
I started Sensational Soirees in 2012 after deciding entrepreneurship was the route I wanted to take. The venue I was working for prior to starting Sensational Soirees had wedding sales specialists opportunities, but I didn’t want a sales job. I wanted the opportunity to work with couples one-on-one from the start of the planning process all the way up through the entire wedding day. After getting married myself, I learned first-hand the value of a professional wedding planner and I desperately wanted to add that same value to other couples.
Planning a wedding is one of the most exciting experiences for couples, but even more so is building a life with their soulmate. With Sensational Soirees, I’ve endeavored to handle the wedding planning, while our couples focus on celebrating their love and preparing for marriage. Our philosophy isn't to plan and design ordinary weddings, but instead sensational weddings. From exchanging vows to the first dance, I want each moment of every couple’s special day to be special, unique to them, and memorable for years to come. I started Sensational Soirees to help foster an enjoyable and stress-free planning experience for couples. By offering our planning, design, and logistics expertise along with our warmth and wit, we hope the sensational experience allows our couples to plan with ease and celebrate their nuptials with style.
If you could change one thing about the weddings and special events industry, what would it be?
I often tell couples, “your day, your way,” to help reemphasize that they can and should keep the focus on themselves in lieu of pressures that sometimes may come from loved ones, social media, and elsewhere. I would love to see more weddings unapologetically all about the couple—whether that means a smaller guest list or going against other wedding trends on Instagram. I believe all couples should be focused on whatever they want and infusing their unique love story, likes, history, and taste into their wedding.
How does using Aisle Planner help you deliver the client experience you want to?
Aisle Planner has really allowed me to deliver a seamless and collaborative experience for working with our clients. Prior to using Aisle Planner, I honestly don’t know how I was ever able to efficiently plan a wedding. It's revolutionized the way in which I conduct business! It ensures no detail is left behind and that the client is always in the loop. Planning requires a high level of organization, and Aisle Planner helps me to stay on top of everything.
What is your favorite Aisle Planner feature?
My favorite feature is the functionality for both me and clients to leave comments on tasks within the checklist. This feature is essential for me in keeping the planning process streamlined with the client. Being able to post an update and allowing the client to respond right back makes communicating easy and organized, and we can have a log of updates to refer back to when needed.
If you weren't the Owner + Lead Planner & Designer of Sensational Soirees, what would you be doing instead, or what would your life be like?
If I wasn’t the owner of Sensational Soirees, I would still be a creative entrepreneur. I love music and plan to learn how to play the piano, so who knows, maybe being a musician is in my future, too.
What are three things you never show up without on event day?
I never show up to a wedding without my phone, timeline, and flats. Clearly we can’t function without cell phones anymore, and definitely not in business. The timeline is key to managing all the moving parts and agenda for the event. And flats, because event days can be anywhere from six to 12 or more hour days, so comfort is key for a successful event day.
What’s your personal philosophy on becoming a great wedding and event planner?
In order to become a great wedding and event planner, excellent customer service is a big part of it. Planners are trusted to execute someone else’s special event, so you can’t just have great planning skills or design skills, you also have to be able to and willing to ensure an exceptional experience for your clients and their guests. Great planners should also be invested in continuing education, no matter how long you’ve been a planner. The event industry is ever changing and you need to evolve and stay educated at every season of your career. The true test of finding out if you're a great planner is if you’re able to leave a positive footprint in the event industry and reach back and develop newer planners.
What’s your trademark in the client or event experience?
My trademark in the client experience is successfully merging professional and personal. I keep business extremely professional, but at the same time I endeavor to build a personal relationship with my clients. People enjoy working with people they like, so I love getting the work done, while sharing a laugh and having a good time with my clients. This has allowed me to make the process not seem like work sometimes.
Is there anything you are particularly excited about working on this year?
I recently welcomed new members to our team. Thus, I’m super excited for the growth of Sensational Soirees and the ability to now serve even more sensational clients.
Just for fun
If you owned a restaurant, what food would it serve?
I love a variety of food from seafood to soul food. If I owned a restaurant, I would have plenty of delicious, low-carb options on the menu. My son is a type-1 diabetic and aspires to be a chef, so this hypothetical restaurant might be a reality one day.
What skill would you like to master?
I have a long list, but if I had to narrow it down to three, it would be playing the piano, roller skating, and investing.
Favorite book of all time?
Rich Dad, Poor Dad
On my days off you can find me…
Working on my new personal brand and lifestyle blog, which is my namesake, Shalyce Tyson. You’re invited to connect with me at www.shalycetyson.com where I’ll be sharing more of my personal journey in life, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and all the things!
If you catch me out and about I’m always wearing…
My glow getter t-shirt! I’m a graphic tee and hoodie kind of girl and I’m always trying to stay motivated, so this shirt is perfect for me. You can grab a glow getter top too very soon at my shop on the Shalyce Tyson site.
Want to see more from Shalyce? Check out her website sensationalsoirees.com!
Hero photo courtesy Belle Imagery Portraits
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