With Valentine’s Day coming up, I thought it would be appropriate to feature someone in THE romantic industry – weddings, of course! Today’s CoChic Cool Chick is Shannon Gail, owner of Shannon Gail Wedding & Events. Shannon runs a successful event planning company, with the help of her background in Finance, as well as a talented, diverse team. Although Shannon has a passion for the wedding and event industry, she prides herself in being a business owner first. Read on, as she shares great advice for those who would like to be entrepreneurs and the secrets to her success!

If you are new to CoChic Cool Chicks, welcome! CoChic Cool Chicks is an interview series, featuring inspirational women entrepreneurs who I am lucky enough to have in my girl boss network. These women are doing great things and whether you aspire to be an entrepreneur or not, I hope that they inspire you to do great things, too. I encourage you to check out their businesses, websites, and social media. And reach out to them, ask them questions, say hello. They’d love to hear from you!

Tell us about your business!

Shannon Gail is a boutique event planning firm out of Chicago, Illinois that produces 80+ weddings and events per year locally and across the United States. The team is comprised of professionals with backgrounds in finance, marketing, design, venue management, hospitality, and catering and prides itself on being an expert in all areas of event planning.

Web – Facebook – Instagram (@shannongailweddings)

What made you decide to start your own business?

I always knew that I wanted to be an entrepreneur. I come from a family of business owners and went to school for Finance, so it was always a matter of what type of company I would start. I originally thought it would be some sort of financial advisory, but when I noticed that couples were often spending $100,000+ for their weddings in Chicago without any formal financial advice, I quickly realized there was a niche for me in the market.

How did you become interested in the wedding industry?

Chicago is a wedding hub. Being centrally located and a prime summer destination makes it an ideal city for locals and visitors to host their weddings, meaning the market is strong and lucrative. My family has always managed a golf course which is also an event venue, and I worked in various wedding-related jobs when I was younger, so the blend of background and opportunity made the decision easy.

Who is your ideal client?

Our ideal client could be anyone from a corporation looking for assistance with a product launch to an engaged couple looking for services on any end of the spectrum. We are equipped with a very skilled set of planners in varying backgrounds, meaning our ability to customize services for a wide array of clients with success is extremely strong.

What do you love most about being an entrepreneur?

I truly have a passion for the inner workings of a company. I love being involved in all areas of business from marketing and sales to accounting, finance, and legal. Having an impact on each of those areas and being able to witness the overall effect on the company as a whole is both fascinating and fulfilling.

What is the most challenging aspect of being an entrepreneur?

The most challenging part of being an entrepreneur is actually what I love about it the most, and that is wearing many hats. It requires you to have knowledge in so many different arenas, and you are often forced to learn quickly and deal with situations you are not necessary an expert with. Also, the time commitment is endless. There is no “9-5” when you own your own company. You wake up working and go to sleep working, however it’s all very much worth it when watching your company grow.

What has been your proudest moment in business so far?

My proudest moments in business are always watching the planners on our team grow and succeed. Each time one of their weddings/events is featured or gains publicity, a client reaches out with a glowing review, or they surpass their financial goals for the year, I am just so proud that this company which once didn’t exist can provide a platform for the success of so many wonderful and hard-working individuals.

What is your best piece of business advice?

I would say “know your priorities and your passions.” I often speak with hopeful college students looking to be involved in the events industry or simply to become entrepreneurs. I always stress that the journey ahead is long, and unless you truly are rooted in your cause and purpose, it is much too easy to give up. If your passion is wedding planning, maybe it’s best that you find a job where you will be doing that day to day, versus running a company. Know where you want to go and what will make you happy, because that will give you the energy and ambition to fight through difficult moments.

Do you have any tricks of the trade you could share with us?

Be honest. In any industry, owning a company is in fact a business first, however I am a huge advocate of running our company honestly and for our clients and contractors first and foremost. You’ll meet many types of people and competitors throughout your journey, and an honest and fair company will surpass the alternative in the long run.

How would you describe your personal style?

I would say classic but not safe, and I think that runs through the overall vibe of our company as well. From events that I design to the clothing I wear, there is always an overall classic feel with a few chances taken to incorporate new trends or express personality and style.

What does being CoChic (Comfortably Chic) mean to you?

I think fashion, or in my industry – event design, should exude your own personality while always presenting as professional and well-thought. In both cases, that style doesn’t need to be fussy or complex. Sometimes, simplicity says much, much more.