Celebrating Dejanae Events Sweet Sixteen Birthday!

Each passing year amazes me as I celebrate another milestone in Dejanae Events.  I'm so grateful, no thankful, to say that I have sustained in the wedding and event planning industry for 16 years!!!  Yes, God is GOOD!

As I reflect on the year that has past, I'm honestly most grateful for bring able to endure the 2015 wedding season.  The year started out so great with dozens of client's wedding and events on the calendar.  But in May, I found out what had been troubling my body for over 2 years and I was in need of surgery.  I was told that I needed to have the surgery almost immediately, but in my mind...there was no way that is happening.  I'm thinking, "There are still almost 30 weddings and events on the calendar to plan and direct!"  And although I had a medical clause in my contract, I did not want to stop working.  Sitting still is not even in my bones or vocabulary. 

So I took a very strong, body altering medication during the summer.  And although it made me sick and pained my body, the DE Team held me down through all of our events and even the teaching of my wedding and event planning class at Triton College.  I cannot thank these ladies enough!  They hugged me, wiped the sweat from my forehead, allowed me to cry on their shoulders, fed me and smiled with me all the way through the 2015 wedding season and through the surgery I eventually had in November.  From the bottom of my heart...thank you Priscilla, Nikki, Didi, Vanessa, Kelly, Peggy, Holly, Angie and Angie!!!  The love and respect I have for you ladies can never be expressed in words!!!  It is because of you we hold The Best of Weddings by The Knot for 7 years and are apart of The Knot's Hall of Fame of Vendors.  It is because of you that we helped over 200 less fortunate men and women over the holidays and it's because of you that we moved into our first official office location in early 2016!!!

Yes, I said it early on that God is good!!!  My body is healed and my team...the DE team is a blessing!!!  I toast to these 16 years of business with each of the ladies and I'm excited about sharing year 17 with the DE Team and the clients who love us.

HAPPY SWEET SIXTEEN TO DEJANAE EVENTS!!!

The entire DE Team could not be present for this shoot. Didi, Kelly and Nikki are pictured.

Until next time...WEDologize!

Photo credit - www.BM-Photography.com

Happy 15 Year Anniversary Dejanae Events!

Today, I celebrate my 15th year in business and I feel beyond blessed and excited!  In the past I have written about how the business started, about my challenges and successes, but today I want to share some fun facts about the person who created Dejanae Events on April 24, 2000...ME :)

My must have on wedding day? Cell phone.  Sad part is that about 1-hour into wedding day, I sit my cell down somewhere with my binder and forget where I left it!  LOL!  That's when complete panic sets in (see the question below).  But one of my trusty coordinator's (Priscilla, Nikki, Vanessa, Holly, Kelly, Angie P., Angie J., Didi or Peggy) always finds it for me.  Thank you DE Team!!!

What is my sign? Gemini.  I'm a true Gemini, too.  On wedding (or event) day, I start off all excited and ready to implement the plans I've worked on for months, but soon as something goes wrong or off schedule, I change into my Lieutenant hat and get right down to business.  That's the 2nd personality in me and she's the real Desireé!

What is my obsession? Gourmet cupcakes.  Anyone who knows me knows I love a good cupcake!!!  Actually, to be truthful...I'm also obsessed with delicious wedding cake as well.  And buttercream frosting is my favorite!  Yummy!!!

What is my must have beverage/addiction? Coke.  Sad, but so true...I have been drinking Coke since I was a young kid.  My grandma got me hooked and now, I'm a total caffeine-holic and must have Coke at least once a day.  I know...don't judge me :)

What is my favorite scary movie? Halloween 1 and 2.  Baby, Michael Myers was the truth back in the day!  I live for October when AMC and other channels run the Halloween marathons!  I watch them all like I've never seen them before.

What is my favorite place to vacation? Disney World!  Yep, I'm a true kid at heart and probably love Disney World more than kids!  Well I haven't been on a real vacation in what seems like years, but I have promised myself and family that we are outta here in December! 

What is on my playlist? Faith Evans.  Who remembers her and her debut album with 15 tracks!?!  I can listen to her soulful voice over and over again.  Doesn't matter to me that the album come out in the 90's.

What is my most prized possession? My Boops.  My most prized possession is my daughter...Deja.  Many of you may not know, but she is my only child...a full-fledge teenager now...and the business name.  I hope one day she'll appreciate what I have built for her and take it even further than I could ever imagine!

What all that said THANKS to everyone that has supported me throughout all these years!  I honestly cannot believe it's been 15 years, but I'm more than thankful to be doing what I love!  My heart is so full and 2015 will be EPIC!  Just wait and see!

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credit - BM Photography)

Lucky #13 for Dejanae Events!

Today I'm so excited to celebrate 13 years as a wedding & event planing company...7 of them which have been full time in this entrepreneurial arena!!!  There have been plenty of ups and downs but certainly more smiles than tears.  And as I reflect, I wouldn't change a single, solitary thing because each experience has given me the armor needed to sustain in this industry.

Dejanae Events is my baby...literally...a company I created on April 23, 2000 and named it after my only child a couple years later.  My story is unique because I started this business with less than $500 and a huge dream of convincing my peers that they needed someone to help with their upcoming weddings.  I didn't know what the name of this "person" was, but I felt it in my heart that their was a need.  It was almost a force that pushed me into this business.  So I researched, trained myself and made plenty of mistakes financially, professionally and personally along my journey.  And when I left Corporate American on June 22, 2006 to grow Dejanae Events full time...I have never looked back!  Not even once.  Today, I smile as a certified, award-winning wedding and event planner, author and educator with over 200 weddings and events under my belt.  Thank you God for my journey!

I also would like to thank each and everyone of my family members; friends; FB, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest followers; and each of my blog readers for your love, kind words and support over the years.  13 years down and plenty more to go!!!  This is just the beginning :)  Blessings!

"The ones who chase their dreams are the ones who accomplish them!  Never give up"

Until next time...WEDologize!