We had the good fortune of connecting with Lily Quinn-Hendrick and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lily, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind the success of El Events is our clients. It sounds cheesy, but it’s a fact! We can post as much as we want on social media, advertise, and strive for greatness, but at the end of the day, our best referrals come from previous clients. There’s nothing more powerful than word of mouth when it comes to expanding and booking our ideal clients. There are two families who have actually re-booked with us for weddings. We’ve had the honor of coordinating and planning for siblings twice now, and it’s so incredible to reconnect with those people, catch up, and see how their family continues to grow! One of my first weddings in 2020 was for a friend from college, and I’ll be honest, it wasn’t my best. I was shocked, and had tears in my eyes when the bride’s sister reached out for her July 2022 wedding! We just did a New Year’s Eve wedding for a groom who was the brother of the bride for a May 2022 wedding we did! They truly feel like family and we always joke “see you at the next one!”

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The wedding industry is different than a lot of other careers. You can read countless books, articles, advice, etc. You can have a prestigious college degree, but there is nothing like actual experience when it comes to wedding planning and coordination. I tell people all the time that we learn mostly through trial and error and mentorship. That’s the biggest challenge we face in this business. I think what sets us apart in this industry is building genuine relationships with our clients. We have a lot of couples we still keep in contact with and keep updated on their lives and ours! I now have real friendships with previous brides and grooms who I’ve worked closely with in the planning process.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh man, Chattanooga has so many great places! My go-to itinerary when a friend is in town is to go to the Walking Bridge, get ice cream from Clumpies (even in the winter), and then hit the carousel in the park – you’re never too old for a carousel! We’d probably go to some of the boutiques on the Northshore for part of the day, or rent some bikes and go down the greenway! After that, we would get a nice dinner from Tony’s or Frazier Five and Dime!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The people who deserve a shoutout in my story would be my mom and my husband. They both have cheered for me, cried with me, and coached me on business matters. My husband has supported my dreams, and I am forever grateful for him. Business wise, I have always admired Shaun Teague. She owns Cue the Champagne Event Planning and is local to Chattanooga like I am. I have always admired her tenacity, her professionalism, and her dedication to the craft. I met her in 2021 and told her to her face that she’s been my idol! She’s continued to encourage me and give me advice when I need it!

Website: eleventsweddings.com

Instagram: @eleventsweddings

Facebook: @eleventsweddings

Image Credits
all photos I’ve uploaded are by Stephanie Taylor Photography

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