Life and Work with Carly Williams

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carly Williams.

Carly, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
What seemed like a casual helping a friend craft DIY decorations led to a deeper conversation and realization. I love parties, I love hosting, I love production, I love people. That was nearly a decade ago. Cut to applying for an internship in Los Angeles for six months and then starting Carly Rae Weddings out of a house I lived in post-college. I was working a temp job just getting by, eating off the dollar menu as to not go deeper into debt. I found myself starting to book clients by word of mouth and then by social media. Since that launch nine years ago, we have serviced quite literally hundreds of clients worldwide. For Carly Rae Weddings, I found taking that next risk that just feels like the right move will often open doors to adventures you couldn’t dream of. My team and I have kept following the greater vision for our company with kindness and integrity for the brand and it’s hard to put into words, but it’s been breathtakingly beautiful to see what’s on the other side of saying yes. Also, I want to shout out to the CRW team. Their vision for the brand, execution of events has continued to inspire me. CRW would not be where it is without me taking a step back and letting my team fly the plane with our clients! 

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There have been challenges, absolutely. From friends in my circle not believing in me, to being told I was too young to be a business owner, to being seen as certainly headed for failure, I’ve been through a lot! People will tell you all kinds of opinions and it really comes down to listening to your intuition. I try not to give too much energy to the negative and focus instead on the greater vision at hand. I’ll keep this answer short by saying this: We all know YOU are capable, YOU can do this, YOU are the dreamer here, not the haters.

In the words of one of the women I most look up to, Taylor Swift, “Shake it off,” babe. We need you running on all cylinders here. Get in the game!

Please tell us about Carly Rae Weddings.
Like many businesses, Carly Rae Weddings has evolved on a deep level through life experience, work experience, trial, and error. The designs that have most resonated with us as a brand are classy with a bit of fun. We deeply value black tie affairs with personality. You can identify our style as modern, chic, minimal, and popping a big punch. We believe less is more. More intention in design, less clutter. Clients love our designs because they resonate with both the mother of the bride and the bride. I’d say that’s a win-win, wouldn’t you?

There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
In terms of a mentor, find someone you trust to walk you through the ins and outs; someone that is on speed dial to bounce ideas off of. I have about 10 individuals I feel I can be really vulnerable with in different ways. I have a business mentor to talk actual numbers and long term goals; this person is many years older than me, owns a wildly successful commercial print shop, and lets me ask any question. Nothing is off limits and I can be open about any concerns related to running a company. I also have women in and out of my industry who are there for me in all the questions and trials. They give me advice, perspective, and a helping hand, too. Be sure to find safe people who hold your vulnerability close. That should go without saying, but use your intuition when it comes to finding your people.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.carlyraeweddings.com
• Phone: 562-452-3846
• Email: hello@carlyraedesign.com
• Instagram: carlyraeweddings
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/carlyraeweddings

Image Credit:
Logan Cole – logancole.com, Studio Castillo – http://studiocastillero.com/, Mk Sadler – http://meghankay-sadler.squarespace.com/, Brumley and Wells – https://www.brumleyandwells.com/

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