May 1, 2017

Meet Carly Williams of Carly Rae Weddings in Long Beach

Local Stories

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

Carly, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I had graduated from college right as the recession hit and job openings were few and far between. To be fair, I still had no idea what I wanted to do for a career path so I took a temp job in the medical field. During that time, my very best friend got married in Washington and I was able to help assist her with the final stages of planning her wedding. It was from there that it struck my interest in project managing and event production. I came back and quickly picked up an internship with a planner and shortly after assisting her on a few jobs, I launched a Facebook page for my new business. It was a year and a half later that I decided to jump both feet into the business and that’s when it took off!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As a young business owner, challenges arise here and there. Preparing for taxes, learning what the Secretary of State needs each year, how to be a good boss to the team. However, for the most part, it’s been nothing but fun and enjoyable with all kinds of amazing people on my team that show grace and kindness!

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Carly Rae Weddings – what should we know?
Carly Rae Weddings is a boutique wedding/event design company. We are often known for our events to be a classy AND playful. We believe that parties should be memorable and on some level, a bit casual/laid back. Our clients are movers and shakers of LA and beyond so we have a lot of fun bouncing unique ideas that haven’t been on the market before!

I’m most proud of CRW for how hard we work. My team is constantly rising to the challenge with each design and client. We don’t take lightly the privilege on being trusted with someone’s big day.

Our heart is for the event as a whole to be fluid and smooth. That means we are not only caring for our client, their family, and friends. We are also taking to heart the needs of all the vendors that are pulling this wedding off to be amazing.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Honesty and integrity. Every time. Being your true authentic self and doing your best not to compare what others are doing in the market. I stay as close as I can to my own work because that is the most important thing I can be doing right now. I have made so many amazing friends in this industry and truly look up to them and learn what I can each time we get to spend together. I never want to stop growing in the way I conduct business, how I care for my team and clients.

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