When / why did you start your business?

After graduating from UAA with my Bachelor’s in Hospitality Management, I started dreaming of a way I could help people and add purpose to their lives while also incorporating what I love– and in 2019, that’s when Events by Ayla, LLC was founded. My passion has always been planning weddings – I adore the personalization, details, and creativity involved. Although I will always adore a solid plan with beautiful details, nothing gives more life to me than people gathering together. This brings a deeper sense of purpose and happiness to what I do!

You’re engaged! Now what?

Such an exciting time! The first thing I always suggest is to truly relax and enjoy your engagement for at least a few weeks or so before you dive into the planning process. Once you start planning, determine your budget, then make a list of vendors you love - search Google, The Knot, Wedding Wire, and Instagram (hashtags, search bar, etc.) Next, inquire and send them your date/venue to see if they’re available. Finally, book with them! I’m sure I can speak for other wedding vendors when I say our schedules are filling up insanely fast.

Recommendation for budget

No one likes to talk about budgets - especially when it comes to your wedding. However, it’s a very important element to discuss together as a couple when you first start your wedding planning journey.

Want to ensure you stick to your budget? Actually set a budget (that you are both comfortable with) before you start planning your wedding! I suggest breaking your total wedding budget into categories + figuring out what percentages to devote to each. What I love about using percentages for your budget, is it’s easy to reallocate an element if it’s not necessary. Does your venue provide tables, chairs, and linens, and do you have no need for any additional rentals? Move that 4% rental percentage somewhere else that you are wanting a bigger budget for; maybe drinks or hair/makeup? Up to you!

According to The Knot, the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. is $35,329 (and that doesn’t even include your honeymoon) I bet some of you are ready to elope after reading that!

Your wedding is one of the best days of your life, so you may feel pressure to plan an elaborate celebration. BUT don’t forget what your wedding is truly about – your marriage! Starting off your marriage with the love of your life in a ton of debt (over just one day) will add a lot of stress to your relationship and is a recipe for disaster.

What is one wedding trend you love?

Couples doing whatever the HECK they want. I definitely feel after covid, it gave couples the excuse to not have super large weddings if that’s not what they truly wanted deep down in their hearts. Don’t get me wrong, I love big weddings and I know they will always be around - but they aren’t for everyone and that’s ok!

I have found that couples often find themselves needing 'permission' to do things untraditionally. You as a couple can (+ should!) call all the shots on your wedding day - period.

Feel like cutting cake + feeding it to each other is super awkward? Skip it! Don’t want to invite great-aunt Helga three times removed who you’ve never even met because it might offend her? Sorry, love ya, but didn’t make the cut! Think doing a garter toss is super cringe? Don’t do it!