Inked Events

After taking care of your shopping for your groomsmen, you may be looking for a wedding planner too. Recently, our CEO, Pete Ekizian spent some time talking to Tracy, owner of Inked Events. Inked Events provides wedding and events planning in Salem, NH. We're sure you'll be very impressed with her passion for event planning.

Pete: What sets Inked Events apart from other event planners in the New Hampshire area?

Tracy: From the very first conversation with a potential client, I begin to personally get to know them. I build a relationship with them which allows me to anticipate their needs throughout the planning process, help bring their vision to life and ensure no detail is neglected. I want them to feel comfortable with me, so they are able to enjoy & have fun planning their wedding without any stress. Our focus is on couples that want to bring their personalities into the wedding, their weddings are far from cookie cutter.

Planning a wedding or event in the New Hampshire area? Contact Tracy today at info@inked-events.com.

Pete: Why are you successful in a niche where many others have failed?

Tracy: I'm not sure “failed” is a good word to use, I think new wedding planners don't realize that it’s more than just showing up at a wedding, it’s a business. It has taken me 8 years to get where I am today and during those years, there has been a lot of blood, sweat, tears and a whole lot of wine! From the very first wedding I did, I learned what to do, what not to do & figured out a way that works for me that sets me apart in a saturated industry. I learned what I could about weddings, design and business through blogs, books, webinars, colleagues. I had the determination & drive to work on figuring it out, I worked with business coaches, taken workshops & network like a fiend to build a solid reputation & knowledge. In the beginning, I only focused on a service that I was good at and loved to do; logistics & timelines. I felt my design skills weren't quite honed in yet, so I didn’t offer a service where I had to create a design for my clients, they brought their completed design visions to me & I brought them to life. I’ve since honed my design skills, but to this day, I still love & get giddy writing the timelines & executing them on the day of. It allows couples to enjoy the time with their wedding party getting ready, having their pictures taken and dancing the night away with their friends & family without ever thinking about a thing. They are truly in the moment. I have found what works for me, who my ideal client is and developed a fun, enjoyable process where my couples & the whole vendor team are having fun! I also took the time to understand that not every inquiry that comes in will be a good fit for me; whether our personalities don’t mesh or my pricing is out of their budget, I realized it was OK to decline a potential client.

Pete: What do you think can’t be replicated (quickly) about what you do for your clients?

Tracy: ME! People buy people. No one can replicate my personality and the experience my couples feel from the first conversation with me. My couples are looking for a valuable service, but they are also looking for someone they connect with. They are going to be spending a lot of time with me, so we definitely need to be a good fit for each other. I am “friends" with all my couples because I care about what else is going on in their life {work, school, pets, etc.} and not just things related to the wedding. Yes, someone could replicate my process or the way I create my timelines, checklists, floor plan since quite honestly, there is nothing proprietary about them, it’s more how they are executed that would be difficult to do the same way as I do.

Pete: If you could go back, what would you change about how you did things?

Tracy: I honestly can say that I wouldn't change a thing about the path that has lead me to where I am today. I feel every twist, turn, speed-bump & detour was what I needed to endure to be successful. I’ve worked hard & learned some tough lessons along the way, but without them, my outcome wouldn’t have been the same. Every person or situation helped develop my skills, confidence and knowledge.


Pete: What do you think your unique skillset or superpower is that has helped you become successful?

Tracy: I have two superpowers: making visions come to life & writing timelines. One of my couples gave me the name the “Wedding Fairy Godmother” because I took all their ideas & decor and brought it to life. So, while all my couples are getting ready for their wedding, me & my team are working meticulously on bringing their vision to life. They just show up and the room/space is decorated exactly how they envisioned it. To them, it’s like I wave my magic wand and poof, it’s all done. When it comes to timelines, they are written as a guideline for my couples & the vendor team based on how I “see” the day flowing in my head, but on the day of a wedding, anything can happen. So, when an event runs on schedule, literally to the minute, without us even trying, it’s quite an exhilarating feeling! My couples never feel rushed to do anything, I literally tell them what to do and when to do it.

Pete: What's the best way for people interested in your service to get in touch with you?

Tracy: People can check out our website www.inked-events.com to “meet” me & the rest of my team, read our testimonials and see the unique weddings we’ve done.