Today we’d like to introduce you to Mallory Powell.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My road to becoming an event planner and entrepreneur was quite different than most! After graduating from Northwestern University with a degree in Communication Studies and Business, I spent several years working in the advertising industry (throughout my career, being lucky enough to work blue-chip clients such as MillerCoors, Porsche, Bentley, Barilla, and Toyota). I enjoyed and excelled at many aspects of my job, but I was never passionate about the advertising business and was actively looking for another career that would embrace the professional skills I had already honed, but that would also serve as an outlet for my creative side and desire to make a difference in the world!
When I got engaged and started planning my own wedding in 2012, I quickly realized that the wedding industry was a great outlet for my professional skill set, my passion for client services, and also my drive to make a difference (even if it was only to one person, for one day). Using the connections I made through my own planning, I began working at another leading Chicago area planning and design firm, before eventually going on to found CHI Chic Weddings & Events in early 2015.
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?
Like starting any business, building a successful brand involved a lot of work and many long hours! This was even more the case, as my tenure in the industry before starting my own brand was only a few years; I had to work harder than many others to get the word out, prove my skills and worth, and build lasting professional relationships. It has, at times, been one of the most challenging experiences of my life, but always one of the most rewarding.
Even so, I’ve been really lucky to have the support of my amazing husband; he was totally on-board and when I left my advertising job to become a wedding & event planner and, yet again, when I left my first planning firm to open CHI Chic Weddings & Events!
The Chicago events community is also incredibly creative and collaborative. I’ve been lucky enough to grow many friendships and professional relationships with other stellar professionals and entrepreneurs; together we share best practices and support each other’s ventures, which has been a real help (and relief, at times) to me.
Please tell us about CHI Chic Weddings & Events.
CHI Chic Weddings & Events is a boutique, luxury wedding & event planning firm, serving the city of Chicago & surrounding suburbs. We are also available for travel for destination weddings & events. We specialize in bespoke & custom celebrations, curating each facet of the event from planning, to coordination, to design. Each service is catered to the scope of our client(s)’ needs & tailored to their unique vision, style, & traditions. We also take great pride in our attentiveness, level of professionalism, and quality of service and responsiveness.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I can’t say that I have one favorite memory but, oddly enough, all of my favorites are always centered around a celebration of some kind (whether it a birthday or a holiday). In that way, it’s pretty appropriate that I ended up becoming an event planner, though, I never realized or actualized that passion until I was much older.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1229 N North Branch St
Suite #302
Chicago, IL 60642 - Website: www.chichicweddings.com
- Phone: 8479042692
- Email: mallory@chichicweddings.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/chichicweddings/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/chichicweddings
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/chichicweddings
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/chi-chic-weddings-and-events-chicago
Image Credit:
Elizabeth Nord Photography, Brian Carey & James Gustin for Fig Weddings, Andre LaCour Photography, Zainab Zafar for Maha Studios Inc, Olivia Leigh Photographie, Z+V Photography, Kina Wicks Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
