Hannah reached out to me recently when she was meeting with wedding vendors for her new event planning business, Encore Events which she started in March of 2018. We had a great long talk about business and I mentioned that I noticed from her website that she could use a few headshots so we planned this fun film session to fill that void. She did such an awesome job and looked amazing! 

I asked Hannah to share a little about herself and her business so we could all get to know her a little better. I am going to share her answers in her own words since they just radiate her personality! 

Can you describe your business for me?

Encore Events is an event planning company based in Winston Salem, NC. We plan all things weddings, corporate & social. Recently, we've been doing a lot of work planning tours and promotional events for small business owners. The name "Encore Events" comes from the desire of guests leaving one of our events and saying to themselves "Now, that was nice; I'd like to do that again!" Not leaving with a sigh of relief that "It's finally over; yesss!" Therefore, we always consider not only our client and their goals, but also our client's guests and the guest experience.

What is your ideal client like? 

My ideal client is laid back, enjoys life, and wants to be able to truly enjoy their event, but the thought of planning their own event on their own overwhelms them. They have some idea of what they want but need help putting it all together and making it happen. 

Why did you decide to get into event planning?

I decided to go into the planning business about one year ago (summer of 2017). I came to this decision after having spent the previous couple of years (2015-2016) planning events for friends. Before I even started my official business in March, I had already planned weddings, receptions, surprise parties, birthday parties, holiday parties, graduation parties, retirement parties, restaurant wine dinners, and more! After people started offering me money to plan their weddings, I decided to get certified. I became a Certified Wedding Planner through The Bridal Society, which is the nation's leading wedding planning certification program! After becoming certified, it was not too long before I decided to start my own business, and that is how Encore Events was born!   

What do you love about your job?

I love that I can use skills that I am naturally good at to help others enjoy the events in their lives. I also love how non-traditional my job is which keeps things fresh and fun!

What are a few things about your likes and personal life that you would like to share with others so we can get to know you a little better?

I love playing cards and games! I'm a movie girl and love reviewing movies and playing Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game (again with the games)! My hobbies include playing the piano, ukulele, and painting. And of course, I love to play hostess and throw parties for my loved ones! I also love organizing things, making spreadsheets, and shopping for office supplies, which helps with my planning business for sure!

I've lived in several cities throughout NC, but I grew up in Winston Salem, and returned to Winston about four years ago. It is an exciting time in our city and I'm happy to be back so that I'll be able to fully witness the evolution of the City of Arts & Innovation.

I've never been married myself, but my boyfriend (Justin) and I have been together for almost five years. People ask me all the time if I'll be planning my own wedding. The answer is YES, but I'll bring in another Certified Wedding Planner the month of so I can enjoy my wedding the way it's suppose to be enjoyed!

I have a 60 pound Rottweiler mix (Rocky) who loves to cuddle, and a cat (Callie) who loves to stay as far away from the dog as possible! I want to have children one day, just not quite yet! 

I hope you guys enjoyed getting to know Hannah a little bit better! Feel free to support her new business on social media: Instagram & Facebook and check out her Encore Events website. 

Thanks to Boutique Film Lab for the beautiful scans! These were shot with a Canon 1n on Fuji 400h film.