We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kyra Summers. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kyra below.
Kyra, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
This really was a mental struggle for me when I was contemplating starting my business and throughout the first couple of years. I did not have a college degree in event management and actually, I didn’t have a degree of any kind. I had never been a part of an event planning firm or even had an internship in the industry. I was prepared for the wedding industry in my hometown, Kansas City, to write me off as a newbie and not take me seriously. On top of that, I was petrified of dropping the ball on one of the most memorable days of someone’s life, their wedding day!
Despite that mindset, there were a few things that helped me push through. One, I know that I have some skills and personality traits that go hand in hand with planning big events. I’m thorough and detail-oriented, I love beautiful things and have an eye for aesthetics, I’m a people person and have good communication skills, I’m organized, and I’ve always loved to plan events and help others put on special events, especially ones that celebrate people and bring loved ones together. Second, the Kansas City event and wedding industry is incredibly welcoming and collaborative. From the first networking event I attended to the first styled shoot I planned and all the weddings in between, other entrepreneurs treated me as an equal and were happy to collaborate with me. Those initial collaborations put me on the map as someone to be taken seriously and I am so so grateful I began my journey in the wedding industry in KC. Third, I knew that I would go above and beyond to make sure all the I’s were dotted and T’s crossed when planning and managing someone else’s event. Failure was not an option and once I committed, I would rather lose money than do anything that would jeopardize something so special to my couples.
At the end of the day, I just had to trust myself and take the leap despite how scared I was, and I’m so glad I did!
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I started A Summers’ Day in 2019, ready to work for myself and do something I loved. My primary goals at the time were to get my feet wet as an event and, specifically, a wedding planner, part-time, to see if it was something I liked and was good at and if I could generate enough interest in my services to continue doing it. My husband and I were beginning to start a family so I also wanted a job that allowed me to work partly from home and be with our young children.
As time went on, I was booking clients, managing successful events, getting referrals, and having a blast! A Summers’ day began to blossom into more than I even imagined and ended up proving to be such a blessing when my husband was laid off during the pandemic. On top of that, I found the flexibility and variety it provided- working from home, having meetings out around town, and intense event days to be a great mix to feel fulfilled as a mother and a business owner and remain excited about what I am doing.
This year I partnered with Caroline New. She was actually a former client and bride who reached out to me because she also had a passion for wedding planning and enjoyed our time together so much that she thought we would be a great team, and we are! She has brought a fresh perspective and a new set of skills to the business. Since she joined A Summers’ Day we have rebranded and started expanding the company into an event planning firm. We now have three event planners on our team and several day of coordinators working with us. We are so excited to see what the next few years bring!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
One quality that clients have noted that they appreciate is my genuineness. The interesting thing about being genuine is that it cannot be faked. You have to really care about the people you are helping and have the desire to give them the best service. I think it’s easy to come from that place if you really love what you do and the people you work with but I think you can also cultivate it by bringing to mind what you like about what you do, having gratitude, and being yourself.
A skill that is necessary in a fast-paced, stressful environment is the ability to multitask and be able to quickly assess the situation and prioritize the tasks involved. I am often being pulled in different directions on a wedding day trying to address people’s questions, assess a problem, and enact solutions. I believe that some brains can better function in this type of environment but it is also a skill I had to develop on the job. My best advice is to stop and take a moment to consider everything that needs to be done, then consider what is time-sensitive and needs to be done right away and what can wait a few minutes or can be addressed later in the day, delegate what you can, note down a quick list of the remaining tasks, and then start working on one at a time. Remember to take a breath and stay calm. You can set the tone for how everyone else will respond to the situation.
Lastly, there are some practical skills that have proved invaluable to me in this role. Such as having a background knowledge of how to do hair, makeup, and sew. While many brides have a professional hair and makeup artist that comes in earlier in the day they are often not onsite during photos or for touchups before the ceremony. Luckily, while growing up I was interested in the things mentioned above and I’m able to address little things that often come up like fixing a hairstyle that is falling out, or curls that have gone flat, and securing a veil without messing up the work that has been done by the hairstylist. I’ve also helped touch up makeup that has sweated off or smudged. I have mended many dresses and suites that have torn, had a hem fall out, or needed a button or clasp sewn on. The great thing is that you can learn almost any skill online now. I suggest thinking through what may be needed from you in your line of work and putting some time and effort into learning the basics of those skills.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
I can’t say that it has been one singular person who has helped me develop these skills, qualities, and knowledge. My parents instilled in me the qualities of being hard-working, treating others in a way I’d want to be treated, and being responsible. My husband has been so supportive, encouraging, and a great source of level-headed advice. I have also gotten a lot of inspiration from other wedding and event planners in the industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.asummersdaykc.com
- Instagram: @asummersdaykc
- Facebook: A Summers Day Events
Image Credits
Hayley Rose Wedding Photography Emily Hanna Photography Monphotography
