Carlie Maggart Kim shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Carlie, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I think one thing that any entrepreneur or small business owner struggles with is comparing themselves and their businesses to others. While that can be helpful to a point to learn from someone’s success, I think it’s so easy to get caught up in it. It’s way too easy to look at someone’s social media following and not see the hours of work, content creation, and trial & error it took to accomplish those numbers. We only see what people choose to share, and that’s not usually the late nights, early mornings, mental breakdowns, and hours of frustration it took them behind the scenes to build up to whatever we are finding ourselves jealous of.
Don’t be discouraged – spend your time scrolling for constructive idea creation. Intentionally make time for affirmations, including a reflection time where you go over your own accomplishments. It’s so important to give yourself credit for past wins in order to look forward to the future!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I started Dye the Knot originally in 2016, doing traditional “guesty” weddings as a planner/coordinator. While I loved what I did, I oftentimes felt that I was catering to guests and parents’ wishes more than the couple. There would be times I’d rarely speak to the couple themselves before the big day.
When COVID hit in 2020 and so many traditional weddings had to be canceled or put on hold, I found myself quickly adapting and mastering the micro-wedding. I really loved getting to work more closely with the couples and really going all in to make their day specialized for THEM. When it came time to plan my own day, my husband and I opted for a quiet intimate beach elopement, and I was instantly hooked! I wanted every bride to experience the stress and drama free ceremony I had. It was there on that beach that I knew I was about to pivot my business once again. I wanted to help couples elope in amazing locations that reflected their personalities, preferences, and their love story. I knew I wouldn’t be able to do this as a planner alone, so when the opportunity presented itself through another wedding professional for me to learn photography, I jumped at the chance!
I soon rebranded my company and wedding team to handle traveling in order to plan, coordinate, design environmentally safe floral arrangements, photograph. and officiate destination or adventure elopements. I soon leaned into the non-traditional wedding in more ways than one when I turned what used to be a dye hobby into a way to differentiate my brides and their gowns – no longer would they be limited to plain white – Dye the Knot Adventure Weddings & Elopements was born: “Where Wild Nature Meets Vibrant Love” and we “Craft Colorful Elopements for your Unique Adventure.”
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I think this is such a great question because it’s true that as the world evolves, we should too. I always felt guilty not taking traditional planning/coordination jobs for brides who asked, especially if I knew them personally. I found myself often drained and burned out with this style, especially after finding such fulfillment in empowering adventurous couples to plan more epic ceremonies. I finally was able to have the courage to draw a boundary for my own sanity and learned to refer couples out.
I no longer specialize in traditional ceremonies, nor do I wish to, but I want what is best for my couples, and sometimes that means sending them to someone else’s business who I know will do a phenomenal job with the goals the couple has shared with me! I find that it helps all three parties this way – me, the couple, and the professional who gets the referral!
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could go back and say one kind thing to my younger self, I’d remind myself that I’m a creative at heart, and no burnout can stop me – no pandemic – no lull in bookings…because as a creative, I by definition can improvise, adapt, overcome, and create my own ideal situation, if I only have the courage to do it. And I’m so glad I did!
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I wish more couples knew that it’s ok to elope. They don’t have to invite all of their great grandmother’s distant friends or feel forced to exclude those they want to be part of their day. It’s ok to just tie the knot and jump in, and that their families (while obviously important) are not the ones who should be catered to.
The wedding day belongs to the couple, and they should really just listen to their instincts and their hearts when it comes to planning and brainstorming that perfect day. They’re the only ones who can decide what a perfect day looks like for them anyway!
If a guest-free experience would be more therapeutic for them and their situation, I think it’s important to have that conversation; and I do my best to help my couples navigate the tricky business that is telling their family about their decision whether it’s before or after the ceremony happens.
Obviously, every couple has a different family situation, but my loyalties are first to my couple! I am more than willing to help facilitate those family conversations to help prevent any hurt feelings or drama that may occur. I went through it once myself, so I definitely have lots of experience with that area!
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
I am honestly that excited every time a couple books with me! I still to this day do a happy dance when someone trusts me with their most magical memorable day! I usually let out a happy scream and call my husband when a couple books in a cool bucket list destination that I now get to photography their ceremony in. That really just makes me feel alive and reminds me of why I started.
Also TMI but I usually cry during every ceremony – I don’t know why, but I just love seeing people so in love and so happy and knowing I had a part in making it happen.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dyetheknotweddings.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dyetheknot_bridalgallery/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DyetheKnotWeddings/
Image Credits
Dye the Knot Adventure Weddings & Elopements
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
