Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Carley Tryon Erica D’alesandro. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Carley Tryon , so great to have you with us today. There are so many topics we want to ask you about, but perhaps the one we can start with is burnout. How have you overcome or avoided burnout?
We started our business in 2020, right as the Pandemic hit. It had always been our goal to work for ourselves full time, but given we are wedding planners and all large events were shut down in New York State, we stayed at our full time jobs and built our business on the side.
Once the world reopened, our business took off! During busy season we were working 6 days a week, if not more! We would work our corporate jobs from 9-5, head to evening appointments or networking events, and wouldn’t get home most days until after 8pm. We worked both jobs for 4 years until we hit a wall. Our mental health and physical health took a toll and we realized something had to change. In September of 2024 we decided it was time to bet on ourselves, so we left our corporate jobs.
Since September, we’ve had to set boundaries & learn how to relax and decompress. After 6 months of working for ourselves, we’re happy to say that it’s become a bit easier, we’re learning to enjoy downtime again, and we are truly our happiest selves!
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
We’re Carley Tryon and Erica D’Alesandro, co-owners of C&E Event Productions. We own an event planning & production business in New York! Our focus is weddings and social events, but we also have an extensive corporate background.
We both graduated with degrees in Hospitality Management, and after college found ourselves working in mostly social events. While we loved what we did, we didn’t have much of a work/life balance, so decided to make a change and enter the corporate world. A mutual friend introduced us while working for General Electric, and we clicked! We spent our lunch breaks swapping stories from our past jobs, and somehow always found ourselves always coming back to weddings… that’s when C&E Event Productions was born.
We work with couples who realize the importance of hiring an experienced professional to plan and execute the details on one of the biggest days of their lives! We believe wedding planning should feel like a part of the celebration, not another item on your to do list. When you hire C&E, you get a powerhouse duo – both Carley and Erica, who work with you throughout the entire planning process. With our unique background, we excel on production days. We bring a team to each wedding to ensure that every detail is executed perfectly! We do so much more than just ensuring flowers are delivered on time or setting up the ballroom. We are the ones standing in the rain while holding an umbrella over your head to ensure you get the perfect photo, despite the weather! We are the ones with the jumper cables in the back of our car, ready if your limousine breaks down. We’re the ones that create a buffer with your mother in law, to make sure that you’re able to enjoy event moment of your day, because you deserve it! We’re able to do things that are above and beyond because we have a reliable team taking care of the details that must get done!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
We think the most important things in our past have been;
1) Hands on experience – Problem solving and thinking on your feet is one of the biggest skills you need to have as a wedding planner. The more experience you have with learning how to think on your feet in a stressful situation, the easier it becomes!
2) Customer service skills – Having customer service skills is a non-negotiable in the hospitality world. You need to know how to treat people with respect & kindness no matter the situation.
3) Having confidence in yourself – if you’re going to own your own business you need to have confidence in yourself. When you are confident in yourself, it gives your clients a sense of security and they’ll eb much quicker to put their full trust in you. Your fellow industry professionals will be must quicker to trust and respect you when you have confidence in yourself!
BONUS tip – BE NICE!!! Everyone is doing the best they can and life can be difficult sometimes. Being kind is an easy way to positively impact each person you interact with. People always remember the way you make them feel – and we’re in the business of making people feel good!
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
We understand wedding planning can be overwhelming… we’re in our early thirties and in the same stage of life as most of our couples! You’re trying to balance your busy career, enjoying vacations, buying your first home, and so much more! When creating our business, we wanted to lean into modern day weddings. They’re so much more intentional & authentic than when our parents got married 25+ years ago! We wanted to bring a modern and fresh approach to planning, adapting to what works best for couples. Whether that’s a group chat or finding inspiration on Instagram or TikTok!
Our ideal client is modern day couple, ready to enjoy a stress-free engagement. They are busy professionals, who don’t have time to plan every detail of their wedding, but want the wedding of their dreams! They want more than just a wedding; they’re dreaming of an experience that feels authentic, joyful, and beautiful—one that creates memories you’ll cherish long after the last dance.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ce-eventproductions.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ce_eventproductions/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61573695687882/about/?_rdr
- Other: Carley’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carley-tryon-cmp-6604638b/
Erica’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-d-alesandro-cmp-0a72aa93/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ce_event_productions
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ceeventproductions/
PartySlate: https://www.partyslate.com/event-pros/c-e-event-productions
Loverly: https://loverly.com/vendors/c-and-e-event-productions
Email: [email protected]
Image Credits
Headshot & group photo: Jennifer Conti Photography
Bride & Groom celebrating in aisle: Joy & Everette Photography
Bride resting her head on groom’s shoulder: Jennifer Conti Photography
St Patricks Cathedral couple kissing: Elizabeth Mae Photography
NYBG Conservatory: Siobhan Stanton Photography
White floral Wedding ceremony: Vicki + Erik Photography
C&E Holding Bride’s dress: Siobhan Stanton Photography
C&E pinning Boutonniere: Siobhan Stanton Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
