Meet Tykeria West | Wedding Coordinator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tykeria West and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tykeria, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I originally worked at an event venue while I was completing my degree at Ga Tech. I was mostly staffed to weddings and I didn’t mind because it was something I enjoyed. Every summer, one of the senior staff members got the opportunity to plan and lead a bridal show for local brides to come meet industry vendors. My show in 2015 was a success and left a lasting impression. After I graduated, I took a job as an analyst but I missed working on events. I would occasionally return as a contractor to the venue I worked at and help out. I realized I could be doing this more often and get paid much more. I created a business plan, selected a name, worked with a design team to create a logo and branding packet, and reviewed my plans with a few of my industry mentors and friends. The rest was history. I finally had a way back to the type of work that made me happy – coordinating weddings.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
A Touch of Ty Events is a growing black-owned wedding planning business based in Atlanta. It was founded in 2017 initially as an event planning business for any social event (weddings, baby showers, dinner parties, etc) but quickly became centered on weddings as time passed. A Touch of Ty was an opportunity for me to help people in love bring to life the wedding day they’ve always dreamt of having. It is my creative outlet and most importantly it is my legacy. I am able to encourage couples to break traditions and simply focus on what makes them happy. I help create and maintain budgets, connect couples to top industry professionals, and manage hired vendors to ensure a seamless and stress free day. It’s important to me that couples have the day they want without breaking the bank. A Touch of Ty Events services most cities domestically in addition to Atlanta and  welcomes all backgrounds and cultures. Check out us today! You can never go wrong with consulting with a professional.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is a tough one mostly because my friends either all live here or have lived here. When my out of states friends visit we definitely like to try some of the many new vegan spots because Atlanta has a growing vegan and plant based scene. We always hit Slutty Vegan and Tassilli’s for a quick bite and swing over to Ponce for a little shopping. Ponce City market isn’t super far from the Beltline which is great to walk down and see all the cool street art and people having fun with their friends. In Atlanta, there’s always something to do so I don’t have a specific favorite lounge but we love karaoke and Rum Punch Brunch on Sundays.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to shout out The Historic Academy of Medicine at Ga Tech. It’s where I got my start with two amazing mentors Anne Minty and Shawn Stinson. They answered my questions and gave me so many opportunities to take charge and gain experience. They let me come back and have a styled shoot so I had pictures for my website and marketing materials — FREE OF CHARGE. And most importantly, they invited me back as a vendor so couples could meet me and learn about my business at the annual bridal show. Whenever couples came in without a planner, the team at the Academy of Medicine gave them my card. I am forever grateful.

Website: www.atouchofty.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/touchoftyevents/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/touchoftyevents