Meet Evalina Huckaby | Designer & Venue Owner

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

Hi Evalina, why did you pursue a creative career?
The daughter of a printmaker and watercolor artist that focused on nature, I grew up seeing life and everything around me as part of God’s canvas.  My life was influenced in every aspect by the beauty born from my mother’s able hands. The tools and textures of her trade were my playground, observing nature as art was daily inspiration.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Sanctuaire Atelier is a boutique wedding venue that caters to small and intimate weddings and parties. We launched in 2021 by renovating a studio warehouse into an eclectic chic venue, transforming a small cozy cottage into our Guest Suite oasis, and planting wildflowers for 12 acres of picturesque grounds. After 25 years of being in the Sales & Design world with my business Vision Marketing Group where I travel and import home textiles and home decor products – it is such a fun new way to be creative, work with people in creating one of kind experiences, and making memories that will last a lifetime.

Juggling two businesses has been a big challenge for me, especially learning to let others execute what my vision is as I can’t always be in two places at one time. Thanks to God, my family, and lots of community support – Sanctuaire Atelier has doubled it’s business each year since we opened. I attribute our success to having a great team of creatives to work with and understanding the importance of being unique, affordable, and offering weddings and events that are easy to plan since we handle so many services for the brides and grooms and include so much decor with our rental.

In both of my businesses – the most important thing to me is sharing love and kindness. By always sharing these two principles that are most important in the Bible – I have great faith that everything else always follows God’s plan.

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?
Having grown up on the Southside of Atlanta in Jackson, GA – my favorite places are: Indian Springs State Park / Eats: Yahola Creek / Shopping: The Painted Nest
Senoia / Eats: Nic & Normans / Shopping: Table Talk
Griffin / Eats: The Emerald Chandelier / Shopping: Hollowood Home & The Rustic Lantern & Broad Street Mill
Serenbe / Eats: The Hill at Serenbe / All of their quaint shops downtown!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

I will be eternally grateful that God gifted me to be creative and see Eve with beauty.

I am also blessed to have received a scholarship to The University of Alabama where I earned my degree in Clothing & Textile Design.  From classes about manufacturing, pattern making, design & illustration, weaving, and business – I came out ready for a variety of job opportunities.  My parents who were both entrepreneurs instilled in me a work ethic to get out and hustle, treat your clients and customers with kindness and great care, and to always execute what the vision of the project is as close to perfection as possible.

My loving husband Brent has sacrificed beside me through the years as I traveled the world importing home textile products for large retailers.  Recently he fully supported my dream to buy and renovate our property to become a wedding destination – Sanctuaire Atelier.  Now with his help and my daughter Chloe’s input – together we are following my family history’s creative path

Website: www.sanctuaireatelier.com

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evalina-huckaby-56181321/

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

Image Credits
Photo Credit: Evalina Huckaby