Meet Sidney Hayes | Event Producer & Florist

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

Hi Sidney, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
After working as an event and wedding assistant for other planners and florists, I wanted to make a name for myself. It is always fantastic to come onsite and assist other small event and floral business owners in making their visions come to life, but it is nothing like creating and executing your own! I wanted to push myself to hone my skills in floral design and event planning!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally? Please tell us more about your career.

With over eight years of project management and event planning experience, I bring a new perspective to celebrations. I began planning events as a college student for my activities board where I planned all events from open mic nights to spring concerts. In addition to working on campus, I also assisted a local upscale restaurant with weddings and events. After college, I spent my free time apprenticing and learning alongside TOP Atlanta-based wedding and events planners. From busing tables to designing floor plans, I’d been a crucial part of almost every event.

What you are most proud of or excited about?

I think my proudest moments are when I get to see my clients smiling faces on their big day! Whether it be right after they walk down the aisle or when they see the finished product of our joint planning efforts, it brings me such joy and happiness to be able to combine my skills and expertise to create their special day! I am very excited to continue to grow and display my expanding floral design and event planning skills.

Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way?

Although so exciting, opening your own business can be very scary and sometimes hard. There are a lot of legalities you must become familiar with and understand before you just launch off. If I had not been enrolled in Atlanta’s OPERATION HOPE program, I am not sure if I would have been to kick ESSE off so quickly. They have assisted me greatly! (Shoutout to Dominque Dieujuste from OPERATION HOPE)

I have learned that you must take things one day at a time! It is so much more gratifying to slowly win the race rather than going a mile a minute. When I first started ESSE, I stayed up late after my daytime job and often neglected my family and friends. I remember being so focused on creating my website and getting a design laid out, I forgot that I could not possibly do this without the help of my friends and chosen family. I’ve learned the importance of taking the time to connect and collaborate with my support system to create events that are meaningful.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

Events are personal. We plan the event as if it were our own and pay attention to every detail imaginable.
Our mission is to create accessible events that are meaningful and unique. Our bespoke approach to event planning concentrates on partnering with and supporting the Atlanta community and beyond.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

If my best friend came into town, I don’t think we would stop eating!

I would start at Daily Chew for brunch! They have some of the best vegetarian and vegan meals I have tasted in Atlanta!

I would then go over to Bar Vegan in PCM and have a few vegan cocktails!

For dinner, I think it would be great to show them the Dekalb Farmer’s market and pick out a few fresh items to make at home!

Then we would go to OK YAKI, in EAV, for a late-night drink!

These places are all staples in my life, and I love them all so much!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

I would love to shout out Mirely Cabral and Sam Pham!! Mirley assisted me in creating my branding and website! She is a GENIUS and owns a beautiful Letterpressing shop called For the Press! I would not have kicked off Esse without her!

Sam Pham, is our in-house photographer and has taken just about every photo for our styled shoots and client photos outside of weddings! We attended Young Harris College in the early 2010s and have been friends ever since! They are a visionary and their editing skills are unmatched.

Website: https://www.esseevents.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esse.events/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sidney-hayes-8b3979135/

Image Credits
Sam Pham, Photographer Hannah Schindewolf , Second Shooter STEMS ATL, Florals