Exploring Life & Business with Jailyn Hicks of To Have & To Hold Events

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jailyn Hicks.

Hi Jailyn, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m originally a Nashville native, but I moved to Knoxville to attend the University of Tennessee. It had always been my dream to go to a big SEC school, but ultimately, I couldn’t afford to put myself through school while also supporting myself. Eventually, I took a break from college and started working a 9-to-5 job.

That period was incredibly difficult. I was deeply unhappy and often felt jealous of people my age who were able to continue their education. I felt lost, convinced that a college degree was the only way I could live the life I had always envisioned for myself.

However, working a traditional desk job taught me something important—I wasn’t built for a routine that kept me chained to a desk for eight hours a day. I needed a creative outlet.

I’ve always loved hosting events for friends and family. I was the girl who went all out for every little thing. One day, a friend suggested I look into event planning as a career. I took her words to heart and started posting in various Facebook groups in search of an assistant position. A local wedding planner reached out, mentioned she needed day-of assistants, and hired me!

The wedding industry wasn’t where I expected to find my niche, but through the chaos and creativity, I knew I had found the right fit. I got the opportunity to help plan a friend’s wedding, and that experience gave me the confidence to take a leap of faith and start my own business.

It’s been an incredible journey. Being able to witness so many unique love stories and do a job I truly love has been nothing short of amazing.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. For starters, I’m a natural introvert, so working in a very front-facing role was a huge adjustment for me. I used to be the kind of person who didn’t like to put herself out there—I would just hope and pray that people would somehow find me. I still struggle with that from time to time. I also used to care way too much about what other people thought of me and how to “impress” them.

What really helped shift that mindset was the very first wedding I coordinated under my own business. It was an outdoor wedding—and a huge thunderstorm rolled in that day. I had prepped and planned as much as possible, but nothing could have fully prepared me for the whirlwind that unfolded. I remember thinking to myself, “Maybe I’m not cut out for this.” I was so embarrassed.

But at the end of the night, the couple came up to me and said they’d had the best night ever. They were so happy, despite the challenges we’d faced. That moment was a huge turning point for me. It showed me that I can trust myself, and that I had done exactly what a coordinator is meant to do—problem solve.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
To Have & To Hold Events is a full-service wedding planning company offering full planning, partial planning, and day-of coordination. Each package is completely tailored to the couple and their unique needs—because no two love stories are the same.

What sets us apart from other companies is the intentional connection we build with each couple. We genuinely want to get to know you—not just as clients, but as friends and teammates throughout the planning process. Our goal is to make you feel like you have an advocate in your corner, not just another wedding vendor.

We’re not just a planner or coordinator who reads contracts and directs vendors on your wedding day. We are your calm in the chaos—your go-to problem solvers and wedding enthusiasts. Got a crazy idea? We’d love to bring it to life. Have a difficult relative you’d prefer to avoid on your big day? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We’re here through it all.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory was playing with all of my friends. I used to love getting together with the neighborhood kids and playing outside until the streetlights came on.

Pricing:

• Day-Of Coordination- starts at $1200
• Partial Planning- starts at $1900
• Full Planning- starts at $2900

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tohaveandtoholdevents.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haveandholdevents/