Rising Stars: Meet Sharon Huddleston of Gallatin, TN

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharon Huddleston

Hi Sharon, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started doing weddings with two of my close friends in 2005. One of my friends got married and one wanted to start a different career. With their blessing, I carried on and changed the name from MiShaAl (Michelle, Sharon, Aletha) to Events by Elizabeth and Company. I named the business after my first best friend, my granny Sara Elizabeth Wells. My vision for my business is to provide excellent service no matter how big or small the event. I have learned a lot throughout the years but one of the most important lessons is to ensure my clients vision comes to life in the work that I do. I have had the privilege to do weddings in Kentucky and Indiana. My family helps and works closely with me, they understand my crazy and when I forget to eat because I am consumed by the event…they hand me a snack lol! My business is unique in that we have our own inventory so we can design, set and provide everything needed for any event. We also provide event rentals. In the last few years we have had the privilege of doing large events for 300 to 600 people and providing pipe and drape for a CMA Event this year, Country Forward. I am very hands on and love designing events for all of our different clients. Our expertise goes from weddings, to kid’s parties to corporate and non-profit events. I truly love what I do.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has definity not been a smooth road and I am grateful for that. I have learned a lot of lessons the hard way but I have never made those mistakes again. Those bumps have made it easier and the road now, much smoother. At one of my earlier weddings when I started, we arrived to setup. It had rained the night before and there were large pockets of water throughout the roof of the tent. I couldn’t reach the company and had to figure out how to get rid of all of the water. It took a long time and made everything else run behind. After that, I started to arrive for every event as early as possible, in order to be prepared for any situation.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an event planner. I specialized in weddings, coordinating and decorating. As my former brides start their families, I ventured into baby showers and kid’s parties. From there, I started doing non-profit and corporate events. I am most proud of our larger events for 600 people. I love how we as a team come together to make these large events a success. What sets us apart from others, is that we can handle everything for an event in house. From invitations to dinnerware, pipe and drape and centerpieces, we have it all.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I never considered myself to be a risk taker until I became a small business owner. My mom set a great example for me. She had a dream to open a store, and she did. I think seeing her do that, gave me the confidence to take a risk on myself. There were definitely times in the beginning I thought about quitting, but I’m glad I stuck it out.

Pricing:

• Wedding Coordinating $1,400.00
• Intimate Baby Shower $600.00

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eventsbyelizabethandcompany.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eventsbyelizabethandcompany02
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063769590072
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@eventsbyelizabethandco