We had the good fortune of connecting with Katie Pagel and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Katie, what matters most to you?
As a wedding planner and designer, I value not only making the planning process an enjoyable and memorable time for the client but also creating a unique and custom design that truly WOWs their guests. It’s easy to find design inspirations online but it’s important to me to pull details that are meaningful to the client to their day that can become inspiration for someone else.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
One of the most exciting parts of As You Wish is creating custom designs unique to the client. Taking personal details from their lives/personalities and making their event one of a kind is one of the most memorable times during the planning process. I’ve always had an eye for design and knew I’d end up in a career that had design aspects in it. Thankfully that’s where I am now!!
There can be challenges in design for a few different reasons:
1. Sometimes the client doesn’t know what they’re wanting exactly and they’re depending on me to build their entire day(s) off of a few inspiration photos and color palette only. From there, you’re shooting for the stars and hope they like what you’ve put together. Sometimes it’s spot on and sometimes there are tweaks that have to be made until it’s what they envisioned.
2. Custom design is SO popular. It’s very easy for someone to see another wedding/event and say they want exactly that. It’s my job then, to take event’s design and make it unique to the client so that I’m not making a copycat of an event. But that’s where the fun comes in!
I’m always following the top designs and staying up to date with the trends and constantly thinking of how I can build off of that. As designers, we truly build off of on another!
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?
Depending on the friend that would be visiting, I’d build a Dallas tour accordingly. Of course they’d need to see Lower Greenville and the fun shops/restaurants that are there but they also need a walk on the iconic Katy Trail. You also can’t come to Dallas as a first timer and not have dinner at Nick and Sams and of course I’m ordering the bang bang broccoli. It’s a life changer!
As an avid shopper, we’re also going to the North Park mall hitting the highs and lows because it truly has it all. Lastly, we’re spending a day in Highland Park Village drinking carajillos at Lounge 31 and popping into the shops there as well.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I give all credit to where I am today to the planners that introduced me to the wedding and event world. I started with a planner in Austin, Bekah Laine Events, where I learned the importance of being a wedding assistant. Bekah taught me how to manage vendors, set up and the flow of timeline. Rachel Burt Garcia, past owner of As You Wish Events, taught me everything I know on how to be a top tier wedding planner. With Rachel’s expertise in the industry, I learned why it’s so important to value each and every client and prioritize them individually. I also credit all designers in the industry overall. Without the experts all across the nation challenging one another to be better, I wouldn’t be as driven as I am to create custom designs that are one of a kind.
Website: https://asyouwishevents.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asyouwish_dfw/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asyouwishdfw
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AsYouWishEvents_DFW
Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@asyouwish_dfw
Image Credits
Emily Photos: Waking Starlight Photography
Lacey Photos: Alba Rose Photography
Kathy Photos: Jennifer Yarbro Photography
Courtney Photos: Amy Karp Photography
Allie Photos: Shelby Loveland Photos
Rees-Jones Christmas Photos: Jennifer Yarbro Photography
Hasib Proposal: Julieta Rabadan Photo