Meet Rachel Giles | Full Service Wedding Planner

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

Hi Rachel, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Ooooh. What a great question. For most of my life I was intimidated by risk taking. Nothing would stop me in my tracks like knowing that I could potentially mess something up, miss out on an opportunity or make the wrong decision. Looking back on my life, I would tell you that I simply wanted to ride the wave of low risk and play it safe. But I actually made things way more difficult than they needed to be because I was preparing myself for worst case scenarios. I always had that gut feeling but I didn’t know what it was, so I didn’t trust it. So instead of moving forward I would just freeze and not make a decision.

They say “with great risk comes great reward”. Terrifying, right? But as a small business owner this is something I have had to get comfortable with. It’s crazy to think that I literally would not be here, sitting for this interview, without taking a huge risk. That risk being working in corporate America for one month post-grad and then betting on myself to become a profitable small business owner. At some point you just have to believe in yourself and make it happen. Over the last few years, I have learned to relentlessly follow my intuition and not to settle. In retrospect, I know I have always had that gut feeling, but it took me a while to understand what it was, listen to it, and then put it to action.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a full service wedding planner with an emphasis on the design and atmosphere of the event. It’s hard to determine what sets me apart from others in this industry because there are so many talented planners and designers out there! People find it interesting that I have a degree in Architecture. Having that background influences the way I approach planning and designing a wedding. I view this career as an art form and I get that creative high and satisfaction knowing that I have created a lasting moment for my clients!

Getting to where I am professionally has been a fast but tenacious journey. It’s taken a lot of grit. A lot of late nights. And a TON of miles up and down I-35. But the growth of this business has made it all worth it. I also recognize that my job is so different from many other people my age, not everyone becomes an entrepreneur. All of this circles back to my time and training in architecture school. I have learned to work well under pressure, meet deadlines, and absorb stress all while creating a beautiful environment.

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.
Alright so I think this is where I expose myself and let everyone know that I am a tried and true Fort Worth gal!! There truly is no place like it and I will hype up funkytown any day!! I’m a biiiiiig wine and dine kinda gal so a lot of this would revolve around food. Every morning would start with coffee from my favorite coffee shop, Sons of Liberty. I’d take them to go shopping on Magnolia and South Main. At least one night (maybe two!) we would have tapas and cocktails at Tinies (you gotta try the spicy pineapple marg!! So good).We would definitely hit up the Stockyards and watch the iconic cattle drive! I’d also want to show them the best view in Fort Worth, so we would go have cocktails and listen to live music at Bird & Branch skydeck. Oh, and probably go to the Kimbell Art Museum (homage to my architecture background). Maybe do a little paddle boarding over at Panther Island? I feeeeeeel like I’m a little all over the place with this answer. It’s funny… I’m a planner by trade but when it comes to planning vacations (or staycations) I let my friends take the reins! I just want to show up and have a good time!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh wow, there are so many people I would like to thank. This feels like my Oscar moment haha! First would have to be my parents, Zack and Susan! Without their constant love and support Honey & Co. Weddings would not exist! From a young age, both of my parents encouraged me to pursue my dreams – to find my passions and talents and transform those into a career. I remember my Dad always telling me to not settle for a job just to “have a job”, but to find something that I am passionate about. It also helps that my Dad is super business savvy so I constantly pepper him with questions! Second, I have to thank my friends, Preston and Andrea! They took a huge risk with me to coordinate their son’s wedding back when I was 19 years old! That was my very first wedding to ever work solo and I don’t think any of us could have imagined where that one opportunity would take me – planning full service luxury weddings!! It’s been really fun to have them alongside this journey! It is honestly mind blowing to see how much has changed in a short amount of time. And finally, I have to thank Alex Moreau (XO Moreau Weddings) and Laura Mayfield (Mayfield Events) for their constant mentorship and support. I have learned everything about the wedding industry through these two powerhouse-women and I will forever be grateful for their guidance, but more importantly, their friendship. They really eased me into this industry full time (even though I kinda jumped right in!) and I am thankful they never get tired of my Marco Polos!!

Website: https://www.honeyandcoweddings.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honeyandco.weddings/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/honeyandco.weddings

Other: The Knot: https://www.theknot.com/marketplace/honey-and-co-weddings-fort-worth-tx-2058767 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honey.and.co.weddings

Image Credits
Anastasia Strate Photography Alyssa Beach Creative Beatbox Portraits Jason Masters Photography Franny Pullin Photography