Meet Rachel Willis: Wedding & Event Planner

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

Hi Rachel, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
It took a long time for me to realize I needed to be my own boss. I think I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, but suppressed it due to fear of being on my own. When I was 13 & starry eyed I’d say I wanted to be an event planner, but as an adult you learn that being a business owner isn’t that simple. There’s something very intimidating about taking the step to identify as an entrepreneur, let alone start working autonomously without anyone to bounce ideas off of when you’re an extrovert. I knew I was happy working in the wedding & events industry, but I couldn’t help but feel like I could do more for my clients. I slowly began to realize I wanted to be a lot more involved in the planning & design aspects of each couple’s big day. I started living for the days when clients that would ask me tons of questions or ask for my advice. One day while I was still on the venue side, a 30-minute check in meeting turned into a 2-hour brainstorming session, and that couple asked me to be their planner. That was the moment that made me realize I needed to be doing more. At the time I had to tell them no since I was their venue rep, but it broke my heart to do it; I was already attached. When I finally took the leap to open Classic & Curated Events, I left the venue on good terms & they encouraged me to continue to work with that same couple. They were my first booking & about a year later their dream wedding went off without a hitch! Realizing I was strong enough to be on my own & make my own decisions was one of the hardest things I’ve done. I have to say though, once I took that leap it’s all been worth it. That hug at the end of the night, the feeling of seeing a wedding come to life after months of planning, the look on your clients’ face seeing their reception for the first time, the ease of everyone in the room just enjoying themselves- all worth it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Event design is a funny category! Most people don’t think of it at first when it comes to their events. Everyone wants to have the Pinterest perfect wedding, but it’s not that simple. The onboarding process with my clients involve a deep dive in their Pinterest boards to see what it is they like, & I find the commonalities to help create a cohesive look. My goal is to help clients create timeless weddings & events, while still curating it to be unique to them. Guiding them to find those unique-to-them things that can be carried throughout their event to create that atmosphere that makes guests say “this is so THEM”. From the font on the invitations to the place settings on the table, every aesthetic detail is taken care of.

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?
I. Love. Food. I’m a major foodie, so naturally a lot of the plans would need to be worked around eating (I’m shameless). 77 degrees is a fun rooftop bar with a great downtown view, so that would be the best place to start. There are plenty of Instagrammable spots, and if you didn’t visit a friend and take lots of pictures did it even happen? The Dallas Arboretum is near and dear to my heart since I worked there. It’s a beautiful area, & a great little oasis in urban Dallas. The horticulture team always works so hard on the rotating plants to keep everything looking lush and fresh, and it’s truly a feat if you think about it. 66 acres of well-kept botanicals! One of my favorite lunch spots is Wabi house- everything on the menu is good! Best ramen in Dallas- hands down. Its location being on Greenville where there are other spots to bop around in is also a great perk. When you’re full of ramen a good walk isn’t a bad idea, and a quick stumble into Leela’s for some cocktails and chill vibes never hurt anyone either. The Farmer’s Market is where I go to wander. Between the artisan cheeses and cute boutique stores, it’s a perfect area to kill time in & just be. No agenda, just walking around picking up little things here and there from vendors. Pair that with the downtown views & a quick jump over to Ruibal’s, it’s a perfect leisurely afternoon. My absolute favorite drink spot is Happiest Hour. I don’t know what it is, maybe the mojitos, the patio scene, the apps, maybe it’s everything. Happiest hour is truly one of the best spots! Klyde Warren Park is such a fun area to walk around, followed by a stint to the Nasher. To be honest that’s one spot I haven’t fully explored myself outside of the event context. What better time to explore it than with someone who’s out of town?? Depending on if this guest was an out of town/state friend, I don’t know how novel this next one will be: Watching a movie in complete peace & getting to recline: 10/10. I know that during COVID times it’s been hard to see movies and they’ve actually been closed. However, my husband & I refuse to see movies anywhere else. The Drafthouse has spoiled us. Watching a movie in complete peace & getting to recline? 10/10 I recently discovered The Virgin Hotel Dallas. This place is SWANKY! Everything is unique to their brand, something I can really appreciate. Their pool deck & cabanas feature great views of the city. Eyeing it for the next birthday party if I’m honest! The last thing I’d absolutely have to work in would be dinner at Al Biernat’s: my favorite restaurant in Dallas. Not a joke at all, their lobster mac brought tears to my eyes. I could survive on just that for the rest of my life if I had to. Dallas has so much to offer, it’s almost impossible to narrow things down to one list! Strolling around Bishop Arts district could have its own day, dinner in Reunion Tower, touring the many museums, the possibilities are endless!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Kelsey Williams of Kelsey Williams Weddings & Events She has been my closest friend and constant support as I opened up my business. She’s been a constant and a mentor throughout my time knowing her on multiple levels, and I am grateful to her for all the time she has given me as a friend and colleague.

Website: www.classicandcurated.com
Instagram: @classicandcurated
Linkedin: Rachel Willis
Facebook: Classic & Curated Events

Image Credits
Celina Gomez Photography Jeff Brummett Visuals Rachel Taylor Photography