We had the good fortune of connecting with Sonali Chodavadia & Shrinkhala Rai and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sonali Chodavadia & Shrinkhala Rai, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Starting an event planning business often involves a combination of passion for creativity, organizational skills, and a desire to help others celebrate important moments. Starting our event planning business stemmed from recognizing significant gaps in the industry while working with various other companies. We noticed inconsistencies in client communication, a lack of personalized service, and limited creativity in event design. This experience fueled our passion to create a business that prioritizes attention to detail, innovative solutions, and genuine connections with clients. By addressing these gaps, we aim to deliver exceptional experiences that truly reflect each client’s vision and needs.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Getting to where we are today in our business has been a journey filled with both challenges and triumphs. It hasn’t always been easy; there were moments of doubt, financial strain, and the constant learning curve that comes with entrepreneurship. We overcame these challenges by leaning on each other’s strengths, being adaptable to change and seeking mentorship and advice from friends and family.

Throughout the process of building the event planning business we’ve often been told to niche down in order to be successful. However, we find joy in dipping our feet in little bit of everything and we’ve built a stronger network with this business approach. We welcome feedback from our community as different perspectives help our business change and grow for the better.

No matter what struggles we face financial or emotionally, we vowed we would treat our vendors and employees with respect and most importantly handle our business practices ethically.

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.
Things to Do:
1. Bachman Lake Park (Grab some local tacos, blanket and watch the Southwest Airlines planes fly directly over you)
2. Dallas Farmers Market (eat, walk around)
3. Highland Park Village (Elevated Shopping Experience)
4. Texas State Fair
5. Attend your First Rodeo in Fort Worth, TX
6. Stockyards (Watch the cowboys and cattle in true Texas fashion)
7. Katy Trail (Enjoy a scenic walk on the trail and wine down by grabbing drinks on the trail)
8. Statler (Check out this rooftop bar for the views and some drinks)

Things to Eat:
1. Terilli’s (Italian Restuarant for Dinner)
2. Emporium Pie (Dessert)
3. Eataly (Enjoy 3 different authentic restaurants, Italian market and incredible wine)
4. Pecan Lodge (Can’t leave Texas without a good Barbecue)
5. H-Mart/Korea Town (Can spend a whole day eating here)

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The support from friends and family when starting a business has been invaluable, providing a strong foundation of encouragement and motivation. Their belief in our vision has kept us focused during challenging times, offering both practical help and emotional reassurance. Whether it’s brainstorming ideas, celebrating milestones, or simply lending an ear, their unwavering support has made the journey feel less daunting and more like a shared adventure. This network of love and encouragement not only fuels our determination but also reminds us that we are not alone in this endeavor. A big part of this industry is word of mouth and our friends and our family have singing praises to our surrounding community.

Website: https://www.thesocialcircleevents.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialcevents/?igsh=MXJvaGVrZXl0dzB6bw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/jVEdbeuimyvPiciY/?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thesocialcevents?_t=8qazZwIH5h8&_r=1

Google: https://www.google.com/search?q=the+social+circle+events+dallas&oq=th&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBggBEEUYOzIGCAAQRRg5MgYIARBFGDsyBggCEEUYOzINCAMQABiDARixAxiABDINCAQQABiDARixAxiABDINCAUQABiDARixAxiABDIGCAYQRRg8MgYIBxBFGDwyBggIEEUYPNIBCDIyNzVqMGo0qAIAsAIB&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thesocialcevents/

Image Credits
@Urbanphulkari
@Binophotography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.