End of Year Reflections as a Business Owner in the Wedding and Events Industry

So as we approach the end of the year, it is only natural for someone like me to reflect on and review the year to consider my personal growth as a business owner as well as that of the business. I say someone ‘like me’ because I’m a goal getter - ambitious, driven and keen to make an impact.

I’ve got my scented candle burning, my herbal tea brewing and some soulful jazz music playing in the background … I’m ready.

2021 was a good year. I came off the high of 2020 where I for the first time after 7 years in business, became the face of my brand. All of the conversations surrounding the George Floyd Killing caused me to challenge myself and my own insecurities as a black woman in business. I decided that I was going to be unapologetically me and stop hiding behind my work. I poured all of my passion on this matter of overcoming Imposter Syndrome into an online course that you can access here.

It really set me on a trajectory of confidence for 2021. Being able to show up as myself on the website and social media platforms paved the way for an authenticity to the Afmena Events brand that I had not expected but was pleasantly surprised by. It is indeed refreshing and exhilarating and I’m enjoying speaking with clients and potential clients who feel in some way connected with me without even having met me!

At the beginning of the year we launched our new website which we love! We also hit our target of 2 bookings a month from the time that everything opened up in March and with the 2020 backlog this target was actually exceeded for some months! Not to forget, for the first time, we worked at two of the most prestigious venues in London - The Mandarin Oriental and The Savoy.

We also had the pleasure of working with a celebrity couple whose wedding was featured on Channel 4. You can read more about that wedding here. Not only that, but we also did our first Set Design Project for Wrighty’s House with none other than Ian Wright. Read more about all of that here.

To round up, we’ve launched our own YouTube channel, hit a milestone with our Instagram followers - 9000 and counting and we have recruited a full time admin staff member which I am particularly excited about because it means more growth for the company. We are going to be able to accomplish so much more for 2022 and I am more than ready for it.

Afia Bayayi x