Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheyanne Weiss.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
From a young age, I have had an affinity for creating. I attribute my abilities and passion to my family because they always nurtured my artistic side! For holidays, I was showered with gifts that consisted of crafts kits rather than toys.
From grade school through graduation from USF, I experimented with crafty art from portraits made of cassette tapes and bottle caps to soap, candles, and jewelry making. Fast forward to my adult life, I had been introduced to the concept of wood flowers by a friend. Intrigued, but as a joke, I decided to design a fun photoshoot for my car’s “1 year birthday,” complete with a floral “1” sign and bouquet to place on my car. I then posted these images on social media. Little did I know, that silly photoshoot was going to change the entire course of my life.
A friend of mine messaged and asked me to create her wedding florals with wood flowers. Without hesitation, I said “No!” I had zero floristry experience or education…how could I possibly take on something as important as a wedding?? Well, she wouldn’t take that for an answer and showered me with confidence that my artistic mind could create what she envisioned. So I did.
I set out to create all of the flowers for their bridal party. The hardest part was dealing with the nightmares of bouquets falling apart down the aisle! Despite my brain’s best attempt to stop me, I designed her perfect florals. Within one month of their wedding, I was a preferred vendor for that venue. Inquiries began coming in so quickly, I made the leap of faith and left my 12-year career, as a Catering Manager for a Fortune 500 company, to pursue my new business venture.
I hit the ground running by partnering with venues and bridal boutiques. I spent a lot of time developing my social media presence, organically. I also got a huge push when Fox 13 and ABC7 asked to showcase my work as well as have my work pictured in People magazine. Just as I began to focus solely on wedding florals, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the world and my business model. All of my scheduled weddings were canceled almost overnight. I had to pivot my business to home décor. That was a fun but hectic time because orders were small which meant a lot of shipping and I was a 1-person show. Fortunately, as soon as Florida allowed public gatherings, weddings went full speed ahead and I was able to immerse myself in my absolute favorite activity… being a part of weddings! This is the best part of what I do; I LOVE weddings and now they are what I get to do for a living!
With my floral business “blooming,” I was in communication with many brides, all of which seemed to have a similar complaint about wedding planning- vendors take advantage of couples by overcharging and underperforming. Wholeheartedly believing that being engaged should be the best time of their lives, I could not just sit back and allow this to continue happening. With this impetus, I set out to become a wedding planner, one cut from a different cloth. With my experience in catering, I had my base knowledge already taken care of, which made the transition seamless for me.
Fast forward to today, my company handles the planning and florals for appx. 400 weddings per year. Our wedding clients are from all over the world! We have been a part of weddings from as far as Australia to Ghana, Africa. We have a few more states to go until we will have had clients in all 50 states.
Although I am the face of the business, I could never have achieved this success on my own. My fiancé, Larry, has been a huge proponent of Shy Chic since day one! You cannot catch him without a Shy Chic shirt or hat on wherever he goes! I’ll never be able to thank him enough for his constant support at home, in the studio, and on-site at weddings. In addition, my mother and staff have been remarkable. They are always willing to do whatever is necessary because they believe in Shy Chic as much as I do.
For 2 consecutive years, we have won local Best Wedding Planner awards, as well as Best Florist of 2022. The “Shy” in Shy Chic is a play on my nickname, “Chey.” I am a person that worries about being overly prideful. However, the network of people around me, from my family and friends to the like-minded business partners I have befriended along the way, gives me the confidence to fully embrace my passion and not be afraid to challenge myself to constantly grow and improve. I cannot wait to see where this adventure takes me next!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I know that there always seems to be a tear-jerking story behind every success, but I truly feel that this journey has been about as bump-free as possible.
Except for losing all of my wedding clients overnight when COVID-19 took hold, I have been fortunate beyond measure to have fallen into the exact career I was born to do.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The main takeaway I want for readers is that Shy Chic is simply built differently. We live and breathe weddings, which means we are your partners in this journey, not just someone you hire.
I believe that your wedding is the biggest (and most expensive) day of your life. You deserve to enjoy every day of your engagement, so it is my goal to make the planning process as enjoyable as the big day itself.
What makes you happy?
Making a bride cry is my ultimate reward. If I do not get tears, I always worry my client is not truly happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: Shychic.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/shy_chic_boutique
- Facebook: Facebook.com/shychicboutique
Image Credits
Ying Photography, LensCulture Photo, and Film, Samantha Brown Artistry, The Picture of Love, & Krystal Nocella Photography
