Welcome Sweet Friends!! I have gained some new followers on Instagram and Facebook in the past few weeks, so I thought now would be perfect time to introduce everyone to the person and creative force of Avila Dawn Events.

 

So my name is Jevettra (rhymes with you-betcha). I am a Newlywed (just got married in March of this year), a daughter, sister, classically trained dancer & lover of sparkle and cupcakes. I REALLY like cupcakes. I am a lowcountry native of South Carolina, but currently live in Columbia, SC. I have to confess that I am a city girl at heart, but LOVE southern traditions. For my “formal” background. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance from Howard University (the real HU – Go Bison) and a Master’s Degree in Physical Activity and Public Health from the University of South Carolina (Go Gamecocks)!! Yes I take football season very serious and tailgating is a MUST!! That in itself is an event, sometimes bigger than the actual game!

The meaning behind the name of Avila Dawn Events is a great story. So the company is name after my mother and myself, as my mother introduced me to world of wedding planning. The business name is made up of my mom and I’s middle name. Avila is my mom’s middle name and Dawntelle is my middle name. We just shortened Dawntelle to Dawn. So when I first thought about names it was Avila Dawntelle Events. It was a mouthful, but it was our FULL middle names. When I asked my mom about it, she was like I don’t like Dawntelle. I gave her the side eye y’all. Come on mom, that’s what you named me, you can’t not like the name now. I have been living with it ALL my life. So that’s when I say hey what if we chop off the telle part, she still wasn’t entirely sold. So I just asked my dad and he said it sounded great, so that’s what we went with.

So starting my own wedding and event planning company as been on my heart for MANY years. One of the first events I can remember planning was my play sister’s wedding. I was 15 at the time and remember LOVING getting all of the logistics together and DIYing projects. I knew my true calling for event planning was when I had my first job post undergrad and my boss asked me in a very serious conversation what I wanted to do and where did I see my life going. I told her that I wanted to get a Masters Degree in Public Health; become a manager of a public health program and own my own event planning company. My mom taught I was crazy to tell my boss such a thing and if I was asked that question again to not add in the event planning portion.

Well I ended up putting event planning on the back burner. I went and received my Masters Degree and I am the manager of a public health program. However in achieving these goals I am not truly fulfilled in the job I am working. However, I find that event planning and dancing brings SO much happiness and calmness to my life. In 2013, I moved to Virginia to accept a position as an Epidemiologist for the Navy. Within a week of taking that position, I told my mother I am not going to like this position. It was rough 9 months to stay in that job and I knew then that I had to start making a change. Well last year, I decided to stop fussing around and start making my dream a reality. Last April I launched Avila Dawn Events! I finally found the courage to start. What took me so long to start? I was terrified of failure (still am) that I made excuses.  I will never be able to make a sustainable living! I don’t have the time! People close to me don’t think it will work and say that event planning is not a “real” career and I just needed to stick with my real/big girl job.  But you know what, hell that’s life. You don’t know unless you try and I may fail, but that doesn’t mean I can’t start again! But the thing stronger than all of those insecurities is my PASSION for this! Knowing that there is nothing more that I would rather do. I would plan events and teach dance for free in all honesty. I do these things because they bring pure joy to my life. This business is a piece of my SOUL! I knew I had to do this. So a lot of prayer, encouragement from the hubs and some soul searching…. HERE WE ARE!!

Since forever I have loved weddings, cute planners (can you ever have enough) and creating true friendships/relationships and have infused all those elements into Avila Dawn Events. This company is designed for you, the Bride!

So welcome to Avila Dawn Events, friends!!! I am so happy that you stopped by. Make yourself at home, be sure to say hi and let me know if you have any questions or just want to chat.

XoXo, Jevettra