Tanya Wilbon, the lead planner at The Event Group International (TEGI), has been serving the wedding industry for over 30 years! Today, she is sharing her approach to creating memorable events for clients all over the world.
TEGI is comprised of 20 event specialists who ensure their client’s needs are met by being transparent, consistent, and committed to excellence. Keep reading to see all that TEGI has to offer.
- Name: Tanya Wilbon
- Business Name: The Event Group International – TEGI
- Founded: 2011
Describe your business.
TEGI is a global premiere full-service event management and design firm. We specialize in creating once-in-a-lifetime event experiences no matter the size and budget. We pride ourselves on exquisite design and flawless execution. We produce and manage events in the United States and abroad. TEGI is comprised of 20 event specialists who’ll play a role in ensuring that our client’s needs are met. The thing that separates TEGI from its competition is our unwavering commitment to exceptional customer service! When TEGI partners with a client I am their interface from beginning to end and my team assists me in the background ensuring that every detail is covered. This provides a superior level of continuity that our clients love.
What did you do before starting your business in the wedding industry?
Before I launched TEGI, I had a successful career in Information Technology. I left the position of CEO of a government contracting firm to pursue my passion. I never looked back. It was one of the best decisions of my life. I am truly fortunate to have created a successful business doing what I love while producing magical event experiences for my clients.
How long have you been in the wedding industry?
I have been in the wedding industry for over 30 years.
How would you describe your style?
I come from a place of “YES” …that’s it … that’s my style! I am tenacious and I will stop at nothing to figure out how to make my client’s dreams a reality. I believe that you are only as good as the last event that you produced. We live in an era of cancel culture, where clients can take to the internet and destroy your reputation and hard work in an instant. My team and I believe that there is not a right way of doing the wrong thing. I am transparent, consistent, and committed to excellence!
What motivates you?
The look on my client’s faces when they see everything come together for the first time. The pure joy and wonderment that they convey are simply priceless! Nothing quite compares to that moment!
Why should brides/grooms choose you?
I treat each event that I create like it is my own and my last. When a client selects my team and me to take this journey with them, I view it as an honor. I do not take their trust lightly, as you do not get a ‘do over’ on such an important day. We have to get it right the first time …and WE DO!
How does your company define and measure success?
I measure TEGI’s success in a few ways. One from client partners feedback, secondly from the number of referrals that we receive directly from former clients, and lastly, we receive quite a bit of business from guests of events that we have produced. It does not get much better than that!
What do you enjoy most about your work?
Making the impossible …possible and creating uniquely beautiful event spaces.
Describe a proud moment while working in the wedding industry.
One of my proudest moments while working in this industry is when I had the opportunity to donate an entire platinum wedding experience to a client who had recently lost both of her parents.
What’s the best compliment you’ve received for your work?
The best compliment that I have received to date came from the absolute worst client that I have encountered in my 30+ years in the business. Imagine Meryl Streep in ‘’The Devil Wears Prada” and multiply that by 10 and that was the temperament of this client. The entire experience was grueling and at the end of the event … the client came to me and said “I didn’t think you could do it or survive… you did both… good job…” I was later hired to manage all events for this client, and I am still supporting this client today. It has been 5 years. This client pushed me in ways I never thought possible and ultimately that experience made me even better at my craft.
What are your business goals?
I have three goals for TEGI…
- To continue to make a substantial impact on the event experiences of my client partners
- Double staff so that we can share our offering with more couples.
- Expand our community outreach which would give us the opportunity to train/educate more entrepreneurs.
What’s your favorite part of the wedding industry?
The more things change the more they stay the same. The wedding industry is the one industry that is consistent like a lifelong friendship and yet volatile enough to always compel and challenge you to bring your ‘A’ game at all time!! Never a dull moment!!!
Where do you find the most inspiration?
Sounds corny but my inspiration comes from my clients and the fact that I am extremely competitive and stubborn! I will not be beaten!!! Each of my clients has presented me with their own set of unique design demands and expectations; to which, I am forced to find new and creative ways to solve their challenges. They inspire me to be better and push myself creatively.
Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know?
What you see is what you get with me and I absolutely LOVE what I do!! It shows in literally everything that I do!!
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