Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryleigh McGraw
Ryleigh, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Some people are born knowing exactly what they want to do in life. For me, it was a winding road, full of unexpected turns, last-minute leaps, and a whole lot of trust early on in the process.
I attempted college a few times, but it never quite stuck. I found myself bored, more interested in working than sitting in a classroom. So, I did side jobs—anything to keep myself busy and learning. Honestly, I feel like I’ve lived a bunch of different lives through the jobs I’ve had. One of those jobs was helping my aunt with her catering business, which introduced me to the wedding industry. Back then, wedding coordination wasn’t as popular as it is today, so I naturally jumped in to help with décor and logistics. I found that balancing the creative and logistical sides of my brain was the perfect dopamine boost, and I didn’t realize it at the time, but that’s where my career truly began.
I should note, though, that design has been in my DNA. With artistic roots tracing back to my Grandma and Mother—both phenomenal artists—creativity is practically woven into my being. My mom’s passion for florals not only sparked my own bad-ass sleeve of tattoos (which I partially drew), but it also taught me to find beauty in every nook and cranny, even on the simplest neighborhood strolls. I always found it strange that people couldn’t just pick up a pencil and draw—it’s such a natural part of who I am.
In between all of this, I had a small business making signage—yes, the chunky script you still see at Hobby Lobby today—and anything DIY-related that couples needed in 2012. It was a way to add that personal touch, and it helped me grow even more in the wedding space.
Fast forward a few years, I reached out to a wedding venue in my hometown and joined them as they were building a new space. I started as an assistant but quickly became the person keeping everything organized and handling whatever was needed. That role evolved into building a catering department, leading sales, and managing a growing team. I did it. I found my niche. Oh young naive me, as five years later, everything was yanked away from me, which, at 24, was devastating. But looking back, that moment brought me to where I am today.
Spoiler alert: Along the way, I built a business from the ground up while working a full-time sales job, planning clients from a previous company, and even getting married myself. By age 30, I had done it all—even getting married in Mexico during a hurricane, which is ironic since I’ve never had to move to Plan B for any of my couples in my 10 years of wedding planning.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Looking back, I’ve faced many challenges, but the biggest lesson has been understanding the importance of trust in business. After a difficult experience with my first boss, who manipulated the team, I quickly realized how devastating broken trust can be.
The first thing I did after leaving my first venue was to launch my own coordination company, The Dusty Rose. It was both exhilarating and challenging. At the time, full-service wedding coordination wasn’t as common, but it was clear that’s where the industry was headed. As my business grew, so did my reputation, which led to being recruited by other venues to help get their wedding departments up and running. The real test came when I moved to Texas to manage a new venue, only to discover that the team I was promised wasn’t there. I found myself doing everything from maintenance—raking hog holes at 6 a.m.—to sales in the afternoon to keep the business going, and wedding coordination well into the early mornings, sometimes even sleeping at the venue. Despite the exhaustion, I learned resilience and passion, which ultimately reignited my love for the wedding industry and deepened my disdain for those who are only in it for the money.
When COVID hit, I took a much-needed break with a corporate sales role. While the break was essential to refuel after some burned relationships in venues, I still felt the undeniable pull of weddings. So, I reached out to a friend and mentor in the wedding industry, joined her team, and worked full time at both jobs (don’t tell my sales job that!). After she decided to close her business, I joined forces with a past team member to create The Label Affair. Though the partnership fell apart, it pushed me to go all in on my own. That’s how The Label Affair became what it is today—a full-service planning company driven by passion, trust, and a commitment to ensuring no couple ever says, “I just can’t wait for it to be over” (something I would hear all too often when I worked for venues, which broke my heart and fueled my passion).
Now, trust is something I take very seriously—with our clients, my team, and our network of vendors. Trust is everything, and I’ve learned the hard way that it’s absolutely crucial for success.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Label Affair ?
At The Label Affair, we believe wedding planning should be more than just a job—it should be an experience. We’re all about creating an environment of joy and excitement for our clients, not stress. We’re not the type of planners who show up with headsets barking orders; we’re the team that brings energy, enthusiasm, and personal connection into every event we plan.
We specialize in full-service wedding planning, design, and partial planning. We believe that in order to set our clients up for success with the right resources, knowledge, and guidance, we need to do more than just coordinate or manage. This holistic approach creates a relaxed and enjoyable experience for our clients. There’s so much they don’t know, and a big part of our role is to educate them. We customize everything based on our couples’ unique styles, adding those special, unexpected details that make their day even more memorable. One of the most common reactions we hear after presenting a design is, “This is exactly what I had in my head, and I didn’t even know it.”
We also focus on building deep, trusting relationships with our clients. We match couples with planners who complement their personalities because, at the end of the day, we’re guiding them through one of the most intimate moments of their lives. We’re not just creating an event—we’re crafting a personal, intimate, and unforgettable experience. We often become a part of the family, learning every dynamic and even acting as trusted therapists when needed.
What sets us apart is our commitment to transparency and honesty. My background in sales has taught me to adapt to any situation, but I’ll always be real with my clients. If something doesn’t feel right, I won’t hesitate to speak up. Our team is always a few steps ahead to ensure everything runs smoothly—because we believe our clients should never have to follow up with us about something we missed and if they do, then we have failed.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I think one of the biggest surprises people get when they first meet me is that I’m actually a Type B personality. While I’m highly organized when it comes to planning, I thrive in chaos in my personal life, which is the complete opposite of what most would expect from a wedding planner!
Another fact that most raise their eyebrows to is that I’ve been in the wedding industry for 11 years, and I’m only 30 years old. Like I said, I have lived a lot of lives from a young age, but it’s been an exciting and fast-paced journey that’s shaped me into the planner I am today.
Pricing:
- Management packages start at 3,400 (we add a little more than what we see average for a management package because there is so much unknown for couples we want to set them up for success early even if they dont need the full help planning)
- Partial ranges from 5-8k
- full service starts at 10k
- We base our pricing off of hours of work rather than a set package so everything can be customized.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thelabelaffair.co
- Instagram: @thelabel.affair
- Other: Tik Tok: @thelabel.affair
Image Credits
Michaela Beach Photography
Tay Danay Photography
Jenn Ayers Photography
Fallon Stovall Photo
Wisteria Jade
Emily Boone
Flora Photo Film
