Today we’d like to introduce you to Mikayla Springer.
Hi Mikayla, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in Brady, which is a really small town in the middle of Texas, before heading to Texas State for my first two years of college. In 2018, the opportunity arose to move to Manhattan with my older sister and I couldn’t turn down the adventure. I spent two years in Manhattan in the hospitality industry before moving back home when COVID hit in 2020. When I came home, I was bouncing around in life, unsure of what my next direction would be because everything was closed down and there were absolutely no events happening. After a few days of hanging out at my dad’s house back in Brady and my old college roommate’s house in Waco, I finally moved to Austin, and in with my long-term boyfriend. This is where things really started falling into place for me honestly. Back in my college days at Texas State, I coached at a gymnastics gym for my current business partner, Abbie. I did some light Instagram snooping, found her company, ACH Events, and immediately knew I had to reach out. After sliding into her DM’s, and a few anxious days of waiting, we went on a coffee date and the rest is history. I assisted her at my first wedding back in October of 2020 and have never looked back. From that wedding on, I have been blessed to find a community here in Austin of not only incredible event professionals but also all of my amazing clients who have become lifelong friends throughout the planning process!
(Also, at some point, I have to mention my adorable 4 lb pup, Dobby, who is the light of my life. He has been by my side since my sophomore year of college, and I would be so lost without my Lil man!)
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Is life really ever a smooth road for anyone? I have definitely faced my fair share of battles, but when I was little my dad once told me, “It’s not the hand you’re dealt, it’s how you play the hand,” and that motto has stuck with me throughout the years and throughout the setbacks, I have faced.
I lost my mom at a really young age, but from that loss, I found a bond with my older sister that I wouldn’t trade for the world. I also gained an incredible step-mom and two little sisters that I am so proud of. Life happens for a reason, and I would like to think all of the challenges I have faced have helped me become the woman I am today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Unlike some people who are born knowing what they wanted to do – event/wedding planning was not really on my radar until after I moved to NYC in 2018 and got involved with the hospitality industry. When COVID hit and I moved back to Austin in March of 2020 the stars really aligned for me and I found ACH Events. We are a full-service event planning company that specializes in event services not only in all of Texas, but also in NYC, Colorado, and Mexico. I assisted with my first wedding that October and immediately was hooked and knew that I had found the right career for me. Here we are two years, and countless weddings later, and I still find nothing but joy in meeting new couples, bringing special moments to life, and seeing where life takes all my previous clients.
I have always been a people person, and have found it easy to make deep personal bonds with people that allow me to really bring their l visions to life. For example, when I work with a couple planning their wedding, I am stepping foot into a very intimate role on the biggest day of their lives. I take on more roles than just the wedding planner, and by the end of the process hope to be considered not only hired professional but a friend and confidant that people can count on to support them and bring their dream wedding to life. On a wedding day, I strive to ensure that not only are you and your partner having the best day, but that those you have invited to celebrate with feel seen, and taken care of as well.
Any big plans?
I mean the first goal is to definitely continue to keep making clients’ wedding dreams come true. There is no better feeling than the one I get when I know from the expression on their faces that I have exceeded a client’s greatest expectations! I’m looking forward to working with some fabulous new clients in 2023 and have several projects in the works that I am so excited to bring to life and share with everyone. I recently have gotten involved with the corporate event market, as well! They have a very different vibe than a wedding, but I really love the fresh challenge. I had a blast planning the Eureka Corporate Holiday Party last year and am so excited to be currently in the works of planning their 20th-anniversary party for this coming December with the ACH team! I would love to continue to expand the amount of work I do in that sphere and continue to grow in the corporate market.
Over the next 5 years, I would love to expand deeper into the NYC and European event markets. A big part of my heart will always be with Manhattan so what better way to bring my two favorite things together than to dive back into the heart of the city and start creating beautiful events and weddings with just a little touch of Texas to them.
And in the long-term-life goal arena, since I coached a cheer team in high school for kids with disabilities, I have wanted to have a job that gives me the chance to make a difference in someone’s life again. While wedding and event planning has brought me all of the joy in the world, my long-term goal has always been to open a nonprofit organization named after my late mom, called “Melissa’s Kids”. She was an incredible woman who had a heart of gold and took care of everyone around her and I can’t think of a better way to honor her memory than by creating a community of people who would work together to do the same thing. The mission of the organization would be to provide services to those with mental and physical disabilities. Melissa’s Kids would be an organization that not only assisted with child development and care but helped develop life skills – finding internships and work in the creative and event world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.abbiecolehillisevents.com/theteam
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikayla_springer/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/achevents
Image Credits
Carhart Photography – Cayla Adrian Goodman – inHD Tim Waters – The Brand Austin @thebrandaustin
