Meet Carly Smith. Carly took a leap of faith seven years ago, 
moving from California to Maui to work in events. After working her way up the ladder to Director at the Ritz-Carlton, she eventually left to start her own design company. Now she’s owner of her own event design company, Mana Events Hawaii. Carly plans gorgeous events, nailing every detail from linens to lighting. She also always has a back-up plan. Read all about her creative solutions in our interview below.
Interview with Carly Smith
Tell us a little bit about what you do.
I’ve owned my own company, Mana Events Hawaii, for three and a half years. I plan decor, entertainment, and food and beverage for corporate groups and high-end weddings. I work directly with clients or third-party meeting planners (they handle the room portion).
What is your favorite type of event to plan?
I love everything. Any awards dinner is my favorite because that’s the one where meeting planners put their money into. It’s more about the decor and entertainment. Sometimes they have a theme, so I get to select a high-end venue and completely wow the VIP’s and their guests.
What are some popular themes in Maui?
Tommy Bahama or Surf’s Up is really popular. Big classic bands will come in and play Jimmy Buffett hits. The decor is based around surfboards, and depending on the meeting planner, we’ll put hula hoops and beach balls out. For galas and luxurious events, you’ll find themes like Simply Red - all different shades of red, like a merlot, with orchids hang from the ceiling. What I like to do is completely transform the space.
Can you share a memory from one of your events?
A few years ago, I was planning an awards dinner for a large Fortune 500 company. For the entire year prior, we were planning their dinner inside the ballroom. A month and a half before they came on site, they realized they wanted to have it outside. In Maui, if often rains in the afternoon, which could ruin the entire night. As a solution, we set two different areas, 600 guests each, outside like they wanted and with the entire ballroom set the exact same way. We had buses, we had backup everything you could think of. It was gloomy and cloudy all day, but it ended up being a fantastic night.
Sometimes, the CEO will say, “No, we want it outside,” so we come in with a backup plan. I can make it happen, no matter what.
What’s a tip you’d like to share with event planners?
One thing you have to have in a business is trust. You need to establish that partnership so that planners know they can have full trust in you and allow you to work with large budgets. From Day One, I establish a friendship with a client because I don’t want to sit there and waste a dime on anything unnecessary.
What’s your next event?
I have quite a few weddings in the next couple months, also welcome receptions and award dinners for some corporate groups. I’m actually having my own destination wedding in Colorado.
Anything else you would like to add?
A lot of people are confused by my company name. Out here, mana means divine and positive energy from within. I’m planning every event with positive mana. It’s good energy, it’s healing.
Thanks Carly! To learn more about Carly Smith, visit her website or find her on Twitter @ManaEventsHI.