1. What is your business & what product or service do you specialize in? I am the owner, designer and coordinator for Dyer Designs and Events. I specialize in events of all sizes and types. From small gatherings to large, birthday parties to weddings. I consider myself to be well rounded in the event industry.

2. How & when did you start your business? I started my business in June of 2015. I had spent a few months prior planning a 25th wedding anniversary. I recommended a good friend of mine to bake their cake. That’s when Jill Stauble from The Winey Baker, reached out to me and told me to hang my shingle. That’s how and when Dyer Designs and Events was born!

3. What is your WHY? Not just the practical reason for starting your own business but what drives you to keep going? The feeling I get when I am immersed in an event is indescribable. I live and breathe any event I am involved in from start to finish. I give it 110% because to me, there is no other way. I treat all my clients how I would want to be treated and do my best to go above and beyond their expectations. I put my heart into all my events and carefully organize them to fit my clients needs, wants, desires and always aspire to make their dreams come true! The look on their faces at the end of it all, the family member passing by to take the time to tell me I have been doing a great job, the endless “thank you’s” and “I couldn’t have done it without you’s”, feeling their appreciation… that’s what keeps me going.

4. Tell us a little bit about your family dynamic? June 2015 was full of many new beginnings. With the start of my business also came the birth of my first born daughter, Mackenzie, who is the absolute light of my life. I am blessed in so many ways to be able to stay home and take care of her. It was something I wanted even before she was thought of. Working from home with her by my side fills my heart with joy. I am lucky enough to be able to stay home with her because of my husband, who is the hardest worker I know. 

5. How do you balance work & family life? Being a stay at home mom allows me to have a pretty flexible work schedule, so I try to get as much done as I can during her nap time (thank god she’s a good napper!) This past summer, doing 5 events and 2 out of 5 of them being weddings, plus interning with a local event planning company in Portland, was quite the challenge. My husband worked 12 hour days 5 days a week and on the weekends I would be off working an event. I am so grateful for him taking care of our daughter while I worked. Our Sunday’s were dedicated to spending quality time together as a family. Now that winter is here, we are both past our busiest work season and are able to spend more time together… until next year of course.

6. What is the most rewarding part about owning your own business? The flexibility when it comes to balancing family and work. Plus the continual appreciation and support I have received from family and friends has been so wonderful.

7. What is the most challenging part of owning your own business? I am finding new challenges arise all the time; some are good, some are not so good. I don’t have just one most challenging part because I find I can learn from any challenge to help improve myself and my business. However, if I had to pick just ONE, it would have to be working alone. I hope one day I will be able to take on an assistant.

8. What is one way you give back or support fellow moms or small business owners? I use local and online resources to find vendors (mostly local) to help work with me on events, unless they find me first!

9. How do we as consumers impact your family when we support your small business? It means everything to me to have support for my business because the most important thing I want to do for my daughter is teach her to follow her heart and do something she loves every day. Special events are my passion. I hope that my business will continue to grow and move forward so I am able to prove to her that your dreams really do come true with hard work and dedication.

10. What has been the best compliment, review or piece of feedback received from a client or customer? {Yes, we want you to toot your own horn!} “Our wedding wouldn’t have been half as good as it was if not for the incredible Samantha of Dyer Designs and Events. She is an amazingly talented person and she valiantly took my wedding to the next level. She has a great eye and can visualize décor in a way I wish I could do. From her amazing decorations to her incredible organization skills, I couldn’t have asked for a better person to quarterback my wedding. I highly recommend hiring Dyer Designs and Events, especially for a wedding!!” – Katie (2016 Wedding Season)