Meet Madison Taylor | Wedding Designer & Planner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Madison Taylor and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Madison, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Social Kai’s start wasn’t the most glamorous, but it was the best decision I have ever made. In 2021, I left a job I truly loved due to a shift in company culture. From there I had a decision to make; do I join another event company as a team member, or do I take my acquired knowledge and build a dream team of my own? Clearly, I decided to venture out on my own! Once I started Social Kai, it was apparent early on that there were many opportunities to build my business & my brand. Being in business for myself meant I could select the clients I work with; choosing those that see the value in Social Kai’s aesthetic. Having full creative control on events from planning, design & execution is truly my passion. Most importantly I wanted to create a culture for our team and our vendors that is based on integrity, passion and empowerment. Like everyone, time from time I ask myself if I made the right decision. The answer is absolutely.

What should our readers know about your business?
What sets me apart from other Wedding Planners & Designers is that I have done it all. I have taken every opportunity to ensure I am as experienced in the Wedding industry as I can be. These opportunities included working in or with hotels, catering, bakeries, florists, event planners, the list goes on. With each opportunity came so much knowledge: what to do and what not to do in business, how to lead a team, how to appreciate vendor’s time & skills and so much more. My entire life has been based around events and I love being able to share my experiences and little industry secrets with my clients. The main thing that sets Social Kai apart from other event companies is that we are a full service planning and design firm. I’ve seen planners offer assistance with vision and mainly help with the vendor or logistical side. I’ve also seen designers design the event down to the detail and not focus so much on the logistical side! At Social Kai we do both! We care about making the wedding day look like the design we curated for our clients as well as ensuring for a smooth day.

Coming up, I am so excited that we will be hosting a wedding styled shoot for photographers to grow their portfolios in the luxury market! I feel very blessed that we have the opportunity to share this workshop with so many in the industry.

When I reflect on it, I think Social Kai is where it is today because of great connections, grit and a little bit of fate. I’m one of the lucky few who know that this is what I am meant to do in this life. You hear people say it all the time, “it’s all about who you know”. There is no truer statement. Just as these connections will carry you to success you must be willing to carry them too. Getting to this point hasn’t been easy, the self-doubt & fear of failure that goes into starting a business can be overwhelming, but I knew I had to persevere, to show people my passion and prove to myself that I will take Social Kai where I want it to go.

The best lesson I’ve learned is that you never stop learning. The event industry is forever changing, so don’t be afraid to learn everything you can about your craft. Any negative experience I’ve had may be hard in the moment, but I like to reflect on it and turn into something positive by learning from it!

I’d want people to know to never give up on their day-dreams. Regarding our brand, I’d like people to know our “why”. We do it for the love of love! We are dream makers! Individualizing each wedding to our clients’ unique styles & love stories. We love to work with the young at heart, the ones who love aesthetic details and the ones who feel like our friends! At SK we specialize in transitional design. Celebrating traditional elements while embracing contemporary styles! We will be in constant contact during the planning process, through that process we become the best of friends. When it comes to wedding day our clients are able to sit back and enjoy the day while their team takes care of business!!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Most of my best friends live outside of Florida so when they do visit each day is packed with South Florida activities! Ideally a city a day is the way to go. Jupiter for the lighthouse and kayaking then dinner and drinks at Topside at the Beacon! Delray is one of all-time favorites; day spent on the beach and appetizer/drink hoping all up and down the Avenue! Pompano is my go-to beach, a day spent at the beach and a quick walk over to The Beach House or Lucky Fish whenever we feel depleted from the sun! Wynwood is a must for trendy food pics, photo spots and a club or two at night. Of course, any trip to South Florida should include The Keys for watersports, sunsets and key lime pie!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This is one of those questions where it’s like, how much time do we have? There are too many people to count. First, my family. They have been there for me for every step of my journey. My parents & three sisters are there for me in the biggest and smallest of ways. They pick me up when I’m down or doubtful. They are with me wrapping favor boxes until 2:00am. They help me pack up and unload my car after event days. They will all forever be my biggest cheerleaders and I will be theirs. I’m also extremely blessed to have some of the best friends in the world. They too have seen all my ups and downs. On many occasions they have joined the Social Kai team when I need an extra hand setting up or coordinating events. Without their extra encouragement and endless willingness to help, I’m not sure I would have made this leap of faith.

Another group of people that deserve a massive shout out for their support is my Vendor family. I have found such an incredible group of vendors who support my every move and go along with every crazy idea I have. They are the people that give me not just hope for the future of Social Kai but give me hope that we can move the industry in such a positive direction. These people include and certainly are not limited to Marcela with FLORMOSURA, Chelsea with Finding Light Photography, Katelyn with Petal & Pear, Melanie with Melanie Zehner Photo, Halle with Halle Alessia Photography, Alex with The Hullaballoon and Kelsey & Chad with The Styled Kind. Amazing vendors and even better friends!

I would also like to shoutout my alma mater, The Culinary Institute of America. The chefs and professors there engrained working smarter not harder into our brains. Without the training that I received both in and out of the kitchen, I do not think I would be the problem-solver I am. While in the weeds of an event I am grateful to be solution based and laugh about the issue later!

For every young adult out there I 10 out of 10 recommend watching the Ted Talk “Angela Lee Duckworth: Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. Angela uses school children as her example, but her ideas relate to all stages of life. Angela says that life is a marathon not a sprint. Be willing to be wrong and be willing to fail!

Instagram: @socialkaievents

Image Credits
Finding Light Photography Halle Alessia Photography Lauren Alatriste Photography Lucy Steiner Photography