Meet Erika DeMaggio | Owner at Soirée Bridal Boutique & Soirée International

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

Hi Erika, we’d love to hear about how you approach to risk and risk-taking
I was raised on the idea that you’ll never get something different than everyone else has if you aren’t willing to do something no one else is doing. I apply this to life and business. I will make big, unexpected moves, change my mind when a better option comes up along the path, and take a last second opportunity just to see what happens. I typically take stock of the commonalities of my competitors and firmly decide to abscond. I don’t find much value in announcing your risks. Move quietly, your results will speak for themselves. Add in having a true heart for you clients, and you’ll give them a unique experience that they can’t wait to share with others.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

I was built for entrepreneurship (read: I’m terrible at working for other people and I’m a chronic project starter). I also had the good fortune to have the tools placed in front of me to learn how to do so successfully. As a student at Berry College in Rome, Georgia, I had the distinct honor of being one of only four recipients of the Founder’s Scholarship during my freshman year. This work-study scholarship lead me to connect with the Berry Enterprises, a program allowing students to test their mettle as business owners and managers. I assisted as my peers build business plans, gained funding, and launched successful endeavors. As the marketing and communications director for each of their businesses, I learned the simple truth of it- the barrier to entry into business ownership is often quite low. Maintaining and growing a business? Much harder. But getting in the door? Easier than many would have you believe. This, coupled with being raised by parents who always encouraged me to work for myself, lead to the near inevitability of starting my own business as soon as I was able. Though the story is long and winding, I find myself now as a single mother of two beautiful little boys and the owner of two incredible businesses. Businesses are like children- it takes a village to raise them. Cobbling together an amazing patchwork of people to help me raise all four has been, and continues to be, the craziest part of the ride.

Continually eschewing the traditional path and taking unconventional opportunities as they come up has lead me to build incredible experiences for myself and for my clients as well. Soirée Bridal is currently the only full-service bridal boutique in the state, partnering with Soirée International to take my clients all the way from the Dress to the Day. From helping my Babes find their dream gown, to traveling across the world with them in order to make sure their wedding day is flawless, I have the most incredible career in one of the happiest industries. I work tirelessly to provide each client with a unique perspective on how best to make their day authentic and memorable. I want everyone to leave their event saying, “That was just so THEM.”

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.
Food: Ambli, Bird Tree Cafe, and Shuga’s Coffee: Loyal, Story, and The Exchange
Treats: Pikes Peak Lemonade Co,, Cacao Chemistry

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate this piece to Michelle Trauring. She has been with me through this incredible, turbulent, magical ride to where I’m at and where I’m going. She is quite literally making it possible for me to even sit down and complete this interview today.

Website: www.soireebridalboutique.com and www.soireeinternational.com

Instagram: @soiree.bridalboutique

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikachesterdemaggio/

Image Credits
Personal Image: Stephan Hellin Other: Erika DeMaggio