Hansini Vyas: From Tech Professional to Renowned Wedding Planner
Hansini Vyas: Weddings by Hansini
Wedding Planner
Hansini Vyas’ wedding made one dream come true, and sowed the seeds for the other. A career in tech did not entail starting off her own business. Nowhere close.
“Planning my own wedding during the pandemic made me see how much I enjoyed this.” Soon she decided to take a break from her tech career and dive into wedding planning.
“I reached out to vendors and asked if they needed help. I got an internship with a planning company, and I didn’t mind that it was without pay. Because I saw it as valuable learning and experience, coming as I was, from a totally different background,” recounts Hansini.
Meet Hansini Vyas of Weddings by Hansini.
Hansini began as a partial client, and then got sucked into the whirlpool of planning and organizing events and weddings. “I slowly built up my skills and became lead planner with the company I was working with. Then, at one point, I felt that having come this far – that was more than 3 years then - it was time to branch out on my own.” It wasn’t easy, but Hansini had found a niche that was still being explored. “There is this portion of the demographic that is not reached by South Asian wedding planners, and that is the medium-sized budget events. There were already many players in the luxury category,” she reminisces. She found many couples who were in the $30,000 - 500,000 plus range. She reiterates, “I personally didn’t have a luxury wedding – I had an average wedding budget. So, I wanted to fill the gap and be a planner who would be available to take on couples with various budgets. I firmly believe that anybody can truly have the wedding they want, with the right kind of planning. I hate that people feel limited because of budgets.”
So, did her own experience with wedding planners dictate her next move?
Hansini smiles, “Oh I did not work with a wedding planner. Mainly because I could not afford one. And I had a good support system, which is why my wedding went seamlessly. There was initial sticker shock with my partial planner, but it took me time to understand that there’s a benefit to this service. Being in the industry now, I know how much it takes to put it all together.”
People often question why planners charge so much money if each individual service comes with its own price tag anyway.
Hansini shrugs, “Everyone is not able to commit this time, nor has the experience. So many calls to each vendor, so much of negotiation that goes into the planning. When I first started this business, people had so many comments. Oh, you get to travel, wear pretty dresses. But it takes a lot of time and effort to make it look seamless.” Racing from one corner of the ballroom to the other wearing fancy shoes/ clothes and soothing ruffled feathers, while barking instructions at the team members, missing meals, and being the last one to leave the floor does add an edge to the otherwise glamorous-looking job.
So how did her qualifications or background prepare her for this career?
Hansini says, “The reason it all worked so well for me, was that I come from a tech background, having moved up from being a developer to Project Manager. I have always been good at it and good with people. I figured, if I already manage projects for tech companies, I might as well manage this large project of a wedding for individual families. For me it is a similar system – going through emails, having detailed conversations with different vendors... And I think time management is a big piece of the puzzle, which I’m good at too. So, my original role from PM to planner was natural. Following your passion is something very few people in life actually get the opportunity to do. It’s divine intervention for me!”
Hansini’s work takes her across the country: the Midwest and East Coast, Florida, California, and a huge portion of her work is in Texas. She has a good support system in her family and friends, but does her best to get back in time to pick up her little one from school when she’s in town.
While having made a name in the medium sized budget market for South Asians, Hansini has had her fair share of luxury weddings, and non-South Asian and fusion weddings too.
What about a vendor network and team to complete the circle?
“In my effort to work multiple price ranges, I have steered away from a preferred vendors model. I do have a close relationship with the coupes I’m working with. I know their budget, I know what their vision is, so based on that I will recommend vendors who will not come back with a quote that will shock. I do spend extra time going over the budget with the couple and recommend vendors accordingly. Every client should have vendors that will fit into their budget. Moreover, having worked in multiple states, I’ve developed good relationships with vendors across borders and therefore have built a robust network.
Hansini’s got wedding planning process down to “I do” and then some. She combines her project management skills and her people skills to understand and vibe with the couple and their families, the budget, and of course the couple’s vision of what the wedding should be. From the get-go Hansini’s on the ball, talking her clients through each step, keeping them involved, taking their inputs, choosing and then negotiating with vendors. All along, she is diligent about staying on track with the budget, keeping the client constantly updated. “No surprises on the wedding day!” she laughs. Once the client approves the contract, the real work begins. “By the end of the planning journey, they should feel like they’ve gotten value from their wedding planner.”
Hansini loves the learning that comes with each wedding she undertakes – both professional and on the personal front. “We wear so many hats – mom, planner, daughter - so many roles that we’re filling. This is all heavily dependent on time management, and I am aware that there are other pieces of life that need to be balanced. This learning curve means managing my own time better so I can show up better for my clients. But I must admit that I have also learned to decompress for a few minutes between calls.”
Funnily enough, among the happy experiences that Hansini remembers are those that weren’t really picture perfect, but those where she had the full cooperation and understanding of the wedding couple. “Everything that could go wrong, did, and all of it was outside our control, including forces of nature. We worked together with the couple and their families to find solutions and make the best of the situation. The best part was that after the wedding, the bride called me up to say that she was so happy with the whole event, despite the unexpected.” A gratifying feeling for Hansini and her team, who made the work that went into making it all special.
“It's just one day for the guest, but it’s a big deal for the couple,” she reminisces. “And no, personally I’ve not had any bridezllas. All my brides enjoy their events and want to make the most of their special day.” And Hansini goes all out for her brides. She talks about the various points of stress that the brides face and concludes that it’s not easy being in their shoes. So, as they get closer to the wedding, she encourages her bride to talk through things that might be bothering her. “Sometimes you become a friend or counselor – you are the only person they can talk to before and during the wedding. So, for my brides I’m there 100% of the time,” she says proudly.
And the best part of planning a wedding? “Actually, I have two answers, especially when there are so many to choose from! I love working with people – cannot do this job if you don’t enjoy working with people! That’s a high for me.” And then the day of, when all the weeks or months of planning finally come together, fitting like pieces of a large, complicated puzzle. “My favorite part is when the first dance happens. Through all this chaos, the couple gets this one moment when they don’t have to look back or answer anyone. They’ve been busy handling stuff or meeting people, but that’s when they can take a moment for themselves and enjoy each other on their special day. That’s my favorite moment.”
That’s Hansini for you, able to see the teeny moments that make for hugely happy memories.
