How I Fell in Love: My Journey into the Wedding Industry

Hi there! I’m Kaiya, the owner and lead planner at Kaiya Smith Events—and I’m so excited you’re here. I wanted to take a moment to share a little bit about me and my journey into the beautiful wedding industry.

Ever since I was a little girl, I was planning all of my birthday parties—down to every little detail. But I never imagined that this early love for organizing and celebrating would grow into a full-fledged career in wedding and event planning—until it did.

My journey into the wedding planning industry started in the most unexpected way. It was my freshman year at San Jose State University. I went into college with no idea what I wanted to do or who I wanted to be. I started off studying African American Studies. While I enjoyed learning about my culture and history, deep down I knew it wasn’t the path I truly wanted.

At the time, I was obsessed with the show Below Deck (yes, I was that girl!). The idea of working on a yacht, traveling the world, and making money seemed like the dream life for 18-year-old me. One day, I came across Hospitality Management as a major at SJSU, and it even included cruise ship courses. I thought, “Score! Who knew I could study this?”

I switched majors and ended up falling completely in love—not with the yachts, but with the event management courses. That’s when it clicked: I wanted to plan events. I wanted to create experiences that made people feel something. I wanted to help bring unforgettable moments to life.

From there, I dove in headfirst. I took planning courses, shadowed experienced wedding coordinators, and soaked up everything I could about timelines, vendor management, design, and most importantly, how to make the process joyful and stress-free for my couples.

Now, as a professional Bay Area wedding planner, I get to do what I love every single day: help amazing couples bring their dream day to life with a whole lot of heart and intention. Whether it’s an intimate elopement, a modern micro-wedding, or a full-scale celebration, my goal is always the same—to make sure you feel supported, seen, and genuinely happy on one of the most meaningful days of your life.

Thank you for being part of my wedding planning journey—and for trusting me to be part of yours.

Inquire here.

With love,
Kaiya

• Instagram