This month we are joined by Sophie, the mastermind behind A Lesson In Luxury & The Gold Events. I'm sure you've all seen her stunning viral setups on Instagram. Find out how she got started, the creativity behind the setups, and how you can improve your skills!
How did you first get into the world of balloon artistry?
I started The Gold Events in 2019 with the intention of styling weddings & making floral arrangements. A year later we ended up in lockdown, & my sister had mentioned maybe adding balloons to the services so I bought some to have a go & I just fell in love!
What inspired you to start your own balloon business?
When I realised I could blend flowers with balloons, it got me excited! They were a staple from my very first display. Very early on, balloons became a tool to bring my inspirations to life, so I immediately got addicted & knew I wanted to create for others.
What’s your favourite current trend and how do you see them evolving?
I really love the mini shimmer wall, an idea innovated by Banana Bureau. I love anything pretty & boutique, & something you can easily style for any type of event.
I think its popularity has encouraged lots of us to invest in more shimmer walls, as the smaller size is more budgetable & easy to store. Before this trend I had one wall, now I have 5!
What advice would you give to event planners looking to create stunning visual impacts while staying within budget?
Never ever feel like you need to do it all! I’ve been a balloon artist for four years, & I’ve never offered anything but organic, & I only work with a small choice of props. So definitely just do what you love, & make sure you learn to do it really well.
It’s easily digestible for clients, you can adapt any style or theme to most props & it’ll make your brand identity more recognisable!
What's the most valuable skill you teach your students beyond balloon techniques?
I love to encourage my members to use themselves in their work. On A Lesson In Luxury, we host regular challenges where we all make mood boards, mock-ups & final designs of displays based around current occasions or seasons.
There is no client brief or budget to follow, it’s all on the individual person to make the display of their dreams! I think this is an incredible way to evolve & become more confident.
I’ve put all my love & inspirations into my work over the years, & from a business perspective, it’s sold well. This is because people like to see authenticity & originality.
Push your personality into your art. Not only will it be more appealing to prospective clients, you’ll enjoy it more as you’re truly doing what you love!
What types of training do you offer and how can people find out more?
I offer an online membership & 1:1 training through A Lesson In Luxury. Its key focus is teaching my signature garland style with soft peaks, & tapered edges. I also cover floristry & branding, & online, I regularly release Custom Colour Directories, PDF breakdowns, challenges… There’s a lot to keep you busy!
I also host regular Create Magic classes which are content days to network & make displays you can use for your portfolio. These days are non profit so all the ticket sales are used to invest in lots of pretty things to use & for everyone to have a fab time!
What role does social media play in promoting your balloon business and academy?
A huge impact! & I am a bad example right now because I have not been promoting how I should!
It’s integral, there’s no doubt about it. My clientele, even before training, has always been reliant on social media & if you disappear for a bit, or don’t take care with your content, your business suffers.
What's the most rewarding aspect of teaching others in your balloon academies?
When they gain confidence with their clients to assert their role as the professional, & provide beautiful ideas for clients briefs, exceeding their expectations!
The pure joy of being a balloon artist, for me, comes from being allowed to be creative. Getting paid to do something that you just love is such a huge luxury in life!
A Lesson In Luxury is pushing artists not just be skillful, it’s also teaching them how to work with their inspirations, how to price with purpose & gain trust with their clients. When they push themselves & achieve this, it is a really special thing. It’s so rewarding x
To find out more visit @alessoninluxury & _thegoldevents on Instagram
2 comments
I was fortunate and privileged to go on Sophies first ever masterclass 2 years ago and subsequent creating Magic and content days. Since then I’ve been inspired and classes and support group continues to inspire and motivate. The community she has created is so supportive. Sophie really is one in a million
The subject read was very inspirational.
We have attended a couple of the create magic classes hosted and organised by Sophie and they were phenomenal: a true education in perfecting your craft without any judgment.
We have since gone onto purchase several mini sequin walls (introduced to us at one of the classes) and these now form the foundations for the majority of our set ups A heartfelt thank you to Sophie at The Gold Events/ A Lesson in Luxury for inspiring us to push our boundaries and believe that we can all truly succeed in our chosen path x