Get To Know The Wedding Pro – Interview: Tajrean Of Taj Raj Events
Written by Fairy Bride Mother on May 16, 2024.
Tagged under: Anantara, Dubai, Toronto, Wedding Planner, Wedding ceremony, Weddings, event planning
Each month, we shine the spotlight on Bride Club ME vendor club members, allowing you, our reader, to get up close and personal with some of the best wedding vendors in town. Here, you can learn more about the people behind some of the businesses you may be using to make your wedding the day you’ve always dreamed of!
This week, we have the privilege of showcasing Tajrean Kashem of Taj Raj Events a wedding and event management company specialising in crafting unforgettable weddings and special occasions. Read on as we interview Tajrean to discover more about her story, interests and how she balances her business between Dubai and Toronto.
What initially sparked your interest in pursuing a career in wedding planning?
I was heavily involved with all types of events throughout my high school and university years. Towards the end of it, I tried out every type of event (socials, charity, corporate, fundraising, etc) except for weddings. At that time, I found myself in love with watching wedding highlight films and browsing through wedding photos for hours. At that time, I decided to look into the wedding industry and volunteer at wedding events to see if it was something I liked (this was back in 2012). I still remember my first shift like it was yesterday and the moment I fell in love with the business of weddings. Fast forward to May 2014, I launched my own wedding and event planning company! Hitting our 10 year anniversary next month!
What sets Taj Raj Events apart from other wedding planning businesses?
We strive to turn our relationships with our clients from business to personal. We make them feel comfortable and heard, while also being extremely productive and efficient. However, the main reason why we are different from other wedding planning companies, is due to the speed of planning. We plan, take action and get things done FAST because of the simple and efficient virtual wedding planning process I’ve created using tools such as G Suite and Slack.
During your time as a wedding planner, which wedding stands out as the most memorable one you’ve ever organised?
Ahh, this is a hard one. There are many weddings we’ve planned and coordinated. However, our clients Rima and Tushar’s Hindu wedding ceremony and reception from June 2017 stands out the most. We were hired as their wedding coordinators a couple of months before their wedding. Their wedding started trends in Toronto because of the way they envisioned their wedding and their unique venue. They also had the most amount of personal items we’ve ever set up, and we needed 2 cars to fill all of their items. Through their wedding, we have received the most number of referrals and still get referred till this date. On April 6th 2024, we also executed the groom’s sister’s wedding ceremony and reception in Toronto. At this wedding, we had 5 Taj Raj Events couples! Truly shows the impact our business has made.
How do you maintain a balance between operating your business in both Toronto and Dubai?
I don’t sleep – haha kidding! I’ve set my hours of operation to 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM. This allows me to speak with vendors and clients here when it’s our afternoon and Toronto vendors and clients during their mornings. Due to the system I’ve created, it’s so easy to maintain communication with everyone and ensure our clients in Toronto never feel I’m miles away. A recent bride mentioned us in her wedding speech and said “she lives in Dubai but we never felt it” and that speaks for itself.
Describe the process from the moment the bride and groom first reach out to you with their initial enquiry, right up to the big day.
Each service has a different process but I’ll describe our Full Planning Service. Once I receive an inquiry, I check to see if they’ve provided all of the information I need to provide them with a quote/proposal (if we are available for the date(s) mentioned). If details are missing, I ask for more. Once I have everything, I analyze their requirements to determine which package would be best suited for them. To assist with more than 5 aspects/elements of the wedding, it falls into our Full Planning Service. I send the proposal based on the number of guests, number of events, locations, etc. To confirm the booking, I require a signed contract and initial payment of 60%. Without this payment, I cannot begin the planning process as it requires a lot of hours and work in the initial months/weeks.Once both are received, I set up a consultation to understand their requirements and vision to create a presentation with different options for them. This gives them the freedom of selecting which vendor they want in each category and also get to meet/know the vendors as well. Once the client picks their final vendor, I then manage the booking. We repeat the same presentation steps for each element/vendor. Once all is complete, we meet again to create their high level itinerary for each day. I maintain complete communication with the venues and vendors on behalf of the clients from start to finish and ensure they have all of the information they need to execute their roles and responsibilities well. At the final meeting with the clients, we review their itinerary for the last time and ensure everyone, including the venue and vendors are all on the same page. Along with this, we also collect any items they need us to set up (favors, day of stationery, special cake cutting knife, kids activities, etc). This brings us to the wedding day! We arrive on-site 3-4 hours before guests arrive to ensure everything gets set up properly and we also guide each vendor on where they need to be. We also have a quick brief with our team, venue coordinators, DJ and MC to ensure everyone is reminded of their tasks and perform well. During the event, we oversee and execute every part of the event. Once our tasks are complete and the dance floor is open, we prepare all of the items received by the clients, sort them based on where they need to be and place them accordingly. From start to finish, we handle it all so the client and their families can really enjoy the day without needing to worry about any tasks.
How do you handle unexpected changes or emergencies on the day of the wedding?
Stay calm, be adaptable, list options and choose the one that makes the most sense logistically and aligned with the couple’s wishes. Then, communicate the changes with the people that need to know and adjust the timeline accordingly.
How do you stay up to date on the latest wedding trends and industry developments?
Constantly researching, scouting venues, meeting new people in the industry, attend industry events, and continue to invest in wedding/event education.
Can you describe a wedding theme or concept that you’ve never done before but would love to create?
I would love to plan a wedding in the middle of a desert! I hope this day comes soon!
Is there one particular venue in the UAE that has been your absolute favourite?
Qasr Al Sarab by Anantara – I haven’t done a wedding there yet but I’m dying to do a wedding or event there!
Lastly, why did you choose to list with Bride Club ME?
Back in 2016, shortly after my first trip to Dubai, I started thinking about expanding my business in the UAE. In 2017, I discovered Bride Club ME through Google and Instagram, and reached out to Rhiannon. Since then, I’ve been in touch with her and finally booked my first consultation with her in 2021 to learn more about the market and business process in the UAE. Listing with Bride Club ME was a natural process as Rio was there to guide me through the process from Day 1, and I have received and confirmed several weddings since being listed. I’m excited to be a part of the BCME community and grow with everyone on this platform.
Thanks Tajrean for such a great insight into your global business! For more information about Taj Raj Events, click on her Bride Club ME vendor listing, or head straight to her website. Don’t forget to quote “Bride Club ME” when inquiring.
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