Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Knight.
Hi Shelby, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Originally from Nashville and now proud to call Birmingham home, Shelby has always had a passion for creating memorable experiences and bringing people together. Her career began in the hospitality industry, where she spent more than 10 years working in event planning, coordination, and catering sales management with leading brands like Marriott and Hilton.
Through those experiences, she developed a deep understanding of the behind-the-scenes details that make an event feel effortless for the people experiencing it. Along the way, she began independently planning weddings and events, which ultimately led her to turn that passion into her own business.
Today, she brings together her hospitality background, hands-on planning experience, and love for thoughtful design to create celebrations that feel personal, elevated, and true to each couple. What started as a passion has grown into a career she genuinely loves—and she can’t wait to bring your vision to life.
Based in Birmingham, Alabama, The Southern Planner™ is proud to serve couples throughout the Southeast. From Alabama to Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, and beyond, we love traveling to new places and creating celebrations that feel completely unique to each couple and their setting. Wherever your celebration takes you, we’re here to bring the vision to life with thoughtful planning, seamless execution, and Southern hospitality at every step.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like any career, it hasn’t always been a completely smooth road. There have definitely been seasons of challenges, unexpected turns, and moments that have pushed us outside of our comfort zone. But we’ve learned that those experiences are often where the most growth happens. Every challenge has taught us something new, whether it’s about business, leadership, relationships, or simply trusting the process. We believe it’s not necessarily about avoiding the hard seasons, but about learning from them and allowing those experiences to make you better along the way.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At The Southern Planner™, we specialize in creating thoughtfully planned, beautifully designed celebrations that feel like an authentic reflection of the couple. We believe your wedding should feel like *you*—not like a repeat of something that’s been done before.
A big part of our work is taking the time to understand our couples’ personalities, style, and story, and then translating those details into the overall experience. We love incorporating unexpected design elements, unique details, and creative touches that make guests stop and say, “Wow.” Whether it’s an unexpected installation, an unconventional layout, or a completely different approach to a traditional wedding element, we’re never afraid to think outside the box.
What we’re most proud of is creating celebrations that feel both elevated and deeply personal. For us, the best events aren’t just beautiful—they’re memorable, intentional, and unmistakably the couple’s own.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The biggest lesson we’ve learned is that there is always room to learn, grow, and improve. Every event teaches us something new—whether it’s a small detail that made a big impact, a challenge we had to navigate, or simply a new idea we want to try next time. We take those lessons with us into every new event, constantly looking for ways to make the experience better than the last. We never want to stop learning or evolving, because that’s what allows us to continue growing alongside our couples and our business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thesouthernplanner.com
- Instagram: @the_southern_planner
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561397602223
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thesouthernplanner
