Tira Grant has always been a party overachiever. Her kids’ birthday celebrations were the talk of the neighborhood—and suddenly everyone wanted their parties to be curated by Grant. She explains that her creative and artistic skills were fueled by an early interest in becoming a fashion designer. She didn’t realize it at the time, but she was planting the seeds of becoming an event and wedding planner. Nevertheless, she began her career as a program analyst with the Social Security Administration.
In 2015, Grant’s co-worker was getting married on a cruise ship and asked her to be their wedding coordinator. Grant quickly realized how much she adored being part of the process. “I loved it. It was just about networking, finalizing all the details, and offering my suggestions,” she says. And she saw how much her input impacted the merriment—she was hooked. New clients began rolling in as word spread and Grant opened Tira Lynn Events in 2017 while still keeping her day job.
In the seven years since, she’s planned countless weddings and other celebrations. “I enjoy wedding planning. I love my couples . . . I don’t care if you want to play Prince the entire wedding, it’s your day,” says Grant.
And like all good wedding planners, Grant is something of a chameleon—changing and growing with each space she works in and adapting to the unique challenges of the job, including last minute set-up changes or unexpected vendor switches.
Indeed, she loves a challenge. At the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, for example, Grant had to reimagine the entire space to accommodate more than 200 guests and create a sizeable dance floor that still allowed for a functional buffet set-up. “You would have never known the space was originally a theater room—we truly transformed it,” says Grant.
One of her biggest takeaways is that no two weddings are the same, even ones taking place at the same venue. She feeds off her couple’s wants and needs, so the first thing Grant does is send out a detailed questionnaire. Next, through one-on-one meetings, Grant is able to understand how she can implement design preferences to match their personality and love story.
“In that planning process I am really getting to know my clients,” says Grant. “It helps me understand what they’re looking for, how they met, how they got engaged, and why they chose a certain venue.”
Some of her favorite weddings have happened at The Winslow, American Visionary Art Museum, and even on a boat in Annapolis—due to their charm and versatility. “I like venues that you can start from scratch—that have character and you can bring in your own personal touches,” says Grant.
She advices her couples to simply “personalize your wedding so it’s about you,” says Grant. “And if that means a hot pink wedding because it’s your favorite color—do it.”
