hi! I'm

TARA ALLINGER

Buckle up — I’m not much of a “short story” kinda girl.

HOW IT STARTED: Hosting fundraising events and volunteering at 5K races

HOW IT’S GOING: Assisting and planning luxury weddings & events

the early years

Growing up, I don’t remember having a super specific career path in mind (other than President of the United States, but I quickly lost interest in pursuing a career in politics after high school).

Before heading off to college, I hosted a few fundraising events for breast cancer awareness after losing my grandma to the disease in 2015. I donated the money raised to Susan G. Komen, and was able to build connections there that eventually turned into my first college internship.

I started working as an events intern with Komen in 2017, mostly helping plan their Race for the Cure. I got to try my hand at some graphic design projects with the help of Canva. I loved creating something out of nothing and making things look beautiful, even though I’m sure I would look back on now and cringe at my first few designs.

I had always been interested in the more glamorous side of events: Weddings. My manager at Komen was able to connect me with her wedding planner to learn more about the industry, and after assisting her at a few weddings, I became hooked.

I loved seeing how happy families were on those days. I loved seeing all the little details come together in the knick of time. I loved seeing beautiful works of art created by every type of vendor: planners, photographers, videographers, hair and makeup artists, florists - even caterers.

Ultimately, I decided against pursuing wedding planning as a career because I thought that I wanted to work a more traditional 9-5 schedule. I changed my major plenty of times, between public relations, graphic design, and marketing, never quite sure of exactly what I wanted to do.

the “oh my god who / what / where am I gonna be” years

Because of all those changes, I was able to take a variety of classes and internships that really helped me determine what kinds of work I was most passionate about. I took classes about marketing, graphic design, website development, and videography. I was a wedding venue intern, a wedding stationery design intern, a website intern, and a social media manager.

In my final role before graduation, as a marketing coordinator for Season Journals, I was able to work with all kinds of wedding vendors around the country to create inspiring blog content for newly engaged couples. I fell in love with the beauty of weddings and the talent of vendors all over again.

I remember sitting in a coffee shop crying over a wedding gallery of people I didn’t even know. 

After graduation, I took a job at the first company that offered me a position, where I quickly learned that the world of corporate marketing was not for me. There was no beauty in selling dentists and gym owners on local search marketing.

Weeks after starting that job, I began to outline the business that would someday become Tara Creative Co. I dabbled in selling my art, designed wedding stationery for friends and family, and practiced my hand lettering religiously, but nothing really stuck.

the “finding my passion” years

In 2023, after planning and enjoying my own wedding, I felt a real itch to get back into the wedding industry. I missed the creativity and the beauty and the joy of a wedding day. I reached out to a handful of planners and eventually started working for Thyme & Details. I love working with couples to plan their dream day, but even more, I love meeting and working with fellow vendors. I love the unique aspects we each get to play on a couple’s big day.

So when a wedding photographer became one of my close friends, I asked if I could stretch my design muscles and work on her brand and website. That moment seriously changed my life.

I designed her brand in a few days and her website in one weekend. I literally couldn’t put my laptop down. I was so in love with the magic I was creating that I just couldn’t stop. I uncovered a brand new passion for brand and web design, specifically for wedding vendors & small businesses owners, and took off. 

So if you’ve made it this far and enjoyed my little story, I’m guessing that you, too, are interested in collaborating on some kind of design project together.

Whether you’re branding your business for the first time, starting fresh with big new ideas, or just need a website that attracts clients, I’d love to help you out.