Today we’d like to introduce you to Yoshiko Ellison Simpson.
Hi Yoshiko, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Elegant Persuasions LLC started more than 13 years ago as a dream, but it quickly became a family mission. I stepped into the industry with excitement and fear holding hands, but I never stepped alone. My husband became my steady voice of confidence when I doubted myself, he never doubted the vision. He reminded me that creativity was my gift, but courage would be my currency.
My son grew up watching the hustle, absorbing the heart of the business naturally. Before he understood event design, he already understood showing up. He became part of the process helping set up chairs, move décor, and offering his hands and heart whenever they were needed. And my sister Angela She was the spiritual spine and strategic spark. She prayed over the name, believed in the brand, and moved like a true partner long before the world knew we were building something together.
The moment that launched it all was unforgettable my god-sister called me and said, “I got you a wedding… you got it.” My answer was simple, bold, and life-changing: “You got it.” That “yes” turned into thousands more.
This wasn’t just a business I built it was a business we built. Every milestone carried our family’s fingerprints. And through 13+ years of designing celebrations across Eastern North Carolina, our purpose has always stayed grounded.
Today, I operate from a 3,000 sq ft design studio our creative headquarters where ideas turn into real event experiences. From this space, we design weddings and micro-events, curate luxury inspired rental collections like gold O-back and clear crossback chairs, premium linens, candle clusters, and custom tablescapes, and provide hands on setup and breakdown guidance for DIY couples.
And through it all, my mission has always been the same: to turn ideas, budgets, and sometimes even broken pieces into unforgettable celebrations that feel like luxury without the overwhelm or the price tag.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. We actually stepped fully into the business during the height of COVID, and that season forced us to build with pressure on every side. Weddings were being postponed, guest counts were changing overnight, supply costs were rising, and there was so much uncertainty that you couldn’t plan the usual way. We had to learn how to stay flexible, keep clients calm, and still deliver something beautiful in the middle of constant changes.
One of the biggest struggles was simply doing what entrepreneurs don’t always talk about showing up consistently when you’re tired, when money is tight, and when you’re carrying the weight of making it work for your family. There were moments where I had to wrestle with fear: fear of not being “ready,” fear of not being taken seriously, fear of investing in inventory and space without knowing what the next month would look like.
We also faced the behind-the-scenes challenges that come with growing building systems, pricing confidently, balancing family life, and setting boundaries so the business didn’t run us. But those struggles shaped us. They taught us how to pivot, how to operate with excellence, and how to keep our faith and our standards high even when the circumstances weren’t.
What I’m proud of is this: COVID didn’t stop us it refined us. It forced Elegant Persuasions to become stronger, more strategic, and more committed to delivering luxury-inspired design with heart, no matter what the world looked like.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Elegant Persuasions LLC?
Elegant Persuasions LLC is a family built wedding and event design firm serving Eastern North Carolina for over 13 years. What started as one brave “yes” during a global shutdown became a lifelong calling to design celebrations with heart, honesty, and intention.
We specialize in weddings, corporate events, baby showers, birthdays, anniversaries, and milestone celebrations transforming spaces through curated décor styling and rental collections. We are known for simplicity, elegance, and clean cut design a signature style that creates refined atmospheres with clarity instead of clutter.
What truly sets us apart is our transparency and education first approach. I’m proud to give clients honest insight into what event elements actually cost linens, candles, rentals, execution, and the details that make a design feel elevated. Many clients come to us thinking décor is just the “pretty add-on,” not realizing it’s one of the biggest budget drivers. My goal has always been to educate them so they can plan smarter, invest wisely, and design confidently without the overwhelm.
Brand wise, I’m most proud that Elegant Persuasions stands for more than events we stand for family, faith, resilience, and honesty in an industry that doesn’t always slow down enough to explain the real cost of the dream. We built our reputation by keeping it real, classy, and intentional, and our community continues to trust us with their most important moments because we design with care and speak with truth.
Our offerings include:
Full event design + styling
Curated rental bundles for 50–100 guests
Custom tablescapes + centerpiece artistry
“Book the Look” décor inspiration + coaching
Décor setup and breakdown execution support
Corporate and celebration event styling
I want readers to know this:
We believe luxury doesn’t have to be loud or overpriced. Our mission has always stayed the same
to turn ideas, budgets, and sometimes even broken pieces into unforgettable celebrations that feel like luxury, without the overwhelm or the price tag.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Finding a mentor and building a solid network is one of the smartest moves you can make in this industry. Networking with like minded designers and planners is a must, because in event design, you never truly know when you’ll need someone. Things move fast, inventory runs short, deliveries get delayed, or a client changes their mind at the 11th hour having your people in place makes the difference between panic and pivot.
What has worked well for me is showing up in spaces where other designers already speak the same creative language. I’ve worked events in different cities and fallen short on items or needed something last minute, and it was my network my fellow event designers that saved the day. I’ve had to make calls like, “Hey, I need 12 more chargers,” or “Do you have a 120-inch linen I can borrow?” and without hesitation, someone always came through. That’s the power of relationships in this business.
Also, don’t underestimate the value of having someone who truly gets the pressure. Sometimes you don’t need advice you just need to exhale. Having someone in the business to vent to, or even brainstorm with, is much needed. This industry can feel glamorous, but the grind behind it is real. A mentor or industry friend gives you that safe space to learn, laugh, vent, and grow without judgment.
My advice for readers is this:
Seek mentors who challenge your craft, not your confidence
Join communities where collaboration is natural, not forced
Attend networking events with intention, not desperation
Build relationships before you need to borrow them
Surround yourself with creatives who treat community over competition
A mentor doesn’t always hand you a roadmap sometimes they hand you courage. And networking doesn’t always get you clients sometimes it gets you the linen you needed at midnight. Both matter.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://elegantpersuasions.com
- Instagram: elegant_persuasionsllc
- Facebook: Elegant Persuasions LLC
