In 2005, Kate was approached by a budding wedding planner named Angela Profitt who offered her a side job assisting in her start up wedding planning business, Elegant Weddings by Angela. Under Angela's tutelage, Kate learned a great deal about the wedding industry from an insider's perspective. Angela is now an international speaker about event planning and productivity offering workshops and consultation services in addition to planning high-end events all over the world. Kate has been a part of the Tennessee Wedding and Event Specialists Association (TWESA) and built relationships with the best photographers, bakers, officiants, lighting companies, caterers, DJs, florists and videographers across the state.

Between 2005-2010, Kate began serving as a wedding planner / coordinator for many Nashville couples. She even had the exclusive contract for Opryland Hotel weddings and enjoyed meeting lots of happy couples tying the knot at various locales within Opryland between 2006-2008. In 2020, Kate received online ordainment through the Universal Life Church as a wedding officiant and has successfully wed four couples who requested a personal touch to their ceremony. In 2013, the special day Kate longed for came to fruition when she married the great love of her life - Ryan - and became Kate Tanis McKinnie.

In 2015, Kate launched Eat, Drink and Be Married of Tennessee, as an official side business. (Kate has held full-time employment in the nonprofit sector focused on event planning, marketing, fundraising and volunteer recruitment since 2002.) Over the last two decades, Kate has planned multiple large-scale fundraising events, special occasion dinners and countless weddings and receptions. It is her goal to make each event unique and memorable, while carrying out the client's wishes with precision. Kate's positivity, high energy and attention to detail make her stand out among other wedding planners/coordinators as she will go the extra mile to make any wedding or special event stress-free for all involved.