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When radiography graduate Alana James began looking for decorations for her wedding reception in 1998, she couldn't have guessed that her quest would lead to her starting an award winning business and being shortlisted for the 2000 Telstra NSW Young Business Woman of the Year.

"I wanted some chair covers but I wasn't happy with the quality or the price," Alana explains.

She and friend Tracy Drinkwater, who also graduated from the University's Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science (Diagnostic Radiography) in 1996, decided to make the chair covers themselves. And they had so much fun doing it and were so proud of the results, they decided to start a part-time business offering their services to other brides.

Their company, Events of Elegance, became so popular and grew so rapidly that Tracy has just given up her radiography job at the Mater Hospital to work full-time.

"Service is the most important thing to us," Alana said. "We keep our prices low, the quality is exceptional

The formula has led to Events of Elegance winning the Australian Bridal Industry Award for Excellence in the Decoration and Hire category for the northern region.

While their business has been built on brides, the friends are now attracting more and more corporate trade. From billowing white drapery and fairy lights for a recent bridal fair to full size devils and angels for the Heaven and Hell Ball for medical students in Newcastle City Hall, Alana and Tracy have created the mood for countless events and celebrations.

"Radiography is a great career but I always wanted my own business," Alana said. We have heaps of fun creating themes and spend half our time killing ourselves laughing."

While Alana claims that neither she nor Tracy are very artistic, the pair have an imaginative flair that is a hit with their clients. They worked hard to create their company, decorating for up to seven weddings in one weekend while working full-time.

"It's really hard to run a small business," Alana said. "There's so much to do behind the scenes and we both had really steep learning curves in the beginning."

Alana and Tracy have done so well in the two and a half years since they began Events of Elegance, that Alana was one of six finalists considered for the NSW Telstra Young Business Woman of the Year in July this year.

"I didn't win but when you saw the competition I was up against, you could understand why," she said. "Gay Waterhouse won the overall award as NSW Business Woman of the Year and just to be in the same room as her was amazing."

Alana, who is 25, said she was eligible for the Young Business Woman award up until she was 30 so she still has a few years to go for it. And with her energy and drive, and the help of partner and friend Tracy, it isn't hard to imagine her succeeding!