The transition between college and “real life” was tough for me. I was offered my first job halfway through the final semester of my senior year. It was at an events and experiential marketing company and everything I had ever dreamed of. I was both ecstatic and relieved that I had a “plan” set for after graduation. After graduation though, it took time for me to get used to the daily work routine. Looking back, I regret not carving out enough time for myself and for letting work rule my life.

I first became intrigued with events during high school. I was lucky enough to be exposed to the industry through an internship with an events designer in Orange County. While my tasks were limited to organizing event photos and sourcing props, I was enamored. I had fallen hard, and knew that I wanted to pursue it as my career. While attending LMU, I was the VP of Event Planning for my sorority and interned at the company that led to my first job. I believe that it was these two experiences that fully solidified my desire to work in events.

Once I had fully solidified my desire to work in events, I began mapping out and researching the industry. It was essential to me to have a comprehensive list of vendors, venues, resources and planners in Southern California to get a full understanding of the industry. I also created a timeline of where I wanted to be in my career and when. Even though not everything went exactly “to plan,” this helped me keep a clear focus on my goal. Along the way I always made sure that I personally created a trustworthy and reputable name for myself so that when I was ready to start my own company, I would be able to get support and respect. This was key! I truly could not consider myself a pro without all of the other vendors that go into making a successful event.

My favorite part of being an entrepreneur is being able to call something my own and being responsible for my own future and success. However, this also is what keeps me up at night! There is no greater satisfaction than witnessing the growth of something that you have built from the ground up. It’s something that I am truly thankful to be doing!  

The overall company culture is very relaxed, which I intend to always make a priority! I want to make sure that I create and maintain an environment where employees are able to focus on their projects, but also are able to step outside and see the larger picture of what we do.

It also is very important to me to have flexible hours and vacation time so that we can enjoy time together as a team, explore the city around us and travel as these are the experiences that influence design and creativity.

Events and wedding planning is commonly referred to as a “glamorous” job, and one that is not actually work. That couldn’t be farther from the truth! Most of my day-to-day entails securing, negotiating and reviewing contracts, collecting payments, scheduling meetings, adjusting budgets, solving logistical nightmares, managing vendors, venues and maintaining a happy couple. On the day of the wedding, I am the first one to arrive and the last to leave. It’s my job to ensure that the day goes exactly as planned—which can be daunting! There is an extreme amount of pressure to make sure the bride and groom experience everything the way they envisioned it.

I’m normally up between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. I’m a big fan of Soul Cycle and after my morning workout, I start my day by going through emails, social media and catching up on any blogs in my feed—even while I am blow-drying my hair! It may sound strange, but it gets the job done! I typically tackle anything urgent immediately and the rest is prioritized to handle throughout the day. Every day is different for me as no two clients are the same. Outreach and emails to vendors and venues, research of new trends and meetings with my clients are things that I do consistently every day. I like to wrap up by 6:30 p.m. to eat and relax, but before bed I always do a sweep again through email and social media.

The most stressful part of my job is exceeding expectations. It is my goal to make sure every bride has the fairytale wedding of her dreams, with a pleasurable planning process. I pride myself in my relationship with my clients and work hard to build the process around them. I want to know their story, personality and design preferences so that I can enhance the fundamentals to ultimately execute a seamless event.

I was hired to plan the June launch party for Gray Malin’s latest collection. This was a career highlight for me, as I have admired his work for as long as I can remember! I could not have been more honored to work with him and his team, and was able to execute a seamless, beautiful and memorable event for him and his guests.

I struggle with this daily! I have tried to set work hours, and follow a 9 to 5 schedule for clients. But, it’s during the after-business hours when I really get everything done! I have found that if I am on a roll, I just let myself keep going, even if that means I am working till 11:00 p.m. on a Monday night. This allows me to have flexibility later in the week. For me creating balance is important, but I have found that it does not have to be strict. 

The ability to connect with people is important. Being able to read body language in order to interpret the things that they are not saying is critical. Patience also is a key skill, and is something that I continue to learn more about everyday. Organization is a given. Originality is also crucial, as you have to set yourself apart from the competition and showcase what you have to offer and why you’re unique.

Get your feet wet! After you’ve identified your passion, I suggest interning or volunteering in that field to solidify your interest. It’ll give you the hands-on experience you need to decide if it’s the right path for you. You will never know until you try!

I wake up every morning looking forward to whom I am going to meet next. I have met some amazing people that I am lucky enough to call my clients and colleagues. I love getting to know each and every one of them and have so much pride in being a part of their love story.