I was working for a winery doing events and learned that I had a real talent planning events and decided to start my own business. It was a scary thought starting my own business, not having a steady paycheck every two weeks, but it was a leap I had to take! So happy I did. I found a niche that I am good at and I wanted to start my own business.I did not want to have to report to anyone.I get to be my own boss. Growing up my parents always entertain. I would always love helping my mother prepare for a party by setting a nice table, arranging table décor, picking out colors, and putting together flower arrangements. This is something that I have always really enjoyed doing. I went off to college to study Wine Business. I decided THIS is exactly what I want to do. I took the plunge in 2009, when I started So Eventful. My mother always told me, “Marisa, no man wants to marry a party girl”. But I found the one did! My family & best friends call me “Ris”. A bottle of bubbly & fresh oysters makes me a very happy girl! I have a real thirst for life and have a laid-back attitude
So Eventful is a professional, full-service wedding & event planning company. We offer clients a comprehensive planning experience. Our team is comprised of some of the most skilled and talented wedding & event planners.
With more than 500+ weddings & events under my belt, I understands the traditions and protocols behind successful event planning. These include expertise in decorating, etiquette, product and service selection, ceremony and receptions, trends and traditions.
What three pieces of advice would you give to college students (young and old) locally or internationally who want to become entrepreneurs?
Work hard, step out of your box, network like crazy!
I networked a lot! I reached out to people I knew, vendors, venues… anything to get my name out there!
If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
I would have hired a business coach of some kind to help me start off the right foot. I started with just doing research. I had great resources, but to have it all ironed out at the beginning would have been ideal.
What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Resiliency, out-going personality, driven.
