Today we’d like to introduce you to Fernanda Reaño.
Hi Fernanda, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My story started in Lima, Peru, where I was born and raised. Growing up, my parents wanted for us to move to the United States to go to college to have a brighter future and more career opportunities. My parents got divorced, and even though they remain good friends, they decided to still move forward with the plan of moving to the USA. However, my father Carlos wasn’t going to be part of it. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life, leaving him behind. In 2005 my mother Nathaly, my twin brother Fabricio and my older brother Patricio moved to the United States to achieve the “American Dream”. Moving to a different country at the age of 13 was a complete culture shock for me. At the time, I barely spoke any English and it was very challenging to communicate to others, especially when I joined high school as a Sophomore. I remember calling my father every single day and telling him I wanted to come back home, and he kept telling me to be strong and to try it for one year. He always said that if I didn’t get used to living in the United States, home in Peru was always going to be there. A few months later, after many ESOL Classes, and lots of new friendships along the way, I got used to living in this country.
My family and I lived in Hollywood at first and then moved to Fort Lauderdale, where I’m currently located and the beautiful city I get to call home. In 2010 I got introduced to the beauty of the Wedding Industry while working for a Bridal Boutique on Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale. I truly enjoyed working alongside some amazing Fashion Designers and being part of planning the Trunk Shows and Fashion Shows they would host. I also got to model some of their Bridal and Cocktail Dresses at Private and Social Events, it was so much fun! While working there, I quickly realized my passion for planning events and being involved in the Wedding Industry. In 2012 I landed a job at an Event and Wedding Planning Firm in Fort Lauderdale. I got to meet so many amazing people in the industry that still remain great friends. I planned Social Events, Non-Profit Galas, Luxury Weddings, Corporate Events, and so much more. After many years of gaining the experience of becoming a Lead Planner and planning over 200 Events and Weddings in Florida and Bahamas, I decided it was time to branch out and launch my own company, FerKnot Event Group.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I launched my company FerKnot Event Group in March 2020, and shortly after COVID-19 hit and the pandemic presented unprecedented circumstances to many industries, but mainly the Hospitality Industry. Events were canceled, Weddings were canceled, Restaurants and Venues closed, but it wasn’t only here in Florida, it was all around the world. I kept a positive attitude and decided to keep following my dreams and building my business. I always find the bright side of every situation, and on this specific one, it gave me time. Time to write my business plan, get all my legal paperwork sorted, create a business structure, work on building my website, and work on my marketing plan.
Running your own business as a one-woman-show means that you are wearing all the hats. You are the CEO, Bookkeeper, Accountant, Graphic Designer, Copywriter, Social Media Manager, Sales Team, Executive Assistant, you do it all! With all those multiple roles, particularly in a fast-paced business, you truly need to prioritize. You need to handle the situations with a sense of urgency and importance and stay on track. The number one principle is taking care of my clients because without a satisfied client, there is no business.
Starting your own business from scratch can have its ups and downs. What I found as an Event and Wedding Planner which is my true passion, is that the challenges are easier to overcome because I am completely dedicated to this industry and to making my clients happy. During 2020 and the time of Covid has been tough on this industry, and that is why I stay focused and work hard every day to build my client base, referrals, reviews, and everything that helps people find my business. I continue to invest in my education to stay on top of the trends to bring excellence to my clients.
We’ve been impressed with FerKnot Event Group, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
FerKnot Event Group is an Event and Wedding Planning Company that produces all kinds of Special Events, Social Events, Corporate Events and Weddings all around Florida, the Caribbean and beyond. Our mission is to bring our client’s vision to life while creating extraordinary experiences they will cherish forever. We pride ourselves in providing a smooth, seamless, stress-free and flawless execution for our clients. I believe that what sets us apart as a company is that we sincerely pour our hearts and souls into each event we coordinate, no matter how small or large it is. We are dedicated to going above and beyond to making our client’s special event or wedding an unforgettable one, and one that guests can’t stop talking about for months, even years! One of the greatest compliments I have ever received from a client is that I provided a calming presence on their biggest day of their lives. That makes my heart happy and is what keeps me inspired and motivated in my business every single day.
FerKnot Pop Up Weddings is my other baby. Amid the pandemic, I started realizing how many couples had to postpone or cancel their wedding plans and even lost their job due to the virus. I felt terrible for those couples and wanted to help them and provide guidance during these times. That’s when I decided to launch FerKnot Pop Up Weddings, also known as The Pop Up Wedding Experience. This new and creative concept of weddings is an all-inclusive intimate wedding experience at a fraction of the cost of a traditional wedding. It’s a ceremony focused fully planned and styled intimate wedding experience in a private venue. This modern twist to weddings is a cost-effective way of getting married and is specifically for the couples who want a beautiful and meaningful celebration without breaking the bank. That way they can save their money to use towards a down payment on a home, pay off their student loans, child education, taking a long dream honeymoon, etc.
Every month my company FerKnot Event Group uniquely curates each Pop Up Wedding Experience that has a set date, location and theme. Each pop up wedding day hosts about 3-5 weddings, each at different times for the couples to have exclusive access to the private venue and all vendors within that time frame. I do all the vendor sourcing, negotiating, planning, designing, styling while eliminating the stress from the couples. All the couples have to do is write their vows, invite their nearest and dearest, show up, get married and celebrate! Each wedding ceremony is thoughtfully customized per couple to represent their personalities, values and beliefs. We include what’s most important to the couples and make it all about their love and commitment. We offer two different all-inclusive packages, the most popular package is the FerKnot Pop Up Wedding, and our secondary package is the FerKnot Pop Up Elopement.
The FerKnot Pop Up Wedding consists of a 2-hour fully styled all-inclusive intimate wedding experience for up to 20 guests. It includes the Wedding Planning Team, Private Venue, Officiant, Photographer, DJ, Wedding Rentals, Florals and Personal Flowers (Bouquet and Boutonnière), Custom Mini Cake, Champagne Toast and Appetizers. The FerKnot Pop Up Elopement consists of a 1-hour fully styled all-inclusive intimate wedding experience for up to 6 guests. It includes the Wedding Planning Team, Private Venue, Officiant, Photographer, Bouquet, Boutonnière, and Champagne Toast. We offer specialty upgrades and extended times available. A great feature about The Pop Up Wedding Experience is that it can also be customized for civil unions, vow renewals, and other commitment ceremonies. For now, we are only hosting these in South Florida, but for any out-of-state couples interested, I will personally guide them through the process of getting married in Florida. We believe that love is LOVE, we support the LGBTQ community too.
Can you talk about how you think about risk?
Starting my own business was a financial risk for sure! From having a steady income to cutting it all off completely. For so long, I doubted if it was the right career move, and one day I found the courage and decided to take a leap of faith. It honestly has been one of the most rewarding journeys I’ll ever embark on. My business is my baby and I work hard every single day to continue to nurture it and grow it. I want to keep creating, getting out of my comfort zone, making a difference in this world, and continue living my life with purpose. I’m very grateful to have the support of my boyfriend and family on this amazing journey. This is just the start of FerKnot Event Group and I have a long way to go, but I’m extremely proud of my small business and where we stand today. Every day I get excited about the future of my company, the possibilities, new ideas, new projects, and new clients that become friends!
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@ferknoteventgroup.com
- Website: www.ferknoteventgroup.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/FerKnot_Event_Group | www.instagram.com/FerKnot_Pop_Up_Weddings
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/FerKnotEventGroup
- Phone: 954-603-1795
Image Credits
Fernanda and Client. Photography: Donna Irene Weddings. Tropical Elopement. Photography: Mermaid and Me Photography. Florals: Wild Greenery. Wandering Picnic: Cali Curated. Beach Engagement. Photography: Mermaid and Me Photography. Dress: The Wander Shop
