Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Ondarza Cipriani.
Danielle, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am born and raised in Miami. My path to wedding planning started while I was a fashion photography producer for a global fashion company. Photoshoots and Weddings are very similar fundamentally so it was a perfect career for me to start alongside production. In 2013, I got married, I had hired a “Day Of” wedding planner as I had done all the planning myself but needed someone to execute the plans while I was getting ready. The Day-Of the wedding was lovely, but the end was a bit frustrating. In our wedding outfits at the end of the night, my new husband and I had to pick up our gifts, personal items, etc. ourselves and pack up our car… it wasn’t the way I would have liked our night to end. The next day I thought to myself, “No Bride should ever have to do this. I want to make sure that doesn’t happens.” So I started my wedding planning business.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Wedding and Event Planning itself for me has always been fun and challenging. I thrive on the pressure of making sure a one time event goes smoothly and that my couples are happy. I had some personal struggles while at the peak of my business. 2016 was a great year for me as a business, I had planned so many weddings and had done so while pregnant. In December 2016, my first child, my son died. It was (and still is) devastating. I had weddings booked in 2017 and completed those but didn’t take on new clients. I was just so broken and sad, I could not be around happy families or kids at weddings. It was too hard. I had to step back. Slowly, as I learned to live with my grief, I had started taking on 2018 clients. I needed to build up the momentum I had before and found myself more determined than ever to succeed. I can say honestly now, seeing couples celebrate their love brings me so much happiness.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I do anything from Full Wedding and Event Planning to Day-Of (it’s really a month) Planning. According to my past brides, I am known for being their advocate, getting things done, staying calm and keeping those around me calm as well.
I am most proud of making my clients my priority. Making sure that what they have envisioned comes to fruition. I had a couple rent a beachside area for their wedding, the venue had stacked their beach furniture in a corner of the space leaving it in plain view of the guests and to be in wedding pictures. It took a lot of persuading and speaking to management but I finally got them to move them all. It’s a ton of small details like that that make me proud of my work. I will not rest till everything is as perfect as it can be.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I don’t have a favorite memory, I just have a feeling of childhood. It was happy, loving, and fun. Growing up in Miami as a child was great. Beach days, sunny bike rides in the street… I was lucky.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@alovefordetail.com
- Website: www.alovefordetail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alovefordetail/
Image Credits
Image 1 (fireworks) photography by Shelly Anderson at The Biltmore Hotel Image 2 (Seating) photography by Royes Media at The Coral Coral Gables Country Image 3 & 4 photography La Vie Photography at The Eden Roc Image 5 photography by Melina Deya at Soho Beach House
