Today we’d like to introduce you to Gina Geiler.
Gina, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My mom has always designed our home with such detail and intention, which inspired me to find my own style and design growing up. I have always been interested in fashion and read fashion blogs daily in college, making countless inspiration boards.
As I was trying to figure out my major, one of my roommates suggested I would do really well in event management. I immediately switched my major and fell in love. During college, I interned at various hotels and non-profits learning different aspects of the hospitality industry. In my junior year, one of my classmates mentioned a local wedding planner was looking for an intern and suggested I interview. That internship catapulted my love for weddings. Not only did I land an awesome internship, I was lucky enough to gain a mentor and someone who I still look to this day for advice and inspiration. I was instantly drawn into the entire process of planning, designing and running the day of logistics. Working a 14 hour day felt so rewarding and I truly enjoyed every moment of it.
A couple years after graduation, I moved back to the east coast of Florida and took a job as the Event Manager for a yacht charter. This was a completely new position that I built from the ground up, including all the processes and systems. I am so thankful for this job, as stressful as it was because it taught me how to be flexible, handle uncomfortable situations and really push myself outside of my comfort zone. It also allowed me to gain experience in corporate events as well as other social events. After two years the boat sadly closed operations and I took a corporate event planning job at Nova Southeastern University. As I was applying for jobs I noticed that many jobs required a Masters Degree and about a year into working at NSU, I started my MBA in Marketing.
It was during one of my classes that my professor inspired me to create a website. I had been helping my friends plan their weddings on the side and I thought if I want to do something I love, I have to create it. And that was how Gina Marie Weddings & Events began!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has been as smooth as it can be thus far! I am certainly struggling with maintaining the most perfect work-life balance. Having a full-time job, being a full-time student and running a business has certainly been an obstacle, but also provides me with the opportunity to push myself and excel in all aspects of my life.
The one challenge I am currently facing is working alone. I thrive in collaborative settings and love working on a team. Thankfully, my mom has been integral in assisting me the day of weddings and also acting as my sounding board when designing for a client.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Gina Marie Weddings & Events – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Gina Marie Weddings & Events is a full-service wedding and event planning company serving South Florida. We specialize in creating magical moments for our clients through our detailed service, unique design concepts and allowing the couple’s personality to shine through in every detail. I am most proud of how our couples feel at the end of their wedding day. Seeing them enjoy a once in a lifetime event stress-free and celebrating with those that mean the most to them fuels my passion. I believe what sets us apart from others is the passion I have for weddings. I could talk about weddings for days, how they make me feel, how exciting it is to see two people in love and how exhilarating it feels to see everything you’ve planned come to life. This passion makes my daily routine feel less of a job and pushes me to learn and grow. We are very detailed in the planning process, which eases couples anxiety around planning and gives us the opportunity to excel and create their magical moments.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
My plan for the future is to become a certified wedding planner, which I am achieving in July 2018, and growing as an entrepreneur. I am constantly looking to educate myself, learn from other wedding planners and immerse myself in this industry. Also, I am looking forward to graduating with my MBA in the summer of 2019 and utilizing those skills to create better events for my clients. I am so thankful for the opportunity to plan someone’s special day and focus on being present in each moment. I am looking forward to seeing where this journey takes me.
Pricing:
- Full Service Planning – $2,500
- Partial Service Planning – $1,700
- Day Of Planning – $1,500
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ginamarieevent.com
- Phone: 954-288-6234
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ginamarieevent/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ginamarieevent/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/ginageiler/
Image Credit:
Planning & Coordinating: Gina Marie Weddings & Events, Photography: Steph Lynn Photo, Patricia Regan Photography, Halle Alessia, Vicky Captivating Collective, Stephanie Weil Photo, Florals: Lush Celebrations, Simple Floral, Honeys Blossoms, Venue: Flamingo Gardents, Historic Maxwell Room, Thalatta Estate, Southern Palm Bed & Breakfast, Rentals: Events on the Loose, Simple Rustic, Calligraphy: She Laughs and Letters
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
