Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Alvarez.
Hi Maria, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Decorating and planning events and parties has always been a passion of mine. As far back as I can remember, I was always coordinating , planning or desiging a prom or wedding or birthday party… for friends or family. As a former Miami Dade County Public Schools employee, I was always the “Go To” person for any schools functions.
Until recently, this passion was just a hobby, Something I did because I was good at it and enjoyed it. After 17 years with the school system, I took an early retirement and decided to turn my passion into a small business. In March of 2025 Marigasial Event Styling and Rentals was born.
I believe strongly in giving back to the community and I have adopted MDCPS as one of our main recipients. As we are a small company we try to sponsor as many community events as we can.We also provide accessible prices to the ones we can not sponsor.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of the main challenges initially was trying to set up my Social Media accounts to promote my new business. Since all my decorating and event planning had been done mostly as favors, I did not have much documented proof of my abilities. I knew how to do so many things had no real way of showing it.
Luckily, I had great community support, and many people who had seen my work throughout the years supported me.
I was able to grow organically , mostly through word of mouth.
Finances were challenging in the beggining. As a woman entrepreneur who changed careers in her late 50’s and decided to go after her dream, many adjustments had to be made. Sacrifices were made, living rooms, dinning rooms and kitchens turned into studio and storage spaces….the home life / work life balance line was completly blurred.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I turn peoples visions into a full experience, not just an event. My work is very individualized and custom. Whether decorating for a graduation party or a corporate event, I try to keep my work fresh, fun and original.
I provide a wide range of decorating and rental services for events, focusing more on personalized and bespoke items, such as backdrops, photo opportunities, tablescaping , Grand entrances…
I am known for my attention to detail. I pay close attention to my customers needs, and I always strive to meet or exceed their expectations.
What makes me stand out from the rest is the love and devotion that I put into my craft no matter how intimate or grand the event is.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Understanding the customers needs is the most important thing. Undestanding that every customer has different requirements, different budgets, different views. I listen closely to the customer and try to find solutions that meet their needs.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @marigasialeventstylingandrentals
- Facebook: @marigasial_event_styling
- Twitter: @marigasial
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/marigasialeventstyling
