Today we’d like to introduce you to Priscilla M. Fernandez.
Hi Priscilla, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
From a very young age (16 years old to be exact). My mom taught me the value of a $1. I had just met my then-boyfriend-now-husband, Eric and my mom told me that if I wanted to buy myself new clothes to go out with him that I had to work for it. So I started to work with her on nights and weekends with a catering company called A Celebration of Life Events, that helped kickstart this journey. During my time with them, we worked on a small event at Florida International University. I met the event coordinator for their College of Business, who gave me the opportunity to work alongside with her as her Student Assistant. 2.5 years later, I was the Events Officer for Miami Dade College. At that point, I was taking classes at FIU majoring in Hospitality Management and I was so intrigued to learn a little bit about Hotels. This is when I found my opportunity to work for Trump National Doral within the catering office.
In 2016, after almost three years of working at the hotel, I found out I was pregnant with my first baby, and this is when my world really changed. I was on maternity leave, scared to go back to a job that required so much of my time that my husband asked me, “why don’t you just open your business as a wedding planner?” I had always talked about it like it was a dream that would never come true. I had done a wedding on my own, and I thought it would be fun to pursue. I had seen and worked so many weddings before between working with the catering company and working at the hotel, I thought, “well, why not?”
Between the birth of my baby and the birth of the company. Little did I know that I was going to be taking care of two newborns. My confidence level was to the floor, and I didn’t think I was going to make it past six months. I am lucky to say that My husband and my entire family have been my support team and I don’t know where I would be without them having my back throughout this process. They are the real MVPs here at Events by Priscilla.
Here I am, almost five years later, and I am blessed to say that after now, after two babies, lots of ups ad downs, my business is booming. I have a solid foundation, and I have grown my team with two assistants, one of whom helps me virtually with my emails and the planning on the back end.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Ha! If only everything in life was easy. One of the first things my sister (who is also an entrepreneur herself) told me was, “Priscilla this isn’t going to easy. You have to put yourself out there. It’s going to take time for this business to grow, maybe 2-3 years” and my goodness was she right about that. About a year and a half into working this full business time, I found myself going back to work full time for a small hotel because My husband and I wanted to buy a house. I thought I had failed myself and my family.
Little did I know that God was just providing me with a stepping stone to a better future. I only worked there for a short time and I was able to save money and contribute towards our new home. Thankfully business picked up and I was able to make this my full time again. Between these 4, 5 years, I have also given birth to my second baby. Learning to become a new mommy to one was hard, but now with two little ones plus running my own business and dealing with the emotional rollercoaster after giving birth has probably been the most challenging. I have to juggle their schedules, plus mine and my husbands all at once. Sometimes it feels like I am running a rat race but being able to work my own schedule has been a blessing. I am able to participate in every important event in my girl’s lives! My drives are my two girls and my husband. I wake up and show up every day not only for myself but for them and my clients.
Plus, being able to come home and show off my “princesses” is the most rewarding; my oldest, who is going to be five years old, truly believes that’s what my brides dressed in white gowns are and will even ask me to FaceTime her during a wedding. I have to say that she is totally right, though because that’s what I strive for and want for all of my clients to feel like on their wedding day!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Wedding Planner and I offer different planning packages from Full Planning, Partial Planning and Day-Of Planning. I believe what sets me apart from others is my passion and drive to not only successfully plan and executive a client’s wedding but to become their friend and their confidant during the planning stages. It’s already a lengthy and stressful process, so I always tell them, “lean on me for the support!” I like to call myself their “silent bridesmaid” where I come in and help but do it “unnoticed.”
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
The one thing that comes to mind is Christmas time when I was young. I truly believed in the spirit of it, and I know that it came from My parents. I am over 30 years old, and my mom still tells me (and my girls, of course) that Santa visited her home. But I can remember waking up on Christmas morning as a child and thinking, first of all, how the heck does Santa come in because we don’t have a chimney. That’s when my mom would tell me that he slips through the bottom of the door (insert head exploding emoji) and second, did he run out of wrapping paper? Because my large Barbie dream house and bicycle had sheets thrown over them?! I totally get it now mom… ha!
Contact Info:
- Email: Info@eventsbypmf.com
- Website: www.eventsbypriscilla.com
- Instagram: @events_by_priscilla
Image Credits
Simply Captivating The Cardonas Dipp Photography Erica Melissa Photography
