Say “Hello” to Aletha, the fabulous owner of Pearls Events, a wedding & event planning company and your MWEP West Michigan Advisor! She is based out of the Grand Rapids area and will be taking care of majority of the MWEP business on the west side of the state. Aletha is a very avid poster on her very own blog, so please check it out! Thanks for being a part of MWEP, Aletha!
Aletha Vandermass :: Pearls Events
List 5 things that people should know about you.
a. I enjoy meeting new people
b. I take my blog quite seriously
c. I love driving a stick shift
d. I cannot get in bed without washing my face
e. I was the face on the cover of my high school yearbook, senior year. Seriously. It’s hilarious.
What is your favorite part about being a wedding planner?
The vendors. I love having a vast network of other event professionals that I can consult with, refer to and meet with. Since I work solo, it’s great having colleagues that enjoy grabbing lunch, drinks, or just chatting via email about work. For the most part, everyone LOVES chatting about weddings–something I’m passionate about!
What is your least favorite part about being a wedding planner?
Those gorgeous Saturdays from where I have to leave the house, and my husband is relaxing after our breakfast together. That is hard work!
Who did you look up to when you were a kid?
I always wanted to follow in the steps of my mother and be a fashion buyer. I thought I wanted to own my own clothing store, however, with the economy the way it was, I finally realized that was not a great idea.
What was your favorite 80s television show?
I loved (and still do!) The Cosby Show.
What exactly does your company provide?
I am an event planner. I provide event planning and day-of-coordination for weddings, and other special events.
How did you get into the business?
Banquet serving was my first peek into weddings. I moved to college and majored in marketing, with a minor in fashion. I always had a thing for bridal, however, didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I did my senior internship with a bridal designer in Chicago, and when I graduated, took a marketing job in the publishing industry. I learned a lot of marketing and special events execution, but was missing the wedding world. I finally took a leap of faith and started Pearls Events after encouragement from my husband in 2007.
Where is your favorite place to travel?
I have been visiting Palm Springs, CA since I was five years old. My grandparents have had a condo there since the early 80’s, and I visit them every opportunity I get. It’s full of retro architecture, neat shops with vintage finds, great clothes at boutiques and you can’t beat the weather in February. I love going to the flea markets, bumming around San Diego and heading to Tijuana for the day. It’s a great place and I cannot wait to take my husband there soon.
What is your #1 piece of advice for anyone in a wedding profession?
Make friends with everyone–you can never know too many people.
Favorite color to wear?
Although I look washed out in neutrals, I buy a lot of black. However, this year I’ve been wearing a lot of navy blue. I like to mix it up, though. I’m one of those girls who buy quality over quantity and my clothes have to last for years, because I’m a picky shopper.
1 Comment
November 6, 2008 at 2:35 am
i *heart* Aletha! i haven’t even met her yet & yet… somehow i feel like i have known her for years.
i also love all the fun facts in this interview!