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Meet Krista Burroughs of Paper Jewels Events in Downtown/Mission Valley

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Image credit: Mark Stevenson Photography

 

Today we’d like to introduce you to Krista Burroughs.

Krista, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m a very social person so my interest in planning events came naturally. I’ve always had a love for creating unique and festive parties and events, but it really blossomed when I had my daughter in 2006 and started planning her birthday parties. I would put months of planning and organizing every tiny detail and spend hours setting up on the day of the event to make sure it was absolutely perfect.

For many years, I only shared this with my family and close friends, however, after I was laid off in 2008, I decided to see if I could turn my hobby – and passion – into a business! At first, I only took on a handful of clients and they were usually friends or family. Now, a handful of events each year has turned into a couple of dozen events a year and it’s continuing to grow!

Great, 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?
The biggest obstacle I’ve faced is finding a way to break into an overly saturated wedding and event planning market in San Diego. Wedding Planners especially are a dime a dozen so trying to separate myself from the pack and build my brand as unique has been on the ongoing struggle. I’ve spent countless hours researching and analyzing the competition and industry trends and trying to determine the best way to succeed – it’s a finicky realm of business that is constantly changing.

Wedding Coordination in comparison to any other type of event is a whole different animal. It’s not just about managing the event, but also managing every vendor who’s been contracted to provide a service that day as well as the bride, the groom, the wedding party, families and even the guests! It’s about keeping everything under control, constantly putting out fires all over the place and presenting the appearance that things are perfect when the cake collapses within 30 minutes of being delivered or a torrential downpour starts just minutes before the outdoor ceremony is supposed to take place!

This job is a true labor of love and is not nearly as glamorous as it may seem. On the day of an event, I’m in the trenches for 10-12 hours hustling all day, sustaining on caffeine, never sitting, eating the occasional bite and applying more deodorant on a regular basis. It’s definitely not for the weak at heart. There’s a saying I came across a while back that sums it up perfectly… “If you think being an Event Planner is easy, then you’re doing it wrong!”

It’s not easy to sell yourself in this business and it’s often not until after you’ve done a killer job for the client do they realize the true value of your service. At the end of the day, what it comes down to for me is running a business that’s honest, fair and professional.

Please tell us about Paper Jewels Events.
Paper Jewels Events offers full-service Wedding and Event Planning, Coordination and Design services. I have a soft spot for weddings, but love planning events for all occasions of any size, theme or venue!

I specialize in offering fully customized packages for my clients. Not every event is the same and not every client has the same needs so having set packages doesn’t necessarily work for everyone. I always start with a 30-minute phone consultation meeting with prospective clients before offering them a formal proposal for services. This gives both myself and the other party the opportunity to learn more about each other, the event details, what services are specifically needed and how we can accommodate this within a budget that everyone is comfortable with. I find that this very personal approach is what sets me apart from others in my industry.

Life’s celebrations are a very personal time for all of us and my clients trust me to make these events special and memorable – that’s not something I take lightly. Every event is treated as if it’s my own and I truly feel blessed to be a part of these memories. It’s an incredible feeling to see how happy and appreciative my clients are when their visions come to life. My clients really do become family and I’m proud to say that a large percentage of my clientele is a direct result of a referral from someone who I’ve had the pleasure of working for in the past.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memories are from the many camping trips my family would do. This was old school camping – sleeping in a tent on the hard ground, having dirt under your fingernails and going to the bathroom in the woods! My parents would take my younger brother and I on these trips a few times each summer for years. We would take walks on trails, collect pine cones and just truly relax and unwind. I realize now as an adult with an insanely busy schedule just how valuable that kind of disconnecting from the daily grind truly is and I’m so grateful to my parents for making those incredible memories that I treasure.

Pricing:

  • Wedding Planning & Coordination starts at $800
  • Event Planning, Design and Coordination starts at $400
  • Hourly Rates for all Services are $50

Contact Info:


Image Credit:
Laurie Ashley Photography, ABM Photography, Ever Love Photography

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