Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Barrad.
Melissa, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I’m a San Diegan born and raised, with a background in marketing, advertising and public relations.
I began my business 15 years ago, and have cultivated a team of like-minded planners, coordinators and designers that design weddings, milestone events and parties.
I’ve always had a passion for design and logistics and thought weddings would be a fun place to be! And boy, was I right! I jumped right in, made a website and planned a few events. And here I stand, a decade and a half later! I pride myself on my work ethic and ability to go the extra mile, and I feel that I Do…Weddings & Events has flourished because of it.
Ten years ago, I segued into floral design and decor. I’ve had the opportunity to work with so many creatives in Southern California and for that, I am forever thankful. I believe there is a major difference between checking off the boxes and developing relationships. I am in touch with a considerable number of past couples, and I am enjoying watching the San Diego wedding industry continue to grow, change and be even better.
I feel that I’ve had the opportunity to experience the wedding industry in a variety of ways….as a trusted professional, a best friend and now, as a bride-to-be myself. I am so incredibly thankful for the couples and professionals that put their trust in me. It is an honor I do not take lightly.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
If I’m not at the office or with a client during the day, you’ll find me outside…either on a run or walking my two pups. I listen to professional development and have brainstorming sessions with my couples. In fact, I’ve even begun walking meetings at the beach or bay to get to know my clients from a different perspective.
I live in La Jolla, which really is the jewel of San Diego. If ever I need inspiration, I just walk outside! It’s how I gather inspiration for florals, design and determine how to set the tone for a client’s big day. I spend much of my time thinking about how I can infuse a celebration with a lot of personal touches. If you see an arrangement with succulents, it’s quite likely that six months prior, my eight-year-old son and I planted them in my own yard. We live in a beautiful place, and I think that subtle enhancement is always an impactful way to create a wedding day vibe that is personal, intimate and fun.
Artists rarely, if ever pursue art for the money. Nonetheless, we all have bills and responsibilities and many aspiring artists are discouraged from pursuing art due to financial reasons. Any advice or thoughts you’d like to share with prospective artists?
Event planners have a very unique niche in the creative community. Unless they provide a tangible product like a bouquet or a calligraphed sign, there is little a bride can physically hold. As a result, the relationship is so very important. I do feel that putting together event day logistics that please not on the couple but all of the creatives are truly an art.
I do take the time to walk each client through my process, what information I need from them, and what the last month looks like. Often times, this is where my value really shows. There are so many micro-decisions that go into a wedding celebration that I make sure to space out decision making over a period of time, not a week.
I also work hard to educate my clients about value, why things cost what they do and where is important to splurge. I have been an entrepreneur since my early 20s. Has it been easy? Not at all, but I’ve learned to work with ebbs and flows. I believe if you produce good work, good clients will come to you. But, you just can’t sit back and rest on your laurels either! Our market is changing at such a rapid-fire pace that I feel networking, marketing and really adapting to changing clientele are imperative to succeeding as an artist.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
We share much of our most recent work on Instagram (@idoweddingsandevents). We are very blessed to receive features in print and online publications, and even had a reality show 9 years ago!
Because so much of what we do is unique to each client, we house a very large library of portfolio work. We love to share it in person as much as possible. I like to show range and scope and find that our events are extremely diverse with style, priorities, cultural differences and of course budget.
Contact Info:
- Address: 7770 Regents Road, Suite 113-399 San Diego, CA 92122
- Website: www.sdweddingplanner.com
- Phone: 858-405-7244
- Email: info@sdweddingplanner.com
- Instagram: @idoweddingsandevents
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sdweddingplanner
Image Credit:
Group Photo of Team- France Photographers
Race Track Photo- Allie Lindsey Photography
Other Images-True Photography
Getting in touch: SDVoyager 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.
