Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristana Burreece.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Kristana. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
KME was started in early 2014 when I had the sudden realization that I was meant for something extremely specific. I had spent years planning elaborate soirees for my family and friends, always going a bit too far just to make an impact. I have always had a passion for learning about people and their stories, and knew that no matter what I ended up doing, I’d have a career that made a difference in people’s lives. In college, I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and had planned to pursue my Master’s Degree and become a Marriage Family Therapist.
When I was close to receiving my Bachelor’s, I had a very honest moment with myself where I realized that MFT wasn’t a perfect fit for me. I care about people so much, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to disconnect at the end of the day and be fully present in my own life. This is when I made the decision that I needed to be a part of the happiest moments in a family’s lives rather than the toughest ones. This was my “A-ha!” moment when I realized that wedding planning was the absolute perfect career for me, and I continue to love it more every day.
When I decided to start pursuing wedding planning, I did everything I could to dive into learning about the industry. I started attending networking events even before I had a business name or a business card. I wanted to get to know the people that would eventually work alongside me when I was ready. I started assisting planners, photographers, florists… I just wanted to be at weddings in any capacity to really learn from all sides.
I received my Professional Certificate from SDSU in Meeting & Event Planning, and attended many hands-on planning workshops so I could hit the ground running! I felt very strongly that I didn’t just want to wing it or start when I wasn’t ready. I wanted to feel as though I was an expert from the start and could really provide top service for my couples from beginning to end.
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?
I feel like it has been a decently smooth road because I had already learned so much and made so many connections before I officially started my business. I was really investing in the training stage rather than starting my business and then struggling to figure out which way was up.
That’s not to say it wasn’t without challenges though! It was definitely a tricky transition going from normal jobs with set hours to owning my own business where it felt like I was always on the clock. I was used to jobs that had set instructions & structure, but starting your own business is nothing like that. The structure has to be built by you and you alone. You have to be your own accountability partner!
Owning your own wedding planning business seems like the most glamorous job, but in reality, it is grueling hard work. There’s so much that goes on in the background so that everything on the surface looks & feels effortless. And getting used to the absolute agony your body is on the day after a long wedding definitely took time!!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Kristana Marie Events – what should we know?
Kristana Marie Events focuses on a personalized approach to wedding planning & coordination! I believe that weddings should really be a reflection of the couple and their personalities. I think people get so stressed feeling as though they have to have a certain kind of wedding, even if it isn’t necessarily exactly what they want. My main objective is to get to know my couples really well so we can make their wedding feel like a perfect fit for them.
As much as I absolutely love the details and the beauty of weddings, I am much more invested in the client experience. I want my couples to be fully present on their wedding day and really feel like they made the decisions that were right for them. Authenticity is key! I really take pride in the relationships I build with my couples, and I believe that sets me apart.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Determination and respect! Not only respecting the couples that I work with but respecting the other professionals that work alongside me in the industry. Learning about weddings while working for lots of different vendors really gave me a well-rounded view, and made me truly respect each professional that helps bring a wedding to life.
I realized that my job isn’t to just run the show, but also to work hard & smart to give the other vendors the opportunity to shine. The couple chose each of these vendors for a reason, and it is my job to keep things organized & efficient so the vendor can provide their top service without worrying about other variables.
I also think it is vitally important to remain humble and continue learning! I will never stop trying to learn more and more about how to make my business even better. I am very open to new and interesting ways to make wedding planning an amazing experience, and I take away something new from each couple I work with!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kristanamarieevents.com
- Phone: 6193795644
- Email: info@kristanamarieevents.com
- Instagram: @kristanamarieevents
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/kristanamarieevents/
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/kristana-marie-events-san-diego
- Other: www.weddingwire.com/biz/kristana-marie-events-san-diego/515c6a38cd7d242c.html
Image Credit:
Kristina Moto, Spotlight Studios, Vacay Photo, Katie Ruther Photography, Thecablookfotolab
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