We’re looking forward to introducing you to Evelyn Sell . Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Evelyn , it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Something that makes me feel proud right now is when I see other wedding vendors gathered in my event space that I built, networking. The networking event and business coaching part of my career brings me so much joy. Last year I hosted our first annual Friendsgiving and over 80 wedding vendors came together to eat, drink and enjoy each other and celebrate all we accomplished this year. Bringing other vendors together and helping them build their businesses and succeed makes me feel proud and full of joy.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Evelyn and I have two businesses, Evelyn Francesca Events and Three Sixteen Studio and Events. I have been the owner and lead planner/designer at Evelyn Francesca Events since 2009 and the owner of Three Sixteen Studio and Events since January 2024. My experience in the industry, along with the network of other vendors I have created make my ability to plan events and weddings successful. I have built businesses that are organized, creative, have integrity and most of all is full of joy. Planning events and building businesses gives me such fulfillment which is why I also love helping others do the same.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
There was a time that I really held all my value in my wedding planning business. I believed if I was successful, booked every wedding, and people wanted me then I was successful. I over worked myself, took on too many weddings and went back to weddings immediately after having babies. I look back on that version of myself with a little sadness. I missed important family events, missed maternity leave, missed being calm in the chaos all so people would think ”more of me”. Reality is I built a business so I could be the master of my own life, create my own schedule, show up for my children, take vacations, and not answer emails while in labor. I tell newer planners who are getting advice on starting a family is that you are not the only planner out there and your business will not crumble should you choose to cancel a contract for something very important. I wish someone would have told me I would be okay if I turned down weddings that I knew weren’t a good fit or took time off longer after major life events. I think that drive served its purpose, but I truly am glad to let that desire to be everything for everyone go.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
My biggest fear was that I was not good enough, cool enough or pretty enough. Weird to say that out loud at a 38 year old woman but it is the fear I’ve held onto most of my life. It kept me from going after things that I wanted or growing my business bigger, earlier on. I stopped fearing that only about 6 years ago. My fear was I was never included in other things with other wedding vendors, people didn’t know who I was and that I was not important. I have said this before but I will keep saying it, when you fear you don’t have a seat at the table, just create your own table and invite people to join you. This is how the networking side of my business was created. I started a small networking event with other planners and now it has grown to include more than 50 local vendors who week monthly. Better Together is a San Diego networking event created to make people feel welcomed, seen and important.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
The biggest truth in my life is my belief in Jesus Christ and my relationship with him. My Christian foundation is the basis for my whole life and what I will base everything I do on. Every business decision and the direction my life goes is always run through what I feel is right and true based on my beliefs. The integrity of my business stands on His truth and I believe I owe all my success to Him. It is hard to articulate that to people who aren’t believers and that is okay. I don’t need them to hear it from me all day every day, but I do hope that they can see the difference in me and they way I do things without having to say it.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I honestly believe I am doing what I was born to do. I was always the kid who wasn’t watching cartoons but was watching HGTV and TLC house make overs. I loved design, being creative and building things. I don’t think there is another job on the planet that could satisfy my souls desire to create, design and be organized. When I first told my parents that I was going to be a wedding planner, my dad said “that is a nice hobby”. We laugh at that now and he says he has never been more proud to be wrong since that hobby is a six figure career that has lasted over 15 years.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.evelynfrancesca.com
- Instagram: @evelynfrancescaevents
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evelynfrancescaevents
- Other: www.316studioandevents.com
@316studioandevents
Image Credits
Branding photos:
Taylor Ashley Photography
Laura Burvill Photography
Pauline Conway Photography
Jessica Rice Photography
