What’s the most exciting thing on the horizon for you personally or professionally?

I'm excited about opening a bistro, having a new granddaughter, seeing my youngest son through high school and finishing my first cookbook.

The last 2 years of my life has taken me on a roller coaster that has affected me both personally and professionally. When your body takes on chronic illness it makes you look at life differently. My pursuit of going after the biggest client or working 20 hour long days are no longer my hustle. I’m not sure if someone can be happy that cancer came into their life along with other illnesses but I am. December 22 marked my 1 year anniversary being diagnosed with breast cancer.

I’m excited that my life means more than just being the hands preparing a meal or putting together an event. I’m excited that 2020 will bring me new life and new opportunities. I’m excited to experience life all over again. I’m excited about opening a bistro, having a new granddaughter, seeing my youngest son through high school and finishing my first cookbook. Excited to share that food now takes on a new meaning for me and purpose for me.

Definitely the most exciting thing coming up in the 2020 season is ownership and management of my own wedding venue!

Definitely the most exciting thing coming up in the 2020 season is ownership and management of my own wedding venue! Venue ownership has always been the next step for me after wedding planning. While I’m still working as a wedding planner, my husband and I were given an opportunity too good to pass up with the purchase of our own wedding venue.

We purchased Twin Willow Gardens this last summer and officially moved on property in October. This is a seasonal outdoor garden venue, so we’ve enjoyed moving in and getting settled during the “off-season” as we get our bearings about us, make improvements to the property, and continue to give tours and book weddings for the 2020/2021 season. It’s going to be interesting working a full-time wedding planning year along with venue ownership, but I am so thankful for my husband alongside me in this journey.

We are entering 2020 with a new exciting Cerbelli Creative Headquarters in Manhattan as a shared event space with the who’s who in the event industry working alongside us.

2020 is the next decade for us! Every 10 years Cerbelli has reached new milestones: in the ’70s the business succeeded with one employee as a block party DJ, in the ’80s our expansion in the social market skyrocketed, and by the ’90s we tapped into the corporate market. In the new millennium, we took our areas of expertise and really focused on being recognizable industry leaders with a respectable track record in the corporate and social markets. The last ten years have been a decade of true growth as industry leaders and innovators, with great network expansion and full immersion into the 21st century and evolving trends.

We are entering 2020 with a new exciting Cerbelli Creative Headquarters in Manhattan as a shared event space with the who’s who in the event industry working alongside us. My vision with this space is to give the best names in the industry a place to expand, create, collaborate and grow tremendously for the next ten years and many more to come.

One of the most exciting things on the horizon for me is...instructing my pilot apprenticeship program at Citizens School in Harlem, New York.

One of the most exciting things on the horizon for me is starting next week, Monday, I will be instructing my pilot apprenticeship program at Citizens School in Harlem, New York. I kickstarted a Facebook fundraiser where I was able to raise $1,000.00 to offset tools. The support was overwhelmingly positive. For a year, I will be offering this program to school for free.

On Sunday, October 27, 2019, I am hosting a New York City Sugar Artistry Meetup. This is a networking event for Cake Designers, Bakers, Sugar Artists, and food entrepreneurs to meet up, connect, eat, drink, mix, and mingle. The goal is to build connections, have fun, catch up, and learn/share techniques. I’m very excited about the two very talented Sugar Artists offering demos.

Launching my new project, The Woodbine Mansion.

When you own a company, is there a difference between personally and professionally? If so, I should work on that.

Two highlights coming up:
1. Launching my new project, The Woodbine Mansion. My family and I purchased a historic mansion built in 1895 and have been restoring and renovating it to become an events venue. Check it out: http://www.thewoodbinemansion.com

2. In a few weeks, I’ll travel to LSU for the LSU 100 gala and find out where my company is ranked this year!

We intend on staying a small-but-mighty company,...but are challenging ourselves to grow into producing more social and corporate events in addition to weddings!

Wedicity is growing! As the owner of the company, this is exciting both personally and professionally! We’ve reached levels in our business that require us to bring on additional support staff and planners to assist with making couples wedding days come to reality. We intend on staying a small-but-mighty company, never to lose the personal connection to our clients but are challenging ourselves to grow into producing more social and corporate events in addition to weddings!

We recently became involved with Wreaths Across America and Honor Flight Kentucky, two organizations that proudly support veterans.

Our team regularly focuses on select charitable organizations with volunteerism and giving back. We recently became involved with Wreaths Across America and Honor Flight Kentucky, two organizations that proudly support veterans.

We also focus on designing event experiences that utilize recyclable and sustainable materials while supporting locally-produced businesses, organic farms, and companies that offer fair trade and sustainably grown product offerings.

Professionally the most exciting thing on the horizon for me is that I am starting an online course to teach people how to event plan.

Professionally the most exciting thing on the horizon for me is that I am starting an online course to teach people how to event plan. I want to show people who have always had a passion for planning how to bring that out. A lot of women (mostly) are coming to me with a lack of confidence in the knowledge that they already have. We will go over that, as well as time management, networking, communication, and pushing through the struggles of an event.

I'm very excited that I've been asked to plan and produce Carnegie Hall's Dream Wedding giveaway this coming April.

I’m very excited that I’ve been asked to plan and produce Carnegie Hall’s Dream Wedding giveaway this coming April. One lucky couple will win the opportunity to host their wedding at Carnegie Hall for free. I’ve brought in the best vendors in the business and am looking forward to meeting the winning couple and working with them. Carnegie Hall is one of my favorite venues in the city, and Constellation Culinary does incredible food. The view from the terrace is a gem in New York and the rooms are filled with Carnegie Hall’s history. Its a very special place and I’m honored to be planning the wedding.

The most exciting thing is at the start of 2020 - I will have a partner!

The most exciting thing is at the start of 2020 – I will have a partner! For 5 years, I have run the business alone and the business has finally outgrown just me – so thankfully my right-hand woman – Brittany McKinney – has come to my rescue. I would not trust anyone else with my business but her! She’s my sister from another mister.

We are officially creating our international wedding sector into its own brand as it has been so successful!

We are so excited to be entering into 2020! We are celebrating our five year anniversary in December of 2019 and will be rebranding and relaunching with an entirely new brand, logo, and website.

We are also officially creating our international wedding sector into its own brand as it has been so successful!

Our team has grown to a solid team of 5 and the passion and momentum surrounding our team is so thrilling! We cannot wait to see what 2020 brings!

I have just opened a new "arm" of our business, consulting with event professionals....

Consulting! I have just opened a new “arm” of our business, consulting with event professionals and helping either venue owners to elevate their existing space to a luxury property, or new venue enthusiasts from the onset to ensure the space they are creating will attract the top clients.

I am also consulting with other event professionals to help build their brand, streamline their work processes and again, attract the higher-end client.  All while keeping balance in mind and working smarter, not harder, to ensure they do not get to a space of burnout.

I have a 2020 wedding coming up at the Calistoga Ranch by Auberge in Napa Valley.

I have a 2020 wedding coming up at the Calistoga Ranch by Auberge in Napa Valley. I’ve been to many luxury properties around the world, but there’s something truly special about the way the Auberge collection delivers hospitality. They welcome you with sincerity and can accommodate almost any need at the drop of a hat. Their properties feel refined and upscale, but never stuffy – as though you’re in a dream where your home is perfectly decorated and comfortable, and you’re surrounded by people who honestly care about you. I can’t wait to team up with hospitality like this for a destination wedding.

We're constantly bringing on new clients in new markets with new challenges and goals.

We’re constantly bringing on new clients in new markets with new challenges and goals. This is very exciting, but also very demanding. The ability to produce events at the highest level requires an ongoing commitment to industry education and innovation. But in the end, we’re blown away by the opportunity to be given creative freedom and great budgets to create world-class experiences.

Well, the most exciting thing for me right now is I just had a baby boy at the beginning of September!

Well, the most exciting thing for me right now is I just had a baby boy at the beginning of September! Now it’s trying to balance a toddler, a 2-month-old, my events, and life in general.

I am part of the event management team for a smart agriculture educational event that we launched this year.

I am part of the event management team for a smart agriculture educational event that we launched this year. It is a new event concept that was built from industry feedback. We will make some tweaks working towards making it even bigger and better for year 2 in summer 2020! I love being a part of an event that is helping address future challenges for our society such as how will we feed 9 billion people in the future.

I am currently a year into producing my own podcast, The Confetti Hour.

In addition to planning gorgeous celebrations, I am currently a year into producing my own podcast, The Confetti Hour. I have so many exciting media opportunities coming on the horizon to highlight new businesses and cultivate community throughout our industry.

The most challenging job I have now is planning my daughter's wedding...because she wants to plan it.

I am proud of all the successful events I have done. I have truly enjoyed getting to know my clients. I have enjoyed working with all the talented vendors.

The most challenging job I have now is planning my daughter’s wedding. That is because she wants to plan it.

I’m the President-Elect of the NY Metro Chapter of the International Live Events Association (ILEA)!

I’m the President-Elect of the NY Metro Chapter of the International Live Events Association (ILEA)! Next year is going to be very exciting!

We are not only growing in the wedding industry at this time but we are also moving into luxury corporate brand events.

We are not only growing in the wedding industry at this time but we are also moving into luxury corporate brand events. My team thrives on the opportunity to create unique experiences for our clients. With each event, we take the vision of our client and begin designing an ideal & memorable occasion for their guests.
With this growth and direction, it is rewarding for me both personally & professionally. As a creative designer, our hearts go into the design and execution of each opportunity to bring our inspiration to life.

We have a private destination event in Lisbon, a wedding in London, an awesome 80s Halloween party coming up & a corporate shoe launch.

Professionally, we just completed the six-month design project for Save the Children’s 100th Global Anniversary which was a wonderful & worthwhile event to be a part of. We have a private destination event in Lisbon, a wedding in London, an awesome 80s Halloween party coming up & a corporate shoe launch.

I recently scaled my business for growth, going from 1 employee (me) with part-time staff to 3 employees with additional part-time staff.

I recently scaled my business for growth, going from 1 employee (me) with part-time staff to 3 employees with additional part-time staff. This allows me to work more “on” my business rather than only “in” the business. I was able to train my team to do 75% of the work I used to do and now I have more time, a requirement for today’s successful small business owner, to network, attend educational conferences, strategize our branding and social media, and more. I also have more time to spend personally with family and friends. This change has helped my business to grow and we are now attracting prospective clients from Google, Instagram, and more.

Additionally, I have begun to speak publicly to other event professionals about Event Planning, monetizing my many years of experience and having media and professional outlets label me as an “expert”. I am excited at how many doors are opening as a result of these changes.

Seven14 Events is a national company but I am looking to really have a base on each coast.

I am really trying to expand our service area to the West Coast. It truly is a task for sure! Seven14 Events is a national company but I am looking to really have a base on each coast. I will still be doing everything in between but for the past couple of years, I have really been gearing for this transition. I absolutely love what I do! I love the fact that I meet new and different personalities every day. I also love that I am not at a desk pushing paperwork in an office. Producing events has afforded me the opportunity to go somewhere different all the time. I definitely have a keen knowledge of everywhere in Massachusetts and New England.

My goal is to live in both DC and LA working in both locations.

I am really excited about being bi-coastal. My goal is to live in both DC and LA working in both locations. I really get excited each time I get closer to making this goal a reality.

Suzanne Reinhard Events expanding more internationally.

Suzanne Reinhard Events expanding more internationally. In 2019, SRE coordinated a wedding at the stunning Rosewood de Allende in San Miguel. I expect to see some European destinations on the calendar soon. With strong global, industry relationships, we’re ready to pack our bags.

For me, the most exciting “thing” is still getting to wake up every day and do what I love.

For me, the most exciting “thing” is still getting to wake up every day and do what I love. As corny as it sounds, my excitement and zest for ideating, implementing and executing experiential marketing activations and events get me as excited as it did when I started. Overcoming the unique challenges each event presents honestly gives me a feeling of accomplishment every time. Sure, there are marquee clients and projects that are in production that I am SUPER EXCITED about, but until they are executed I cannot share them, unfortunately. I can say the project we are working on in LA in mid-Sept is very, very exciting for us because we happen to be fans of this client. Trust me when I say everyone will know what I am talking about after September 18th!

The next event!

The next event! Actually my current business is about to head into its third official year. I decided to invest in a PR firm who hopefully will take over the website and social media. It’s a lot to try and handle all of the pieces and parts. I want to focus on my clients because almost all of my business comes from referrals.

Traveling and showcasing what we offer as a team.

More growth, putting PBC on the map nationwide and handling events nationwide. Traveling and showcasing what we offer as a team.

We are excited to see more people interested in learning about plant-based diets, Meatless Mondays, and a healthier way of living and celebrating.

We are excited to see more people interested in learning about plant-based diets, Meatless Mondays, and a healthier way of living and celebrating. We are honored to be at the forefront of the event world by offering beautiful plant-based cuisine that is made with love and creating events that are less wasteful and better for our planet Earth. We have a dream team at Pink Salt Cuisine and we are all three along for the ride.

I love traveling and am going to one of my bucket list destinations in the winter—Iceland—and hope to see the Northern Lights!

Personally speaking, I love traveling and am going to one of my bucket list destinations in the winter—Iceland—and hope to see the Northern Lights!

Professionally speaking, I have two exciting things coming in 2020 for my business. One is party rentals for wedding-related events, such as a wedding shower, rehearsal dinner or day-after brunch. The other is wedding planning group calls for couples who need assistance planning but can’t afford a full wedding planner.

I’ve just released my book “Screw Your Wedding: A Candid Guide to Wedding Planning By a Jaded Event Planner” and am in the process of developing an online course...

I’ve just released my book “Screw Your Wedding: A Candid Guide to Wedding Planning By a Jaded Event Planner” and am in the process of developing an online course aimed to help couples navigate the ins and outs of wedding planning. That launches at the end of the month.

We are thrilled about our client's upcoming wedding in Sorento, in June 2020.

We are thrilled about our client’s upcoming wedding in Sorento, in June 2020. The CCE Ladies are up for the challenge and beyond excited to work on the Amalfi Coast!