We recently connected with Laurie Blasko and have shared our conversation below.
Laurie, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I have always had a heart for serving people. I grew up in the hospitality industry, but it was when I moved into an event coordinator position several years ago that my heart set on fire. I realized that building strong relationships with people, stretching my creativity, and executing stress-free events was what I was created to do. I get to play a role in some of peoples’ most important and memorable days of their lives, and that is an honor. When my verbiage changed from “I have to… (insert boring or bothersome work here)” to “I GET to…(insert exciting, captivating work here)”, I knew I had found my purpose.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
When I was 24 years old, I loaded my car with everything that would fit (including my 10lb dog, Daisy), and moved to North Carolina. I knew no one, but I was willing to take a leap of faith. Fast forward nearly a decade and I have met the love of my life; my husband, Jake, and I have started an event business where I truly love what I do.
I think it’s special to be in someone’s corner to help put together their wedding or their birthday party or their corporate function. You get to build trust and confidence with that person. Then, to see their face and feel their excitement on event day gives me joy like I’ve never felt before. I get to provide a high quality service, push my boundaries with my creativity, and continue to grow business relationships with other talented and passionate local businesses.
I started Monarch Event Planning in February of 2021. As we head into our third business year, we have completed over 35 events including starting the Carolina Premiere Bridal Showcase & Market (which will host it’s 3rd event on January 28th at DuGaren Venues & Vineyards), hosted our first styled shoot that has since been published, and grew the team by adding our extraordinary Lead Coordinator, Whitney Bastien. I am proud of our high standards, attention to detail, and resilient effort that results in lasting memories and elated clients. Our clients become more like family, and we do all we can to bring their vision and event goals to fruition.
We will continue to provide a high end service and push the envelop with cultivating décor & design ideas. I never want to be “too busy” or “too exclusive” to grab coffee with a new vendor or business. Monarch Event Planning’s reputation for community over competition will remain one of our core values.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three qualities that have been most impactful to my journey are: 1. Honesty – about our goals, about our passion, about who we want to be as an event company.
2. Confidence – never missing an opportunity to meet someone new or try something new, and trust your gut.
3. Resilience – don’t give up. Best advice I’ve been given: “The name of the game is to stay in the game!”
If you are early in your journey, keep showing up. Go to the networking meeting and push yourself to talk to someone new. Collaborate with others. Invite people to support you on your journey.
For me personally, learning my worth was huge. If I ever undercut myself in an effort to book a client or event, it left me feeling bitter and anxious, and neither of those benefit my mental health or the health of my company. At the end of the day, knowing that I’ve done my very best or acknowledging where I can grow are both positive points to reflect on.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client is one that trusts me to get the job done. They may have some ideas for their event or wedding, but not necessarily the skill set to make it happen. They give me creative freedom (within their vision), they use vendors from my trusted vendor list, and they respect my time and personal life. My ideal client listens to my suggestions, appreciates my experience, and gets excited with me as they watch things come together.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.monarcheventplanning.com
- Instagram: @monarcheventsnc
- Facebook: facebook.com/MonarchEventPlanningNC
- Other: Email: [email protected]
Image Credits
Savvy Leigh Photography
